BuaNews (Tshwane)
9 December 2011
Pretoria — Several countries which have qualified for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon are heading to South Africa to utilise the World Cup facilities as training camps ahead of the continent’s premier tournament.
Countries that have expressed interest in setting up training base camps in South Africa are Zambia, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea and Angola.
Both Zambia and Ghana are expected to play friendly matches against Bafana Bafana. However, dates and venues of these matches are still being finalised.
Boasting some of the best facilities in the world, South Africa will be ideal for the majority of countries participating in 2012 Afcon as it shares most weather patterns with that of Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
In the past, a number of African countries set up training camps in Europe and fly back to Africa just before the tournament kick-off.
Now the South African Football Association (Safa) believes the utilisation of the 2010 FIFA World Cup facilities should trigger a massive interest in Africa and around the globe.
Safa chief executive officer, Dr Robin Petersen, said he was excited by several national teams’ interest to set up base camps in the country as this will go a long way in sustaining the World Cup legacy.
“We want the 2010 World Cup legacy to benefit several generations to come especially South Africans and the football family on this African continent.”
AllAfrica – All the Time