World Cup's R38bn boost

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By Zweli Mokgata

The World Cup will add R38-billion to the South African economy this year - more or less the amount spent by the country in hosting the tournament, minister of finance Pravin Gordhan said on Friday.

The minister estimated that the World Cup had created 130000 jobs - in the construction of stadiums and other facilities, and the tourism and feeder industries. The new infrastructure would act as a magnet for investment as well as improve the lives of citizens, Gordhan said.

"Once you build a road, it doesn't disappear the day after the World Cup ends," he said. The "soft" benefits were equally important, he added.

South Africa has attracted far more foreign fans than expected to the tournament, particularly from South America.

"At one stage we were talking about 300-and-something thousand and then down to 250000, and probably we're closer to the 500000 figure now. In June alone, there were about 200000 people that came in," Gordhan said.

The extra fans could give the economy a bigger boost than the government's estimate of an added 0.4 percentage points on GDP growth this year.

Gordhan's comments came after the release of promising statistics on new vehicle sales by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA (Naamsa). The sector was one of the worst hit during the recession, and the association reported that 39931 new vehicles, led by Toyota, were sold during June - a 20.7% jump compared to the same month last year.

World Cup's R38bn boost

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2010 World Cup's biggest star may be the Jabulani

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By Ben Coxworth

Professor Derek Leinweber has been studying soccer balls. He’s interested in the physics behind them, and is particularly intrigued by the design of the official ball for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, the Adidas Jabulani. He thinks it will behave in a much different fashion than the previous World Cup ball, throwing goalkeepers for a loop - all because of the ridges on its skin.

Governing body FIFA has strict regulations on the size and weight of balls, but none regarding their outside surface. This means that the skin is where Adidas has been concentrating its efforts at making better soccer balls. The Jabulani’s “grip’n’groove” ridges are designed both for improved grip, and for better control. Leinweber, who heads the School of Chemistry and Physics at the University of Adelaide in Australia, believes that they will create turbulence around the ball, resulting in longer flights. Given that it is also a relatively small, heavy ball (within FIFA guidelines), it should make for faster, harder play.

Adidas’ previous World Cup ball, the Teamgeist, had a freakishly smooth skin. This apparently caused it to bend more than a conventional ball, and to drop more rapidly at the end of its trajectory. Ironically, the Jabulani should also prove to be a bender, perhaps more so than anything that has come before it.

2010 World Cup's biggest star may be the Jabulani

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Boks open chasm on log: Sport: Rugby: TriNations

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Rob Houwing
If South Africa botch the 2009 Vodacom Tri-Nations from here, the collapse will have to have been pretty wretched, won’t it?

Thanks to another grinding, bludgeoning performance at Newlands here on Saturday, with Australia the latest plucky but trampled victims, the Springboks (on 12 points) boast a full house of wins from their three home games in the competition, and there is formidable daylight on the log as things stand.

Second-placed New Zealand are eight points adrift from an equal number of matches – effectively two wins in arrears -- with the Aussies languishing in third on a paltry one point, albeit from a game fewer.
Boks open chasm on log: Sport: Rugby: TriNations

Wallabies expect ferocious Tri-Nations opener

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CHRIS FOLEY

The Wallabies are braced for a fast and ferocious war of attrition when they confront the All Blacks in Saturday's opening Tri-Nations clash.

The outcome may well turn on the battle between two of the world's best ball winners who are desperate for victory to cement personal milestones -- Richie McCaw in his 200th first-class game and George Smith in his 100th Test.

Australian coach Robbie Deans said he expected the contest to be resolved in the crucial breakdown area.

Wallabies expect ferocious Tri-Nations opener - Mail & Guardian Online: The smart news source

Blame the coach

If the British and Irish Lions tour has taught us anything, it is that the Springboks are such a talented group of individuals that they are winning despite our coach.

Peter de Villiers has made it patently clear during the tour that he is out of his depth.
His selections and tactics have been left wanting and his stubborn, egotistical attitude does not allow him to admit when he is wrong.

De Villiers would probably label me a racist for airing my opinions, as he did those who criticised his selection of Ricky Januarie, but it is exactly that laager mentality that is doing harm to the fortunes of what is arguably the greatest Springbok team ever assembled.

Blame the coach - Mail & Guardian Online: The smart news source

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Lions rue chances that went begging

Stuart Barnes

From the glory of the first half to the dust and desolation of the second as the 2009 British and Irish Lions went the same way as their 2001 and 2005 predecessors, losing a series and suffering a seventh straight defeat against the global powers of South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

Lions rue chances that went begging | Six Nations Rugby - Times Online

Bok selections worry Lions?

Stephen Nell

Heinrich Brüssow's fetching skills and Frans Steyn's boot have given the British and Irish Lions coaches reasons to be worried, ahead of choosing their team for the first Test.

"We have already spoken about the threat from Frans with his long distance drop kicks," said the Lions' kicking coach Neil Jenkins.

"It will be very difficult in the course of the match to stop him from trying to score points in this way."

The Lions are planning to put Steyn under pressure by taking advantage of the fact that it has been a while since he played fullback.

"Frans is an excellent player. We are trying to get visual footage of him when he last played fullback for the Sharks in the Super 14 in 2008," Jenkins added.

Bok selections worry Lions?: Sport: Rugby: LionsinSA

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IPL cricket league snubs England for South Africa

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By Bill Mann

The decision by the Indian Premier League (IPL) to relocate its tournament this year to South Africa after the Indian government declared that it was unable to guarantee security during the month-long event due to a clash with the country's general election is a considerable coup for the African nation.

IPL chairman Lalit Modi and his counterpart from Cricket South Africa, Gerald Majola, confirmed the decision to move the tournament at a press conference in South Africa this afternoon. Matches will be held between April 17 and May 24, and will take place at six venues in South Africa: Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and East London.

England had been also been considered as a potential venue for the IPL, and made the initial running in the race to host it, but concerns over the climate in the country in April and a clash with the London Marathon meant that South Africa triumphed in the end.

The tournament will give the country a considerable - and quite unexpected - financial boost, as the IPL jamboree will bring thousands of players, team officials and spectators to South Africa for more than a month. There will also be allied revenues from tourism and TV deals to cover the matches. It will also provide the country with a perfect dry-run for next year's football World Cup, as the infrastructure being put in place for the 2010 event will be thoroughly tested and flaws in it made apparent during the IPL can be rectified in time for next year.

IPL cricket league snubs England for South Africa | Features | The First Post

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BBC NEWS | South Asia | Gunmen shoot Sri Lanka cricketers

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Gunmen have attacked a bus carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team on its way to play in the Pakistani city of Lahore.

At least five policemen escorting the team bus were killed, along with a driver. Seven cricketers and an assistant coach were injured.

Pakistani officials said about 12 gunmen were involved and grenades and rocket launchers have been recovered.

Officials said the incident bore similarities to deadly attacks in Mumbai in India last November.

The Mumbai attacks were blamed on Pakistan-based Islamic militants.

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Gunmen shoot Sri Lanka cricketers

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Oz team to tour SA is a more balanced outfit – Peter Roebuck

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ALL things considered, Australia have chosen a handy team to tour South Africa. Quibbles can be held about one or two of the minor positions, but overall the squad is as strong as circumstances permit. Of late Australian cricket has had more headaches than a tall drunk. By and large the older players were to blame. Matthew Hayden could not find his form, Brett Lee could not find his pace and Andrew Symonds had mislaid his brain.

Full report - The Witness - 16th Feb 2009

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