Asia holds key to South Africa victory

Asia holds key to South Africa victory
Agencies

Zurich, July 4: Asia's four FIFA exective committee members hold the key to South Africa pulling off a stunning victory in the battle to host the 2006 World Cup.

The four, South Korea's Chung Mong-Jung, Thailand's Worawi Makudi, Saudi Arabia's Abdullah Al-Dabal and Qatar's Mohamed Bin Hammam, will meet here late on Tuesday to decide whether to throw there full support behind the South Africans.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter wants South Africa to win in the first round of voting on Thursday and the Asians can deliver.

Al-Dabal and Bin Hammam were originaly expected to back Morocco in the first round at least but with the North African country totally sidelined by both South American (CONMEBOL) and North and Central American's (Concacaf), six FIFA executive committee members' decision to vote for South Africa, they may give up what is seen by observers as a lost cause.

Chung, a close ally of African Football Confederation (CAF) president Issa Hayatou and Makudi are also likely to back South Africa in the first round. A senior Asian Football Confederation (AFC) official said he was confident the four men would reach agreement on a single candidate at the meeting.

With England's campaign already in tatters after a series of political blunders by the British government's special 2006 envoy Tony Banks, only Germany pose a serious threat to South Africa becoming the first African nation to host a World Cup.

But the Asian four can dash German hopes at a sweep. Pressure on the Asian members to support South Africa was dramatically increased on Monday when Brazil withdrew from the race and threw their support behind South Africa.

Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) president Ricardo Teixeira forecast an easy win for South Africa after announcing his withdrawal. ``South Africa will win, possibly in the first round,'' said Teixeira, who can deliver three votes.

``We will vote for South Africa and in return they will support us in 2010,'' he added. The sudden public support has delighted South African bid leader Danny Jordaan.

``Certainly we are happy that there is now a single focus between Africa and Europe and not a third continent involved in the contest. Now it is a question of whether FIFA gives Europe 10 World Cups and Africa nothing,'' said Jordaan.

But Jordaan stressed despite the boost from Brazil, the South African campaign would go on right to the end on Thursday when FIFA's 24-man executive committee vote on 2006.

``South Africa's 2006 campaign is taking nothing for granted and will continue to press its case until the very last moment,'' he said.

It would be a sad reflection on the state of mind of international football if South africa do not win the contest,'' Jordaan said.

``African football cannot sustain itself financially, so we need to become part of a global economy that is worth $200 billion a year,'' the former African National Congress politician said.

``More than 100,000 jobs will be created, most permanent, tourism will receive a massive boost and other African countries will benefit because qualifiers need match practice.''

The four bidding countries, South Africa, Morocco, Germany and England, will make their final presentations before the FIFA executive committee on Wednesday and the vote taken on Thursday.

Meanwhile, poll involving 20 leading sports editors and reporters from 15 countries was conducted. Eleven respondents said soccer's world governing body FIFA would select South Africa when it announced its decision on Thursday.

Twenty four FIFA delegates are due to vote: three each from South America and Concacaf, four from Asia, eight from Europe, one from Oceania, four from Africa and president Sepp Blatter.