Togo's reserve soccer goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale arrives on a stretcher at Lanseria airport after being evacuated to Johannesburg for medical treatment, January 9, 2010. The assistant coach and the press officer of Togo's national soccer delegation died on Saturday following an ambush on the team's bus as it travelled to the African Nations Cup in Angola, a team member told French radio. Friday's attack, in which the driver was also killed and seven others were injured, took place in Cabinda, a province where guerrillas have fought a secession campaign for decades. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- South African organizers of the World Cup 2010 fear no fall-out over the deadly ambush on Togo's football team in Angola, saying it will not affect the World Cup, the South African Press Association reported on Sunday.
An English Premier League manager said Friday's shooting threw a "question mark" over South Africa's hosting of the 32-nation tournament.
But the shooting took place thousands of kilometers northwest of the South African capital Pretoria, and organizers and analysts dismissed any threat to Africa's year of football.
"We regard what happened in Angola as an isolated terrorist incident. It should be treated as such," said 2010 World Cup local organizing spokesman Rich Mkhondo. "No impact on South Africa. South Africa is not Angola."
South Africa hosts the FIFA event for the first time on African soil, 16 years after the fall of white minority rule, and has worked to ease fears over rampant crime and the state of its transport facilities.
The World Cup follows several big events in South Africa, all of which unfolded without incident: the 2009 dry run Confederations Cup, a last-minute hosting of the cricket's Indian Premier League after terror attacks in Mumbai, and successful cricket and rugby world cups.
"There is often sort of a mythical comparison between Angola and South Africa," said Jakkie Cilliers, executive director of the Institute for Security Studies think tank.
"These are two very, very different countries in terms of their capacity, their border control, the resources, infrastructure and so on available. The security framework within South Africa is much, much more developed than that in Angola."
The manager for English Premiership team Hull City Phil Brown said the ambush raised questions about 2010.
"I am appalled," Brown told Saturday's edition of Britain's Sun newspaper. "This throws a question mark against next summer's World Cup. "You simply cannot put the safety of players, officials and fans at the slightest risk. That is totally unacceptable.
An unidentified man is moved to a hospital in Cabinda January 8, 2010, in this video grab obtained from Angolan TV January 9, 2010. Gunmen opened fire on a bus carrying Togo's national soccer squad to the top African tournament in Angola on Friday, killing the driver and wounding nine others, including two players, a Togo team official said. The bus had just entered the Angolan enclave of Cabinda, where separatists have waged a three-decade long war, when it came under heavy gunfire for several minutes, the official said. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
South Africa expects to welcome some 450,000 fans in June with a revamped transport system, plush stadiums, and a no-nonsense police presence to offset fears of a crime rate that averages nearly 50 killings a day.
"We ask those who have bought tickets and are coming to South Africa to visit to enjoy themselves. They will be secure," said Mkondo.
"We believe that there are reasonable people out there who will realize that there is a difference between Angola, South Africa, England, Pakistan and any other country."
Tyrone Seale, a South African government 2010 spokesman, said the Togo attack was likely to sharpen planning, saying a safe tournament will be held.
"Anything like this is deplorable," he said. "In this year of the 2010 World Cup, this will obviously compel South Africa and partner countries to look even more closely at preparations and our planning."
"We would repeat our assurances to the international community that we will host the World Cup safely."
Cilliers expressed also confidence in the country's 2010 capabilities, saying he believes the country is a safe destination. "South Africa has invested a tremendous amount of effort in planning the security around the World Cup," he said.
"I can't see any particular reason why this attack is going to heighten the risk in any particular way."
