World Cup concerns after Togo attack "stupid" - Jordaan
JOHANNESBURG (Sapa) - Soccer bosses and politicians on Monday spoke out against any link between the attack on the Togolese team in Angola and the upcoming soccer World Cup tournament in South Africa.
Head of the 2010 local organising committee (LOC) Danny Jordaan described as "stupid" people who question South Africa's security measures for the World Cup after Friday's attack on the Togolese soccer team.
"It doesn't make sense. If a bomb went off in Spain, do you think I should call England to ask about what the impact is on the Olympics England is organising? I think if something happens in France, you'll know it happened in France, not elsewhere," the LOC head said in a telephonic interview on Monday.
Jordaan was reiterating President Jacob Zuma's view that the attack on the Togolese team had no bearing on the World Cup.
In a statement on Sunday, Zuma said South Africa remained "100 percent ready" to host the tournament.
"He [Zuma] emphasised that the shocking and unacceptable attack on the Togolese team should not be blown out of proportion, but should serve as impetus for the African continent and the world at large to work even harder to rid the world of terrorist activity and violence wherever it surfaces," presidential spokesman Vincent Magwenya said in a statement.
Togo's national team was attacked soon after their arrival in Cabinda, Angola on Friday. The ambush on the team's bus killed an assistant coach, a team spokesman and the bus driver. Eight others were wounded.
The team's goalkeeper, Kodjovi "Dodji" Obilale, was airlifted to Johannesburg's Milpark hospital following the attack and was in a stable condition there following surgery.
"The medical team is satisfied with the progress of Mr Obilale.
He will however remain in the trauma intensive care unit until he is fully out of danger," Professor Ken Boffard, of the hospital's specialised trauma team, said in a statement on Monday.
National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele gave his assurance that all security measures were in place to host a safe tournament in June.
"We realised, [after the terrorist attack] that the gaps that could have been noticed were closed in South Africa. We are really fine," he told journalists in Pretoria on his return from Angola on Monday.
Referring to the link made to the World Cup after the attack during the African Cup of Nations, Cele said: "The mood was a bit down, but immediately it was about 2010. It was a little bit of Cabinda [where the attack took place] and a lot about 2010".
Cele said the bomb blasts on commuter trains in Madrid, Spain in 2004 and the 2005 terrorist attack on London's transport network had no bearing on the soccer World Cup in Germany in 2006.
"Nobody linked them to the World Cup."
Cele said it was unfortunate that Togo's team, which comprised some players from English clubs, withdrew from the tournament.
"It does give credence to terrorism for officials to say succumb. I would have loved them to continue. There is a history of sport and terrorism."
Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa said it would be unfair to judge South Africa's preparedness to host the tournament on the "fragility of the political situation" in Angola.
"We are 100 percent ready for the Fifa World Cup this year."
While some of Togo's players had wanted to continue, government pressure forced them to withdraw.
Cele said: "The final instruction was you will play, but not under the flag of Togo. Simply put they were disowned."
He said it was his understanding that the British Football Association had met club owners who wanted to recall all their African players.
"It's slave mentality, [it's as] if they own them," he said indicating that even Africans playing for teams abroad were still Africans, first and foremost.
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Comments
It would be unwise to dismiss as stupid the comment made by amongst others the Hull City premier club's manager Phil brown. The English Premiership is probably the top professional soccer league in the world with a huge number of highly valuable and . .more
by Robin Africa on January 11 2010, 17:06
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...stupid but you cant change what people think...and most ignorant Europeans think that Africa is one country.
by Shmocracy on January 11 2010, 18:43
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Bheki judging the Tongolese for not playing...a bit rich coming out of a country where the Xenophobes hit us out of the blue and whose Proteas withdrew from tours because of security concerns...my my we are brave are we not?
by Geanann on January 11 2010, 18:45
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WELL THE BLACKS IN RSA / CAPE TOWN ETC WILL THROW BRICKS OF BRIDGES AND HIJACK (HIGH JACK ) THE NICE WHITE PEOPLE SPENDING MONEY IN RSA IN THE WORLD CUP .
JACK MEANS = JUST ANOTHER CONFUSED K #######
THE JACKS ARE IN CHARGE AND WHAT . .more
by D******* on January 12 2010, 02:14
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WHO GIVES A FAARKING S*** .
THEY ALL SOUND THE SAME TO ME , LIKE BAFANA , BAFANA .
WHAT THE FAARK , WHAT A STUPID FAAARKING NAME SAYING IT TWICE BECAUSE THIS IS AFRICA , I Q 6 7 , THEY DONT GET IT THE FIRST TIME THATS WHY THEY ARE SOO . .more
by D******* on January 12 2010, 02:19
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That 'mentality' fears not nor trembles, at RACIST ranting .
THEY are not beholden to ANC and can BOYCOTT.
Sound familiar ?
Ditch the arrogant, ignorant mentality.
by Just an old woman on January 12 2010, 07:05
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To any confused Europian or African, Angola and South Africa are two different countries. As much as south Africa problem with crime, we dont have group of rebels waiting to ambush people. What happened in Angola was more than just crime it was terrorism. . .more
by Common sense on January 12 2010, 08:18
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This cant must must reveal himself cause i want his head chopped off for being such a racist.
by Modise on January 12 2010, 08:37
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don't go there. D*****is very experienced at this level of stupidity. With experience alone, he will beat you hands down. Probably either masturbating or busy on his sister as we speak. That's how they get to be so demented!
He's probably his . .more
by darkie on January 12 2010, 11:30
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I live in the UK and I can assure you most Europeans do know that Africa is not one country. They have been sending charitable donations there for years - not to mention Live Aid and Band Aid. Just where on earth do you get your silly assumptions . .more
by john kalala on January 12 2010, 13:49
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Danny Jordaan assured us the World Cup will not be threatened by terrorists and the like. After all, we have our proud SANDF to guard and protect us, he said reassuringly.
Full story . .more
by Geanann on January 12 2010, 14:17
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I agree with you. But I disagree with the interest in African soccer. I always found that some African teams played well and I loved to watch them. Living in South Africa since 9 years my high hopes for Bafana didn't realise. But I must admit not to be an . .more
by Klaus in RSA on January 13 2010, 00:52
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"It's slave mentality, [it's as] if they own them," he said indicating that even Africans playing for teams abroad were still Africans, first and foremost."
The players are professinals, having signed contracts, playing for profits and for their own . .more
by Klaus in RSA on January 13 2010, 01:12
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