Global General

Togo attack 'has no link' to 2010 World Cup security

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-01-11 22:52

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa's police chief on Monday said t he safety of the upcoming FIFA World Cup in South Africa should not be linked to the ambush of Togo's soccer team in Angola.

Commissioner Bheki Cele, speaking in the South African capital Pretoria after returning from Angola, Cele gave assurances that all security measures were in place to host a safe World Cup in June.

"We realised, "after the terrorist attack"that the gaps that could have been noticed were closed in South Africa. We are really fine."

Referring to the link made to the World Cup after the attack during the African Cup of Nations, Cele said: "The mood was a bit down, but immediately it was about 2010. It was a little bit of Cabinda [where the attack took place] and a lot about 2010".

Cele said the bomb blasts on commuter trains in Madrid, Spain in 2004 and the 2005 terrorist attack on London's transport network had no bearing on the soccer world cup in Germany in 2006.

"Nobody linked them to the World Cup."

Cele said it was unfortunate that Togo's team, which comprised some players from English club teams, withdrew from the tournament.

"It does give credence to terrorism when officials say succumb. I would have loved them to continue. There is a history of sport and terrorism."

South Africa's minister of police, Nathi Mthethwa, said it would be unfair to judge South Africa's preparedness to host the tournament on the "fragility of the political situation" in Angola.

"We are 100 percent ready for the Fifa World Cup this year."

While some of Togo's players had wanted to continue, government pressure forced them to withdraw. Cele said: "The final instruction was you will play, but not under the flag of Togo. Simply put they were disowned."

He said it was his understanding that the English Football Association had met club owners who wanted to recall all their African players.

"It's slave mentality, [it's as] if they own them," he said indicating that even Africans playing for teams abroad were still Africans, first and foremost.

Togo's national team was attacked soon after their arrival in Cabinda, Angola on Friday. The ambush on the team's bus killed an assistant coach, a team spokesperson and the bus driver. Eight others were wounded.