Ramatsiyi Moholoa
When South Africa was bidding to host the 2010 World Cup finals, the country's governing soccer body made it clear it wanted to make a true African tournament.
The government and Local Organising Committee got the process under way by establishing the World Cup African Legacy Programme (ALP).
The ALP, located within the LOC offices in Nasrec, is aimed at ensuring that the World Cup becomes a true African event.
It is headed by the internationally renowned political commentator, Eddie Maloka, formerly chief executive officer of the Africa Institute of South Africa.
The African Union (AU) supports South Africa's idea of making it an African event, with heads of government committing themselves to assist Mzansi.
The ALP is a platform on which the African ownership of the 2010 World Cup is to rest, according to its framework.
The ALP is intended to support the realisation of the objectives of the African Renaissance, AU and Nepad.
It will help to ensure maximum and effective African participation, support efforts to strengthen and promote the development and advancement of African soccer.
Maloka said they will also come up with projects to help improve soccer leagues on the continent.
"The legacy programme has two levels, the first being the continental one where we deal with the Confederation of African Football governments and the African Civil Society.
"The international level was launched in the African Union summit in Ethiopia where President Thabo Mbeki said South Africa will host a memorable World Cup.
"There will be a workshop on March 6 and 7 here in South Africa where a detailed programme of action will be developed.
"The second level is the South African one when we will be having a national indaba in April where about 1 000 people are expected to attend.
"Some of the people who will be attending are from the youth, churches, traditional leaders and other stakeholders.
"It will be an all-inclusive process.
"The workshop and indaba will help us come up with projects that we will be investing in, including how we effectively use soccer in promoting peace in Africa."
Maloka said they will be working closely with the media locally and on the continent for the programme to reach all Africans.
Speaking in Ethiopia, Mbeki said: "There will be two results in 2010, one of them will be surely that our African people are better then than they are today, thanks to the role that football will play and secondly the World Cup will stay on the African continent."
Soccer greats who are members of the programmes include Kalusha Bwalya (Zambia), Abedi Pele (Ghana), Roger Milla (Cameroon), Phil Masinga and Mark Fish (South Africa)..
"We are talking to Hossan Hassam (Egypt) and Mustapha Hadji (Morocco) to come on board.
"The plan is to make it all-inclusive," said Maloka.
ALP intends to promote soccer
Ramatsiyi Moholoa
When South Africa was bidding to host the 2010 World Cup finals, the country's governing soccer body made it clear it wanted to make a true African tournament.
The government and Local Organising Committee got the process under way by establishing the World Cup African Legacy Programme (ALP).
The ALP, located within the LOC offices in Nasrec, is aimed at ensuring that the World Cup becomes a true African event.
It is headed by the internationally renowned political commentator, Eddie Maloka, formerly chief executive officer of the Africa Institute of South Africa.
The African Union (AU) supports South Africa's idea of making it an African event, with heads of government committing themselves to assist Mzansi.
The ALP is a platform on which the African ownership of the 2010 World Cup is to rest, according to its framework.
The ALP is intended to support the realisation of the objectives of the African Renaissance, AU and Nepad.
It will help to ensure maximum and effective African participation, support efforts to strengthen and promote the development and advancement of African soccer.
Maloka said they will also come up with projects to help improve soccer leagues on the continent.
"The legacy programme has two levels, the first being the continental one where we deal with the Confederation of African Football governments and the African Civil Society.
"The international level was launched in the African Union summit in Ethiopia where President Thabo Mbeki said South Africa will host a memorable World Cup.
"There will be a workshop on March 6 and 7 here in South Africa where a detailed programme of action will be developed.
"The second level is the South African one when we will be having a national indaba in April where about 1 000 people are expected to attend.
"Some of the people who will be attending are from the youth, churches, traditional leaders and other stakeholders.
"It will be an all-inclusive process.
"The workshop and indaba will help us come up with projects that we will be investing in, including how we effectively use soccer in promoting peace in Africa."
Maloka said they will be working closely with the media locally and on the continent for the programme to reach all Africans.
Speaking in Ethiopia, Mbeki said: "There will be two results in 2010, one of them will be surely that our African people are better then than they are today, thanks to the role that football will play and secondly the World Cup will stay on the African continent."
Soccer greats who are members of the programmes include Kalusha Bwalya (Zambia), Abedi Pele (Ghana), Roger Milla (Cameroon), Phil Masinga and Mark Fish (South Africa)..
"We are talking to Hossan Hassam (Egypt) and Mustapha Hadji (Morocco) to come on board.
"The plan is to make it all-inclusive," said Maloka.
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