South Africa Expected to Get 2010 World Cup
Barring a stunning upset, South Africa today should be awarded the right to stage the World Cup in 2010.
On Friday, Tunisia withdrew its bid, leaving only the South Africans, along with Egypt, Libya and Morocco, fighting to play host to international soccer’s quadrennial world championship.
South Africa called on some powerful political figures in its final effort to persuade FIFA’s executive committee to vote in its favor. President Thabo Mbeki presented his country’s case, and was supported by former presidents Nelson Mandela and Frederik W. de Klerk.
South Africa, which has successfully staged the cricket and rugby world championships in recent years and which lost by a single vote to Germany in its effort to stage the 2006 World Cup, also was backed by former players George Weah of Liberia, Roger Milla of Cameroon and Abedi Pele of Ghana.
Morocco, South Africa’s main rival, turned to royalty, film and otherwise, to argue its cause in Zurich, Switzerland.
Among those speaking on its behalf, either in person or on video, were Algerian-born actress Isabelle Adjani; Prince Moulay Rachid, the brother of Morocco’s King Mohammed VI; France ’98 World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane; Abdoulaye Wade, the president of Senegal; Portugal Coach Luis Felipe Scolari, who led Brazil to the 2002 World Cup; world mile record holder Hicham El Guerrouj; Felipe Gonzalez, the former prime minister of Spain; and Moroccan-born Just Fontaine, whose 13 goals for France in the 1958 World Cup remains a record.
Egyptian actor Omar Sharif summed up Egypt’s longshot chance of being selected by telling FIFA’s leaders that, “I took some extra insurance. I lit a candle for St. Rita, the patron saint of lost causes.”
Libya, with no chance of being chosen, said it was simply happy to be part of the process.
In England, meanwhile, the Guardian newspaper estimated that South Africa and Morocco each were assured of eight votes, with the other eight votes on the 24-member FIFA executive committee still undecided.
The Guardian also reported that “the U.S. ambassador to Morocco, Thomas Riley, revealed last month that Washington supports Morocco’s bid” because of Morocco’s support for the U.S. war on terrorism.
Hamm to Retire
Mia Hamm, who made her debut for the United States at 15 in 1987 and has since scored a world-record 149 international goals, announced in New York that she would retire after the Athens Olympics.
“I’ve enjoyed every minute and I’ve learned a lot, but it’s time to take the next step in my life,” the two-time world champion and Olympic gold and silver medal winner said at a news conference in New York.
After more than two decades of playing soccer, Hamm, 32, the wife of Boston Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, said she wants to spend time with her husband and family.
“I might want to have children, and I want to reconnect with my family, which has always been there for me,” she said. “I want to be the best wife I can be.”
Atletico Madrid’s Gil Dies
One of soccer’s more flamboyant and controversial figures, Atletico Madrid owner Jesus Gil, died at 71 after suffering a stroke on Sunday.
Known for hiring and firing coaches on a whim, Gil changed Atletico’s coach 19 times during one six-year spell. The club enjoyed some success during his 17 years in charge and won the Spanish league and cup double in 1996, a feat he celebrated by riding his horse Emperor through the streets of Madrid.
“He was a personality in the world of sport,” said Jose Maria Echevarria, president of the Spanish Olympic Committee. “He shook things up and guided, with many difficulties, a big club like Atletico.”
Gil, a real estate magnate who was also mayor of the resort town of Marbella, clashed frequently with authorities and was jailed on several occasions, most notably for criminal negligence in the death of 58 people when a building he owned collapsed, as well as on charges ranging from misuse of public funds, fraud, embezzlement and misappropriation of team funds.
Galaxy Seeks Streak
Having ended its 17-game winless streak on the road with a 3-1 victory at Dallas last Saturday, the Galaxy will try to extend its unbeaten run at home to five games when it plays the Colorado Rapids tonight at the Home Depot Center.
“Colorado is a good team,” Coach Sigi Schmid said. “[Chris] Henderson and [Mark] Chung are two dangerous players. I don’t know if [2003 leading scorer John] Spencer will be back this weekend, but he’s obviously a very key player for them....
“I think we have to put them under a little more pressure like we did in the second half in Colorado when we played much better than in the first half. We have to do a better job of holding the ball and putting some pressure on their defense.”
The Galaxy tied Colorado, 1-1, in Denver on April 17.
Brazil vs. France
World champion Brazil has released three players from next week’s FIFA Centenary match against 1998 world champion France in Paris because they have club commitments.
Goalkeeper Marcos and midfielder Felipe instead will play for Palmeiras and Flamengo, respectively, in the quarterfinals of the Copa Brasil, and forward Luis Fabiano will play for Sao Paulo in a Copa Libertadores quarterfinal against Deportivo Tachira of Venezuela.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich said it would ban its players from taking part in the May 20 centenary game, because the club is fighting to finish second in the German Bundesliga and thus secure a place in the European Champions League.
Those involved are France defenders Bixente Lizarazu and Willy Sagnol and Brazil midfielder Ze Roberto.
France already will be without seven other players because they will be playing in either the final game of the French league season, the UEFA Cup final or the English F.A. Cup final.
--Compiled by Grahame L. Jones
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The Contenders
African nations hoping to play host to World Cup 2010:
SOUTH AFRICA
Stadiums -- 13 (nine current and four planned). Hosts -- 1995 Rugby World Cup, 2003 Cricket World Cup. Previous bids -- 2006 (lost to Germany by one vote). Positives -- Healthy economy and well-established infrastructure. Negatives -- High crime rate; long distance to reach.
MOROCCO
Stadiums -- Nine (three current, three under construction, three planned). Hosts -- 1976 African Nations Cup. Previous bids -- 1994 (lost to United States), 1998 (France), 2006 (Germany). Positives -- Easy access from Europe, pioneering African nation in finals (four appearances). Negatives -- Close ties to terrorist organizations.
EGYPT
Stadiums -- 12 (five current and seven planned). Hosts -- African Nations Cup three times. Previous bids -- none. Positives -- Strong tourism attraction; first African member of FIFA (1923). Negatives -- Ailing economy; lack of hotels outside of Cairo, Red Sea resorts.
LIBYA
Stadiums -- Eight (all planned). Hosts -- none. Previous bids -- none. Positives -- Strong fan base; soccer connections of Kadafi family. Negatives -- Two decades of political isolation; little infrastructure in place.
