Violence Ruffling 2010 Feathers?
Deadly attacks on foreigners in South African townships may hurt the country’s bid to host a successful 2010 soccer World Cup, the South African Football Association’s (SAFA) chief executive said on Tuesday.
Raymond Hack said he hoped the attacks, which have killed at least 24 people, would not impact on the World Cup.
“You know attacks like this…are very sad for football, are very sad for the country,” Hack said. “So we need to ensure that it (the violence) is brought to an end as quickly as possible”.
Rioting mobs have been attacking foreigners with knives and stones, raping women and burning shops and homes to the ground in shantytowns around Johannesburg since May 11.
Thousands of African immigrants have sought shelter in churches, police stations and community centres.
The attacks on foreigners have exacerbated concerns that high levels of violent crime coupled with poor infrastructure and a dire electricity crisis could prompt Europeans and other foreigners to watch the World Cup games from home.
“(The) majority of the public here love football,” Hack said.
“Football is one sport where there hasn’t been any divisions irrespective of your race, religion, colour or where you come from. It’s a game played by the people for the people.”
South Africa, the first African nation to host the World Cup, is spending billions of dollars to build new stadiums and upgrade a creaky transportation system and other infrastructure.
The country attracted 8.4 million visitors last year and is aiming to have 10 million by 2010.
“We are extremely concerned about the potential impact of these attacks on 2010 but also tourism growth in general,” chief executive of South African Tourism, Moeketsi Mosola, told Reuters.
Local World Cup organisers have dismissed persistent reports that soccer’s world governing body FIFA is considering stripping South Africa of the tournament. FIFA officials have denied that they are considering such a move.
South Africa’s government has said it is confident it will have crime under control by the time the tournament begins.
“It (the violence) has no relation to 2010. I hope that long before that we will deal with it,” deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad told reporters at a media briefing in Pretoria.
It’s 2010, 2010 Fifa Yayyy…last Things To Remember From Last Decade?
For me these were the most memorable moments:
1) 2006 World Cup: It was amazing, so many teams did well, I’m proud of all of them (well except Portugal and Netherlands). What a great atmosphere it was, that’s where I really got into football.
2) Ronaldinho: No duh, this guy was the best of the decade. I don’t care what everyone says about Ronaldo or Zidane, in my unbiased opinion, Ronaldinho owned them both. Why? Because he actually owned them. Ronaldinho beat both Zidane and Ronaldo when Barcelona played Real Madrid. From 2003-2006, Barcelona were 3-1-2 vs Real Madrid, not dominating but Ronaldinho had a weaker squad, and they still won La Liga in 2004-05, finished above Real Madrid in 2003-04, and won the CL in 2005-06 plus La Liga. Zidane, the best of 1990′s I think, but Ronaldo, a disgrace. How bad was his club career, he messed everything up after moving to Inter, and he’s horrible now. Strikers last the longest, he didn’t. Ronaldinho also was a better all-around player than both of them. He was a maestro, truly, and also could score great goals, a sambafoot maestro, that’s the best kind of footballer, infact, Ronaldinho is the only sambafoot maestro to live. You watch, it’s not real life, he truly exemplified the best of 2000′s.
and finally
3) Barcelona Hexacampions!!! They’re the greatest club football team of all time, yes Real Madrid have the 11 CLs but they could never win 3 trophies in one season, or 6 trophies in one year. I’m not biased on this one either. Pep Guardiola, a new manager, takes Barcelona to the top in one season? That’s unhuman. 2009 Barcelona played the most beautiful football ever, and the best. Nothing else to say, I ♥ FC Barcelona:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdr1slHz9…
wanna add anything else??
It’s 2010, 2010 Fifa Yayyy…last Things To Remember From Last Decade?
For me these were the most memorable moments:
1) 2006 World Cup: It was amazing, so many teams did well, I’m proud of all of them (well except Portugal and Netherlands). What a great atmosphere it was, that’s where I really got into football.
2) Ronaldinho: No duh, this guy was the best of the decade. I don’t care what everyone says about Ronaldo or Zidane, in my unbiased opinion, Ronaldinho owned them both. Why? Because he actually owned them. Ronaldinho beat both Zidane and Ronaldo when Barcelona played Real Madrid. From 2003-2006, Barcelona were 3-1-2 vs Real Madrid, not dominating but Ronaldinho had a weaker squad, and they still won La Liga in 2004-05, finished above Real Madrid in 2003-04, and won the CL in 2005-06 plus La Liga. Zidane, the best of 1990′s I think, but Ronaldo, a disgrace. How bad was his club career, he messed everything up after moving to Inter, and he’s horrible now. Strikers last the longest, he didn’t. Ronaldinho also was a better all-around player than both of them. He was a maestro, truly, and also could score great goals, a sambafoot maestro, that’s the best kind of footballer, infact, Ronaldinho is the only sambafoot maestro to live. You watch, it’s not real life, he truly exemplified the best of 2000′s.
and finally
3) Barcelona Hexacampions!!! They’re the greatest club football team of all time, yes Real Madrid have the 11 CLs but they could never win 3 trophies in one season, or 6 trophies in one year. I’m not biased on this one either. Pep Guardiola, a new manager, takes Barcelona to the top in one season? That’s unhuman. 2009 Barcelona played the most beautiful football ever, and the best. Nothing else to say, I ♥ FC Barcelona:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdr1slHz9…
wanna add anything else??
