Australia's bid for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup

[dibo]

Aside from the fact that it means nothing to surely anyone but yourself, your use of 'Obie-Wan' annoys the hell out of me because above all else THERE'S NO 'E' IN OBI-WAN!

 

[Forum Phoenix]

I've always taken it as meaning...
when the evil forces of the eggball empires loomed all around us...
In the universe of midfielder he sees Lowy as being the recipient of Princess Leiah's message of...

"Help us Obi Wan Kenobi, your our only hope"

Could be wrong though... ;D

But definitely have to lose the E

 

[Jesus]

Maybe Lowy has a soothing voice and is genuine class?

 

[midfielder]

Dibbo

Where to start ..RRRR yes the ..e my bad will drop the ..e..

Why Obi Wan, remember you asked, so dont blame if it this is a tad long.

I took the liberty of looking up your age and you are under 30, this may explain some things but not all.. However ......

Star Wars the movie was a land mark movie and used along with a number of other things almost a spiritual theme.  The force i.e. the goodies and the dark side i.e. evil controlled by the evil emperor i.e. the devil almost..

The Jedi were the good using the force and continuing the spiritual theme the good angles, they processed powers to collect all the good things around them and use them for good and to fight the ... Dark Side. The Dark side also had access to these powers but choose to use them for evil, i.e. fallen angles..

This was magic stuff at the time you where still a through when all this was happening BTW..

Over the years as a football person I had many disappointments many brought by the miss management of the NSL administration..... But the AFL in particular and the RL media delighted in sticking the boot in every time they could.

Also my observation is the AFL has been on a code war footing for 100 years. RL far less so but equally always after the best grounds etc and always pushing themselves forward. RU a club for the wealthy where they excluded all but and a but especially football.

Now the first Star War moves Obi Wan a old and powerful and surviving Jedi, took it upon himself to once again try to raise the Jedi back to their previous status..

Now the AFL in many ways control the .. Axis of EVIL... 3AW, Herald Sun, CH 7, ... champagne corks being popped when we fail to make the World Cup. RL to a lessor extent CH9, Terror, 2UE/2GB, their own Axis of Evil.

Who could take on such powerful foes and who could win... Not only win but bring the media with him..

In addition a person who could think and look a long way into the future.. The WC bid is clever at many levels not the least is having the anti football media not being able to attack football in these early stages as that is against the national interest.. Even if he looses he wins because of the positive media.. The move in Asia the business and government support just unbelievable to someone of my age...

My final reason and I will use a CC example to explain this.. Many moons ago I played half back in RL and was not half (no pun) bad. In fact played for Guildford one level off the ARL and often trained with Parrmatta.. We that is Guildford played the Entrance in a preseason trail match and went back to the CC{leagues}C and was warmly welcomed and had a good night after the match.. Three years latter I was playing for North Rocks in football and we played a team at the Entrance again went to the CC{leagues}C and we where told that the club was not a place for soccAAR folk..

My view is that the AFL in particular and the NRL a to a lesser,- also RU are the Dark Side doing all they can to keep football in its place.

Now Frank Lowy has changed so much and no other Australia I believe could have done what he has done.. So I have called him Obi Wan reflecting an image of a wise old man, very powerful, with many friends not afraid to takes on very much more powerful forces and in fact have them scared of him..


You may not agree with me but at least you know why I call him Obi Wan ... in my world a tag for someone who needs a lot of respect.

 

[neverwozza]

My final reason and I will use a CC example to explain this.. Many moons ago I played half back in RL and was not half (no pun) bad. In fact played for Guildford one level off the ARL and often trained with Parrmatta.. We that is Guildford played the Entrance in a preseason trail match and went back to the CC{leagues}C and was warmly welcomed and had a good night after the match.. Three years latter I was playing for North Rocks in football and we played a team at the Entrance again went to the CC{leagues}C and we where told that the club was not a place for soccAAR folk..

