June 27, 2007
By Lucky Sindane
OVER 5 000 delegates from the soccer fraternity and 300 exhibitors from 90 countries are expected to attend this year's Soccerex, the world's largest soccer exhibition.
Now in its eleventh year, the exhibition runs from 26 to 28 November at the Sandton Convention Centre in the north of Johannesburg.
Football legends, top football clubs and football playing nations, and football-related businesses attend the annual show.
Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday, 26 June at the convention centre, Soccerex chairperson Tony Martin said, "We have delivered the event for the past 10 years and we are sure that in November [it] will be bigger than ever.
"Soccerex is the greatest opportunity to reach the friends and family in football. The event is surely going to double in every way."
It is the only international football convention that gives exhibitors and delegates the opportunity to network with suppliers, manufacturers, key buyers and decision-makers. It will be staged in Gauteng over the next three years.
Lucas Radebe, former national defender, Ivor Hoff, Chief Director of Sport and Recreation in Gauteng and John Barnes, English soccer legend, shake hands
"We have moved Soccerex to its fourth continent, Africa, in conjunction with the Gauteng province," said the chief executive officer of Soccerex, Duncan Revie.
"We are delighted to offer sponsors, delegates and exhibitors the opportunity to experience the reality, professionalism and pride of South Africa over the next three years leading up to the 2010 Fifa World Cup™.
"We will be sending out 5 000 disciples of soccer to spread the message that South Africa is going to host the best world cup ever," he continued.
Over 300 exhibition stands have already been sold for this year's event, and the majority of exhibitors from the 2006 show have rebooked larger spaces to build on the business generated and the relationships developed over the previous years.
It is projected that Soccerex will bring in more than R700-million to the economy as well as give the province billions of rands worth of media coverage.
Before the convention kicks off, there is a football festival, which will feature a match between African Legends, led by Lucas Radebe and Mark Fish, and Asia Select, led by Ali Daei. Manchester United's Bryan Robson and Liverpool's Phil Thompson and John Barnes will play for Asia Select.
Meanwhile, a second Diambars Football Academy will be established in South Africa before the World Cup kicks off.
"Football brings people together. The academy will provide education and training to children. We have to give our children hope," Barnes said.
Patric Vieira, the academy's founder issued a media statement saying, "Our goal has always been to expand the Diambars Football Academy across the globe and we decided South Africa would be our next step.
"We want to build on the momentum behind the World Cup to promote the idea that football can be a great instrument to advance education and promote social and human development".
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