Africa wants World Cup soccer 

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (PANA)-South African sports officials have repeatedly called on FIFA to put the "world" back into the World Cup, in other words, to include Africa, a continent, which has given the game so much, but has received little in return.

While an estimated 600 African soccer players are plying their trade in the top leagues of Europe, there isn't a single club in Africa that could afford to buy them back or pay their wages. So while Lucas Radebe, Taribo West and Nwankwo Kanu have displayed the strength of African football-and secured multi- million dollar contracts in the process-they have left local soccer in the lurch. 

Orlando Pirates Managing Director Irvin Khoza complains that millions of Africans are attracted to televised European football. Mr. Khoza believes the time has come for African club giants to become equally well known around the world. 

"I am sick and tired of seeing European football everywhere I look. We must restore our dignity and stop being a feeder continent for Europe. Otherwise, African football will become a dying species," he said. 

Danny Jordaan, chief executive officer of South Africa's 2006 World Cup Bid Committee, said granting the tournament to Africa would go a long way towards leveling the playing fields. He believes a World Cup in Africa would provide a strong foundation to substantially enhance African football, particularly at the grassroots level, and will strengthen bonds between Africa and the rest of the world. 

By doing so, it would provide a symbolic focus for South African President Thabo Mbeki's vision of an African Renaissance in the 21st century, observers note. 

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