Hoot hoot for the owls. You haven't been to a RL match unless you've been to McCredie Oval and heard the hooting from the crowd after an important Guildford try. Its very inspirational.

 

[midfielder]

My final reason and I will use a CC example to explain this.. Many moons ago I played half back in RL and was not half (no pun) bad. In fact played for Guildford one level off the ARL and often trained with Parrmatta.. We that is Guildford played the Entrance in a preseason trail match and went back to the CC{leagues}C and was warmly welcomed and had a good night after the match.. Three years latter I was playing for North Rocks in football and we played a team at the Entrance again went to the CC{leagues}C and we where told that the club was not a place for soccAAR folk..

Hoot hoot for the owls. You haven't been to a RL match unless you've been to McCredie Oval and heard the hooting from the crowd after an important Guildford try. Its very inspirational.

Yes ...... and the size of the goal posts ... when put in they were the highest in the world no idea if they still are ...

One of my best sporting highlights was in 1973 when I came on as a reserve in the  first team playing Wenty ... two mins to go ... Guildford ahead 10 - 9... scrum went down on the sideline about 35 yrads out from our line, Wenty five eight make a break draws the full back and passes onto this huge inside centre they had ... FOOK he was big little me (under 10 stone) coming across in cover defense... close to the line he looks at me and in doing so trips over his own feet and starts to fall I tackle him and from the hill and stands it looks like I crash tackled him and he hit the ground so hard he dropped the ball and I dived on it.. Cheering yelling got brought drinks all night..

On the way to the side line the Wenty center said to me it looks better if you tackled me than have to admit I fell over... AAARRRrrrr

 

[Arabmariner]

Dibbo

Where to start ..RRRR yes the ..e my bad will drop the ..e..

Why Obi Wan, remember you asked, so dont blame if it this is a tad long.

I took the liberty of looking up your age and you are under 30, this may explain some things but not all.. However ......

Star Wars the movie was a land mark movie and used along with a number of other things almost a spiritual theme.  The force i.e. the goodies and the dark side i.e. evil controlled by the evil emperor i.e. the devil almost..

The Jedi were the good using the force and continuing the spiritual theme the good angles, they processed powers to collect all the good things around them and use them for good and to fight the ... Dark Side. The Dark side also had access to these powers but choose to use them for evil, i.e. fallen angles..

This was magic stuff at the time you where still a through when all this was happening BTW..

Over the years as a football person I had many disappointments many brought by the miss management of the NSL administration..... But the AFL in particular and the RL media delighted in sticking the boot in every time they could.

Also my observation is the AFL has been on a code war footing for 100 years. RL far less so but equally always after the best grounds etc and always pushing themselves forward. RU a club for the wealthy where they excluded all but and a but especially football.

Now the first Star War moves Obi Wan a old and powerful and surviving Jedi, took it upon himself to once again try to raise the Jedi back to their previous status..

Now the AFL in many ways control the .. Axis of EVIL... 3AW, Herald Sun, CH 7, ... champagne corks being popped when we fail to make the World Cup. RL to a lessor extent CH9, Terror, 2UE/2GB, their own Axis of Evil.

Who could take on such powerful foes and who could win... Not only win but bring the media with him..

In addition a person who could think and look a long way into the future.. The WC bid is clever at many levels not the least is having the anti football media not being able to attack football in these early stages as that is against the national interest.. Even if he looses he wins because of the positive media.. The move in Asia the business and government support just unbelievable to someone of my age...

My final reason and I will use a CC example to explain this.. Many moons ago I played half back in RL and was not half (no pun) bad. In fact played for Guildford one level off the ARL and often trained with Parrmatta.. We that is Guildford played the Entrance in a preseason trail match and went back to the CC{leagues}C and was warmly welcomed and had a good night after the match.. Three years latter I was playing for North Rocks in football and we played a team at the Entrance again went to the CC{leagues}C and we where told that the club was not a place for soccAAR folk..

