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Wednesday, 30 July, 2003, 17:21 GMT 18:21 UK

SA bank on foreign teams

By Mark Gleeson
BBC Sport, Cape Town

South Africa bid executive chairman Danny Jordaan South Africa's World Cup campaign chief Danny Jordaan believes visits by foreign teams are an integral part of the strategy to win the 2010 World Cup race.

South Africa has hosted four different teams since April, the latest being the English Premiership side Tottenham Hotspur.

Previously, Bafana Bafana played against Jamaica, England and Trinidad and Tobago in three separate internationals in April, May and June.

Jordaan, who is the chief executive officer of the 2010 Bid Company, told BBC Sport website that the matches offer South Africa international exposure.

" "We're highlighting the quality of our infrastructure, ability to organise and attract commercial support for such events. "
SA 2010 World Cup Bid CEO Danny Jordaan

He said: "What we're doing is highlighting the quality of our infrastructure, our ability to organise and to attract commercial support for events like this.

"People get to see our stadiums on television, they see that we can put on a show and this is vital if we're to host the World Cup."

Although the two games featuring Tottenham Hotspur against the country's two teams - Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs - were played in half-empty stadiums, Jordaan described them as "an unqualified success".

Pirates beat Spurs 2-1 in Durban on Saturday but the English side recovered to beat Chiefs 2-0 on Tuesday night in Cape Town.

"We needed to show that the health of the sport inside the country was just as good and prove that South African club football can compete with teams from the Premier League in England.

"Winning or losing was not important, but just to show we have a strong football culture here, a good professional set-up and that our clubs and our players won't be out of place anywhere in the world."

"We have also left a local legacy with these various visits because all the teams who have been out here have been to the townships to coach the kids and this is important too.

"It means all South Africans feel part of the bid campaign."


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Related to this story:

SA bid off to a flyer (23 May 03  |  African )
SA in shop window (01 Feb 03  |  Africa )
Spurs to aid SA bid (17 Jul 03  |  African )



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