Football Partnerships

South African construction workers at 2010 World Cup stadiums who have been on strike have rejected an improved wage offer by employers, but lowered their demands for a pay increase.

Read the rest of the article

By Celean Jacobson

Helmets and horns - the colourful, crazy core of South Africa’s soccer fever - are going global as the nation gears up for the Confederations Cup and next year’s World Cup.

South African streets may be crime-infested and violent, but its stadiums are filled with raucous joy and harmony. The aggression that plagues European soccer is unknown here as rival fans cheer and dance together and compete against each other for the most colourful costume.

Read the rest of the article

By Geoffrey York

While South Africa eagerly anticipates playing host to next year’s soccer championship, the country’s taxi unions are vowing to derail a new transit system that they say will put their members out of business.

Read the rest of the article

The stadium that will be used for the opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Soccer City near Nasrec, is about 92% complete, the stadium’s project director Mike Moody said on Wednesday.

“The stadium construction is progressing well and ready for handover in October. We are busy with touch-ups in the interior and all the externals such as parking and the roads will be finished in December, in time for January 2010 completion deadline,” he said.

Read the rest of the article

In the United States of America, American football, basketball and baseball undoubtedly reign supreme amongst sports fans - but it’s impossible to miss the enthusiasm for and growth of soccer in the country.

Purists the world over of course call the beautiful game ‘football’, but with American football so entrenched, in the United States it’s ‘soccer’ that’s making waves in this sports-mad country.

A startling sign of the popularity of the game and the country’s appetite for a sport which has by far the biggest global appeal, is the fact that United States soccer fans have already purchased over 93 300 tickets for matches at next June’s 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa.

Read the rest of the article