Headlines
The Review Online
Terror struck into the heart of football
19th January 2010
Questions have been raised about the safety of the current African Cup of Nations and this summer’s World Cup following the attacks on the Togo team bus in Cabinda, leaving three fatally wounded.
As a convoy of buses carrying the Togo players and officials arrived in Cabinda, an exclave of Angola, they found themselves under heavy gunfire. The bus driver was killed immediately and the death toll rose up to three as a spokesperson and an assistant coach were confirmed dead. The attack is reported to have lasted thirty minutes. Worryingly, the perpetrators of this attack, a Guerrilla group known as ‘Flec’, say: “weapons will continue to talk in Angola.” The Togolese Prime Minister has declared that Togo will withdraw from the competition, despite rumours the Togo players wanted to continue. The African Cup of Nations, however, will go ahead as scheduled.
These horrific events in Angola have undoubtedly raised important questions about the safety of this summer’s World Cup. The biggest football tournament in the world is due to start on June 11th in South Africa. South Africa’s World Cup Organising Chief has reassured the worried players, coaches and officials with maximum security and safety assurance. He also believes that Cabinda was never a safe location for Africa’s top football competition. He said: “They knew for years staging this tournament in Cabinda poses major security risks.”
Due to prior concerns over the time schedule of the South African’s stadia and now the devastating attacks in Cabinda, it seems people now are not so much excited about the festival of football that is, the World Cup. They are fearful of its organisation and doubtful of its security.