What Big Events Are Happening In South Africa In 2010?
1. The Fifa world cup
2010 Fifa…remembering A Decade…2009 Barcelona Are Hexacampions!!!?
What a decade it was for 2000′s…war, global warming, dying economy, faster internet, cell phones, Britney and Beyonce, Kim Kardashian, Brangelina, TomKat, Spiderman 3, ipods and iphones, Minis and smart cars, Bush and Obama, AIG, Enron, Microsoft v Apple, Pope John Paul III is out and Benedict is in, Afghanistan and Iraq, pirates in Somalia, Pirates of the Carribean, swine flu, facebook, youtube and let’s not forget…Yahoo Answers!!!
But let’s ponder on the world’s greatest sport in this decade, France and Euro 2008, Bayern 2001, the finale of the Galacticos, Brazil’s World Cup in 2002, Beckham sadly a world icon, Milan wins shootout, 2004…Mourinho to Ronaldinho, Lucky Greece, Lucky Liverpool, beautiful Barcelona, Italy campione del mondo 2006, Milan get revenge, rise of Messi and CRonaldo, EPL best in 2007-08, oh the drama in Moscow…
But none of that was comparable to 2008-2009 Barcelona!!!
Yes they are the greatest team of all time.
It’s the start of the 08-09 La Liga, new manager Pep Guardiola is now in charge. Ronaldinho, Zambrotta, Giovani and Deco are gone, but Daniel Alves and Hleb come in. Doesn’t seem so great from here for Barcelona, especially when they lose the first game to Numancia and draw the next game vs Racing Santander. But the CL was different, their first game against Sporting Lisbon was easy, a 3-1 victory, first of the season. Then Barcelona destroy Sporting Gijon 6-1, destroy Atletico 6-0, Almeria 5-0, Basel 5-0, Sporting again 5-2, Valencia 4-0. It was time to prove themselves vs Real Madrid, and Barcelona wins 2-0, they are on top of La Liga, on top of the world.
It’s 2009 now, they haven’t lost a game since Numancia until they lose to Espanyol. In the Round of 16, they face Lyon, but after coming from a loss, they only manage for a 1-1 draw, but not as bad because it’s an away goal. Sadly Barcelona lose again to Atletico 3-4, but it was still a great match. They beat Lyon 4-0 at Camp Nou, and cruise through Bayern 4-0 at Camp Nou, meanwhile destroying Deportivo 5-0 and Malaga 6-0. Messi is the best in the world since this season started.
But here comes trouble, Chelsea FC, who stopped the Barcelona attack and held them 0-0 at Camp Nou, putting pressure on Barcelona to get away goals. Meanwhile, Barcelona travel to Madrid for El Clasico at the Santiago Bernebeu. Though Higuain scores first for Real Madrid, Henry and Puyol quickly strike back, and for Real Madrid it’s downhill. The final score, 6-2, goals from Messi, Xavi and Pique. It would be Barcelona’s last win in La Liga, but it basically gave Barcelona the La Liga title for 2008-09, 1/3 trophies were completed.
At Stamford Bridge, it’s May 6, Essien scores a brilliant volley, Chelsea had the lead almost the entire game. But magically (also credit to Tom Ovrebo), Andres Iniesta gets the pass from Messi and nails it in the top right corner. Iniesta and Barcelona celebrate at Stamford Bridge, even with 10 men. No matter what conspiracy “helped” Barcelona, Iniesta was pure magic, unearthly.
After cruising through the Copa del Rey, Barcelona face Athletic Bilbao at the Mestalla in Valencia. Toquero scores first for Bilbao, but after Yaya Toure makes a brilliant goal, it’s all level. Messi then lifts Barcelona 1 up in the 54th. Bojan then hits the nail on the coffin 3 minutes later, 4-1 would be the score, 2/3 trophies for Barcelona.
