South Africa Begins Quest for 2010 Cup
South Africa, long considered a strong candidate to stage the World Cup in 2010, Thursday became the first country to officially announce that it will bid to host the quadrennial world championship in eight years’ time.
“The bid is going ahead,” Danny Jordaan, the bid’s chief executive officer, said in Johannesburg after the South African Football Assn. formally endorsed the plan. “For us now, it’s all systems go, but I think it’s going to be a tough bid.”
FIFA, the governing body of the sport, has limited the bidding to African countries and told those that wish to bid to indicate their intention by Dec. 31. Libya and Morocco have expressed interest, as have Nigeria and Egypt.
Garcia Aspe Retires
Midfielder Alberto Garcia Aspe, a veteran of the USA ‘94, France ’98 and Korea/Japan ’02 World Cups and a reliable and influential player during his 108 appearances for Mexico’s national team, has announced his retirement, five days shy of his 35th birthday.
Argentine Fans Riot
Hooligans associated with the Argentine club Gimnasia-La Plata twice attacked a bus carrying the players and coaches of Bolivian league leader Bolivar, pelting the vehicle with stones, breaking its windows and injuring Bolivar goalkeeper Jose Fernandez.
The incidents occurred while the bus was traveling from Buenos Aires to La Plata, where Bolivar was to play a Copa Sudamericana quarterfinal game Wednesday night.
“We’re OK, thank God,” said Fernandez, who was sidelined after a piece of glass become lodged in his eye. “There were two attacks, one on the motorway and one at the entrance to the stadium. It was madness. I thought they were going to get on and kill us.”
The game was delayed but eventually was played, with Gimnasia-La Plata winning, 2-0, but losing the two-game series, 4-3, and being eliminated.
South Korea Wins
A superlative goal seven minutes into sudden-death overtime by Jung Jo-Gook Thursday gave South Korea a 1-0 victory over Japan in the final of the Asian Under-20 Championship in Dohar, Qatar.
