This week CNN is running a special series of inserts looking at South Africa's preparation and readiness for the 2010 World Cup.
The series of inserts are being broadcast in between regular programming each day and all of them culminate in a half-hour special this Saturday that features the 9 inserts put together.
The weekend broadcast times for the special are as follows:
Saturday 14 February 2009 at 15h00 and 19h00
Sunday 15 February 2009 at 08h00
Monday 16 February at 01h00
These are the inserts and their days of broadcast:
Monday, 9 February 2009Nkepile Mabuse - South AfricaWith less than 500 days to go before the world descends on South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, how ready is the country to play? Despite earlier doubts - the nation is firmly on track.
There is now no longer any talk of a Plan B - it is officially dead and buried. South Africa and FIFA both agree that the host nation will be ready. But just as one challenge has been overcome another unexpected has surfaced - the global financial crisis. The concern is that the economic troubles will dissuade tourists to make the long and costly journey to the tip of Africa.
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Robyn Curnow - South AfricaAny idea of what a vuvuzela or a makarapa is? Well global football fans better get used to these uniquely South African football paraphernalia. A makarapa is a decorated miner's helmet. Fans spend hours decorating their makarapa with the colours and logs of their favourite team.
The vuvuzela is a foot-long plastic air horn trumpet, which is blown with great gusto by South African football supporters, giving local games a distinctive vibrancy and atmosphere. FIFA has allowed this loud and most distinctive football symbol into stadiums during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
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Tuesday 10th FebruaryDavid McKenzie - KenyaKenya isn't known as a football powerhouse, but Kenyan fans are arguably world beaters. Tuta and her friends have set up a facebook site to organize a road trip for Kenyans to 2010 - they want to go in a convoy of 100 cars. A tour company is planning on offering a trip in modified trucks to get there. An insurance company has offered a fund for people to invest in to afford the trip. CNN's David McKenzie explains how, for many Africans, it is World Cup or Bust.
Robyn Curnow - South AfricaSouth Africa remains one of the most violent countries on earth. Crime continues to haunt the nation and threaten to derail a smooth World Cup. In the largest city, Johannesburg, they are fighting back. A state of the art CCTV monitoring system is now in place which the CBD hopes to turn the tide and send the crooks packing. Robyn Curnow looks at what is being done to ensure the safety of the venues and fans.
Wednesday 11th FebruaryPedro Pinto - South AfricaAs the countdown continues for the first World Cup to be played in Africa, how are the continent's top stars looking ahead to the tournament? What do they look forward to most? What do they fear, if anything? Pedro Pinto speaks with some of the African stars in the Premier League to find out whether they are ready to shine on home soil.
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Robyn Curnow - South AfricaRuud Krol knows what it is like to play in a World Cup. This Dutch football legend gained 83 caps for the Netherlands and played in two World Cup finals. Krol is now the coach of one of South Africa's top clubs - the Orlando Pirates.
He speaks to Robyn Curnow about South African football and what the World Cup will mean for the nation.
Thursday 12th February.
Christian Purefoy - Nigeria, Dying leaguesNigerian players are some of the most sought after in the UK premiership. But this football globalization has stripped the Nigerian leaguer of not only its best players but also its fan-base. While the local leagues struggles for money and attention- most Nigerians head to the bar to watch the big UK teams on a big screen. We profile a team in Warri and talk to them on the effect the UK premiership is having on their league.
Friday 13th February Nkepile Mabuse - JohannesburgWhen FIFA's president Sepp Blatter last visited South Africa he bemoaned the lack of excitement about hosting the World Cup. But that is probably because he has not been to Gladys' pub in Johannesburg or met Gladys Gailly. Every space in this bar is full of memorabilia- and Gladys can talk the hind legs off a donkey if you dare to talk football with her. So popular is her pub that officials are considering designating it a fan park for the World Cup.