My view is that the AFL in particular and the NRL a to a lesser,- also RU are the Dark Side doing all they can to keep football in its place.

Now Frank Lowy has changed so much and no other Australia I believe could have done what he has done.. So I have called him Obi Wan reflecting an image of a wise old man, very powerful, with many friends not afraid to takes on very much more powerful forces and in fact have them scared of him..


You may not agree with me but at least you know why I call him Obi Wan ... in my world a tag for someone who needs a lot of respect.

Jings MF.........have you been on that bottle again this afternoon ?

;D

 

[pjennings]

A friend said that Bonita Mersiades was on Sports Tonight on Tuesday and  named the stadiums as

Existing: MCG (oval), Etihad, ANZ, SFS and Suncorp

New: Western Sydney and Canberra

Upgraded: Adelaide Oval, New Perth/Subiaco(oval), Carrara(oval), Newcastle and Townsville

Did anyone see this - and is it correct.


3 or 4 possible ovals as well as ongoing arguments with the AFL over Etihad. I feel that would just about sink our bid before we started,

Surely a better - and less expensive list would be

Existing MCG, ANZ, SFS, Suncorp

Upgraded: MRS, Townsville, Newcastle

New: Adelaide, Western Sydney(Blacktown), Canberra, Perth, Gosford/Tuggerah/other region

The five new (flatpack) stadiums could be done at $250million each - total of 1.25billion. Football legacy. That is almost exactly the amount for upgrades to Adelaide Oval and Subiaco. No football legacy.

 

[Arabmariner]

I thought you couldn't have more than two stadiums in the same city ?

If that's correct then that rules out one of ANZ,SFS or Western Sydney(new).

I tend to agree about the amount of ovals in there.If that's really our list I think we're f**ked.

 

[kevrenor]

I thought you couldn't have more than two stadiums in the same city ?

Random thought: What constitutes a city? Sydney is a conglomerate area more like the Rhineland that a single city.

 

[dibo]

Indeedy. Bankstown is a city within the conurbation, as is Blacktown, Botany Bay, Campbelltown, Canada Bay, Hurstville, Liverpool, North Sydney... I could go on, and I will... Parramatta, Penrith, Randwick, Rockdale, Ryde, Strathfield...

[/nerdery mixed with joke ripped off from the Late Show]

 

[midfielder]

Pjennings

As far as I am aware Etihad is off the list and is being used by the AFL...

Kevrenor

As far as I am aware Blacktown / Parrmatta / Penerith etc rank as seperate cities for WC bid purposes..

Arab

SSSHHHhhhhh about the bottle in the afternoon


My overall understanding is FFA have to put up 12 stadiums of which FIFA will pick the 9 or most likely the 10 best.

My tho's on the stadium is:

In for sure..

QLD

Suncorp

NSW

Newcastle
Aussie
Homebush
My guess Blacktown

ACT

New stadium

VIC

MCG

Thats is seven for sure

The other five to make up the twelve come from a number of choices..

QLD

North Queensland
Gold Coast the new stadium upgraded

Vic

Swan Street Up graded

SA
Adeliade Oval

WA
Not sure where yet

NSW

Wollongong

This is 6 stadiums to choose from to make up the other five needed all of which have to be built or have massive upgrades...

 

[midfielder]

Great interview by Kate Ellis to some AFL bogans... remember to, Kate ,is an AFL card carrying member..

http://www.fiveaa.com.au/Audio_Kate-Ellis-on-Australia-s-World-Cup-Bid_95781

 

[pjennings]

The other five to make up the twelve come from a number of choices..

QLD

North Queensland
Gold Coast the new stadium upgraded

Vic

Swan Street Up graded

SA
Adeliade Oval

WA
Not sure where yet

NSW

Wollongong

This is 6 stadiums to choose from to make up the other five needed all of which have to be built or have massive upgrades...

