Cameroonian team checks out city
By Tabisa Mntengwana
08 January 2009
A CAMEROONIAN delegation has left Buffalo City after inspecting its football facilities, accommodation and entertainment centres. It was the first visit by the Cameroonians.
The delegation was in town from 5 to 7 January, and included the first vice-president of the Cameroon Football Association, David Mayebi; the director of general affairs in the ministry of sport and physical education, Gabriel Aldouche Djan; the legal adviser to the minister of sport and physical education, Andre Duclear Mangoua; and Cyprian Fondufe Wongibe, the Cameroonian technical adviser.
According to a press statement issued by the City, the visit was a follow-up of a recent trip to Cameroon, led by Buffalo City Executive Mayor Zukisa Faku, to lobby the national team of the West African country to consider East London as a team base camp and training venue for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. Cameroon’s national team is known as the Indomitable Lions.
Among the guests who were at the East London Airport to welcome the delegation were the City’s 2010 project manager, Roy Young, and the director for executive support services, Vuyo Zambodla. The visitors were handpicked by Cameroon’s minister of sport and physical education, Michel Zoah, to assess Buffalo City and its viability.
Speaking about the purpose of the visit, Zambodla said: “The visit is to follow up on the lobbying presentations made by Buffalo City in Cameroon to now get a hands-on feel of the city of East London and specifically the proposed 2010 World Cup venues for team base camp and training venues.
“This visit is another very significant step forward in the 2010 lobbying for Cameroon.”
At a press conference held in the new council chambers at the East London City Hall, Faku said: “I’m very optimistic that Cameroon will give us positive feedback when they have taken their decision.”
Mayebi added that Buffalo City was the first city to invite the country to inspect its facilities and “we are delighted to know that there are FIFA accredited structures in this area”.
They kicked off a tour of the city at 10.30am yesterday after the press conference, with the Blue Lagoon Hotel being the first stop.
From there it was on to Buffalo City Stadium and Buffalo Park Stadium. The Premier Cascades Hotel was the last stop.
“We are happy to have seen these facilities for ourselves and we are impressed with what we have seen so far,” said Mayebi.
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