Still time to be included on 2010 World Cup database of suppliers

THE 2010 Soccer World Cup brings with it countless business opportunities. However, with three years to go before the big event, business owners feel that the Fifa World Cup South Africa Local Organising Committee (LOC) have not done enough to make them aware of these opportunities.

But now it seems the LOC have become aware of this and are trying to make amends by giving business owners who missed out on the August deadline for inclusion in their procurement database a second chance to access some of the opportunities from the World Cup.

The LOC’s procurement database gives registered businesses the first opportunity to supply the LOC with services and goods such as accommodation, catering, recruitment and World Cup uniforms.

Advertisements were published in four Sunday newspapers earlier this year and business owners had until 31 August to submit registration forms.

To register on the database businesses had to submit tax clearance and VAT registration certificates, as well as proof of their empowerment status.

Tumi Makgabo (pictured above), media liaison for the LOC, says so far they have received over 5 000 submissions from businesses from all sectors and from all nine provinces.

She says they will not turn away late submissions but will capture these on an “informal” database which they would also use when sourcing suppliers.

But business owners who missed the advertisements in the newspapers when they were published in August, will get another chance to come into consideration for these opportunities.

Makgabo explains: “If we cannot find the appropriate supplier (on the database) for the particular service we need we will advertise the tenders and contracts in the media.”

Makgabo says the LOC will advertise in the media every year for business owners to register to their database. Lamla Mapukata, who owns Khayelitsha business AL Tours and Catering, says he was not aware of the LOC’s procurement database.

He says he is disappointed that he missed the deadline for submissions, especially as he has identified the 2010 Soccer World Cup as an opportunity to grow his business.

He feels that the LOC could have made more of an effort to market the database, especially to businesses in the disadvantaged communities.

Makgaba says the advertisements in the Sunday newspapers was the most effective way for them to reach all business owners.

Other than sending every business owner an email, which is logistically impossible, I don’t see what else we could have done, says Makgabo.

She advises business owners to join a chamber as chambers tend to be on the look out for such opportunities and would inform their members about it.

Blatter says South Africa will host World Cup as planned

"They'll get it done," Blatter was quoted as telling German magazine Sport Bild on Tuesday. "It can and will take place in South Africa -- I'm convinced of that. And that's what we're working for."

Rumours have circulated in the media for months that FIFA was looking for an alternative host country -- possibly the United States or Germany -- because of concerns that South Africa had fallen far behind in its preparations.

"I've seen more at this point than I did in Germany," Blatter said of South Africa's preparations.

"There were still a lot of uncertainties in Germany four years before the World Cup there," he said. "Down there, they only have to build five stadiums and renovate one more. Four are already there."

Blatter also dismissed fears of high levels of crime in South Africa.

"There is crime everywhere around the world. But when you know where it is you can take the necessary precautions."

He also said transport infrastructure in the country should not pose problems.

"They have a good infrastructure of technology, communications and transport," Blatter said. "Of course they don't have the same number of rails as in Europe. But they are improving and renovating their transport infrastructure."

The 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa will be a major breakthrough as it will be the first time that the jamboree will be hosted on the African continent. As the 2006 World Cup comes to an end on Sunday in Berlin, attention will now be focused on South Africa, which will become the 16th nation to host the tournament.

The country's elites spent the week in Germany learning from the German experience, and they now boast that they are ready for the challenge. That is the confidence that surrounded South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki on Friday in Berlin as he officially unveiled the long-awaited logo at a ceremony attended by world dignitaries, including United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, FIFA president Sepp Blater, CAF president Issa Hayatou, president of the 2006 World Cup organizing committee, Franz Beckenbauer, and the mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit.


Fifa World Cup Logo 2010
©2006 FIFA
The ceremony, which was described by FIFA as the "biggest single football party ever," was hosted at Brandenburg Gate in Berlin with free entry to all fans to watch African live performances.

"We come from a country where football is not simply a game but an enduring passion ... We come from a place where our hearts beat in unison as we celebrate a shared destiny and love for the beautiful game," Mbeki said.

Mbeki said 2010 would be not just a South African legacy, but also most importantly an African legacy. Mbeki also joked that he hopes the tournament will be not only the best ever, but also one in which the Cup is won by an African team for the very first time.

"It is a challenge we will win with flying colors," he said. "We said we will host in 2010 the most successful FIFA World Cup and we will keep that promise."

The slogan for the 2010 tournament is "Win with Africa in Africa." Mbeki compared Africa's hosting of the World Cup to the end of Apartheid in South Africa and called the tournament "a beacon of hope" for Africa. He also said it would end Western hegemony in the game, which drew wild applause from anxious fans.

"Africa is ready, Africa's time has come, Africa is calling. Come to Africa in 2010," he said.

FIFA's president, Blatter, was also very positive about the tournament.

"I am optimistic for Africa. The whole world trusts you. The whole FIFA family, they say 'yes' to South Africa. We trust South Africa."

Comparing South Africa 2010 to Germany 2006, Blatter joked, "Of course, it will not be like this World Cup in Germany. There will be a lot of drums and a lot of music."

Annan surprisingly admitted that football is now more universal than the United Nations, with FIFA having 207 members compared to 192 in the U.N.

"The World Cup is an event which illustrates the benefit of cross-pollinization between peoples and countries. More and more national teams now welcome coaches from other countries. More and more players represent clubs away from home between World Cups. They all bring new ways of thinking and playing. Everybody wins. Everybody wins by that cross-pollinization," Annan said.

The logo itself is an African map, with the stripes of the South African flag (blue, green, red, yellow, black, and white) blowing across it like the wind, and a player doing a magnificent scissor kick. Below, in the lower right corner, is written "FIFA World Cup -- South Africa 2010."

With the logo now launched, it goes without saying that the road to South Africa 2010 has begun.