The Guinness World Records approved event was witnessed by a mammoth crowd that included some of the city’s elites. The event was part of a series of events lined up by the telecom giant to usher in the FIFA World Cup which held in June in the Republic of South Africa.

Kolawole Oyeyemi, MTN’s GM Consumer Marketing, opened the evening’s proceedings which was also used to burnish MTN’s  Africa United campaign. Prior to his address a couple of youngsters came on stage with flags of African representatives at the world cup. Oyeyemi stated that the campaign tagged as the Biggest Football Club in the World was to encourage Africans to maintain a united front and rally round their teams at the World Cup fiesta.

The FIFA World Cup theme song originally composed by Kelly Rowland, a member of the defunct girl band, Destiny’s Child, was performed by past winners of the MTN Project Fame West Africa. They were, however, joined by Tuface Idibia, a multiple award winning Nigerian artiste.

Lagos State’s Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Chief Ademola Adeniji – Adele, who represented Governor Raji Fashola, led a number of dignitaries that included Al-Hassan Yakmut, Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Premier League, Super Eagles legends, Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha and Daniel Amokachie , Joseph Yobo and Tuface Idibia to unveil the ball.

Following the unveiling, Tuface took the stage and performed some of his popular songs including Implication, his latest hit track.

“The World Cup is the biggest; it is only fitting to kick off our official countdown to the tournament with a huge ball, the kind of which you have seen tonight,” said Bola Akingbade, MTN’s Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer, in response to a question on the purpose of the project. Akingbade further stated that 133 MTN subscribers who were lucky in winning the MTN World Cup promo travelled to South Africa to watch the competition’s first round matches, while another 300 high profile Nigerians were sponsored by MTN to watch the matches live.

The FIFA World Cup without question is at the top of the pile of sporting events in the world.  It involves 32 teams that  jostle for the coveted prize, which is a 18-carat gold trophy. The countries that represented Africa in the 2010 edition of the World Cup were host South Africa, Nigeria, Cameroon, Algeria, Cote d’ Voire and Ghana. The tournament kicked off on the 11th of June at the Johannesburg Soccer City with the host South Africa taking on Mexico. Ghana was the only African country that scaled through to the last eight. Spain won the coveted cup by beating the Netherlands.

Located in a pristine section of Maitama, and easily accessible from the Abuja Central Business District, the picturesque Garki skyline is better appreciated from the IBB Golf and Country Club grounds, where the final of the MTN World Golf Championship held recently.

The essentially green course, covering an area totaling 101 hectares, was where the six available slots for Nigeria were taken. Forty-seven golfers competed for honours at the championship’s national qualifiers.

The user-friendly, 36-hole club that was completed in 1994, is a golfer’s delight; and proved to be a reliable venue for a competition that has become a mainstay on the Nigerian sporting calendar.

The two day event saw many golfers trickling into the venue of the event as early as 8am each day. And After the necessary accreditations, the various groups took their turns at the starting point for their individual tee-offs.

For those days, the club was a beehive of activities, as the golfers could be seen sweating it out to get the longest drive, a Birdie or an Eagle.

The weather throughout the competition was cheerful. And at the end of proceedings, many of the golfers cited the well maintained course as a major factor for their ability to perform at their peak level.

For most part of the event, the area around the posh clubhouse was a big draw as a large number of people were seen viewing the competition from its banister while others chosed to relax with drinks and victuals at the various tables.

A prize giving ceremony was organized on the last day of the event, which had golf aficionados and eminent personalities in attendance. General Domkat Bali was the chairman of the award event.

Tony Azogu emerged winner in the flight 0-5 category, he posted 152 net; Sa’adu Baloni finished second on 153 net. Christopher Obije (the Lagos winner in this category) came third posting 153 net. The award for this class was presented by Mr. Kolawole Oyeyemi, MTN’s GM, Consumer Market.

Austin Chigbo triumphed in the 6-10 flight division as a result of the 147 net he turned in. S. Ani came second on 149 net while Sam Galadima came third on the back of the 150 net he posted. The presentation for this handicap flight was done by Mr. Razak Ayinde Sanni of Global Golf.

The 11-15 flight was, however, won by A. Samba; who shot 135. James Onokerhoraye was second posting 150 net while Gen. Victor Lot finished third on 152. The presentation for this handicap flight was by Bali.

