New plans for soccer base camp
2009-08-27
IN what seems like a last ditch effort before the Fifa World Cup deadline, the Drakenstein Municipality and the Val de Vie Polo Estate will combine to entice prominent European and South American teams to set up a base camp in Drakenstein for 2010. There is still a possibility that more than one team can use Drakenstein to set up a base camp. Other venues which have been considered, but appear to have fallen by the wayside, are the Diemersdal farm near Wellington, the Grande Roche Hotel in Paarl, Pearl Valley Estate, and the proposed Paarl Waterfront. Santé Winelands was prominent in the running at the beginning of the year, when British businessman, Chris Wishlade of SafCap Investments attempted to purchase the hotel, but the deal fell through as Wishlade and the curators of the fallen asset management company Fidentia could not reach an agreement. It was due to open in May. Strong suggestions that this hotel remains a back-up in the run, could not be confirmed by Arthob Petersen, councillor of Drakenstein Municipality and chairperson for Paarl 2010 committee. Fifa will make the final decision on where these base camps will be in December. All base camps must conform to Fifa requirements. Drakenstein Municipality and Val de Vie have reached a joint venture agreement and a delegation of the Paarl 2010 committee and representatives of Val de Vie will leave South Africa early in September to visit England, Spain, France, the Netherlands and Germany. On their way back they will also visit Egypt.
The Drakenstein delegation on the first leg will consist of Dr Sidima Kabanyane, municipal manager, Khaya Mrali, Theo Koopman, Micheal Mafila, Wilhelm Nothnagel and Martin Botha of Val de Vie. Thereafter the next delegation, led by Petersen, will visit South America to hold meetings with Argentina and Brazil. “If negotiations with one of these countries is successful, 30 houses at Val de Vie will be used for the ‘team hotel’, says Petersen. The on-site training facilities will also be upgraded to comply with the criteria as set out by the organising committee of Fifa. “We will do our utmost best to get one or even two teams to Drakenstein. “If we succeed, it means that the training pitch, the drainage system, flood lights, security and safety, access control and the seating must comply with the standards. “Indications are that this upgrading will cost Val de Vie more than R7 million,” he said. Drakenstein Municipality has already given approval to make the Boland Rugby Stadium available as a public training site and will erect stadium stands at Val de Vie if required.
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