Posted in News on Apr 23, 2003.
In a letter sent to Chiefs and the Sunday newspaper, the tournament's organizing committee states that, "at the moment, there isn’t even one patient with Sars symptoms and we have not received any notification on cancellation of the team's participation.
"Moreover, we made the official confirmation that Jung Hwan Kwak, the chairperson of the organising committee, has never said what the article claimed he did and that the Korean Embassy in South Africa has also neither heard nor mentioned anything about the contents of the articles.
"We are currently keeping in contact, while expressing our discontent, with news24.com, City Press and the reporter Julian Dube, who released the problematic article," said the statement from Kyd Nam Park, the secretary general of the 2003 World Peace King Cup organising committee.
According to the City Press article, Kwak was quoted as having said: "If the state of affair continues as it is, then we'll have no option but to compensate the clubs that had been invited, thereon suspend the event until the disease is under control", all which is not true.
The competition's organising committee, has, hereby, requested that news24 and City Press delete the article “Sars threatens Kaizer Chiefs trip to Korea immediately; publish a modified version of the article on the front page of this Sunday's issue; and after taking the actions above, notify the results to the World Peace King Cup organising committee, in which failure to meet the demands will result in an unavoidable legal process.
The tournament, which will see eight teams including Chiefs compete for US$2 million (about R16 million), will be officially launched on May 5 where the draws and all the fixtures will be finalised.
World football icon and the tournament's spokesperson Pele, will also visit the country towards the end of May to promote the competition and will be hosted by Kaizer Chiefs.
Kaizer Chiefs have replied to the 2003 World Peace King Cup apologising of any inconvenience brought to the organising committee and stating that it is not the first time that the City Press and specifically Julian Dube make unqualified and unfounded statements regarding Kaizer Chiefs.
Kaizer Chiefs dissociate themselves completely from the statements made by the article, to which the 2003 World Peace King Cup refer to written by Julian Dube and restate that they are totally committed and honoured to be part of such a prestigious international tournament of the caliber of the 2003 World Peace King Cup.
In conclusion Kaizer Chiefs assured that whatever stand the 2003 World Peace King Cup Organising Committee will take towards the City Press and the journalist, Julian Dube, Kaizer Chiefs will support.
