Mozambique, South Africa, Trip to Africa

You'll notice by the long title of this post that I've a lot to cover ... let's get to it.

- Item: Mozambique eyes World Cup tourism windfall

We all knew the World Cup would help out the country of South Africa.
What wasn't as evident was how the tournament would help out the rest of the continent.
Sure, it would instill a sense of confidence & pride.
But what about economically?

According to a report in Reuters, Mozambique, South Africa's neighbor, plans to spend $600 million on new hotels, casinos and other leisure facilities as part of an effort to capitalize on a tourism boom expected when South Africa hosts the 2010 World Cup.

The tournament reaches out and helps the entire continent of Africa ...

In an interview with Reuters on Wednesday, Albino Mahumana, Mozambique's national tourism director, said the southern African nation was hoping to lure a large number of visiting soccer fans to its famous beaches and colonial cities.

More than 300,000 tourists are expected to come to South Africa for the month-long soccer tournament, which begins on June 11, 2010.

The Mozambican capital Maputo is a few hours drive from Nelspruit, one of the nine World Cup host cities, and about six hours from Johannesburg, where the opening and final games will be played.

"We would like Mozambique to be a jewel for visitors when they come for the World Cup," Mahumana said. "Everybody else is focusing on this event, and we would like to make a major difference."

Although one of the world's poorest countries, Mozambique is experiencing an economic boom, and its government is keen to lure more tourists and foreign investors to further boost growth.

Mozambican officials predict that 2007 will be one of the best years for the country's tourism sector in decades, with the government forecasting more than a million visitors and tourism revenue of about $150 million.

Tourists generated $144 million for the former Portuguese colony in 2006, making the sector one of the largest sources of foreign exchange for the country.

Good luck to Mozambique. Their efforts will hopefully be well rewarded.

- Item: 100 Posts, 1100 Days to Go

Today marks my 100th post on this blog.

Coincidentally, tomorrow marks 1,100 days to go. 1,100 days to realize my goal and be in Jo-Burg for the World Cup Final.
So what's my status?

I've made contacts here and there, done research and certainly learned a lot about African football, which is frustrating and beautiful all at the same time.

It's a great analogy for my life at the moment, frustrating and beautiful. I haven't the time to make this blog what I'd like it to be. But the desire is there.
And free time will be coming my way very shortly.

Once that free time becomes available, I'll devour it like a cross into the box to Kanu and make sure to send the ball into the top-left corner, as hard as possible.

So, I'll say thank you to everyone whose path I've crossed in the time I've written this blog. It's amazing what writing a journal like this does. People from all over the world have been so encouraging and helpful. It amazes me and makes me so happy.

And I'll say I'm on my way. I feel the purpose of this blog is only an introduction to the wider projects I have in mind. I haven't played all my cards yet, so stay tuned. It should be an exciting, educational and interesting ride.

Isn't football great?

The stadium will hold the final and opening matches

stadium

So now I know where I'll be in approximately three years time, July 11th, 2010.

Sitting in the sun at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg, sipping on a Castle, chatting with Zola and Desmond Tutu, watching the Final game of the madly successful African World Cup.

FIFA's executive committee let the world know Wednesday that the final game of the World Cup will be held in the legislative capital city, in the 94,700-seat stadium.

The stadium will hold the final and opening matches, five first-round matches, one second-round match and one quarter-final.

Wish me luck!!!

Crime, Racism and Pele Returns to South Africa

Three tidbits on the world of African football from your hard-working friend at this blog, who's still wondering how he'll end up in Johannesburg for the Final.

- The crime situation in South Africa continues to be an issue as the World Cup Finals approach in three years time.

Data from the South African Police Service released on Tuesday showed murders, carjackings and bank robberies rose in South Africa in the past 12 months, dealing a blow to efforts to reduce one of the world's highest crime rates before the country hosts the Finals. The murder rate was up 2.4 percent in the 12 months ending March 31, 2007. There were 19,202 murders in that period, compared with 18,528 in the previous 12 months. Scary numbers.

The rise in certain types of violent crimes was a setback for police, who had targeted a 7 to 10 percent annual decrease for serious crimes.

South African officials noted, however, there had been a decrease in rapes, common robberies and several types of assault.

"The report on crime trends showed that crime levels in South Africa continue to drop. We are deeply concerned though that crime continues to be rife and that the crime rate continues to be high," Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula told a news conference after the report was released.

Africa's biggest economy is battling some of the worst crime rates in the world: some 50 people are murdered and around 150 women report being raped every day according to a report released in March by the Institute for Security Studies.

President Thabo Mbeki (above) has come under fire for playing down the problem although the government has vowed to crack down on criminals and to beef up security to stop violence from spoiling the World Cup.

The first African country to host the tournament, South Africa is expecting up to 3.5 million people to take part in the month-long event, with some 360,000 of them foreigners.

But the continent's economic powerhouse is battling perceptions it is an unsafe destination for tourists, particularly in the poor black townships on the edge of most cities.

Business leaders cite crime as one of the biggest deterrents to investment, and South Africa sent its security minister on a charm offensive in April to convince foreign investors the fight against crime is being won.

- Racism is a rampant social problem in the world of contemporary football.
Issues have recently erupted in Spain & Italy.

Cameroon and Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o has been in the eye of the storm, almost walking off the pitch last season at Real Zaragoza after incessant monkey noises were directed at him.

Eto'o today said players should walk off the pitch if they face racist abuse.

The 26-year-old is furious with lack of action on racism.

"Promises have been made for change - for sanctions to be enforced - but the first move needs to be made and it needs to be made by those who are being subjected to racism," he said.

"Part of me hopes that one day someone will manage to walk off the pitch in protest."

With the new season in Europe fast approaching Eto'o believes the general public also have a role to play in clamping down on the problem.

Eto'o said: "If we experience this in football it means our society is rotten and that means we're in a dangerous situation.

"That's what we need to be fighting against. I think that football is a small thing, but society - just imagine!

"I am treated first and foremost as a footballer, as Samuel Eto'o, but away from the cameras a black man is suffering from racism and nobody cares.

"That's the problem."

- Pele's back! Well, sort of.

Pele is one of more than 50 players of the past and present who will play in a special match in South Africa to honor Nelson Mandela's 89th birthday.

The "90 Minutes for Mandela" match will be played on July 18th at Cape Town's Newlands Stadium and see an African team take on a Rest Of The World side.

Legendary Brazil star Pele, 66, will play and be joined by Ruud Gullit, Samuel Eto'o and Christian Karembeu.

Should be a fun one ...