Bafana must be 'world-class'

2004-08-01 16:49

Cape Town - The challenge South Africa faced ahead of the 2010 soccer World Cup was to build not only stadiums, but also a world-class team, bid company CEO Danny Jordaan said on Sunday.

"For the World Cup to be successful and profitable, it's important we have a winning team," he told a seminar hosted by SA Football Association Western Province in Cape Town.

The business of football, and the issue of profitability, was linked to success on the field. This would require strong grassroots football in South Africa in the buildup to the tournament, he said.

On Tuesday an announcement would be made about Safa evaluation teams that would visit the cities earmarked to host the matches, and look at their stadiums, transport, hotels and other facilities. This information would be used in deciding where to place the World Cup groupings.

Speaking to Sapa after the presentation, Jordaan declined to comment on Safa's recent decision to award him, bid company president Irvin Khoza and Safa president Molefi Oliphant bonuses of R7.4-million each after tax for getting the tournament awarded to South Africa.

Instead he referred questions to Safa-WP president and member of the Safa executive, Vernon Seymour.

Asked how the amount was arrived at, Seymour said Safa had set up a remuneration committee headed by a chartered accountant who had looked at practice after the rugby and cricket world cups hosted by South Africa.

He had also looked at international practice in terms of winning and losing bids.

"For example the Moroccan bid was lost, but they were paid I think R14-million in our terms each for the top three members of their bid.

"Those kinds of factors went into the recommendations."

The principle was to regard hard work, and success in achievement, Seymour said.

Asked how the money would be paid, he said Safa, which at the moment is in the red, would work to build up its coffers and achieve "some stability in our financial affairs".

"Once we have made some additional money, once we have done some regeneration, we will get the monies to the individuals."

The money would be paid as soon as it was viable for Safa to do so.

- SAPA