All systems go for Soccerex

The event consists of a two-day football festival and a three-day conference and exhibition, reports SouthAfrica.info.

Chief Executive Officer of Soccerex Duncan Revie said the 2009 expo will serve as a blueprint for Brazil, the 2014 FIFA World Cup host.

"This Soccerex, we have all the Brazilian cities hosting the 2014 World Cup coming here to learn from South Africa," Revie said.

They will be joined by the South African 2010 host cities, along with representatives from every sphere of the football world.

England's bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup will also be promoted at Soccerex. At the same time, the Netherlands and Belgium will be promoting their joint bid for 2018 and 2022. Russia, too, will promote its bid for the same two editions of the World Cup.

Top travel agencies, equipment manufacturers, radio and television broadcasters, sports agencies and agents, tourism bodies, and charity organisations related to football will be in attendance.

Former England coach Glenn Hoddle, representing the Glenn Hoddle Academy, and Tom Vernon, Manchester United's scout for Africa, will be among the many speakers at Soccerex.

Hoddle's academy, which is based in Spain, works with players who have been released from European clubs, with the aim of returning them to the top of the game. Vernon will discuss the latest thinking on the development of academies in Africa.

Many of the leading clubs of the world, from different continents, will be represented, among them: Ajax Amsterdam, Aston Villa, Boca Juniors, Chelsea, Glasgow Celtic, Flamengo, Paranaense, Vasco da Gama, Cruzeiro, Schalke 04, Galatasaray, Gremio, Liverpool, Olympique Marseille, Real Madrid, Benfica, Sao Paulo, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, and Corinthians.

Many of South Africa's Premier Soccer League clubs will also be represented.

There is an amazing list of attendees, available on the Soccerex website, which looks a lot like a who's who of football's top personalities. They include Danny Jordaan, CEO of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee, President of FIFA Sepp Blatter, Kalusha Bwalya, legendary African football star and president of the Football Association of Zambia Gerard Houllier.

Other guests include former Liverpool manager and current technical director of the French Football Association Jon Collins, CEO of Football Asia Sergio Neveleff, president of Futbol America Joana Teixeira Havelange and the general manager of the Brazil 2014 Organising Committee Franz Beckenbauer.

From the stature of the people and organisations in attendance, it is clear that Soccerex is a can't-miss expo for anyone serious about the business of football.

For more information, see: www.soccerex.com

Article published courtesy of BuaNews