African Roundup

Smooth cricket tournament boosts World Cup hopes

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -- South Africa's smooth running of the cricket World Cup has boosted the country's hopes of hosting soccer's biggest tournament in 2010, the man championing the bid said on Thursday.

"Certainly the cricket World Cup has strengthened South Africa's profile," Danny Jordaan, the former premier league soccer chief who is spearheading the 2010 bid, told Reuters.

"I think the overall impression is very positive."

Barred from international sport during decades of apartheid white rule, sports-mad South Africa has played an impressive game of catch-up, hosting the rugby union World Cup in 1995 to widespread acclaim just a year after make-or-break majority rule elections and the athletics World Cup three years later.

Clinching the world's top sporting event would be the icing on the cake for a country -- and continent -- where soccer, more than cricket or rugby, is the game of the black majority.

The cricket has showcased South Africa's tourist attractions and, with a total of 54 matches climaxing in Sunday's final, has gone with barely a hitch in security terms.

There were tussles between rival fans during the crunch India-Pakistan match, but they were dealt with quickly by security personnel and were minor given the size of the Indian following among South Africa's substantial Asian population.

Greater challenge

With 32 countries instead of 14 and some of the world's most pugnacious sports fans, a soccer World Cup is bound to present more serious security headaches than the cricket version.

But Jordaan said he was confident that the experience of South Africa's security personnel hosting sporting tournaments as well as political summits showed they were up to the job.

"The scale and demand is going to be significantly different," he said. "But the organizational capacity and the infrastructure is required whether it's cricket or soccer. To that extent South Africa has proved its case.

"There's the question of safety and security and I think that's a question that has been comprehensively answered," Jordaan added.

He said the 2001 Ellis Park disaster when 43 died in a crush at a derby soccer match at Johannesburg's top rugby stadium would not be an obstacle.

Away from the pitch, boycotts by England and New Zealand of their respective games in Zimbabwe and Kenya on security grounds should not pose a problem for a soccer tournament.

After a complicated 2002 tournament staged jointly by Japan and South Korea, FIFA President Sepp Blatter this week dismissed Nigeria's idea of co-hosting the 2010 tournament with Ghana, Togo, Cameroon and Benin.

"The question of co-hosting has been completely ruled out," Jordaan said.

The rejection of Nigeria's plan gave a boost to South Africa and fellow hopefuls Morocco, Egypt, Libya and Tunisia, who will be hosting the African Nations Cup finals in the run-up to FIFA's 2010 decision, due in May 2004.

Blatter confirmed FIFA's commitment to holding the 2010 tournament in Africa, made after South Africa narrowly lost out to Germany in a controversial FIFA vote for the 2006 venue.

Hard-done-by South Africa were then seen as favorites to host Africa's first World Cup and kick off a rotation between the six continental confederations.

But Jordaan said he would not be dwelling on the past.

"You can never afford to be bitter -- bitterness leads to paralysis. It will dampen your spirit and your will to try again."

Striker Mboma returns to Cameroon squad

YAOUNDE (Reuters) -- Former African Footballer of the Year Patrick Mboma returned to the Cameroon squad for the first time since last year's World Cup when he was included in a 24-man squad for a tournament in Tunisia next week.

Coach Winfried Schaefer recalled the veteran striker, now playing in the J-League, and also Nicolas Alnoudji from Bastia after illness kept him out of the squad for last month's friendly defeat by the Ivory Coast.

Three uncapped players were called up for the first time -- midfielders Justice Wamfor from Genk and 19-year-old Valery Mezague, who was born in Marseille and plays for Montpellier.

There is also a call-up for 28-year-old Falemi Ngassam, a midfielder with Steaua Bucharest who was born in Romania but whose father hails from Cameroon.

Cameroon play Madagascar in the first game of the tournament next Thursday. The winner of the match competes in the final against either Ghana or hosts Tunisia on March 30.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Boukar Alioum (Istanbulspor, Turkey), Idriss Carlos Kameni (St Etienne, France).

