By Nangamso Mabindla
23 June 2005

BUFFALO City is in a better position to be part of the 2010 World Cup extravaganza to be hosted by South Africa than it was during the country's failed bid to host the 2006 tournament.

These were the words of Buffalo City Executive Mayor Sindisile Maclean, who was talking about the City's readiness to be part of the biggest tournament to be hosted in Africa.

Early in the week local organising committee chairperson Danny Jordaan made statements about the City not being in the running for hosting a match in 2010. Jordaan said that Buffalo City had not put its name forward to be a host during the extravaganza, which is expected to bring more than R20-billion into the country.

However, Buffalo City's chances have been boosted by its stronger economy, which has strengthened in the past four months. The East London Industrial Development Zone announced investments of R188-million last week.

"We are also negotiating a R1,8-billion golf estate in Gonubie. There is a R100-million shopping centre on the drawing board for Mdantsane and the R100-million investment by the European Union in the Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme," Maclean said.

The City also had backing from various stakeholders, including the partnership with the province's only professional team, Bush Bucks, and car maker DaimlerChrysler - sponsors of Bush Bucks, for a youth soccer programme to prepare for 2010.

"The municipality realised it had to facilitate and lead in formulating policy, establishing a multi-disciplinary team to drive the process, and to integrate socio-economic and political issues into a 2010 investment programme that would see the country's [gross domestic product] rise by R21-billion, with 159 000 jobs created," Maclean said.

For Buffalo City, the World Cup would promote soccer in a rugby- and cricket-mad province, and it would help grow the region's economy.

However, for the City to be in contention for a World Cup spot it needed to have a 40 000-seater stadium as set by soccer's world governing body, Fifa.

"We do not want a stadium that will become a white elephant after the World Cup. We must make sure it is going to be sustainable and well managed and of great value to our city," Maclean said.

The decision on host cities for soccer's biggest tournament will be taken in 2008.