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Zambia Times

Billionaires book their berths for soccer fest
Dec 6, 2009 12:00 AM | By Simpiwe Piliso
Regardless of who wins the 2010 World Cup, there will be one other victorious "side": SA homeowners who are renting out their homes to the world's richest soccer fans.

A NICE PAIR: Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich and his girlfriend Dasha Zhukova have accommodation in Johannesburg and Cape Town

The jetsetting billionaires have already splashed out millions for the best yacht berths and the top addresses.

Estate agents told the Sunday Times that money was "no object" for their clients, with rentals ranging from R50000 a day to R4.2-million a month.

Topping the tournament's illustrious guest list are Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, multibillionaire Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen, Carphone Warehouse founder David Ross and Britain's online gambling tycoons Peter Coates and Tony Bloom.

Abramovich's 170m yacht, Eclipse, which is worth ï¿½300-million, will dock in Cape Town. The oil magnate and his girlfriend, Dasha Zhukova, have also leased a high-security Johannesburg home and an apartment on the Atlantic Seaboard.

Described as "a great white castle on water", the yacht boasts two helipads and two swimming pools - one of which doubles as a dance floor when drained. It also features a miniature submarine for emergencies, 24 luxury guest cabins, and armour-plating around the master suite.

Sotheby's International Realty SA chairman Lew Geffen said many had already settled on the properties they want.

"Among these is a very famous English footballer who is paying a princely sum to rent a home with a helipad in a Johannesburg estate, and a Russian billionaire who also wants to base himself in Johannesburg during the tournament," he said.

An estate agent who operates on Cape Town's Atlantic Seaboard said he had heard a Saudi family was seeking "several high-security homes" in Cape Town.

Sheikh Mansour, owner of Manchester City and a member of Abu Dhabi's ruling family, is said to be among those looking for accommodation.

Australian retail billionaire and Football Federation Australia's chief executive Frank Lowy has also been scouting.

Pam Golding Properties' Atlantic Seaboard area manager Basil Moraitis said they had been "dealing with a number of high-profile clients".

Seeff Properties director Ian Slot said his company had been instructed to "secure the best home" in Gauteng.

"The brief is simple," he said. "Our client requires a minimum of six bedrooms, ultimate luxury, and a helipad either on the property or not more than 15 minutes away ... and price is no object".

Slot said his clients demanded exceptional homes, in the region of about R100000 a day.

Seeff Properties this week took an ultrarich soccer fan on a tour of a five-bedroom home in Cape Town's Bishopscourt on offer for R80000 a night.

US billionaire Stan Kroenke, who owns 29% of Arsenal, and IT mogul Paul Allen, also have their sights on SA. Allen's super 126m yacht, the Octopus - worth more than $200-million - is expected to dock in Cape Town, when he arrives on his Boeing 757.

German media mogul Leo Kirch could be setting sail for South Africa on board one of his two luxury floating hotels, MS Westerdam and MS Noordam, which offer a combined total of 4600 beds.

Cyclone Group's marketing manager Kirsty Parry said packages on the cruise liners ranged from $1490 to $9425 for between three and five nights.

http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article221569.ece

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