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'Attack on Togo team a lesson'

Johannesburg - The attack on Togo's national soccer team in Angola should be used as a yardstick for the 2010 Soccer World Cup security measures, said Local Organising Committee chairperson Irvin Khoza on Monday.

"I guess it's for us to take that as an experience... we've got our own security plans but it can only be a lesson also that in terms of our security plans, that is a lesson that we can learn," he said in an interview with SABC's SAFM's after eight debate team.

The challenge posed by the attack, he said, was in relation to the misconception that Africa was a country, not a continent.

"People in the world are thinking of Africa as one country... we don't share the same border with Angola... it's never close to South Africa.

"It was interesting that some of the questions around it, the sensitivity of that matter was raised with our national [police] commissioner [Bheki Cele] in terms of what is the threat but I guess it's for us to take that as an experience.

"I think South Africa is geared up in terms of the security plans and we've just agreed that the command and control of our security, regardless of whether it's the police or the stewards will fall under the direction of the SA Police Services," he said.

Togo's national team was attacked soon after their arrival in Cabinda, Angola on Friday to play in the Africa Cup of Nations. The ambush on the team's bus killed an assistant coach, a team spokesman and the bus driver. Eight others were wounded.

Togo's goalkeeper Kodjovi "Dodji" Obilale was shot in the lower back in the attack, flown to South Africa and operated on at Johannesburg's Milpark Hospital, the Associated Press reported.

President Jacob Zuma extended his condolences to the government and people of Togo on Sunday, adding that the attack would not affect the World Cup.
He said South Africa remained "100% ready" to host the World Cup and that the Angolan incident had no bearing on the tournament, presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said in a statement.

"He (Zuma) emphasised that the shocking and unacceptable attack on the Togolese team should not be blown out of proportion, but should serve as impetus for the African continent and the world at large to work even harder to rid the world of terrorist activity and violence wherever it surfaces."

Zuma said the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) would demonstrate African prowess in football.

"The president is attending the games to support the Angolans on their hosting of the Afcon, to promote African excellence in sports and also to further deepen the warm, fraternal and historical relations between South Africa and Angola."

Zuma arrived in Luanda, Angola, on Sunday to attend the tournament, accompanied by Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane and Deputy Minister of Sports and Recreation Gert Oosthuizen.

The president was expected back in the country on Monday.

Cele and his delegation was also in Angola, said Khoza in the SAFM telephonic interview.
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