I agree with the 7 you have picked so far. Of the remaining six I think we will see

Swan St Upgrade - Storm, Victory and Heart as tenants justifies the upgrade
Adelaide - flatpack - population of 1.3 million surely not overkill
Perth - flatpack - population of 1.6 million

That gives ten.

The last two are problematic - and may not be chosen or built as FIFA may only choose 10.

Gold Coast - probably the most likely - population of 514,000, two tenants Titans and GCU 

Townsville - possible upgrade to Dairy Farmers - dual use with RL

Wollongong - no - no team in a national comp except occasion St Georg games. WIN cannot be extended to 45,000. 

 

[Jesus]

The other five to make up the twelve come from a number of choices..

QLD

North Queensland
Gold Coast the new stadium upgraded

Vic

Swan Street Up graded

SA
Adeliade Oval

WA
Not sure where yet

NSW

Wollongong

This is 6 stadiums to choose from to make up the other five needed all of which have to be built or have massive upgrades...

I agree with the 7 you have picked so far. Of the remaining six I think we will see

Swan St Upgrade - Storm, Victory and Heart as tenants justifies the upgrade
Adelaide - flatpack - population of 1.3 million surely not overkill
Perth - flatpack - population of 1.6 million

That gives ten.

The last two are problematic - and may not be chosen or built as FIFA may only choose 10.

Gold Coast - probably the most likely - population of 514,000, two tenants Titans and GCU 

Townsville - possible upgrade to Dairy Farmers - dual use with RL

Wollongong - no - no team in a national comp except occasion St Georg games. WIN cannot be extended to 45,000.  

Pretty sure lowy is quite keen on having gc and townsville

 

[pjennings]

Story and analysis of the bidders. Doesn't really tell is anything new - but it does highlight areas that need improving.

http://www.worldfootballinsider.com/Story.aspx?id=32968


2018/2022 Race Takes Shape: England Leads, Australia Pushing Hard
February 4, 2010  (WFI)

With 300 days until the FIFA Executive Committee decision on the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, the first edition of the World Football Insider Bid Power Index shows the relative strengths and weaknesses of the 10 bids.

England takes the early lead in the first edition of the WFI Bid Power Index. Russia is the nearest European challenger, but Australia is closer still and is the country to watch in the coming months as the race heads to a finish in December.

Across 10 categories, England scores 64 out of 100 possible points. Australia follows with 62, with Russia and Qatar tied on 61 and the US on 60.

Notching sub-60 scores are joint bids from Holland-Belgium and Spain-Portugal, while Japan and Korea are also off the pace. Indonesia lags well behind due to a plethora of issues and lingering doubts whether it can stay the course of the bid race.

Despite the widespread consensus that the World Cup will be awarded to Europe in 2018, FIFA is refusing to confirm that a deal is being negotiated that would reduce the field to European bids. In theory, this means that Australia, Japan and the USA are not ruled out of the running for 2018, though the suspicion is that they stand a better chance of staging the 2022 World Cup; Indonesia, Korea and Qatar are only bidding to host this edition.

The WFI Bid Power Index is the only regularly published review of World Cup bids that is based on expert analysis and first-hand contact with the bid nations, including interviews with bid leaders and information and figures from each of the bid launches. Detailed bid dossiers are due for submission to FIFA by May 14.

The rankings are not meant to predict the outcome of the FIFA vote on Dec. 2, 2010, but to show the merits and drawbacks of the bidding nations at regular intervals before the decision.

The 10 categories are: bid operations/leadership; wow factor and unique selling points; relations with FIFA Executive Committee members; cost and funding resources; government and public support; international PR; venue plans; security; transport and accommodation; and legacy.

