By Nangamso Mabindla
14 November 2007

BIG time soccer is again bound for Buffalo City as the municipality prepares to lure some of Europe's top sides for a tournament to be held in East London in January 2008.

The tournament is part of the city's preparations for the biggest football event to be played in Africa, the 2010 Fifa World Cup™. Earlier this year, it hosted a match between Swedish first division side Gefle IF and Premier Soccer League (PSL) pace setters Bloemfontein Celtics.

Next year's tournament could feature PSL champions Mamelodi Sundowns, Bloemfontein Celtics, Ajax Cape Town and Moroka Swallows locking horns with Russian side Dynamo Moscow, Czech Republic side Slavia Prague, Swedish side IF Götteborg and Ghanaian side Hearts of Oak.

Speaking about the tournament, to be played from 19 to 31 January, the City's 2010 World Cup project manager, Roy Young, said that the municipality was on schedule with its preparations.

"We met a Russian delegation and they were impressed with the facilities to be used for the tournament. They were also impressed with our hotels and the Absa and Jan Smuts stadiums."

However, despite getting a nod of approval from the Russians, Young said that some of the facilities still needed work.

"We are upgrading the Jan Smuts field, which will be used as a training facility for the tournament. At the Absa Stadium we will be upgrading part of the grand stand, the media centre and the drainage system around the stadium. We are spending a total of R3,4-million on these facilities."

During the tournament, the participating international teams will host coaching clinics in Buffalo City's disadvantaged areas

He said that the months of January and February would also have economic spin-offs for the city's hospitality industry as it would be hosting three different tournaments at the time.

In January, international athletes and spectators will be in the city for the Ironman 70.3 event. After that, international soccer teams and fans will be in the city for the soccer tournament; and in February South African athletes and tourists will be in the city for the South African Triathlon championships.

"2010 is not only about soccer; in January we will host Ironman 70.3 and the soccer tournament, and in February we will host the South African Triathlon. If all of these are successful; then our city will be on the map and everyone will know that we are ready to be a base camp in 2010," Young added.

During the tournament, the participating international teams would host coaching clinics in Buffalo City's disadvantaged areas.

"We hope to take them to places like Parkside, King William's Town, Mdantsane and Dimbaza to teach our youngsters a thing or two about professional football."