Colombia enlists government support for 2010 World Cup campaign

Colombian government on Friday pledged full support for their national soccer team's bid to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Francisco Santos, Colombia's vice-president and Luis Bedoya, chief of the Colombian Soccer Federation (FCF), said a detailed plan about the team's build-up to the 2010 World Cup will be announced after Aug. 28, when the FCF appoints a new executive committee.

The two officials met shortly after Colombia's president publicly entrusted Santos with the job of coordinating government actions to support the national team's World Cup campaign.

Colombia, dubbed the "cafeteros" (coffee boys), made its debut at the World Cup in 1962 in Chile, and qualified for every World Cup finals between 1990 and 1998.

Source: Xinhua