(WS’ Glanville. He’ll be watching the World Cup on TV, thanks)
We’re less than 3 weeks away from the launch of the 2010 World Cup and while the decision to hold the tournament in South Africa was made more than 6 years ago, it’s a hotly debated topic to this day. Especially, it seems, in the hallways of the London-based World Soccer, whose 164 page tournament preview issue includes the following bon mots from a pair of the magazine’s better known columnists :
“It is the first time Africa has hosted anything of this magnitude, with South Africa having to overcome deep skepticism from many quarters — including some venerable, veteran observers of the game — and an unfair hostility that is based on little evidence but geography.” — Mark Gleeson, page 4
“Good luck to all media people and fans who are going to risk being there, doubtless heeding the advice never to stop at red lights if driving —would you prefer to be mugged or pranged — never to take the train and not to go on buses. The murder rate at the moment is a mere one every half hour, so you may well be one of the lucky ones.” — Brian Glanville, page 12