CAF impressed by Afcon stadia

Category: Football Created on Monday, 09 July 2012 07:55 Published Date

09-07-2012
Staff Reporter
South Africa Bureau
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – A high level delegation of the Confederation of African football has completed has completed a tour of the five host cities for next year’s African Nations Cup.

Led by the CAF first Vice President, Sekutu Patel, the Secretary General, Hicham el Amrani, and the CEO of the Local Organising Committee, Mvuzo Mbebe, the LOC Tournament Director Russell Pau, and CAF Event Director Shereen Arafa, visited the five host cities to select the appropriate facilities and determine cities' readiness and preparations for the
tournament.

The host cities visits and site selection focused on facilities such as training grounds, team hotels, CAF officials’ accommodation and stadium facilities.

The visits by the CAF delegation also coincided with the Preliminary Draw last Thursday.

Patel expressed his full confidence in the facilities and infrastructure that South Africa has to host the Tournament because of the legacy infrastructure from the World Cup in 2010 and CAF is spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting facilities and the country's capability to host global events.

The stadiums visited were Soccer City (Johannesburg), Mbombela (Nelspruit), Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace (Rustenberg), Moses Mabhida (Durban), and Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth).

At the conclusion of the visit CAF also confirmed 3 of the 4 social issues that will be supported during the Tournament which are malaria, peace, and education.

The closing meeting between LOC and CAF reached common consensus on important matters such as ticketing, public awareness, social causes, media accreditation, calendar for the Tournament, TV production, marketing and branding, sponsorship, hospitality, merchandising, mascot, accommodation, protocol, transport, publications, as well as financial matters.