Wie krijgt WK 2010: Zuid-Afrika

quote:

Op zondag 16 mei 2004 17:24 schreef Dora_van_Crizadak het volgende:

[..]

Zelfs al zou Zuid-Amerika op Marokko gestemd hebben, dan nog was de verhouding 13-11. Maakt dus niets uit, in tegenstelling tot wat de posts van Meki doen vermoeden.

quote:

Op zondag 16 mei 2004 17:29 schreef CherrymoonTraxx het volgende:
Meki je bent echt dom....

Ik zei het toch dat je je geen illusies moest maken. Stoppen met janken dus.

quote:

Morocco is a Muslim country, but the commercial capital Casablanca woke this morning with a feeling of Christmas Day expectation.

Crowded round a tiny, battered black and white television set in Casablanca's ancient Medina, Moroccans gathered to watch the announcement which they felt would change their country and their lives.


Morocco will have to wait decades for its next chance

Their faces, some worn and wrinkled, others smooth and wide-eyed, registered excruciating hope and then utter disappointment as the envelope of the winning country was opened, revealing the words South Africa.

One man managed a weak round of applause.

"At least it will be in Africa," he said, but he clapped alone.

"It's terrible," said another, "four Arab countries involved and there was no solidarity. Morocco, Libya, Tunisia and Egypt could not speak with one voice."

Impressive bid

It is not the first time Morocco has felt let down. Four times Morocco has bid to host the World Cup. It was the first African country to bring the continent to Fifa's attention.


Morocco was seen as a strong contender up to the end

Although Fifa's leaked report registered some concern that Morocco's stadiums were running behind schedule, the bid was generally recognised as solid.

Fifa praised Morocco on its budget, with plans to finance the Cup itself and plough Fifa's money into Football without Frontiers, a scheme to develop the sport across Africa.

For Moroccan sports journalist Reda Alalli, the Morocco 2010 team organised not just a bid for a sports event, but a new vision for the country.

"It's not Fifa's fault that the only plan for Morocco was the 2010 World Cup," he said.

"Fifa is not an NGO or charity, it's big business."

Long odds

Fifa's decision came as no great surprise.

Moroccans knew they were bidding against a country with better infrastructure and a bigger market for the products of the World Cup sponsors.

But that is exactly why this poor North African Kingdom, battling against poverty and Islamic extremism, felt it needed football's most prestigious event so much more than its richer, southern rival.

"This meant everything to Morocco and now there is nothing," said Fouad El Maki, with bitter disappointment.

The World Cup would have brought Morocco countless job opportunities and five billion dollars worth of investment.

For the other toothless old men in the Medina with a shrug of the shoulders it was all over, and they turned back to their mint tea.

Shadow of terror

Across the city police stood forlornly by barricades erected to cope with a joyful crowd that never was.

Local authorities in Casablanca's main Mohammed V square began packing away the bunting and loading up the sound systems, as they had known in their hearts they would.

The next event Moroccans have to look forward to is the one-year anniversary of the Casablanca bombings, in which Islamic extremists killed 45 people in suicide attacks on May 16th.

With Moroccans linked to the Madrid bombings in March, it is a harsh reminder that Morocco must struggle against increasing Islamic radicalism in the country, and Morocco must do it without the help of the development and international vote of confidence the World Cup would have brought.

quote:

Op zondag 16 mei 2004 17:39 schreef CherrymoonTraxx het volgende:

[..]

Lekker boeiend, ze hebben wel het WK.

quote:

Op zondag 16 mei 2004 17:47 schreef CherrymoonTraxx het volgende:

[..]

Onzin. Ze hebben gewoon de meeste stemmen gehaald en dan heb je het WK binnen.