Durban Mayor calls for the promotion of Beach Soccer

The third FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup has started in Durban, and is the first of six qualifying events for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup to be held from November 2 to 11 this year in Rio.

The Beach World Cup is the first of six qualifying events leading up to the FIFA World Cup in 2010.The final competition will be held at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro where the top 16 teams will battle it out

The Mayor of eThekwini, Councillor Obed Mlaba has thrown down the gauntlet to other KZN municipalities by calling on them to promote beach soccer among the youth. His call comes at a time when Durban is currently playing host to eight African teams taking part in the qualifying rounds of the 2007 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup to be played in Brazil later this year.

Mlaba who is also the Provincial Chairperson of the South African Local Government Association (Salga) in KZN, said although having access to beaches was an advantage; municipalities could also provide temporary sand pitches. He said this would afford youths from neighboring municipalities an opportunity to take part in prestigious Beach Soccer tournaments such as the 2009 Beach Soccer World Cup to be played in Durban.

In 2006 the FIFA Beach Soccer Organizing Committee voted Durban as the best beach soccer venue after Rio de Janeirio.

For more information contact: Siyabonga Maphumulo
Writer, eThekwini Communications
(031) 311 2071
082 3034243
maphumulosiya@durban.gov.za