Studs Up

Having the World Cup in Africa is great if you want to expand the world game, and is a horrible idea if you consider everything else that has gone into bringing the tournament there for 2010. If FIFA wants to regularly take the risk in giving its most important, highest profile tournament to a continent full of unstable countries, governments and national footballing bodies just begging to get their hands on the cash, then they should probably have gotten a bit more hands-on, too. You know, just in case things don’t go smoothly?

Alas, with problems pouring out of its arse leading to next year’s tournament, I have a strange sense of dread. Wait did I say strange? I mean due. A due sense of dread.

South Africa is dangerous. I haven’t been, but I know people who have and they say they spent the entire time being warned by locals about how many different ways they may be killed or kidnapped. So that’s probably going to discourage a few people from going. Then there’s the whole economic crisis thing that may make those luxury package trips sell a little slower than usual. Oh and of course there’s the AIDS, which judging by the usual patrons of international football tournaments, would actually impact attendence figures.

So if even if they somehow manage to build the stadiums on time, they might be half full. Can’t wait. I love World Cups and I want this one to be a great showcase of African football, but so far all I’m seeing is a stage for the worst of the continent to show itself.

Good job, Sepp (obligatory insertion of my favourite photo below):