The 2010 Fifa World Cup is turning into a "great rip off" in the Western Cape, the Congress of SA Trade Unions claimed on Friday.
"The Western Cape is losing jobs as a result of Fifa's actions. It seems that whilst in the rest of the country Fifa and the World Cup related activities are growing the economy, the Western Cape is being prejudiced," the union federation's provincial secretary, Tony Ehrenreich said in a statement. "The clothes and mascots are being made in sweat shops in China. Traders were excluded from the soccer stadium precinct and the city centre.
The companies trying to manufacture local soccer-related merchandise are being taken to court. "The beer deals are leading to all beer being foreign and imported, and buses used for the World Cup are being imported, when we could be manufacturing them," he charged. Ehrenreich called on the government to negotiate new agreements with Fifa to promote the South African economy.
Last Updated ( Monday, 08 February 2010 )
Church issues Soccer World Cup prayer
Written by admin
Monday, 08 February 2010
The South African Bishops have just issued a special prayer, ahead of the Soccer World Cup which takes place from 11 June - 11 July 2010. The SABC has already set up a special website for the World Cup.
Almighty God, creator of all, as people from every nation gather with excitement and enthusiasm for the 2010 World Soccer Cup may South Africans be good hosts, our visitors welcomed guests and the players from every team be blessed with good sportsmanship and health.
May your Spirit of fairness, justice and peace prevail amongst players and all involved. May each contribute in his own positive ways to prevent, control and fight crime and corruption, hooliganism of any kind and exploitation and abuse, especially of those most vulnerable. May those far away from home and those in their families find much joy in this occasion to celebrate the beautiful game of soccer and the beautiful game of life according to Your plan for the common good of all.
Amen
Last Updated ( Monday, 08 February 2010 )
Party "Woza Africa 2010" this New Year’s Eve
Written by admin
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
The 6th annual Joburg Carnival is celebrating soccer-crazy style in anticipation of next year’s World Cup and residents are uniting for a vibrant and fun-filled street parade and party on December 31.
Themed "Woza Africa 2010" this year you can expect the streets of downtown Joburg to pulsate with colour, music and carnival energy, whilst tapping into the mounting excitement surrounding the Beautiful Game and welcoming other countries, particularly from Africa, to the city.
The street parade will start at 12 noon at the corner of Bertha and Stiemens streets in Braamfontein, and culminates in festivities at Newtown Park featuring an array of traditional food and entertainment that represents the multicultural carnival participants.
The merry procession will make its way from Braamfontein across the Nelson Mandela Bridge to Newtown Park. An eclectic assortment of troupes, choirs, bands and floats will strut their stuff during the course of the afternoon.
Police statistics have shown that since the City of Joburg initiated the Joburg Carnival six years ago, crime levels and disturbances in the inner city have shown a marked decrease over the New Year’s Eve period.
South African carnival participants will again be partnering with foreign nationals in the spirit of tolerance, integration and cooperation with the objective of promoting and encouraging inclusivity and social cohesion.
Communities from all over the city has been allocated an African country that has qualified for the World Cup - Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Algeria and South Africa, as well as Brazil as hosts of the next World Cup - to inspire their carnival creations.
If you have no other plans for December 31, then join Joburg residents as they bid farewell to the old year and welcome in 2010.
Fifa World Cup 2010: South Africa (Bafana Bafana)
Written by admin
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
South African National Football Team
Confederation: CAF
Coach: Carlos Alberto Perreira
Captain: Aaron Mokoena
Fifa Ranking: 86
World Cup 2010 Group A
South Africa; Mexico; Uruguay; France
With just under six months ahead of the biggest show piece to be staged on African soil, the host nation look to continue their preparation as they have been group amongst some real competitors in Group A.
With the qualifiers completed, the groups drawn and the stage ready to host the 31 nations from their various confederations, South Africa 2010 is just around the corner.
Lets preview the progress of the National team and the way forward. With former World Cup winning coach, Carlos Alberto Perreira back at the helm, star striker Benni McCarthy also back in the squad could Bafana Bafana at least make it to the quarter-finals.
South Africa's recent form has been a sad tale for many, especially after they've shown a remarkable improvement during the Confederation Cup when they progressed to the semi-finals only to be out done by a 86th minute stunner of a free kick by Brazilian Dani Alves.
