the arena of progressive thought

www.ziwaphi.com

ZIWAPHI • VOL 4 NO 15 • 9-22 July 2010 

Mbombela/Nelspruit 

This Sunday marks the end of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, which so far has been dubbed a success by not only the country’s President Jacob Zuma but also the President of FIFA, Sepp Blatter and millions of soccer lovers from around the globe.

And according to the MEC for Sport, Vusi Shongwe, the province has also performed extremely well as a host city.

This province was selected by FIFA to host four 2010 Soccer World Cup games in the newly built ‘State of the Art’ Mbombela Stadium, which Shongwe said the province stood up as a great host silencing many critics.

The MEC spoke exclusively to Ziwaphi where he sang praises for the province and its undoubted capabilities of hosting the World’s most spectacular sport event.

The lively Shongwe said he felt humbled and honoured to have been part of history in the making and took time to give thanks to all the people who made this event a marvel to remember.

“I am happy and proud that the province has made history by successfully hosting these games without any hindrances and major accidents. I am really proud and moved by the support Mpumalanga citizens have demonstrated towards all the teams and visiting fans we hosted here in Mbombela and especially Chile,” said Shongwe.

“I am confident that our guests will have wonderful stories and memories to tell, long after they have left the province,” he went on.

Shongwe also took the opportunity to lash out at critics who ruled out the provinces’ chances and capabilities of hosting some of the games.

“There were those who kept pulling us down saying we would never be successful hosts, I guess we have proven them wrong. We have managed to do everything right and according to plan and because of this World Cup we stand to benefit immensely in terms of infrastructure, better health facilities and the relationships we have created with other countries, certainly this World Cup will leave a lasting legacy.”