Sport can bring ‘prosperity, job opportunities’ to KZN communities
THE first edition of World Football Summit Africa is just around the corner. Sports industry leaders from all around the globe will gather in Durban next Tuesday and Wednesday, turning the city into the African capital of football.
The KwaZulu-Natal government, main partner of WFS Africa, is confident that the event will boost the economic prospects, while repositioning the province in the eyes of the global community. We spoke to KZN premier Sihle Zikalala, who will be among the speakers to take the stage at the Durban International Convention Centre.
Q: Why did the KZN province become interested in hosting WFS Africa?
A: “Sport is crucial for KwaZulu-Natal. It plays a key role in our strategy to promote the province and the city of Durban as a touristic reference across the continent. It’s a strategy that we have been developing for a long time and that has been extremely fruitful for us.
“Sport is not only about tournaments and matches, it’s big business across the globe. A business that we believe can bring prosperity and job opportunities to our communities. We are sure that our province has what it takes to become an international hub for the sports industry. It’s just a matter of making the right people aware of our potential, and no other business event in the world gathers as many global football leaders as World Football Summit does.
“Thanks to this summit, key decision-makers across the sport business will have the chance to experience our uniqueness not only now but in the upcoming years, since Durban will be hosting WFS Africa every year, and I’m sure this will result in important business opportunities for our communities.”
Q: What expectations does your government have regarding this event?
A: “Hosting World Football Summit will not only boost our economic prospects, but will also reposition our province in the eyes of the global community. According to recent reports conducted during the latest edition of World Football Summit, the economic impact for the host city is over ¤12million.”
Q: WFS Africa will bring some of the global leaders to Durban, what message would you like the city and the province to transmit to these leaders?
A: “Take advantage of this historic gathering to come up with sustainable solutions for the sport on the continent. Be honest and brutal with each other when debating these matters as the outcomes will shape the continent for years to come. Never in the history of the sport has there been a gathering of such important and influential people and please utilise this opportunity to shape the game going forward.”