Schmidt: "World Cup will change Africa’s self-perception"

It was not long after Fabio Grosso had converted the final penalty to ensure Italy’s fourth World Cup triumph, that Horst R. Schmidt began to think about organising yet another World Cup. On June 9 of last year, the 2006 FIFA World Cup came to a spectacular finish, when Italy beat France 6-4 in the Berlin final. For Schmidt, the Senior Vice-President of the FIFA World Cup, the fireworks above Berlin Olympic Stadium symbolized the close to 15 years of preparation. A few weeks later, the 65-year old DFB General Secretary had been contacted by FIFA. The 2010 Organising Committee sought his expert advice. By request of FIFA, Schmidt assists South Africa in a consulting role. It will be his 10th FIFA World Cup as a key manager.

In an exclusive interview for www.dfb.de, Schmidt talks with DFB editor Wolfgang Tobien about the road to South Africa 2010, about milestones and possible road blocks.

Question: Mr. Schmidt, you have been consulting the South African World Cup for close to six months now. Please tell us about your new role. Do you feel that the South Africans act upon your advice?

Horst R. Schmidt: First of all, being General Secretary of the DFB is still my main task. Seven days each month are devoted to South Africa, as it was agreed upon with FIFA. But then, it is kind of hard to separate the two assignments. Really, the 2010 FIFA World Cup is on my desk almost every day.

Question: Please give us an example.

Schmidt: You have to understand that I’m not there to compensate for any know-how deficits. At one point, FIFA deemed it feasible that the experiences made at organising a World Cup should be rapidly transferred to the next tournament. Me joining the 2010 group came as no surprise. For a long time, Danny Jordaan, the South African Chief Executive Officer of the Local Organising Committee, and I have been good friends.

Question: How do you evaluate the current situation?

Schmidt: Obviously, South Africa objects to be reminded constantly about how great the 2006 tournament turned out to be. I tell my friends in South Africa, that we certainly had our problems to solve. Not everything was easy. But in 2010, we will celebrate “the African World Cup”. Creativity seems unlimited, there are so many ideas about this main theme. First, we have to master the technical aspects of the event. Since South Africa is a high-tech country, I feel optimistic. Now we’ll start with the stadium construction. The day-to-day routine of an Organising Committee has started.

Question: Stadium construction, besides a soaring crime rate and traffic issues, seems to worry some media members.

Schmidt: I agree that the plan to build five new stadiums, with another stadium being refurbished from the ground, that this plan has been very ambitious. Ratifying the finances took time. But now we have green light status. This month, construction will start for all arenas.

Question: When will construction be completed?

Schmidt: I feel very certain, that all stadium construction work will be finalized by October 2009. Arenas dedicated for the FIFA Confederations Cup, our “dress rehearsal” so to speak, will also be fully functionable in due time. In South Africa, we have two great advantages: no winters and no league, that hinders or delays the necessary work.

Question: Do you foresee delays because of objections and protest in Cape Town?

Schmidt: No, I don’t think so. In any case, if we run into problems with one arena, we can still have a fully operable tournament with eight or nine stadiums.

Question: Reports here in Europe indicate that traffic is an issue. How will the fans get to the stadiums in 2010?

Schmidt: I am not an expert in this field. However, I will not tire to remind the LOC about the importance of infrastructure. Safety is equally important . South Africa’s government is aware that certain areas need to be protected in order to have a successful World Cup. 2010 will be a safe and secure tournament. So far, the documents presented to me have been first-class. Please remember that South Africa was a bidding country for the 2006 World Cup. So they had started their preparation a long time ago.

Question: How about the general public – do you feel anticipation rising for the World Cup?

Schmidt: In Germany, surveys indicated an acceptance level of plus 90 percent. South Africa’s populace feels the same way. Public Viewing events in 2010 will help to guarantee a fantastic atmosphere. I think in 2006, everybody in Germany felt a bit like a host welcoming friends. If we can create similar results in South Africa, it will be a great World Cup.

Question: The burden of responsibility – is it as heavy as in 2006?

Schmidt: My role is very different. I am an advisor, hopefully I’ll be able to give sound advice. I will no restrict myself, but give recommendations for certain topics. At the end of the day, the South Africans have to make the decision.

Question: This will be your 10th World Cup in an organising function, which probably is a record. How does this anniversary tournament rate in your own estimation?

Schmidt: Between 1978 and 2002, I was a member of the FIFA Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup. My involvement was continuous, but now the intensity is much higher. I feel much closer to the operation. FIFA has established an office in South Africa, which is my operational base. And then we have the LOC. Both structures need to interact. We have to avoid redundancy. Expectations are very high, in South Africa and really in all of Africa. This World Cup will change Africa’s self-perception.