Ekurhuleni - Despite the recent slump in performance by the national team, Bafana Bafana, the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality has not lost hope on the prospect of an improved team come 2010.
"We need to rally behind Bafana and make sure that the home ground advantage works in their favour, hence Ekurhuleni is contributing its bit to ensure that there is enough support for the national team.
"After all the boys will be going out there for all of us and they need us as a country to rally behind them as a collective," said municipal spokesperson Zweli Dlamini, on Monday.
He said a lot of people wrote the national team off before they could kick the ball during the Confederations Cup and the team just rose to the occasion and gave teams like Spain and eventual champions Brazil a run for their money.
The municipality has already used the Fly the Flag Campaign to drum up support and will soon be embarking on roadshows to distribute South African flags to Ekurhuleni residents.
He said the municipality has also put plans in place to ensure that local soccer fans do not struggle with transport when going to see Bafana in action during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
"The metro would also ensure that local and international soccer tourists have sufficient local and inter-city public transport ferrying fans to and fro the metro's multi-million Welcome Village in Dries Niemandt, Kempton Park, five minutes from the O.R. Tambo International Airport."
The construction of the village is nearing completion. The Ekurhuleni Welcome Village will be the first stop for visitors to get a taste of what South Africa and Ekurhuleni have to offer to international guests before they depart to their various destinations.
A shuttle service will whisk them from the airport to the village where they will catch their breath after a long flight, find their bearings and do all their booking, browsing and shopping.
The village will boast a number of facilities built around a central amphitheatre catering for street theatre, drumming and dance and also serve as an information centre among other things to ensure that visitors are left with a truly world class African experience.
The Welcome village will also serve as a public viewing area, non-formal accommodation and fan camp for soccer fanatics.
