By Nangamso Mabindla
31 January 2007

BUFFALO City's executive mayor, Zintle Peter, has called for the strengthening of a seven-year-old partnership between the municipality and its Swedish counterpart, the City of Gävle.

The mayor was welcoming Swedish Premier League team Gefle IF at a function at the East London City Hall on 30 January. City officials, the Eastern Cape's MEC for sports, recreation, arts and culture, Noxolo Abrahams-Ntantiso, Border Cricket's CEO Themba Lupuwana, and prominent members of the Buffalo City business community also attended the dinner.

The team is in the city for a pre-season training camp.

The visit also forms part of the two cities' bi-annual meetings.

Peter said Gefle IF's visit was important because the younger residents of Buffalo City loved soccer. "Our youth are waiting in anticipation for the 2010 Fifa World Cup and we feel that the showpiece will do a lot for soccer development in the city," she said.

Although the city will not be hosting any 2010 tournament matches, the municipality will use every opportunity to market the city as a base camp for competing teams.

"That is why we have set up a steering committee tasked with bringing the World Cup to our door step. We are hoping that this partnership we have with Gävle will assist us in developing sport in our city," Peter added.

"And, it is this partnership that has brought Gefle IF here in Buffalo City."

Partnerships with global cities are important for good international relations and help influence international policies.

"These partnerships help us demonstrate to the world that social interaction between different states is possible. Swedish people are always welcomed in our city and we hope that our partnership continues to grow from strength to strength," Peter said.

The mayor added that she would like to see an exchange of personnel and students between Buffalo City and Gävle.