The OC's Chief Executive Officer, Dr Danny Jordaan, said the appointment of the Venue Managers, who were announced at a press conference at SAFA House today, came at a very important time for the Organising Committee.
“After the Beijing Olympics, there will be only one big show on earth and that is the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Media interest in the World Cup will intensify and from an organising point of view we need to move from a centrally based headquarter to a decentralised structure. In each Host City we must begin to build a structure that will deliver this World Cup in all 10 Host Cities the event will take place in, with the infrastructure required to deliver in each of those cities. The appointment of the Venue Managers is therefore a first step and a very important step in that process,” said Jordaan.
The OC formally announced the appointment as Venue Managers of prominent football personalities Mandla “Shoes” Mazibuko (Tshwane/Pretoria/ Loftus Versfeld Stadium), Veli Mahlangu (Mbombela/Nelspruit/ Mbombela Stadium), Mmbulaheni Kirsten Nematandani (Polokwane/ Peter Mokaba Stadium) and Derek Blanckensee (Johannesburg/ Ellis Park for the FIFA Confederations Cup and Soccer City for the 2010 FIFA World Cup).
The other Venue Managers appointed, who are also well known in football and administrative circles, were Teral Cullen (Cape Town/ Green Point Stadium), Mpho Colin Modisakeng (Rustenburg/Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace), Achileus Charalambous (Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth/ Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium) and Bongi Hlophe (Durban/ Durban Stadium).
Blanckensee, the former Wits University Football Club Chief Executive Officer, will be the Venue Manager at Ellis Park for the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 and then move to Soccer City for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The OC is currently finalising the appointment of the Venue Manager at Mangaung/Bloemfontein and the person who will replace Blanckensee at Ellis Park for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, following the FIFA Confederations Cup.
OC Venue Managers will be responsible for leading and managing the Venue Operations in the Host Cities for the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 and 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The Venue Managers are also responsible for the delivery of these events by managing and implementing working relationships between the Organising Committee's Headquarters and other key role players, such as the Host City representatives, Provincial Government and local football structures affiliated to the South African Football Association.
The OC's Chief Officer of Competitions, Dennis Mumble, said the Venue Managers were chosen for their extensive administrative experience, as well as their experience of working for many years in South African football and 2010 organising structures.
“The Venue Managers are the key components of the system we have put together to deliver the World Cup. And it is our pleasure at the Organising Committee to welcome them on board. They are people with strong administrative and events backgrounds, who have also had great exposure to this particular sport in South Africa for many years,” said Mumble.
At the press conference, the OC also updated the media on the preparations for the upcoming FIFA Confederations Cup 2009, which will take place from 14 June to 28 June 2009 at Ellis Park, Loftus Versfeld, Free State Stadium and Rustenburg's Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace. Tickets for the Confederations Cup, for which European champions Spain, South American champions Brazil, African champions Egypt, Asian champions Iraq, CONCACAF champions United States, hosts South Africa and reigning world champions Italy have already qualified, will go on sale on 23 November 2008, the day after the Confederations Cup draw takes place in Johannesburg.
