Fifa 2009 Confederations Cup will be an order made by a ball, called "Kopanya", Adidas, which has been developed specifically for this event, which reflects and pays tribute to the tournament hosts South Africa.
The ball made its first appearance in the Nelson Mandela challenge match between South Africa and Cameroon in Rustenburg on 19 November.
Bafana Bafana need to be taken in the soul of the ball, they have become one of his best performances in years to beat Africa's top side won 3-2.
Inspired by the Ndebele Artwork
"Kopanya" means "together" in Sesotho, or Southern Sota, home language of some five million South Africans.
Kopanya eye-catching design was inspired by art of the Ndebele people in southern Africa. This is not the first time that the product Ndebele will be considered at the international sports scene, the yacht Team Shosholoza, South Africa, America Cup Challenger, especially the design inspired by Ndebele and Zulu in the arts.
The complex shape and contour of the black, the traditional elements Ndebele, were fused with a colorful activity, which is typical Ndebele contemporary artists. Adorable silver provides futuristic touch.
Comments on the ball placed on the website Footballshirtculture.com, were very favorable.
Suited to its surroundings
Dave Stopher commented: "This is good! I must confess that this ball is very suitable for its surroundings, I think. And I hope that the World Cup ball is similar to the design."
John said: "I am from SA and I am impressed with this ball design ... Yes, this is another Teamgeist ball, but the picture is clever work."
Ball, said Adidas, provides an ideal flight characteristics and allows the players exceptional ball control, like its predecessor "Europass", which was used in the 2008 Euros.
Kopanya available for purchase from 1 December 2008.
Source: SAinfo reporter and Fifa.com
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Introducing African Football
Special visas for 2009, 2010 fans
South Africa in the Department of Home Affairs is to issue special "event visas for football fans coming to Fifa 2009 Confederations Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup, allowing fans to use on the counters at major airports around the world for pre-clearance, before They will arrive in the country.
South African immigration officials - who can speak several languages - will be located in several of the world's busiest airports, including Britain, India, Dubai and Hong Kong, where fans will be able to go free until the selection and screening.
Speaking in Johannesburg this week, Interior Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said it was the first time that such a visa is the country hosting major world events.
Immigration officials will also be equipped with high-tech devices to scan passports or travel documents. In electronically capture information from documents, officials will save time, not having to enter information.
With such improvements, the Department hopes to do better than the best international practice times interaction travelers and immigration official, which is between one minute and one minute and 30 seconds.
Safety
The Department of Immigration officials said it would work with foreign governments and airline personnel to detect illegal migration patterns during the event, as well as to ensure that "undesirable persons" who may pose a threat to national security, do not enter the country.
Home Affairs in 2010, the program manager Morne Fourier explained that certain minimum requirements must be met in the issuance of special visas: "You need proof of purchase of tickets for the match, you must meet certain requirements, health care - as a yellow fever certificate, if necessary - and the need to have a return ticket and passport. "
Quick entry, exit
Those passengers who have received preliminary approval by South African immigration officials will be able to arrive in South Africa and go straight to the luggage collection and customs.
Mapisa-Nqakula said that this step will enhance the Department's ability to facilitate the entry and exit through the process of the country's borders, resulting in a less frustrating way, leading to a positive impression about the country as a whole.
She added that the visa had been completed and that the 2009 Confederations Cup would be a good test of the new system.
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The focus now turns to 2010 in Japan
Just as in the 2002 FIFA World Cup ™ in Japan and the Republic of Korea was a defining moment in the history of Asian football, and 2010 promises a similar turning point for Africa.
This view was expressed today in Japan's Junji Ogura, FIFA Executive Committee members, who spoke at a press briefing to update the packed Tokyo of Japanese and international media on the preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa. With some of the best clubs in the FIFA Club World Cup, it is a good opportunity to FIFA president Joseph S. Blatter, FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke, the executive director of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee Danny Jordaan, South Africa, Japan, Ambassador Gert Grobler and Ogura briefly turn Spotlight on South Africa in 2010.
"Then, in Japan and Korea, the first FIFA World Cup in Asia, and especially one of the organizers, the international media was a bit worried whether we can do that," Ogura said. "Asian people are too worried whether the World Cup will be successful or not. Japan and Korea, not on time, have a great back in world football. But South Korea reached the semi-finals, Japan for the past 16 years and was a successful event. Due to these factors, in Asia, people were so happy and honored. He raised the confidence of Asian nations and led to an increase in football in Asia. "
This passion for the game in Asia is clearly evident in Japan's thriving J. The League, with the FIFA President's comments on the atmosphere in the stands with Gamba Osaka, mostly young fans during yesterday's FIFA World Club Cup victory over Adelaide United. Ogura said the first FIFA World Cup in Asia, not only leads to the development of Asian countries and economies, but also to build a life and friendly relations between Asia and the rest of the world.
