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Mbeki to attend World Cup final
(news24.com)
Updated: 2006-07-06 11:18

President Thabo Mbeki will be one of the spectators at Sunday's Soccer World Cup final, deputy foreign minister Aziz Pahad said on Tuesday.

He said Mbeki will depart for Germany on Friday for a working visit, which includes discussions with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and German President Horst Koehler.

"In light of Germany's support for South Africa to host the World Cup and consequent support for preparations for it, the 2010 Soccer World Cup will also be on the agenda," Pahad said.

On Sunday Mbeki will reveal the logo for the 2010 World Cup during the handover ceremony from Germany to South Africa.

Meanwhile, Kofi Annan will help promote the 2010 World Cup in South Africa after his term as UN secretary general expires at the end of 2006, according to Fifa president Joseph Blatter.

"He will play a supporting role in the preparations," Blatter told the German media.

The Fifa boss said he was concerned at delays that have marked the preparations so far.

South Africa will be the first African nation to host a World Cup.

The UN secretary general, who hails from Ghana, is due on Friday to attend a meeting in Berlin to promote the 2010 tournament.