'We need Madiba'

2004-05-18 08:49

Debbie Sauer

Port Elizabeth - "We have nine votes in the bag, but we need Madiba."

This was the personal plea Danny Jordaan, chief executive of the South African bid committee, made to President Thabo Mbeki to make sure that South Africa secure the bid to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup tournament.

At a media conference at Port Elizabeth Airport on Monday, where Jordaan was given a hero's welcome, he specifically referred to the contribution of former president Nelson Mandela and Mbeki to secure the bid.

"As executive president, Mbeki took control over the proposals and checked every word, taking some out and adding others as he saw fit," Jordaan said about the president's involvement.

Commenting on Mandela's role, Jordaan said he explained to Mbeki that Mandela had to be there and Mbeki contacted the former president.

"If my president says I have to go, I will have to go," was Mandela's reply. This was despite the fact that Madiba's doctor advised him not to travel.

At the announcement of the winning bid, they had to make sure that Mandela got to his seat as soon as possible so that he did not become too tired. This took careful planning because Madiba likes to stop to speak to people and always asks after everyone's welfare, Jordaan said.

Mandela did not return to South Africa with the rest of the delegation. He is apparently resting on a farm in England with friends until May 24.

About Mandela's role to win additional votes, Jordaan said Mandela spoke to several Fifa members before the announcement and again in Zurich. "However, it is difficult to say when the deciding moment was."

Jordaan said the delegation relaxed when they heard Madiba was on his way to Zurich.

He said they had to be fairly sure that South Africa would secure the bid before getting Mandela to attend the official announcement because "we could not allow Madiba to sit there and then our name was not in the envelope".

He said they discussed the matter for a long time, but were so assured about the success of the technical side of the bid that they decided it was a "safe risk".

Jordaan said Fifa even agreed to postpone the announcement to wait for Madiba's arrival.

Jordaan also had good news about ticket sales. He said it was a soccer tournament for Africa and the ordinary soccer enthusiast had to be taken into account. That is why R800 for a ticket was out of the question. There will definitely be different levels of prices.

- Die Burger