World Football Insider - 2018/2022 World Cup Bid Power Index - Feb 2010
                              Eng  Aus  Qat  Rus  USA  Spn-Ptg  Kor  Hol-Bel  Jap  Ind 
Bid operation/leadership        6      6    6    6    6    4        5    5        4    3
Wow factor and USPs            8      8    6    5    5    5        4    4        4    5
Relation w/ FIFA members        6      5    6    7    7    8        6    5        5    4
Cost/funding resources          6      5    8    8    6    5        5    5        5    6
Government/public support      6      7    6    7    5    5        6    6        6    3
International PR                6      6    7    6    6    4        6    5        5    2
Venue plans                    8      5    5    6    7    7        6    7        6    4
Security                        6      6    5    5    6    6        6    6        6    3
Transport/Accommodation        7      7    5    4    8    7        6    7        6    4
Legacy                          5      7    7    7    4    5        6    6        6    7
Bid Power Index Totals        64    62    61    61    60    56      56    56      53    41
(Note: individual scores out of 10 possible) 



Bid Operations and Leadership
No bidding nation is leading the pack just yet. But some bids are getting in shape to reap the benefits in the coming months; England, Australia, Russia, Qatar and the US are level pegging in the rankings. Englands bid was knocked by criticism from FIFA vice president Jack Warner in the autumn but concerns over the bid structure have dissipated for the time being with David Triesman remaining in charge as chairman. Having survived recent calls for him to step down, he will need to show stronger leadership in the weeks ahead. Australia have had their own problems with the departure of key strategist Bonita Mersiades, but Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy and CEO Ben Buckley appear to be steering Australia on a good course. Russias Vitaly Mutko and CEO Alexey Sorokin have strengthened their bid team with the high-profile signings of Markus Siegler, new international adviser Viacheslav Koloskov and former national team captain Alexey Smertin. The US bid led by Sunil Gulati and CEO David Downs have announced big-name recruits to the bid team, which includes former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber and MLS founding investor Philip Anschutz. Qatars bid, spearheaded by chairman Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and CEO Hassan al-Thawadi, is raising its profile at key events such as the Confederation of African Football congress. The other five bids for 2018 and 2022 have yet to impress; Indonesias low-key campaign was not helped by bid leader Nurdin Halids non-appearance at the FIFA Bidding Expo in Cape Town in December.

Wow Factor/Unique Selling Points
England and Australia get 8 points as both have the credentials to stage magnificent World Cups. England boasts some of the best stadia in Europe, a passionate fanbase and the capacity to put on a real party; Euro 96 was an important milestone, while the London 2012 Olympics will showcase what is possible. The unique selling points of the bid concept include the prospect of staging games at the iconic Wembley Stadium, Manchester Uniteds famed Old Trafford and maybe the 2012 Olympic Stadium, if Tottenham Hotspurs stadium redevelopment plans fall through. Australia knows how to deliver spectacular, if the Sydney 2000 Olympics and the razzmatazz around its staging of domestic and international sports events is anything to go by. Qatars ambition to host the first World Cup in the Middle East is an important USP over its rivals but beyond that it lacks the wow factor. The other bids are marked down because they have so far yet to demonstrate compelling reasons for holding the World Cup.


David Beckham is a key asset for England 2018; England coach Fabio Capello and bid chairman David Triesman also pictured (Getty Images)Relations with FIFA Executive
The Iberian bid achieves the top score thanks to the strong links Spain and Portugal have with members of the FIFA executive, including UEFA president Michel Platini and those from Argentina and Brazil. Spanish Football Association president Angel Maria Villar sits on the committee and the bids co-leader Gilberto Madail, his counterpart at the Portuguese FA, has been a prominent presence at the recent Africa Cup of Nations and CAF congress. Russias Vitaly Mutko welcomed Sepp Blatter to Moscow recently and, together with the countrys leaders Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev, he appears to be winning more friends at FIFAs top table. Three FIFA Ex-Co members have come out in support of the US bid the only country to have such backing. Qatari Mohamed Bin Hammam, president of the Asian Football Confederation, can wield influence to win support for Qatar 2022. Stinging criticism from FIFA vice president Jack Warner over Englands handbag gifts to the wives of Ex-Co members in October hurt its cause but England 2018 have been making positive headlines recently out of pressing the flesh of members such as Nigerias Amos Adamu.

