Preparing stadiums to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup should be seen as a special opportunity by all stakeholders to provide the best and serve the country with pride.

Preparing stadiums to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup should be seen as a special opportunity by all stakeholders to provide the best and serve the country with pride.

It is therefore saddening to note that the construction of venues to host this spectacular event should be marred by wage disputes between unions and contractors.

Patriotic sense dictates that employer and employees subsume their self-interest to the greater goal - preparing for the mammoth event. They can be very helpful if they can cease hostilities and seek the middle ground.

This compromise, however, can only be achieved when all the parties begin to see the wood for the trees.

It is rather unfortunate that negotiations between employers and workers at Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium have reached a wage deadlock.

This has now prompted the National Union of Mineworkers to take action that could cripple all major World Cup projects throughout the country.

The union has filed an application with the labour court for a strike to highlight their plight.

All affected parties should be persuaded to return to the negotiation table and reach an amicable settlement that will result in a win-win situation.

They must do it for the sake of South Africa - our country.