Lobbying begins to
be 2010 base camp
By Nangamso Mabindla
26 June 2008
BUILDING Buffalo City’s profile as a potential base camp for the FIFA 2010 World Cup™ has begun in earnest, with international lobbyist Bruce Broydrick attending a workshop with the City and other stakeholders on Wednesday, 25 June.
The workshop aimed to look at the potential the city has to host one of the teams participating in the biggest sporting event in the world. Broydrick, who is based in Milwaukee, in the United States, came to Buffalo City because of the sister cities relationship it has with Milwaukee County.
Attending the workshop were City officials; South African Football Association Border region officials; Les Holbrook, from the Border Kei Chamber of Business; and other interested stakeholders.
Executive Mayor Zintle Peter said that it was important for the City to develop an effective lobbying strategy to be a base camp for the Confederations Cup in 2009 and the World Cup the following year.
“We need a strategy that will use 2010 as an opportunity to sell the city. We also need to remember that the World Cup is not only about soccer; it is also about relationships, meeting new people and understanding different cultures.”
She said the World Cup was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and urged the City to make sure that people benefited from it. “The World Cup is short lived and we need to ensure maximum benefit for our city. We also need to have a profit-oriented approach and work hard at lobbying. We also need to look at our own capacity to be a base camp and be realistic.”
The Eastern Cape 2010 strategic manager, Gogo Manqoyi, said she was happy with the progress the City had made in its efforts to be a base camp in 2010.
“I have to commend the Buffalo City 2010 team for the work that has been done in the city. I think the city is also the first to initiate lobbying for the World Cup.”
About R10-million will be used to upgrade the Absa Stadium, which has been earmarked as a training facility for the World Cup
She said the provincial government gave it R50-million to spend on improvements to boost its chances to be a base camp; R10-million of that would be used on improving the Absa Stadium, which had been earmarked as a training facility for the World Cup.
However, Manqoyi spoke out about the state of accommodation in East London. “This week we have a tournament and I have noticed that accommodation is lacking in East London; this is something that Buffalo City needs to look at ahead of the World Cup.”
Speaking about the province’s readiness for the 2009 and 2010 football tournaments, Manqoyi said the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium would be ready.
“We will be handing over the stadium to FIFA representatives in November, so the work there is ahead of schedule. We will also host games during the Confederations Cup and places like Buffalo City and King Sabatha Dalindyebo stand to benefit,” she said.
Broydrick said Buffalo City needed to develop a package to lobby some of the teams taking part in the World Cup. “We need to have something that outlines our strengths to be a base camp for the World Cup. Buffalo City should not miss this opportunity.”
Teams that the City would like to encourage to set up base camp in East London include Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden and the United States of America.
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