By Gabisile Ndebele

And they accuse the international football federation of greedily making money without providing any real benefits.

Fifa South Africa created a company, Match Event Services, to manage accommodation bookings, ticket sales for matches and information technology for the soccer World Cup.

Match is signing up bed and breakfasts, guest houses and lodges that will provide Fifa-approved accommodation in 2010.

The businesses will be listed on the official Fifa website and will be advertised in the official 2010 accommodation guide.

But Fifa will pocket up to 30% of the money the businesses make in the month of the World Cup. The establishments will have to charge rates determined by Match.

And a business registered with Match is required to make between 80% and 100% of its rooms available through Match.

The Fifa rates are based on this year’s summer season prices, plus 16% for inflation and rising costs over the next two years.

Nearly a dozen guesthouse owners in Sandton, Soweto and Melville contacted by Metro this week said they would not support Match’s plans.

Jean Botha, owner of the five-star JeanJean Guesthouse in Melville, said the benefits being offered by Match were negligible.

“I have decided not to work with them because they are restricting us to unnecessary rates,” she said. She said her guesthouse had its own website and was linked to several international sites, so she did not need more advertising.

Anastacia Makgato, owner of the four-star Thuto’s B&B in Soweto, said she regretted registering with Match.

“It seemed like there were great benefits at first, but after realising that interest rates will be hiked and inflation will also rise, I don’t see how my business is going to benefit.”

A spokesman for Match said businesses would benefit from their global exposure.
 

Sunday Times