Looking ahead to the new year and with the Premier League finishing earlier than usual the squad will be heading for training camps in Brazil followed by another one in Germany as preparation for three tough encounters in the Group Stages.
South Africa have two more confirmed friendlies prior to the main event, a match against South America's Chile then followed by Jamaica. The originally set match against Uruguay was cancelled after the two teams were group together in the World Cup Fina Draw.
Those games mentioned above will be an important marker as to where the team will be in terms of it's preparation and could be a clear indicator for fans and millions of South Africans.
As the weeks go we will look at various aspects of the National Team, the performances of Key Players, the countries preparation and other important facts leading up to the World Cup.
Bafana will be busy in 2010
Written by admin
Tuesday, 08 December 2009
Bafana Bafana head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira will get down to the business end of getting his players battle ready for the 2010 World Cup finals early in 2010 with a hectic schedule which will kick off in Durban in Janauary.
Bafana will play at least six official friendly matches and about 10 training matches against club teams in Brazil and Germany in the build up to the 2010 showpiece that will start at the new multibillion-rand Soccer City on June 11 when Bafana host Mexico in the opening Group A match.
Bafana's other Group A opponents will be two former World champions, France and Uruguay.
Bafana team manager Sipho Nkumane confirmed Bafana would play two friendly games against neighbouring countries during their two-week camp in Durban from January 15 to 28 which has been organised for PSL-based players only.
He said: "We are still finalising the details but we have planned two friendly games against southern African countries to help us get ready for June."
Nkumane said in March the squad, including as many European based players as he can get released, will be in Rio de Janeiro for the entire month.
Bafana had friendly games scheduled against Paraguay and Uruguay in March during their camp in Brazil but because Uruguay are in Bafana's group during the 2010 World Cup group stages, that friendly had been cancelled.
In April Bafana will head for Germany for three weeks where they will play two friendly matches and a number of training games against club sides.
"We are looking for a replacement for Uruguay and should come up with a name soon."
Nkumane said the South African Football Association would be writing to the English FA and other countries where Bafana players are employed in order to get them released for all or part of the camps in Brazil and Germany. Because these camps fall outside Fifa dates, clubs are not obliged to release players.
Parreira is concerned with the likes of Blackburn Rovers pair of Benni McCarthy and Elrio van Heerden, who are bench warmers, plus national captain Aaron Mokoena who is struggling to get game time for another struggling English Premiership side, Portsmouth.
Parreira has warned that he will not include any player in the final World Cup squad unless he is satisfied they are fully fit.
"We are hoping clubs such as Blackburn and Portsmouth will release their players while we are not holding our breath for Pienaar - but that is not a worry as Pienaar is world class and plays week in and out for Everton.
"It would be a bonus getting any of those players released for the camps in Brazil and Germany."
Nkumane said that by playing two sides in South America and two in Europe, Bafana would have no excuses not to be ready for Mexico, Uruguay and France in the world showpiece.
"By the time we get to May and the head coach puts the fine tuning to the squad, they will have no excuses as the players will have been given every chance to get used to all styles of play we will meet in the opening round." - Sapa
The 2010 Fifa World Cup is turning into a "great rip off" in the Western Cape, the Congress of SA Trade Unions claimed on Friday. "The Western Cape is losing jobs as a result of Fifa&#...
The South African Bishops have just issued a special prayer, ahead of the Soccer World Cup which takes place from 11 June - 11 July 2010. The SABC has already set up a special website for the World Cu...
The 6th annual Joburg Carnival is celebrating soccer-crazy style in anticipation of next year’s World Cup and residents are uniting for a vibrant and fun-filled street parade and party on Decemb...
WCS 2010 Blog
Verse of The Day
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” (1 Peter 3:15) (Read by Max McLean. Provided by The Listener's Audio Bible.)
The 2010 Fifa World Cup is turning into a "great rip off" in the Western Cape, the Congress of SA Trade Unions claimed on Friday. 
The South African Bishops have just issued a special prayer, ahead of the Soccer World Cup which takes place from 11 June - 11 July 2010. The SABC has already set up a special website for the World Cup.
