As the count down for the selection of the host country of the 2006 world soccer Final gradually begins the various prospective contestants have intensified their campaigns and lobbying tactics while others have changed strategies and are adopting a continental approach for the backing of their candidacies Pressure groups have already been formed the South American European and African levels respectively in a bid garner support for their candidacies.
At the European level ,the two contestants ;Germany and England are leaving no stone unturned in their bid to host this historic event. German interior Minister
Otto Schily told the national Football Federation boss EgidiusBraun on December 7 ,1998 that Chancellor Gerrhard Schroeders new government fully supports the bid to host the 2006World cup. According to a FIFA Official on December161998,Englands chances of hosting the World Cup had not been reduced by the resignation of its Football Association CE Graham Kelly over a scandal involving a 3 million pounds loan to the Football Association of Wales so that the latter should back the bid of Chairman Keith Wise man to become a FIFA Vice President and enable him influence a decision by World Soccer ruling body on where the 2006 Cup should be held.
As the mobilisation by the African continent to host the 2006 World Soccer final gathers stem, especially as spear-headed by Cameroonian born Issa Hayatou: president of the African Football Confederation Egypt, morocco and the Republic of South Africa each seems to be pushing its case through .But our main concern here is the Republic of South Africa. Despite the existence of a good number of stadiums like the FNB stadium Ellis Park and others in Cape town ,Port Elizabeth Durban and others, and its advanced technical infrastructure and telecommunication system, South runs the risk of losing this bid because of its high crime rate record which makes it rank amongst the first two most risky countries in the world. This may certainly be detrimental to her bid to host this soccer final for it is not only a Soccer event but also a touristic bonanza. With the numerous cases of murder, rape especially of tourists, kidnapping assault and theft, FIFA officials and World opinion need to be convinced of South Africas preparedness to host this event mindful of the economic interest at stake and the safty of its Officials and foreign spectators. Safety and Security minister Sedney Mofamady and Sports Minister Steven Tshwete certainly have a hard nut to crackto convince FIFA and World opinion that South Africa is a safe country to host this event. Her detractors would certainly use this as a weapon against her . that notwithstanding, another school of thought holds that if South Africa could effectively host the 1996 African Nation Cup and is presently leaving no stone unturned to make the 1999 All African Games a resounding success ,for it does not lack the human and logistic resources to successfully host the 2006 event all South Africa needs to do is to redouble its effort like the upgrading of the FNB stadium which is underway and the beefing up of its security.
But as the countdown continues, South Africa’s good number of stadiums, its advanced technical infrastructure and telecommunication system do not suffice in themselves. Securities Officials need to allay the fears of FIFA and world opinion for FIFA can diplomatically turn down South Africa bid while preferring a European, Latin American or another African country.