By Fred Kaweesi
in Johannesburg

WORLD governing body FIFA has conveyed a message of condolence to Uganda following the bomb blasts that ripped through Kampala on the night of the World Cup final.

In an emotional speech yesterday, during the official closure of the 2010 World Cup tournament at the International Convention Centre in Sandton, FIFA president Sepp Blatter condemned the attacks that left about 64 people dead and many others still fighting for their lives.

“I heard the unspeakably tragic news with my executive this morning. We cannot find the words to express our sadness. The entire football family mourns with you,” Blatter told a packed media conference here.

Simultaneous explosions ripped through crowds watching the World Cup final at Kyadondo rugby club and the Ethiopian Restaurant in Kabalagala.

Police fear Al Shabab, an Al Qaeda-linked Somali militant group was behind the attacks.

“You know there are several things that are happening around the world. A majority of the things happening, we just can not explain,” Blatter added.

“We can not tell whether the bombs were related to the World Cup or not. We have had similar problems happening around the world before and all being related to football at times.

“I am really sorry to Uganda,” he added.

The attack on the rugby club left tens of people dead. Several Americans from a Pennsylvania church group were wounded in the restaurant attack. The US Embassy in Kampala confirmed one American was killed.

Blatter added that the world soccer governing body would encourage an investigation.

“Unless we investigate, we can’t be sure.

“It’s very difficult to link this incident to the World Cup. We will try to find out if it was really football related,” he pointed.

South Africa praised
With not a single case of hooliganism during the entire tournament, Blatter also spoke of the 2010 World Cup edition as the best ever.

“I give it 9 out of 10. In life you can never be perfect otherwise it would have been 10 out of 10. At University, 9 out of 10 means, you have a doctorate,” Blatter said.

“Every World Cup has its own history and its own culture,” he said.
“It was a World Cup in a new continent with new culture and therefore it must be analysed on different levels.

Compared to the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where the spectre of hooliganism remained ever-present as a number of fan groups brawled with each other and the police. In South Africa, the experience was one of friendship and joyful celebrations throughout.

“If you look at the enthusiasm in South Africa and the TV audiences around the world then it was a special World Cup.

“It was a very attractive World Cup and for me it was also a very emotional World Cup,” Blatter concluded.