Thu May 23 20:04:17 SAST 2013
Thu May 23 20:04:17 SAST 2013

2010 Soccer World Cup spoils disbursed

Jan 21, 2013 | Mark Gleeson | 23 comments

THE disbursement of the profits from the 2010 Fifa World Cup began at the weekend with the first R56-million of the money given to a wide array of applicants.

DEFENSIVE: World Cup Legacy Trust chairman Danny Jordaan.

 A third of the actual profits from the 2010 Soccer World Cup was spent on vehicles for Safa, including luxury cars 

It has, however, emerged that there could have been a lot more money but that around a third of the actual profits from the tournament was spent on vehicles for Safa, including a fleet of luxury Mercedes Benzes for executive committee members.

Danny Jordaan, who chairs the World Cup Legacy Trust formed to protect, nurture and distribute the 2010 monies, launched a spirited defence of the transport purchases, which were made straight after the World Cup and before the R450-million Legacy Fund was announced by President Jacob Zuma and Fifa boss Sepp Blatter in December 2010.

Jordaan said the actual amount of money saved from the World Cup, and due to South Africa, was R700-million, but that R250-million had gone on buying buses, mini-vans and cars for official transport. These had been distributed to the regions where he said the issue of transport for teams was the single biggest problem in football development.

"We will never allow poverty to trap people," Jordaan said of the decision to give vehicles to ferry teams and administrators around.

"Arguments that we must not give buses to regions are out of order, we worked hard to generate the profits in the first place," he thundered.

But his less-convincing defence of the purchase of 26 luxury cars for executive committee members revealed the alarming fact that 50% of Safa's leadership is unemployed, according to Jordaan.

"How do you expect they can get around their regions and see their constituents when they don't have transport?"

The distribution of the remaining R450-million will be a staggered and more controlled affair as the trust's board also includes members from Fifa, civil society and government.

The first tranche of money follows 4347 applications for the funding of various football-related developmental projects.

Jordaan said the board had focused on giving money for the establishment of under-13 and 15 boys' and girls' leagues in the regions, for women's football, indoor football and beach soccer, for capacity building of administration, coaches and referees, to NGOs who use football for development and for education through bursaries.

Comments

Thu May 23 20:04:17 SAST 2013 ::
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Jan 21, 2013

Mokwepa

what is the meaning of "disbursed"?
sekgowa hasefele maaan!!
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Jan 21, 2013

oldlady12

Jordaan, we understand that they need transport to get around, but LUXURY vehicles??? When a Toyota Tazz could do the job just as easily????
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Jan 21, 2013

!#Sinudeity#!

Just making excuses again for his abuse of money. And were ssssooo excited about receiving a couple of million, after spending billions on the tournament.
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Jan 21, 2013

Mosekaseki

Mr Jordan, in the regions people who needs transport are small clubs that dig out of their pocket to play SAB regional league. Your SAFA officials use vehicle for personal matters... Imagine playing the whole season in a league, and the winner gets R10 000??? That is why most teams would rather play home tournaments than your league... You are killing grassroots soccer... That 25mil could have gone to improving the league and helping small teams grow..

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Jan 21, 2013

Mosekaseki

Mokwepa
what is the meaning of "disbursed"?
sekgowa hasefele maaan!!
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Term used by banks when paying the money, so it means paid
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Jan 21, 2013

Mokwepa

@Mosekaseki
Mokwepa
what is the meaning of "disbursed"?
sekgowa hasefele maaan!!
*****************************************

Term used by banks when paying the money, so it means paid
==================
thank you.....
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Jan 21, 2013

McCountryMan

Mo Ke Mzansi go jewa mali
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Jan 21, 2013

maditaba

Can some of the money be distributed to E-Tolling please. Afterall we are in this mess because of this damn world cup
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Jan 21, 2013

MommaC

ummm how does an unemployed person afford repairs, maintenance and petrol for a waBenzi? Most working people can't afford to service a BMW!

This nonsense of being used as a piggybank by sports federations has to stop. Fifa made obscene profits out of us and we are left with the bill. Now this bunch is doing the same
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Jan 21, 2013

grunt

Oh no, another scandal ! Fruck the administrastors man ! The money should be going to development of the sport, especially at school level. We will never be a winning nation in soccer if we don't have strong, well run schools tournaments. like the Craven Week in rugby, proper coaching structures, facilities etc. Very dissapointed in Danny Jordaan.
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