BBC SPORT | Football | Africa | Zimbabwe seek to co-host World Cup



By Steve Vickers BBC Sport Online in Harare

The Zimbabwe Football Association intends to approach the South African Football Association to propose a joint bid to host the 2010 World Cup.

Should Zimbabwe be allowed to co-host? Have your say

Zifa chairman Leo Mugabe has said he plans to meet with Safa officials in Johannesburg on Friday.

Although Zimbabwe is facing growing international political isolation following the March presidential elections, Zifa is serious about the bid.

"Things are at an early stage, but the intention is there to co-host," said Mugabe.

SA World Cup bid damaged

The biggest football tournament that Zimbabwe has ever staged was the eight-nation All-Africa Games competition in 1995.

Failed bids

Zifa lost the right to host the 2000 Nations Cup after failing to provide the Confederation of African Football with a government guarantee of financial backing.

Caf was not convinced that the stadiums to be used for the Nations Cup would be ready in time for the tournament.

But a defiant Mugabe revealed that Zifa will propose the construction of new stadiums in the tourist resort towns of Victoria Falls and Kariba.

Leo Mugabe says the bid is serious
"There are already first-class hotel facilities there, we have stadiums and hotels in Harare and Bulawayo, and we also would upgrade Sakubva stadium in Mutare."

Ivory Coast's World Cup bid

Much of Sakubva stadium is currently in ruins after sections of the ground were demolished ahead of renovations that should have taken place before the 2000 Nations Cup.

Zimbabwe is co-hosting the 2003 cricket World Cup with South Africa and Kenya, and there has been some political pressure for the games to be moved away from Zimbabwe.


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