Cost/Funding Resources
Russia and Qatar are sinking serious money into their campaigns the former has a $40m bid budget and the Gulf nation $186m to spend. Both also promise significant investment in their stadia and transport infrastructure. England certainly has less need to splash the cash on sprucing up its venues in the candidate host cities but there was a shortfall in government funding for the bid. CEO Andy Anson has nevertheless reached his 15.5 million ($25 million) funding target after each of the 12 successful applicant host cities committed 250,000. There are signs that this fighting fund might be exceeded in the coming months with sponsorship deals lined up.

Government and Public Support
Financial guarantees and overwhelming governmental support from the Russian and Australian governments elevates them above the other bids in this category. Blatter was given assurances about the governments backing for the Russian bid during his talks with Medvedev and bid leader Vitaly Mutko last month. Australian PM Kevin Rudd met Blatter in Zurich last July and has consistently demonstrated his administrations commitment; the bid secured $41 million of government funding. The Holland-Belgium bid has good government support. The British government only offered a 2.5million ($4 million) loan for the bid campaign, although PM Gordon Brown signed funding guarantees worth 300 million for the project.

International Public Relations
Qatar have been the most active on the global stage in recent months, sponsoring the CAF Congress in an exclusive deal, impressing in their dealings with media during the Soccerex Convention in Cape Town and entertaining guests at the Brazil v England international friendly last autumn. The bid campaigns of its nine rivals gathered steam during the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola. Spain-Portugal are marked down as they do not even have a bid website. David Beckham remains a key asset for England 2018 in the months ahead. Holland-Belgium needs to work on raising its profile and media relations; it is not as pro-active as some of its competitors, notably England and Russia, in sending out press releases and statements. Japan are also to be found wanting on this front, while Indonesias bid PR is extremely poor.

Venue Plans
England is the runaway leader in this category thanks to the countrys existing modern stadia infrastructure that is unmatched anywhere else in world football. The 12 candidate host cities have made over 300m worth of financial guarantees towards a World Cup in England if the bid succeeds. Of the 17 stadiums in the bid book, eight are Premier League venues. Overall, they provide a mix of iconic venues, expansion projects and new builds. Spain-Portugal, Holland-Belgium and the USA already boast some world-class football stadia but they have more to do to bring their candidate venues up to scratch to meet FIFA standards. Australia drops points because of uncertainties in funding some stadia and the bid teams impasse in negotiations with rival football codes over the use of their venues.

Security
The threat of terror attacks is a consideration for the staging of all international sports events. Detailed security plans from each of the nations will feature in their bid books to FIFA. Russia loses ground here following the bomb blast that derailed a train running between Moscow and St Petersburg last November killing 26 people. Indonesias well-documented terrorist attacks, mainly by militant Islamic organizations, present a big challenge for the hosting of any major sport event in the country. Hotel bombings in Jakarta last July killed nine people.

Transport/Accommodation
The US bid tops the ranking for a transport system that makes getting places easy. The European bids, with the exception of Russia, can count on modern transport infrastructures that would not require significant upgrading as well as plentiful hotels to accommodate World Cup visitors. Transport is a problem for Russia, with congestion in Moscow one issue and distances between cities and venues a major challenge. Under the bid concept, there are five clusters of cities. Bid officials claim its a compact plan with all candidate host cities being within 2,000 km of Moscow and modern transport links between each. Providing enough quality accommodation in Moscow and in many other cities is also a concern.

