The FIFA President recently completed a two-day visit to South Africa where he met the President of the Republic of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, his Deputy, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and the board’of directors of the South African Local Organising Committee (SALOC) chaired by Dr Irvin Khoza and featuring, among others, South African Football Association President Dr Molefi Oliphant and SALOC CEO Dr Danny Jordaan. Additional meetings were held with the Mayor of Johannesburg, Amos Masondo, the Premier of the Western Cape Province, Ebrahim Rasool, and the Mayor of Cape Town, Helen Zille.
Blatter was accompanied by FIFA Vice-President Issa Hayatou, who was recently appointed as the first African to chair the Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup™. David Will, Honorary FIFA Vice-President and chairman of the ticketing sub-committee, was also in attendance, as was Horst R. Schmidt, FIFA consultant for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.
“I’m a happy man,” said a delighted FIFA President on more than one occasion. His satisfaction stemmed from what he had witnessed in Johannesburg and Cape Town. “Preparations are definitely on track. The enthusiasm in South Africa is phenomenal. I am absolutely convinced that, all together, we will deliver the best FIFA World Cup ever because it will be played in Africa,” he stressed.
At the SALOC board of directors meeting on 18 June, the FIFA President heard the latest information on key logistical issues such as stadiums, transportation and accommodation, and was pleased to note that significant progress has been made in all areas since his last visit to the country a year ago.
The following day, he opened SALOC’s “business opportunities conference”, a forum to show communities and small-and medium-sized businesses how they could become involved and possibly benefit from South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 World Cup.
The FIFA delegation then flew to Cape Town for an audience with Mbeki. At the ensuing media briefing, South Africa’s head of state said, “I’m glad to welcome these two fellow Africans!” in reference to Hayatou and … Blatter. He then added, “It is good that FIFA has a continuous focus on how South Africa is preparing for the 2010 World Cup.” Blatter, meanwhile, thanked the South African government for its support, stressing that, “without such commitment, it would not be possible to achieve a successful World Cup.”
The FIFA President then went on to a meeting with Zille and Rasool for the official launch ceremony of the Cape Town host city logo. “I’ve now received a comprehensive progress report from Cape Town and I have no doubt that everything will be ready here. Cape Town will play a major role during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Nine matches, including a semi-final, are scheduled here,” said the FIFA President. Mayor Zille noted that, “Cape Town has fully committed itself to making the 2010 World Cup a resounding success. We are the first host city to launch our logo. The situation for the building of the Green Point Stadium is complex but I’m delighted to say that we are on schedule.” Rasooi echoed the Mayor’s words: “We will be ready! The infrastructure is growing. We are also using’this event to make things better in our society. The 2010 FIFA World Cup is a legacy, not only for Cape Town but also for South Africa as well as the entire African continent.” Before leaving Cape Town, the FIFA delegation also had the opportunity to visit the Green Point Stadium construction site.
“The FIFA President and his assessment of the progress so far has been particularly encouraging. The 2010 World Cup is a project of hope for our country, the continent and the people. It is also the building of a monument as a legacy for the tremendous work done by persons like our former President Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter. It is in pursuing this objective that the FIFA President’s visit, his positive evaluation of our work and his comments will serve as a major inspiration for all of us,” concluded Jordaan.

Louis Muhlinghaus
Belgium 1904-1906
Carl Anton Wilhelm Hirschman
Netherlands
1906-1931
(2nd Vice President 1904-1906, acting President 1918-1920, resigned 1931)
Ivo Schricker
Germany 1932-1951 (resigned 1951)
Kurt Gassmann
Switzerland 1951-1960 (retired 1960)
Helmut Kaser
Switzerland 1961-1981 (retired 1981)
Joseph S. Blatter
Switzerland 1981-1998 (nominated as FIFA President 1998)
Michel Zen-Ruffinen
Switzerland 1998-2002 (resigned 2002)
Urs Linsi
Switzerland 2002-2007 (resigned 2007)
Jerome Valcke
France Appointed on t 27 June 2007

The football family also lost another two members in June. Former Argen¬tina star Nestor Raul Rossi, who won the five Argentinian league titles with River Plate and four Colombian cham¬pionships with Millonarios, passed away at the age of 82. “Pipo”, as he was known to his army of fans, played in two Copa Americas as well as the 1958 FIFA World Cup™. In Papua New Guinea, Ananias Popo, the President of the Enga Soccer Association and a member of the 22-strong congress of the Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA), also died recently. Popo was a respected football official in the region and played a key role in establishing a football academy in Wabag. The PNGFA benefited greatly from Popo’s knowledge and immense passion for the game.