The 16-20 flight category was won by Mrs. A. A. Usman with 149 net; Jacob Erahbor finished second with 151 net while S. Bulus came third with 158 net.

Paul Kyari won the handicap 21-25 category; he posted 141 net. The second position went to T. Nzom who posted 150 net while A. Abass came third with 151.

The WGC was founded by Sven Tumba to give amateur golfers the world over the platform to take on the challenge of competing within their skill levels and at the same time receiving the same status as professionals and elites do; and to experience the thrill of representing their country in a world championship final.

The WGC begins as a national championship in world countries where winners from the six handicap flights come together to represent their nation as a team and individually within their flight categories.

For the MTN WGC-Nigeria, there were various stages of qualifiers held in Kaduna, Lagos and Benin with the national finals in Abuja. The championship, over the years, has sparked a renewed interest in the game of golf in Nigeria. Entries for this yearly event has been on the up and gradually, it has come to become the most respected corporate golf meet in Nigeria.

MTN’s involvements in golf sponsorship in the country began five years ago as a way of curbing the dearth in quality golfers in the country which to a large extent was a fallout of the unavailability of quality golf competitions in the country.

The world finals hold in the Marbella region of Spain from October 24 to 31. This year’s edition is the 15th since the championship started.

As a build up to the 2010 World Cup in the Republic of South Africa, MTN Nigeria on July 25, started the 2010 World Cup countdown, by putting together a novelty football match involving the mercurial Nigerian Football National Team of ‘94 versus African football legends.

The enchanting Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, which is one of the centers earmarked for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup was the venue of the epoch making event.

The national team class of ‘94 is famous for winning the 1994 African Cup of Nations as well as taking Nigeria to her first FIFA World Cup, USA 94.

The match was highly hyped; the level of advertisements on radio and terrestrial and satellite television was huge. The event witnessed a large turnout of football devotees in the city of Lagos. MTN branded vuvuzelas (brightly coloured plastic horns that sound like a swarm of bees when blown in unison) and T-shirts were distributed to the spectators by the organizers.

The match had a galaxy of football stars on parade. Tthe Nigerian team had Taribo West, Emmanuel Amunike, Victor Ikpeba, Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha, Austin Eguavoen, Tijani Babangida, Emeka Ezeugo, Garba Lawal, Thompson Oliha, Daniel Amokachie, Isaac Semitoje, Jonathan Akpoborie, Ben Iroha, Uche ‘Gentle Giant’ Okechukwu, Uche Okafor, Mutiu Adepoju, Friday Elaho and the goalkeeping trio of Peter ‘dodo Mayana’ Rufai, Alloy Agu and Ike Shorumu. Christian Chukwu a former coach of the Super Eagles was the team coach.

The African Legends paraded great African stars such as Titi Camara, Tony Yeboah, Abedi Pele, George Weah(a one time world footballer of the year), Kalusha Bwalya, Stephen Tataw, Phil Masinga, Roger Milla and Mark Fish with Chief Adeboye Onigbinde (a reknowned coach and FIFA Instructor) as their coach.

The ‘94 Super Eagles defeated their African legend counterparts 2-1 in the high profile promotional match that served as the official launch of the ‘Big Bang’, a series of promotional events aimed at sensitizing and putting the 2010 world cup in the top of mind priority of people in the continent of Africa.

Garba Lawal popularly known as Chindo scored the first goal of the match while Jonathan Akpoborie a striker who in his hey days was a major influence in the German Bundesliga scored the Super Eagles second goal. The only goal recorded by the African Legends was scored by Titi Camara, a big striker who seemed to have doubled in size.

The absence of Rasheed Yekini the man who scored Nigeria’s first goal at the World Cup was greatly felt; but all that was made up for by the deft ball touches from Austin ‘Jay-Jay’, who from all indication was the man of the match.

At the blast of the final whistle it was easy to tell from the smiles on the fans faces that the event was a blast.

MTN is the sponsor of principal football competitions in the continent of Africa; some of which are the Champions League, the African Cup of Nations and the 2010 FIFA World Cup coming up in the Republic of South Africa. The company’s association with football on the continent is propelled by the Telecommunication giant’s determination to enrich the lives of its customers by connecting them with their passion for international football experience in ways unique to the brand. MTN’s partnership with the Confederation of African Football has .over the years has been such an exemplary and beautiful one that has enabled it fulfill its corporate social responsibility.

