Posted on Wed, Jan. 7, 2009
THE 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP is more than a year-and-a-half away, but concerns are still surfacing about South Africa hosting the event.
Critics are calling for FIFA to reconsider allowing the country to host the tournament for fear that the South African government won't be able to guarantee the safety of teams, officials and the thousands of fans expected to attend.
FIFA insists that South Africa will make for a perfect venue, but critics now have an Exhibit A for their gripes after a member of the South African organizing committee and former executive within the South African Football Association was killed Sunday in his home by two masked gunmen. According to an online report yesterday from the London Times, Jimmy Mohlala, 44, apparently exposed corruption in connection with one of the stadiums being built. It's believed that his "massive investigation" led to his death and the shooting of his 19-year-old son.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter insists this was an isolated incident. But if masked gunmen can easily get to a government official, how hard would it be to get to athletes and fans? Then again there were similar concerns when China hosted the Summer Olympics and that turned out just fine, barring the death of an American volleyball coach's in-laws. Maybe that too was seen as an "isolated incident."
Lookalikes
Looking at photos of University of Pittsburgh power forward DeJuan Blair and Sixers power forward Elton Brand . . . is it possible these two were separated at birth? *
- Kerith Gabriel
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