Remarks by Hon Premier TSP Makwetla at the Launch and
raw of the 2008 COSAFA Senior Challenge
MRTT Hotel and Tourism Academy, Kanyamazane
10 July 2008

Programme Director,

The General Secretary of COSAFA, Mr Ashford Mamelodi
Her Excellency, High Commissioner Thandi Lujabe-Rankoe, South Africa’s High Commissioner in Mozambique
MEC for Culture, Sport and Recreation, and Chairperson of the 2010 Political Committee, MEC DD Pule
Members of the Executive Council and MPLs
The Honourable Mayor of Mbombela & District Mayor of Ehlanzeni municipalities
Mr Gary Rathbone, Head of Supersport Africa, COSAFA Cup Official Sponsor
SAFA leadership
Representatives of participating countries
Our distinguished guests

Members of the media

Ladies and gentlemen

Not so long ago we rendezvoused here on a similar initiative, when we launched the Mpumalanga Premier's International Football Cup, which was successfully played in Emalahleni two weekends ago.  It is once again an honour and a privilege to play host to the COSAFA Cup Challenge that brings together 14 Southern African countries in a spectacular soccer tournament scheduled to be played in our Province this month.  Allow me to welcome all of you to the launch and draw of this prestigious tournament that once more promises to showcase the galaxy of African soccer stars in Southern Africa.

I would like to thank SAFA and COSAFA for the continued partnership with the Province in promoting soccer in our country and our province in particular.  We are thrilled by the expression of confidence in the Province once again to be afforded the opportunity to host the COSAFA 2008 Senior Challenge on the back of the successful hosting of the COSAFA Under-20 Championship last year. Our exposure in hosting international games of this magnitude will, no doubt, put us in good stead in our preparations for the 2010 World Cup soccer games in Mpumalanga.

The decision to host the COSAFA 2008 games is part of the broad spectrum of significant build-up events in our preparations for the 2010 Soccer World Cup games in the Province.   I want to believe that the provincial stakeholders involved in the 2010 World Cup preparatory programme will get exposure to the practical challenges of staging major events with respect to safety and security measures, logistics, accommodation provision as well as holistic risk management planning associated with high profile sporting spectacles.

Our province savours the privilege of hosting the first COSAFA Cup games to be played as an unbroken programme of matches that starts from the first elimination matches right up to the final match.

There is no doubt that the new design of this tournament will offer soccer followers intense excitement and boost interest across our sub-region.  We expect our communities in Mpumalanga to revel in the limelight that these games will accord our Province.

As a Province, we wish to contribute to the promotion of unity, socio-economic interaction and good neighbourly relations among the people of the continent.  Significantly, we will continue to work collaboratively with all soccer bodies in the implementation of mass participation in World Cup related events to ensure that the hosting of the 2010 World Cup on the African soil is a resounding success. The COSAFA games provide us with that exciting opportunity.

Like the rest of South Africa and the continent as a whole, soccer enjoys a high place in the lives of many citizens.  This beautiful game of the ordinary multitudes, while it offers spiritual fulfilment to the ordinary masses, must simultaneously be employed to impact positively on them as a medium of advancing their socio-economic developmental needs.  Soccer must contribute, indeed because it can, to the upliftment of the poor and poverty-stricken through the many avenues that it offers the poor working masses.

In conclusion, we look forward to receiving all the participating national teams in this tournament.  I want to urge all the football lovers in Mpumalanga, South Africa and Southern Africa as a whole, to support and enjoy these games. 

And finally, of course, to say may the best team win, you know what I mean!  Let friendship blossom through soccer.

I thank you for coming.

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Mpumalanga Provincial Government