Defenders: Geremi Fotso Njitap (Middlesbrough, England), Lucien Mettomo (Manchester City, England), Jean-Joel Perrier Doumbe (Auxerre, France), Rigobert Song (Lens, France), Bill Tchato (Kaiserslautern, Germany), Pierre Wome (Fulham, England)

Midfielders: Nicolas Alnoudji (Bastia, France), Thimothee Atouba (Basel, Switzerland), Eric Djemba Djemba (Nantes, France), Marc-Vivien Foe (Manchester City, England), Valery Mezague (Montpellier, France), Felami Ngassam (Steaua Bucharest, Romania), Salomon Olembe (Marseille, France), Justice Wamfor (Genk, Belgium)

Strikers: Cyrille Florent Bella (LR Ahlen, Germany), Achille Emana (Toulouse), Samuel Eto'o (Real Mallorca, Spain), Mohammadou Idrissou (Hanover 96, Germany), Joseph-Desire Job (Middlesbrough, England), Modest Mbami (Sedan, France), Patrick Mboma (Tokyo Verdy, Japan), Pius Ndiefi (Sedan, France).

Madagascar names two squads

ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) -- Madagascar have announced different squads for their two international matches in Tunisia and South Africa next weekend.

The Malagasy national side compete in the four nations tournament in Tunisia, along with African champions Cameroon and Ghana, from March 27-30 but also have an international against South Africa in Johannesburg on March 29.

Coach Hans Heiniger will take his first choice squad to Tunisia and his assistant Jean Chry Razafimaharo and Auguste Raux, coach of champions AS Adema, take charge of the side that will travel to South Africa.

Only first choice goalkeeper Jean Chrysostome Raharison has been drafted into the South African-bound squad from the side that beat Mauritius 2-1 in their last international in February.

The side for Tunisia includes a first call-up for the French-born Johann Paul from second division Chateauroux.

Squad to play Tunisia:

Goalkeepers: Bruno Rajaozara (AS Adema), Pascal Honore Rasolofoniaina (Siama)

Defenders: Patrick Alain Andrianiaina (US Ambohidratrimo), Johann Paul (Chateauroux, France), Jimmy Radafison (Stade Olympique Emyrne), Eric-Julien Rakotondrabe (Stade Olympique Emyrne), Olivier Rakotondranoro (Stade Olympique Emyrne), Norbert Randrianoelsion (Domoina Soavino Astimondrano), Mamisoa Razafindrakoto (Stade Olympique Emyrne)

Midfielders: Christophe Anly (AS Fortior), Nestor Benoavy (AS Adema), Jean-Jacques Radonamahafalison (AS Marsoins, Reunion), Patrice Dominique Rakotondraibe (AS Jirama Fianarantsoa), Herve Rado Rasonaivo (Stade Tamponnaise, Reunion), Jean-Natal Ratsimialona (AS Fortior), Jean Rodrigue Gouga Razafimahenika (Tanambao FC), Elyse Razafindrakoto (US Transfoot), Juvence Rija Rakotomandimby (Stade Olympique Emyrne)

Strikers: Ruphin Menakely (Excelsior, Reunion), Thiery Raharison (Domoina Soavino Astimondrano), Patrick Rajaobary (Domoina Soavino Astimondrano)

Squad to play South Africa:

Goalkeepers: Alda Herve Andriamahenika (USJF), Jean Chrysostome Raharison (Domoina Soavino Astimondrano)

Defenders: Eric Gascone (AS Adema), Guy Patrick Raberanto (AS Adema), Guy Rajaonarivelo (Domoina Soavino Astimondrano), Ando Ramarojaona (Domoina Soavino Astimondrano), Jousseanne Michael Randrianantenaina (Ulamanga Tamatave)

Midfielders: Jose Andraianantonisolo (Domoina Soavino Astimondrano), Robson Dedy (AS Fortior), Valentin Mazinot (US Transfoot), Tojo Navalona Rajaonarisoa (AS Adema), Jean Fidele Randriamalala (AS Fortior), Rivomanantsoa Rasolonanahary (FC Jirama Antsibe)

Strikers: Anthony Andrianajaina (AS Adema), Patrick Ranaivoson (Domoina Soavino Astimondrano), Jean-Yves Randriamarozaka (Domoina Soavino Astimondrano), Francky Randrianasoloniaina (US Transfoot), Solohery Rasoanaivo (Stade Olympique Emyrne), Nathalie Suivestin (Stade Olympique Emyrne), Robins Voavy (AS Adema)

 

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Both the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.