South Africa ready to host AFCON 2013

 JOHNNEBSURG, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- The committee preparing for hosting African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2013 in South Africa on Sunday announced the country is ready to host the tournament.

The Local Organizing Committee Chief Executive Officer Mvuzo Mbebe said this at the ceremony of naming the South African national team to take part in the tournament.

"There are 21 days for the biggest soccer event in Africa to start," Mbebe said. "We have put in place plans that will ensure that every team is provided with the necessary environment and conditions conducive¹ to compete equally."

The committee has formed sub-committees with the police and Department of Home Affairs to assist those attending the AFCON.

He encouraged South Africans to fill the stadia and support the South African national team.

On the same occasion the national team coach Gordon Igesund announced his 23-man team would take part in AFCON 2013.

The coach named a strong squad² consisting of the experienced players, saying "we had the best of the best in the camp, with excellent players competing against each other for positions."

He called on South Africans and the media to rally behind the national team, adding, "Now that the final squad has been selected, the focus is on the tournament, your support will be very crucial to see us through."

Various departments in the South African government have formed clusters to assist the successful hosting of AFCON 2013.

Department of Home Affairs announced that they would beef up the staff at the entry points to assist high volume of visitors during the tournament.

AFCON 2013 was previously³ planned to be hosted by Libya, however, the the African soccer ruling body CAF later decided⁴ to move the competition to South Africa.

1 conducive   

adj.有益的，有助的

参考例句：

• This is a more conducive atmosphere for studying.这样的氛围更有利于学习。
• Exercise is conducive to good health.体育锻炼有助于增强体质。

2 squad   

n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组

参考例句：

• The squad leader ordered the men to mark time.班长命令战士们原地踏步。
• A squad is the smallest unit in an army.班是军队的最小构成单位。

3 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。