Penultimate World Cup media wrap-up

The lights will stay on for the remainder of the World Cup after Eskom and trade unions atruck an 11th-hour deal to stave off strikes. The agreement did raise the roof on public sector pay increases after the government stepped in to get the unions and Eskom management to see eye-to-eye. The rand buoyed on the news that the deal was done and the strike averted.

Read more: Business Day, Business Week.

Government departments and parastatals have committed lock, stock and numerous smoking barrels to the 2010 Soccer World Cup by splurging a mammoth R127,3 million on tickets. In case you’re wondering, the DA worked out this could have built 2,357 new houses. Culprits at the head of the ticket queue included budget-beleaguered Eskom (R12 million) and a cash-strapped SAA (R 23 million).

Read more: TimesLive, Sowetan, iAfrica.com   

Corruption and Sepp “Faux Pas” Blatter aside, the media continued to point out how badly Fifa’s archaic attitude to technology hurt the 2010 World Cup and labelled football’s governing body as dinosaurs.

Read more: Times Live, New Zealand Herald, The Washington Post.

Good news from Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan is he’s reportedly scrapped a decision to ban the national soccer team from taking part in international matches after they dropped out in the first round of the World Cup. The about-turn was timeous, coming just hours before a Fifa deadline that threatened Nigeria’s expulsion from global soccer.

Read more: CNN, Reuters. 

The Economist has declared Nike an outright 2010 winner. The financial journal said smart marketing on the part of the swoosh-logoed company saw sales rise some 36% despite the fact that it was not an official Fifa-endorsed World Cup sponsor. Adidas, who did fork out millions for the sponsorship, saw sales increase some 25%.

Read more: Economist 

And Paris Hilton took the whole world by surprise by making news headlines during her visit. The heiress, famous for being famous, was arrested for allegedly smoking pot and appeared in a World Cup court in Port Elizabeth. Charges were dropped after it was discovered the cannabis in question belonged to her friend (a former Playboy Playmate who is also blonde). The police apologised to Hilton who put in some good press for General Cele and the force by saying they were “super nice”.

Read more: MailOnline,  E!Online.

South Africa enjoyed all the benefits of being the first country to host a World Cup in a Twitter-crazy universe as celebrities visiting South Africa for the football gushed on the micro-blogging service. Praise for from visiting A-listers included Akon, R Kelly, Will.I.Am and the ever eloquent Kimora Lee Simmons who tweeted: “"I am very sad 2 b leaving the gorgeous S.Africa! Thank u 2 all 4 ur luv and kindness! We'll b back very, very soon! Team Fabulosity SA rocks.” 

Read more: AFP

By Mandy de Waal