2010 – WORLD CUP and Confederation Cup 2009

MEET ZAKUMI – THE MASCOT FOR THE WORLD CUP

http://www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=743:zakumi230908&catid=46:2010news&Itemid=118

Tuesday, 23 September 2008 12:45

Zakumi is a fluffy young leopard with

green dreadlocks and a wide smile. Introduced to the world at a lavish event at the South African Broadcasting Corporation headquarters in Johannesburg yesterday,

“He’s young, vibrant, energetic, enthusiastic, sociable, self-confident and ambitious.” That’s how Danny Jordaan, head of the 2010 Fifa World Cup Local Organising Committee, described Zakumi, the football tournament’s mascot.

“Zakumi represents the people, geography and spirit of South Africa, personifying the essence the 2010 Fifa World Cup,” Fifa general-secretary Jerome Valcke said at the event.

Fifa have given their mascot a distinct personality and personal history. Zakumi was born on 16 June 1994, a day and a year of great significance in South Africa.

The 16th of June 1976 saw the beginning of the Soweto youth uprising, when schoolchildren took to the streets to protest against apartheid, many of them cut down by police gunfire.

And 1994 was the year that South Africans of all races cast their votes for the first time to elect a new post-apartheid democratic government.

With the slogan “Zakumi: the mascot with an attitude”, Fifa describe Zakumi’s personality as lively, outgoing, adventurous and spontaneous – a “shrewd little fellow”

They say he loves to perform and always follows his instinct and intuition, and has the tendency to exaggerate.

Zakumi was designed and his costume produced exclusively in South Africa. His name is a combination of “ZA”, South Africa’s domain name, and “Kumi”, which means “10” in a number of African languages.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTPKsW06At8

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1781794/zakumi_mascot_world_cup_2010/

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/081014/59/16pwv.html

Zakumi’s sister says………

Vasco da Gama of Portugal first saw the coast of KwaZulu-Natal on Christmas Day 1497 and therefore it was named Natal.

http://africaguide.com/culture/tribes/zulu.htm

The proud Zulu nation is spread out throughout South Africa, but a lot still reside either in the cities or on what they term “the farm”. Traveling north from Durban the coast is called The Dolphin Coast and further into Zululand it is called The Elephant Coast. Traveling south from Durban there is the Hibiscus Coast, which like the north coast is divided into rural and agricultural communities.

Nearer the coast, the rolling hills of Natal shimmer in the wind with their acres and acres of sugar cane, and moving inland one finds the more natural rural areas, as well as the starkly beautiful thorn bush areas. Near the northern borders is the mountain range called the Drakensberg, named by the Dutch Voortrekkers – translated means the Dragon’s berg – and some of the best privately owned game farms are nearby.

Driving up the northern coastal areas there are several National Game Parks where the big five can be found. In the little dorp, (village) near the Swaziland border, Wakkerstroom the most prolific bird life in the whole of South African can be found.

The new airport for Durban feeding the KwaZulu-Natal area will be completed before the FIFA 2010 World Cup beginning 11 June to 11 July 2010. The whole area is a-buzz with building and preparations for the fantastic event which will truly make Africa part of the world community.

The Confederation Cup which takes place from June 14-28, 2009, in four cities across South Africa will bring many visitors who will hunt for the treasure of Africa amidst watching their favourite team in the stadiums.

The 2009 competition will feature Italy (2006 World Cup champions), Spain (2008 European champions), Brazil (2007 South American champions), the United States (2007 Gold Cup champions), Iraq (2007 Asian Cup champions), Egypt (2008 African Cup of Nations champions) and New Zealand (2008 Oceania Nations Cup champions).

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2008/11/21/confederation-cup.html

Sleepy South Africans are awakening to prepare for all the visitors that are expected to come. Musicians, artists, restaurant owners, tourist operators and small businesses alike are working hard at preparing the biggest, the best and the most enjoyable time for the rest of the world!!!!

Where to go, where not to go, when to go and when not to go. Where to eat, and where not to eat, what to wear and what not to wear. Where to stay and where not to stay, how to keep safe and issues such as snakes, sharks in the ocean, and crime are questions that will be answered on this blog. And our speciality, of course, where to go to listen to Durban musicians play, who are they and how to experience real African music at the grass-roots level.

Highly recommended accommodation and tour operators can be reached through this website. Safety aspects and luxury top market resorts will be highlighted and travel arrangements made. Services to stock up self-catering units is on offer and the suggestion is that fans travel to South Africa and particularly KwaZulu-Natal to see for yourselves how far your accommodation is from the stadium etc. etc. These details will also be attended to by our travel experts and the best advice will be given. The exchange rate is so favourable, start planning your trip now to save disappointment with last minute travel arrangements.

Zakumi’s sister would love some feedback.

EXPERIENCE THE MUSIC!!

email us on info@lkf.co.za for further information and feedback.

Lkf stands for Leopard Kingdom Foundation (Daniel 7 vs 6)