Namibian football personalities have welcomed Morocco’s successful bid to co-host the 2030 Fifa World Cup, pending ratification by congress next year.
Morocco will co-host the world cup with Spain and Portugal. However, the opening matches will be co-hosted by Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, before the competition continues in the northern hemisphere.
The 2030 world cup forms part of Fifa’s centenary celebration, as the world football body celebrates 100-years since the inaugural world cup in 1930.
Speaking to Desert Radio this week, former Namibia Football Association (NFA) president John Muinjo said Fifa should be applauded for giving Africa another chance to show the world the continent’s capabilities.
“Fifa made a resolution that countries must co-host to reduce the burden of cost on the governments. It will be the second time in less than 20-years that Africa will get yet another chance to host the world cup. This is a positive development for our continent,” Muinjo said.
Football expert Isack Hamata shares Muinjo’s sentiments in terms of the 2030 world cup award.
“I think we need to celebrate that and it also tells you that if we do well in terms of having the necessary infrastructure, which Morocco has, Fifa will look kindly towards you and give you an opportunity to host as it comes with economic incentives and all other social benefits. It’s good that we have been given that opportunity through Morocco,” Hamata said.
Ex-Brave Warriors head coach Brian Isaacs also praised the Moroccan government for its “willingness to invest in infrastructure and backing for the rights of the 2023 world cup”.
Muinjo is not surprised that Morocco’s joint bid was positively received, as the North African country has a proven pedigree of hosting world class sport events.
Morocco is in line to become only the second African country to host the global football spectacle after South Africa, which held a memorable tournament in 2010.
“At this point in time it is a very good choice to have Morocco be part of the 2030 world cup celebration. However, other African countries are lagging behind in terms of infrastructure. We need to have all available resources to address infrastructure shortages or at least have one playable stadium,” Muinjo said.
“The Moroccan government has done so much in promoting football and testimony to that is their qualification and participation for the recent men and women’s world cups.”
Muinjo said Namibia should take lessons from Morocco’s approach to sport welfare.
He questioned the logic behind the upcoming resource-laden Hage Geingob Cup which will be headlined by Namibian and South African ‘legends’, instead of investing in developing infrastructure and grassroots football.
Such misaligned priorities are why Namibian national teams are homeless, he said.
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