Green Point Stadium, Cape Town, July 2010. Playmaker Surprise Moriri dribbles his way through a dazzled Italian midfield, before slotting a neat through ball to veteran striker Benni McCarthy. McCarthy unleashes a scorching 30-metre drive that almost tears a hole in the back of the net, before wheeling away to celebrate in a rapturous corner. Bafana Bafana have snuffed out the challenge of the defending World Cup champions.

Eish, so maybe Benni is wishful thinking. Tera Fanteni then. The R3-billion 68 000-seater stadium with the undulating roof, that is a tangible reality. Throngs of frenzied spectators from all corners of the globe, it wouldn’t be a World Cup without them. A powerful hand-up to local business and the economy at large? More than you would think.

Many local small businesses may be fearful of being crowded out by multinational behemoths when it comes to World Cup tenders and opportunities, or else stymied by mountains of red tape. Happily, this is not the case, with FIFA’s liberal policies allowing for the smaller firms to take their seats at the table. Pub-owners and restaurateurs are in line to benefit from particularly generous third-party viewing rights and Public Viewing Area licenses.

Acceleration, a business-led growth initiative comprising 26 of the largest companies in the province, has been championing the World Cup’s myriad of private sector opportunities. CEO Greg Lundy worked through an extensive list of these lucrative centred around Cape Town’s semi-final, pool matches and Grand Parade fan park. "These will have to be catered, secured and monitored," said Lundy. "Entertainment and sanitation will have to be provided. Signage will have to be produced. All of these smaller and but incredibly integral services will have to be supplied by local business. There are so many opportunities to get involved. SA is a long-haul destination so as much as possible will be produced locally instead of being imported."

Cape Town’s head of operations, Lesley de Reuck backed up his 2010 compatriot. "Facilities such as food and beverage stalls food and beverage stalls, and serviced toilets will have to be provided. FIFA rules stipulate that the official fan park must have a stage large enough to accommodate live entertainment, so we need service providers in that sector too. I want this to be an African event, with Cape Town’s best musicians and entertainers," he said.

Aside from Grand Parade; the Bellville Velodrome, Athlone stadium and Swartklip sports complex have also been designated as Public Viewing Areas within the city.

And, with over a million tourists expected in the country during World Cup month, an exhaustive volunteer system has been designed to meet the influx. Elementary tourism training will be meted to expand on a sorely lacking skills base. "We will need about 2400 volunteers for the World Cup," explained De Reuck. "We will be recruiting online and vetting all applicants, in conjunction with national security. They must be uniformed, and trained in everything from visitor information to combating attempts at ambush marketing."

He emphasised the need for retention and the building of a volunteer database for future events. It is hoped that the issuing of stipends and certificates of recognition will encourage volunteers to stay on board. Such was the camaraderie (no doubt fuelled by some of the 815-million litres of beer imbibed last time around!) among the German contingent at the previous World Cup that there are plans for a massive reunion party in 2010, which will apparently include an 84-year-old woman, the oldest volunteer on record.

The construction industry, including Green Point stadium contractors, has rallied behind the 'Go for Gold' initiative that aims to train and mentor young South Africans to deal with the chronic skills shortage in this crucial sector. Five-million rand has already been stumped up to see initial progress.

"We need to embrace this as one"

Cape Town communications chief Peter Cronje was at pains to put across the sheer size of the month-long extravaganza and the perils of "non-aligned messaging". "Globally, 270-million people play soccer, and cumulatively 35-billion people watched the 2006 World Cup held in Germany. The exposure for the city will be enormous, especially after the Beijing Olympics are over. We need to embrace this as one," he explained.

Cronje did not sidestep the thorny issue of the impact of the recent xenophobic riots. He said it had made the marketing aspect that much more difficult, but that the challenge of rejuvenating the country’s battered image was not insurmountable. "We want Cape Town to be seen as Africa’s party capital, not just for Europeans or Americans but as the ultimate tourist destination for our continental neighbours. This is the African World Cup."

And FIFA, while making plain its concerns over the violence, is confident that the "uniting power of football will bridge divisions and heal rifts".

The common, where the stadium is situated, boasts a both colourful and chequered history. The scene of candle-lit anti-apartheid vigils was also a square for the hanging of runaway or recalcitrant slaves. And the commons saw what must be the most spectacular party ever witnessed when the British renounced slavery – the coon carnivals of today mimic the celebrations. Cape of Storms, Cape of Carnivals, all in the shadow of the Lion’s Head. This lush expanse was home to many multiracial football games before the Group Areas Act forced the Sea Point Swifts to move to Bonteheuwel. The memory of those hallowed days is still strong on the Cape Flats.

There are just over two years till the 2010 World Cup spectacular. Just over two years until football returns to Green Point common.