The 32 teams are getting ready for the World Cup. The squads are obviously not yet known but the coaches already know where they’ll be sleeping. And the World Cup teams have snubbed the rainbow nation’s neighbours.
World Cup bound teams have snubbed South Africa’s neighbours who had hoped to cash in on the global football showcase.
All 31 teams plus the host would be based in South Africa, leaving
Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique and Zimbabwe in the cold.
Despite its dilapidated infrastructure, hotels and stadiums, Zimbabwe
had tried to woo Brazil, among other countries.
To console themselves, a leading Zimbabwe hotel group boss, the group chief executive officer of Africa Sun Limited, Shingi Munyeza says Zimbabwe still stood to benefit from the World Cup.
“The first thing is that you have to realise that the tournament will be held in South Africa. Ours was to take the left overs”, he said.
“We will benefit but we must be clear that the tournament is in South
Africa, not Zimbabwe”, he added.
The final list of bases was announced Wednesday though FIFA said that
the teams are still in a position to change their base camps.
Countries in the region were hoping to cash-in on the global football showcase by hosting some of the participating countries. This would have in turn attracted their supporters, most of whom choose to stay near their teams.
A run through the list shows that most teams have chosen to crowed at
Gauteng province despite most of them playing one game in the province.
Meanwhile, an interesting development is unfolding in South Africa.
This week, South Africa’s tourism ministry ordered an investigation into allegations that World Cup hotel prices are unreasonably high. This comes a month after a similar government probe was launched to find out if local airlines were colluding to inflate fares.
The investigation is being conducted by government’s Competition Commission, which is charged with limiting monopolies and has a tribunal with the power to impose fines and other penalties.
An Internet check show a flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town that
cost 870 rand would cost 1 270 rand a day after the World Cup kicks off.
World Cup bases for the 32 finalists:
Algeria, Zimbali Lodge, KwaZulu-Natal
Argentina, High Performance Centre, Pretoria
Australia, Kloofzicht Lodge, Gauteng
Brazil, The Fairway, Johannesburg
_Cameroon, Oyster Box, KwaZulu-Natal
Chile, Ingwenyama Conference Centre, Lowveld
Denmark, Simola Hotel Country Club, Knysna
England, Bafokeng Sports Campus, Rustenburg
France, Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa, Knysna
Germany, Velmore Hotel, Centurion
Ghana, Rhoode Valley, Eastern Cape
Greece, Beverly Hills Hotel, KwaZulu-Natal
Honduras, The Indaba Hotel, Johannesburg
Italy, Leriba Lodge, Pretoria
Ivory Coast, Riverside Hotel & Conference, Vaal, Gauteng
Japan, Fancourt Hotel & Counry Club, George
Mexico, Thaba Ya Batswana, Johannesburg
Netherlands, Hilton Sandton, Sandton
New Zealand, Serengeti Estate, Gauteng
Nigeria, Hampshire, Durban
North Korea, Protea Hotel Midrand, Johannesburg
Paraguay, Woodridge Country Estate, KwaZulu Natal
Portugal, Valley Lodge, Gauteng
Serbia, Sunnyside Park Hotel, Johannesburg
Slovakia, The Villas Luxury Suite Hotel, Pretoria
Slovenia, Hyde Park Southern Sun, Johannesburg,
Spain, NWU Campus, Potchefstroom
South Africa, Southern Sun Grayston, Sandton
South Korea, Hunters Rest Hotel, Rustenburg
Switzerland, Emerald Resort & Casino, Vanderbijlpark
United States, Irene Country Lodge, Pretoria
Uruguay, Protea Hotel Kimberley, Kimberley
