Danny Jordaan explains why there’s no hype around FIFA World Cup
SAFA president Danny Jordaan has explained why there’s no hype around the 2022 FIFA World Cup that kicks off in Qatar on Sunday, 20 November 2022.
Jordaan experienced the FIFA World Cup fever first-hand when South Africa hosted the global showpiece in 2010.
However, he admits he has not seen the same hype Mzansi witnessed 12 years ago.
Qatar 2022 has hogged headlines for all the wrong reasons in the build-up to the tournament. From human rights abuses to alcohol bans, the mood of the fans has been dampened.
On the pitch, several big stars, including Paul Pogba, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante and Sadio Mane, are ruled out due to injuries.
THE TIMING
The SAFA boss believes the tournament’s timing has contributed to the lack of excitement. The Qatar edition has come in the middle of the season, and Jordaan believes some fans are still in the domestic league mood.
Previous FIFA World Cups came during the off-season, with everyone solely focused on the global soccer showpiece.
“First thing about this FIFA World Cup, it happens in the middle of the season, unlike others that come after the club season,” Jordaan told the media.
“Some clubs are almost halfway from winning the league; others have won domestic cups already. So fans are still there. Previously the FIFA World Cup comes when the league is done, those who won have won, and others relegated or promoted.”
IGNITING SPIRIT
The president believes the first games for hosts Qatar and big nations will be crucial to ignite the World Cup spirit.
“Now, there is a stop on that process, so the first World Cup match is crucial. Once Qatar gets off the ground and wins the first match, it will ignite the spirit.
“If the big nations like Brazil, England, Argentina and Germany get a good start, it will ignite the spirit of fans.
“We were very worried in 2010 about how the FIFA World Cup would turn out; you need something to ignite it and what we did; we did a concert at Orlando Stadium; the best artist in the world was there.
“We had to put on something special; then we had the opening ceremony, a spectacular show. Then something we could not script happened, the opening Bafana Bafana game against Mexico. That super goal by Siphiwe Tshabalala that launched the FIFA World Cup,” concluded Jordaan.
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