Remarks by Hon Premier TSP Makwetla at the Launch and
raw of the 2008 COSAFA Senior Challenge
MRTT
Hotel and
Tourism
Academy
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
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
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
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
In conclusion, we look forward to receiving all the
participating national teams in this tournament.
I want to urge all the football lovers in
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,