Submitted by freenet on Mon, 26/04/2010 - 16:28
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By Chris Bathembu
Johannesburg - Confederation of African Football (CAF) President and top Cameroonian soccer administrator Issa Hayatou has expressed his dream to see one of the African countries competing in the upcoming World Cup, make it to the final.
Hayatou is in South Africa to receive the Order of the Companions of Oliver Tambo (gold) when President Jacob Zuma awards the National Orders on Tuesday night.
The National Orders are the highest honour awarded to outstanding individuals in the field of sport, arts, science and technology as well as individuals' general contribution to a free South Africa. The ceremony will coincide with the country celebrating 16 years of freedom and democracy.
Addressing a media conference on Monday, Hayatou, who has been at the helm of CAF since 1988, said the award was an honor for him as it signified the recognition of the continent's beautiful game.
"Its an honour I cannot even begin to describe…how I wish we can take tomorrow's (Tuesday's) celebration to the field and see one of the African countries reach the finals of the tournament," he said.
Hayatou is credited for helping South Africa return to international football in 1992 after decades of isolation.
"When you look back to that time South Africa should be proud to be among the greatest nations in the world in terms of the development of football.
"We have among the best players in the world and as for us administrators we will double our efforts to make progress in African game," he said speaking through an interpreter.
2010 Local Organising Committee Chief Executive Danny Jordaan also described government's decision to bestow the Order of OR to Hayatou as recognition of the role football plays in the development of the continent.
"Football is hope no matter how you look at it, you can ask the poorest of our people in this country about how they feel about the world cup coming to South Africa - the answer will be one of happiness."
While European countries stand a good chance to play up to the final because of their large representation in the tournament, both Jordaan and Hayatou agreed that there was nothing stopping an African team from winning the cup.
"We have some of the best players in the world that continue to help European teams win domestic leagues…so what could stop those players from helping their countries win the world cup?" Hayatou asked.
Out of the 32 teams competing in this year's World Cup, only six are from the African continent while the rest are made up of teams from America, Europe and Asia.
"So the performance of the African teams in this World Cup will be key to an argument for more African teams to be included in the future," Jordaan said. - BuaNews