FOR all the wrong reasons South Africa again has to convince the world that we will be worthy hosts of the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
FOR all the wrong reasons South Africa again has to convince the world that we will be worthy hosts of the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
We will have to kick-start another marketing campaign for this august event - or rue the day we asked to host the World Cup.
We are back to square one because some rebels dared fire on Togo footballers after they had entered Angola for the African Cup of Nations in that country.
Suddenly, Europeans and Americans are questioning - for the 100th time - the safety of their footballers, due to play in the World Cup here in June.
No doubt about the negative impact such questions have on our tourism industry.
It is, however, a nonsensical view. Every major sporting event in the world is under threat of attack. But because Africa is viewed as a basket case we often have to listen to such tasteless tunes.
That's not surprising because less than 10 percent of Americans have been out of their country. To them Angola might be a Sunday name for South Africa.
They know little or zilch about the vast continent of Africa.
The tragedy in Angola should not have happened. The African Union should have seen to that.
Weaknesses in this continental watchdog have been bared for all to see. The AU growls with no bite whatsoever.
Otherwise it would have cracked down on the illegitimate government of Madagascar and crushed the rebellion in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Yet Africa still spurns the call for a global African community espoused by the likes of Kwame Nkruma and Robert Sobukwe.
Ask yourself why Europe copied the philosophy and started the European Union.
For its own sake, Africa must unite to bury forever attacks like the horror of Cabinda on innocent Togolese footballers.
Back to square one
FOR all the wrong reasons South Africa again has to convince the world that we will be worthy hosts of the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
FOR all the wrong reasons South Africa again has to convince the world that we will be worthy hosts of the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
We will have to kick-start another marketing campaign for this august event - or rue the day we asked to host the World Cup.
We are back to square one because some rebels dared fire on Togo footballers after they had entered Angola for the African Cup of Nations in that country.
Suddenly, Europeans and Americans are questioning - for the 100th time - the safety of their footballers, due to play in the World Cup here in June.
No doubt about the negative impact such questions have on our tourism industry.
It is, however, a nonsensical view. Every major sporting event in the world is under threat of attack. But because Africa is viewed as a basket case we often have to listen to such tasteless tunes.
That's not surprising because less than 10 percent of Americans have been out of their country. To them Angola might be a Sunday name for South Africa.
They know little or zilch about the vast continent of Africa.
The tragedy in Angola should not have happened. The African Union should have seen to that.
Weaknesses in this continental watchdog have been bared for all to see. The AU growls with no bite whatsoever.
Otherwise it would have cracked down on the illegitimate government of Madagascar and crushed the rebellion in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Yet Africa still spurns the call for a global African community espoused by the likes of Kwame Nkruma and Robert Sobukwe.
Ask yourself why Europe copied the philosophy and started the European Union.
For its own sake, Africa must unite to bury forever attacks like the horror of Cabinda on innocent Togolese footballers.
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