As an example, he pointed out that hosting Cameroon contributed to the relationship, which continued in the strong economic and social ties, with the Lions neukrotimoy well supported when they return to Japan. "This kind of exchange of great friendship that is the 2010 FIFA World Cup will spread and I am confident that it will be very successful."
There is no doubt South Africa is ready. We are on the way. There are no red flags. We work every day so it will be one of the greatest events in the world.
FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke South Africa in 2010.
For Blatter, in South Africa in late 2008 organizers have made significant progress in their preparation, it was another opportunity to state unequivocally that FIFA flagship tournament will be held on African soil. "I am very happy that I can tell, the 2010 FIFA World Cup will finally be on African soil in multi-cultural South Africa, he said." If there are people who still doubt it, I say: 2010 FIFA World Cup will be in South Africa. "
Memoirs have been raised from Blatter uttering these words, when it opened, as South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup hosts on May 15, 2004, and although much has happened since then, his vision remains the same. He said: "We are very proud to bring the World Cup in this country and at the end of the day, say that we already knew that. The World Cup in South Africa will show the world that South Africa and Africans are able to organize the most popular sports competition the world. "
Grobler and Jordaan said relations between Japan and South Africa were very strong, with the former insisting that the concerns of Japan and the other on security at the World Cup have been taken very seriously. He said that the Government of South Africa's R1.3 billion was invested in security measures and training of 41,000 additional police officers.
"Security for any major event is the most important aspect, and we take very seriously," said Jordaan. "We want a result that everyone is coming to South Africa in 2010 to return as tourists are returning."
Valcke said South Africa would be transformed the country since 2010, and that FIFA was absolutely confident in the ability of countries to host the tournament. "South Africa is not ready today. No country in the 18 months before the World Cup. But there is no doubt South Africa is ready. We are on track. There are no red flags. We work every day, that he is one of the greatest events in the world."
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Zille: 2010 Investment
The impact of the city of Cape Town in the 2010 FIFA World Cup ™ investment will be significant and have far-reaching benefits for the city for a long time after the tournament to come and gone.
It was a confident assessment of today with the city of Cape Town mayor Helen Zille, as it had in the city of Council members.
Beautifully "mother city" of South African Tourism is the pearl, with millions of visitors a year flocking to the cities, pristine beaches, mountain ranges, wine farms and a lot of tourist spots. City gorgeous Green Point Stadium will host the 2010 FIFA World Cup semi-finals, as well as the city is 2010 FIFA World Cup Final Draw 4 December next year.
"In exchange for the creation of about one billion rand bets money on the stadium, transaction costs and public transport, taxpayers benefit of Cape Town two billion rand upgrade the airport, 1.3 billion rand Bus Rapid Transit system, more than 1 billion rand worth of modernization of major roads, about 1 billion rand to upgrade electricity production infrastructure, 400 million rand to upgrade the central railway station, 1.2 billion rand for the new trains, and hundreds of millions of rand value of the modernization of public spaces and facilities, "said Zille, in his speech at the Cape Town city the Council this morning.
She said the construction of significant progress with this project is very much on the way to meet its deadlines, with a focus over the next year on completion of erection of the roof and facade of the stadium.
"I would like to thank the 2 500 workers at the facility, as well as our joint venture construction company Murray and Roberts and WBHO, the city of a professional team and our 2010 project team for their hard work to ensure we maintain this pace of delivery. Besides the stadium, we also executed 55 per cent of the detailed planning of transport for 2010, 30 per cent of the operational plan, and almost 28 per cent of other planning work to be, "said Zille.
Replying to a question about budget overruns, she said that this is a global phenomenon, and well-managed city.
"At 498 million rand to the operational budget for 2010, within the next three years is not all at the expense of the city. There are other sources of income that will cover this cost. National governments are still being paid to the city operating grant of 78 million . rands, and pointed out that the city can expect more aid, "said Zille.
In addition to the heritage of the advantages of the airport, road and modernization of transport infrastructure in the city of Cape Town, Zille also said that a significant impact hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup will be on tourism and create jobs in the area. She noted that without the 2010 FIFA World Cup, none of these improvements will be possible.
"If we have not yet agreed to build the stadium, most of these investments by national governments would instead have been concentrated in Johannesburg and other cities. That would be a tragic missed opportunity of Cape Town," said Zille.
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