Uganda bids to host 2010 teams
Apr 16, 2007
Officials from the world soccer governing body FIFA will today inspect local facilities and decide their suitability to host build-up games before the 2010 World Cup.
By Norman Katende
and Reuters
Officials from the world soccer governing body FIFA will today inspect local facilities and decide their suitability to host build-up games before the 2010 World Cup.
FIFA officials David Petranshvili and Essan Ahmed will check Mandela National Stadium Namboole and the several hotels currently being prepared for the Commonwealth meeting—CHOGM.
Charles Masembe, the chief executive of the Uganda soccer governing body FUFA, revealed yesterday that Namboole was high on the list of likely training venues before the World Cup starts. Namboole has a seating capacity of 40,202.
“They are looking for venues in Africa that will help the visiting countries acclimatise to the South African weather,†Masembe said.
After the inspection, the officials will conduct a one-day seminar fully sponsored by FIFA with officials from the education and sports ministry, National Council of Sports, FUFA’s marketing and security officials, the police, and the Internal Security Organisation.
According to Masembe, the seminar will also be used by FUFA to prepare for the key Nations Cup game against Nigeria on June 2.
Organisers of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa are also seeking a change in FIFA rules to allow visiting teams be based in neighbouring countries like Mozambique and Swaziland.
“This is Africa’s World Cup and we are making a case to FIFA for a change in the rules,†said Danny Jordaan, chief executive of the South African organising committee.
Under existing rules, the 31 visiting teams can set up training camps outside the host country before the finals but would have to move to South Africa at least seven days before their opening match and remain there.
Jordaan said organisers had asked FIFA to consider allowing teams to stay at bases in neighbouring countries and travel to South Africa on the day before their matches. The bases would be within a 90-minute plane journey of the match venues.
Johannesburg is a four-hour plane journey from Entebbe.
and Reuters
Officials from the world soccer governing body FIFA will today inspect local facilities and decide their suitability to host build-up games before the 2010 World Cup.
FIFA officials David Petranshvili and Essan Ahmed will check Mandela National Stadium Namboole and the several hotels currently being prepared for the Commonwealth meeting—CHOGM.
Charles Masembe, the chief executive of the Uganda soccer governing body FUFA, revealed yesterday that Namboole was high on the list of likely training venues before the World Cup starts. Namboole has a seating capacity of 40,202.
“They are looking for venues in Africa that will help the visiting countries acclimatise to the South African weather,†Masembe said.
After the inspection, the officials will conduct a one-day seminar fully sponsored by FIFA with officials from the education and sports ministry, National Council of Sports, FUFA’s marketing and security officials, the police, and the Internal Security Organisation.
According to Masembe, the seminar will also be used by FUFA to prepare for the key Nations Cup game against Nigeria on June 2.
Organisers of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa are also seeking a change in FIFA rules to allow visiting teams be based in neighbouring countries like Mozambique and Swaziland.
“This is Africa’s World Cup and we are making a case to FIFA for a change in the rules,†said Danny Jordaan, chief executive of the South African organising committee.
Under existing rules, the 31 visiting teams can set up training camps outside the host country before the finals but would have to move to South Africa at least seven days before their opening match and remain there.
Jordaan said organisers had asked FIFA to consider allowing teams to stay at bases in neighbouring countries and travel to South Africa on the day before their matches. The bases would be within a 90-minute plane journey of the match venues.
Johannesburg is a four-hour plane journey from Entebbe.