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Zuma Meets England 2018 Bid Chief, Downplays World Cup Security Concerns

2010-01-20

South African President Jacob Zuma says England 2018 has a strong World Cup bid but stops short on offering his unequivocal support on a visit to Wembley Stadium.

Zuma met with bid chairman David Triesman at Wembley on Thursday following a trip to see the London 2012 Olympic Park in east London as part of his state visit to the UK.

Quizzed on whether he could guarantee South Africa’s support of the England 2018 bid, Zuma, who is also head of the ruling African National Congress, refused to be drawn. He diplomatically proclaimed that “we believe that England will stage a bid strong enough to compel members of FIFA’s executive to give great consideration to them".

Commenting on the 2018/2022 World Cup bid race, South Africa 2010 CEO Danny Jordaan, who joined Zuma at Wembley, said "it makes sense for 2018 to be a Europe-only affair".

Triesman told Zuma that the bid was continuing efforts to encourage even more English fans to travel to South Africa for the World Cup.

“We have had a close relationship with football in South Africa and on the rest of the African continent over many years; and are proud of the assistance we have provided in various programs to develop the game,” said Triesman.

Triesman said that England's senior national team players had agreed to donate part of their pay from matches played recently towards the Street Child World Cup, which kicks off in South Africa on March 13.

Zuma downplayed security fears for visitors to South Africa this summer, a recurring topic raised by the media covering World Cup preparations due to the country's high crime rate.