It’s May 27th, and what a venue to hold the Champions League Final, Barcelona vs Manchester United, two of the best teams in the world going at it Gladiator style (jk). La Liga v EPL, Messi v CRonaldo, Super Attack v Super Defence, there’s a myth that you can’t win a championship by playing beautiful, can Barcelona break it? Yes they did. After Manchester United controlled the first 10 minutes, Iniesta gives it to Eto’o, he shoots and scores for Barcelona, they are 1 up after 10 minutes. The game is still alive, but can Barcelona do more? Yes they can, Xavi curls a cross to Messi, in his new electric blue F50i’s, and goes airbourne, he heads it to the right corner of the net and Barcelona are up by 2, 20 minutes from completing a treble. 20 minutes later, Massimo Bussacca blows the whistle and Barcelona are 3/3, Tri-Campions. Barcelona make history and become the first Spanish club to win a treble. Can you believe that Real Madrid never won 3 trophies in one season, even with all the superstars they had. And can you believe that Pep Guardiola, a new manager, would lead Barcelona to so much success? I didn’t, but it happened!!!
What else is there to prove??? Well a lot actually. After Eto’o, Gudjohnsen, Hleb and Sylvinho leave, Ibrahimovic, Maxwell, Chygrynsky, and a bunch of youth players (Gai, Muniesa, Jonathan, Thiago) come in. Barcelona are now in the Supercopa against Bilbao, and though de Marcos gives Bilbao the lead before the half, Xavi and Pedro score, and Barcelona win the first leg away 2-1.
Do You Think That My Hometown (south Africa) Will Have Everything Ready By 2010?
SA is going to host the FIFA World Cup. Do you think there will be enough of everything for everyone to go around?
2010 Fifa…i Have Something To Say?
I don’t deserve Romanis’s User of the Year Award. Yeah I’m a good choice but obviously I thought 3 people were better, and they’re all girls:
Dark Mistress and Stefy should share it 
I mean they ask like 5 or 6 Q’s in a row for the majority. It’s not about points, it’s about having fun that’s what I like about them 
But really, I would have given it to Bella, she was a really smart user, loyal to her club, loyal to her NT, loyal to her favorite footy player (Pirlo), non-loyal to her rivals, loyal to almost everyone here, very fun to talk to you, friendly, yeah I pretty much summed it up. She was the best, that’s why I miss her so muc 
Compared to me, she’s awesome. I’m ashamed to say I’m more of a Barcelona fan than a US fan, it’s awesome to be a Barcelona fan don’t get me wrong, but I have to support my home country somewhat, and I don’t really like to support USA in the World Cup. I’m not a total Barcelona fan like MJ and Dubya are, I still have a burden for Arsenal and Milan. Mexico NT…I should dislike them, but I really don’t, they have a good squad and I appreciate them. I also made myself too unbiased even though I am sometimes.
I’m only a 17 year old kid, and I have more free time than adults here like Miranda and Bella, so of course i’m going to answer alot of Q’s, and i sometimes vote for myself as best answer.
Yeah, well I appreciate getting the award, I’ll keep it I guess but just saying…some people here were better than me 
Keep it cool, FIFA 
Best Way To Prepare For A World Cup, Have El Tri Join El Clausura 2010?
WTF, yea thats what I said also. But Mr. Lebrija says that one of the best ways for el Tri to prepare themselves for the WC is to have la Seleccion Mexicana be added as a team into the FMF. Meaning that you would see, America vs Mexico, Chivas vs Mexico,Toluca vs Mexico etc etc.
He stated:
“Una propuesta es que la Selección se integre al campeonato y que en vez de 18 equipos sean 19, con eso van a tener realmente una actividad permanente, que sea un equipo más y que juegue siempre como visitante, entre comillas”
Kinda wierd but what do you guys think of this????
BQ: Should the FMF pay the seleccionados instead of the Club team, for the proposed 60 days they want to concentrate for the WC? FIFA is going to give 4 thousand Euros daily to FMF for each player on the team, but only until they are at South Africa. Presidents of club teams in Mexico, are suggesting that if the players are not with the Club, then the FMF should pay their salires for that time away from the club. What do you guys think of this?
Is There A Fifa Or Pes Guru Out There? Would There Be Road To The Worldcup Game For 2010 Or 2011?
I would like to know if we will be able to play as some of the countries such as Honduras or others.
Usually we can’t play as this countries because the have never qualified to a world cup.
Any idea if we will be able to play it this or next year?
Can Ronaldo (r9) Return To The Brazil National Team After This Injury And Can He Make It To Wc 2010?
If he were to make it to 2010 it would be his 5th World Cup and he could try and extend his record of 15 goals in finals. He would be 33 going on 34 if he made it to the Fifa World Cup in South Africa. But the first obstacle would simply be leaping over players like Fabiano, Pato, Afonso Alves and the rest of the Brazilian strikers in the Brazilian squad as of recent to get the yellow shirt once more. People have this argument about Beckham getting 100 caps for England, let us not forget Ronaldo has 97 Brazil caps and is 12 goals behind Pele in all time leading scorer for the National team.
