Jack thanked for supporting South African bid

“You have a ticket to heaven.” Archbishop Desmond Tutu rushed across to CONCACAF President Jack Warner yesterday to utter those words in his ear immediately following the announcement yesterday in Zurich, Switzerland that South Africa would be hosting the 2010 World Cup. “Immediately following the announcement Archbishop Tutu rushed over to me almost tripping over some chairs to express his joy and gratitude,” Warner said from Zurich.

The FIFA Vice President said all the members of the South African delegation including former President Nelson Mandela, Frederic Willem De Klerk , current South African President Thabo Mbeki and bid committee Chief Executive Officer Danny Jordaan were euphoric over the outcome. “Mandela’s words of thanks to me came to me soon after the results of the vote was disclosed. His words were simply ‘Without you Jack, today South Africa would have been nothing. Thanks for this.’ To me there could not have been a better feeling at the time,” Warner added.

He mentioned that he expects this victory to open up new opportunities for bilateral relations between Trinidad and Tobago and South Africa. “Based on this victory for South Africa, I expect to see new opportunities open up for bilateral relations between South Africa and  TT and already President Mbeki has had a formal discussion with Prime Minister (Patrick) Manning on this matter as late as yesterday. In the fullness of time, no doubt Prime Minister Manning will disclose the nature of the discussions which took place,” Warner said.

The TTFF Special Adviser said he leaves for South Africa on June 7 accompanied by Chief Secretary of Tobago House of Assembly, Orville London and Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Roger Boynes and a few others as invited by him. “All of South Africa are grateful for my support especially Mandela who, once again, defied his doctor’s orders and came to Zurich to meet with me.  Mandela, Tutu and De Klerk and others cried tears and possibly are crying still,” Warner ended.