Legacy
Russia and Qatar have the most to gain from staging the 2018 or 2022 World Cup. It would be a first for both countries, and a historic decision for the Middle East. There are also sporting, infrastructure and social legacies for Indonesia and Australia. With the fledgling A-League expanding and attendances growing, FIFA would spur further development in bringing the World Cup to the shores of Australia where football is a mass participation sport. The US bid has yet to demonstrate the legacy benefits of staging a World Cup there. Likewise, this is the weakest aspect of Englands World Cup bid.


Written by World Football Insider editor Mark Bisson (mark@worldfootballinsider.com)

 

[Forum Phoenix]

If security is as it states, is in consideration of terrorist attacks...
Then we should be well above England in this area score wise...
Obviously our Nicoles "The no problems" world cup pitch, hasn't been taken as "fair dinkum" just on her word.

Personally I blame the Chasers breach of the APEC zone.
My god that was funny...

 

[midfielder]

Pjennings

Excellence post above good pick up..

SBS interview with Obi Wan Part 1... his comments about stadiums indicate the AFL will get SA / WA / & QLD stadiums ... if the bid is successful...

http://player.sbs.com.au/theworldgame#/twg_08/AussieFocus/AussieFocus/playlist/FOOTBALL-FOCUS-Lowy-exclusive-pt1/

Part II

http://player.sbs.com.au/theworldgame#/twg_08/AussieFocus/AussieFocus/playlist/FOOTBALL-FOCUS-Lowy-exclusive-pt2/

 

[Jesus]

Pjennings

Excellence post above good pick up..

SBS interview with Obi Wan Part 1... his comments about stadiums indicate the AFL will get SA / WA / & QLD stadiums ... if the bid is successful...

http://player.sbs.com.au/theworldgame#/twg_08/AussieFocus/AussieFocus/playlist/FOOTBALL-FOCUS-Lowy-exclusive-pt1/

Part II

http://player.sbs.com.au/theworldgame#/twg_08/AussieFocus/AussieFocus/playlist/FOOTBALL-FOCUS-Lowy-exclusive-pt2/

He should really just ditch gold coast from bid.

Hopefully fifa say f**koff ovals and make SA WA have rectangles

 

[midfielder]

Not sure what to make of this ... BB about the bid from SBS..

http://www.theworldgame.com.au/2018-world-cup/australia-forges-ahead-287812

Australia forges ahead

The success of Australia's strategy to lure precious World Cup bid votes from Africa remains unknown after Football Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckley returned from a lightning visit to Angola a week ago.

Buckley's trip highlighted the often thankless but complex political roadmap Australia has to navigate if its World Cup bid is to be successful later this year.

Workaholic Buckley travelled half-way around the world to spend less than 48 hours in the Angola capital, meeting African members of FIFA's executive committee in order to garner vital support for Australia's bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.

Buckley made the trip to Angola even though rival bid nation Qatar purchased sole lobbying rights for the Confederation of African Football Congress held in Luanda on January 29, an important networking event.
"The small Australian presence in Luanda, however brief, was noted as was the absence of representatives from Japan and Indonesia," sources in Angola revealed.

"But it should not be forgotten that Africa, too, votes on where a World Cup will be held in the future."

Representatives from England, Netherlands-Belgium, Russia and Spain-Portugal joined Buckley and the Qataris at the CAF congress.

Russia had perhaps the most high-profile presence of bidders, with a team of advisers headed by former FIFA communications boss Markus Siegler and long-time ex-FIFA executive committee member Viacheslav Koloskov.

Underlining the close-knit network with roles in deciding future World Cup hosts, Siegler had previously worked with Peter Hargitay, who is now advising Australia's bid.

Australia's bid has so far rated well in terms of government and public support and legacy, according to a report by World Football Insider, a website specialising in football industry analysis.

But according to the report, Australia still lacks influence in relations with FIFA.
An FFA spokesperson told The World Game the governing body would not comment on the World Football Insider rankings and that Buckley "crammed in a series of meetings on that trip before and after he arrived in Angola.

"It was not just a trip to Luanda and back."