Mpumalanga has embarked on a programme to bring its neighbouring countries on board to be part of the planned 2010 World Cup countdown celebrations.

Mpumalanga has embarked on a programme to bring its neighbouring countries on board to be part of the planned 2010 World Cup countdown celebrations.

Desmond Golding, Mpumalanga's World Cup deputy director-general, says they want to mobilise more Africans to support the quadrennial tournament.

Golding said the provincial government has a myriad of events planned for the 400, 300, 200 and 200 days countdown to the 2010 kickoff in the area and neighbouring countries.

"We plan to take these [countdown celebrations] to all corners of our province, Mozambique and Swaziland to encourage mass participation and mobilisation."

The Mpumalanga provincial government has already established a cooperation agreement with Swaziland and Mozambique on matters relating to the World Cup.

Senior representatives from the government and soccer bodies in Mozambique and Swaziland are also serving on Mpumalanga's World Cup technical teams.

Adam Mthethwa, National Football Association of Swaziland president, said they appreciated the efforts by South Africa to bring their neighbours on board.