MTN Nigeria was launched in 2001 and is the leading GSM operator in the country, with 7.6 million subscribers. Its GSM network currently comprises nearly 2000 base stations and 279 154 square km of transmission infrastructure, providing access to approximately 58 per cent of Nigeria’s population.

LET THE GAME BEGIN

The excitement about the 2010 FIFA World Cup is contagious. The thrill of welcoming the world to its destination, the blast of thousands of vuvuzelas; the gearing up of the hospitality industry; the w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l time South Africa, the industry and the world will have come 2010 is really encouraging.

South Africa’s preparations to host the world in 2010 actually started with the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009.

With an array of facilities already completed, South Africa has proven to all that it has the infrastructural capability to host an event of the magnitude of the FIFA World Cup along with excellent accommodation and facilities.

Already, more than nine million yearly visitors are profiting from the upgraded airports across the country. Expansion of the inner and inter-city transportation system are well underway in preparation for the Copa Mundial.

It is estimated that the World Cup will contribute about R50 billion to the economy from construction investment alone. A further estimated R15.6 billion will be generated by tourism.

According to SATSA, hotel developments and resorts with an estimated total investment of R20 billion, are being planned across the country in the run-up to 2010. This creates jobs and imparts skills to a host of sectors.

£4,07253 billion was invested in the construction of five new venues (Mbombela, Peter Mokaba, Nelson Mandela Bay, Durban and Cape Town). A further investment of £1,44513 billion went into the upgrading of five venues (Soccer City, Ellis Park, Loftus Versfeld, Free State and Royal Bafokeng). All of these venues were completed on time in readiness for the Confederations Cup, which stood as the dress rehearsal for the 2010 World Cup.

Fan parks are being set up in each host city to provide visitors with a truly South African experience where SA entertainment and cuisine will be provided.

The industry (through MATCH and the Tourism Grading Council) is on track to deliver 10,000 national non-hotel star graded rooms for 2010. In total 55,000 graded rooms will be provided across the country. All rooms are star graded through the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa in line with international grading standards. This will be the first time non-hotel rooms will be used by FIFA for a World Cup. This to help build sustainability in an emerging industry and to empower SMMEs (such as B&B establishments etc.). FIFA has reintroduced officially authorised tour operators for 2010.

South African Tourism is taking a bold global step forward with significant investment in global media deals that include advertising, online marketing, editorial endorsement and targeted promotional campaigns to entrench excellent growth and differentiate South Africa from competitor destinations

FIFA and the LOC are committed to ensuring that genuine football fans have access to tickets to match venues. Ticket sales for the 2010 FIFA World Cup via www.fifa.com began in February and will remain on sale up until a few hours before the final on July 11, 2010.

Organizers have set up a Ticket Fund consisting of 120,000 tickets across all 64 matches that will be allocated to individual members of the South African general public that would not otherwise be in a position to purchase a ticket. The tour operator’s program is run for FIFA through match. More information on the logistics of the program may be found on the match website: touroperator.match-ag.com

Infrastructural Development:

1. # ACSA (Airports Company of South Africa) has injected R313,539 million into extensions and refurbishments at the country’s three main airports: OR Tambo International Airport, Cape Town International Airport and Durban International Airport. Due to be completed by 2010.
2. # A new R82, 83619 million airport, the King Shaka International Airport, is being built at La Mercy north of Durban. Construction to be completed ahead of 2010
3. # Work started in late 2006 on the Gautrain, a R1,566.15 million rapid rail commuter link between Johannesburg, Pretoria and the O.R Tambo (Johannesburg) International Airport. More than half (8kms) of the 15 km tunnel has been excavated and Gautrain is well on track to be completed by 2010

Airlift:

1. # An airlift strategy which sets out to achieve an increase in air traffic frequencies ahead of demand was approved by Cabinet in July 2006.
2. # The strategy allows for greater market access to support growth and competition in the air services industry.
3. # Air traffic frequencies form the basis of various air services agreements, which South Africa has in place with other countries.
4. # Since the beginning of the year South Africa has signed BASA agreements that would see a significant capacity increase into South Africa with 19 countries, covering Europe, Africa, Asia, South America and Middle East.
5. # Current UK capacity is 42 flights per week.
6. # Signed Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) both the SA and UK government signed a BASA agreement that would see the following capacity increase: 2008 = 56 flights per week; 2009 = 63 flights per week; 2010 = 70 flights per week