AFRICA WILL HOST A SUCCESSFUL TOURNEY

Doubts have been cast over South Africa's capacity to host the 2010 Fifa World Cup since the country was given the rights in 2004.

Ridiculous suggestions such as that Australia and Britain would be on stand by to take over in case South Africa fail to meet certain requirements have been bandied around.

But as it always happens, everything African is normally cast in doubt in the western world and this latest madness comes as no surprise.

The South African local organising committee is headed by chief executive Danny Jordaan and chairman
Irvin Khoza.

Jordaan and Khoza have spent the past three years travelling around the world trying to explain the country's readiness.

The pair also enjoy full support of the government. Fifa president Sepp Blatter has also been clear that he believes in the African event.

Open and honest

2010 AT A GLANCE · US$9.5 billion directly to the country's GDP· 360 00 direct jobs created in construction industry· US$1.5 billion in direct spend from foreign tourists · 3.2 million tickets will be available for the 64 matches · 14 million litres of beer is expected to be consumed · Over 2 million bags of cement will be used for new stadiums

Both men have been honest about some of the challenges that face them as they lead the country to hosting the first World Cup on African soil.

Those who are leading the doubting brigade have questioned among other things the levels of crime in the country.

Unfortunately, the same advocates of scepticism against South Africa conveniently forget that they are mainly to do with the status quo.

In any case, it is an open secrete that colonialisation has left many countries in the so-called third world crippled and South Africa is one of them.

Those who are interested to get the first hand information and general feeling about preparations would be best advised to visit the country and see for themselves.

Infrastructure

Five stadiums are being built from scratch while others that already exist will be given a face lift and necessary adjustments to meet Fifa requirements and standards.

Roads, mass transport and other communications networks are being upgraded to deal with expected high volumes.

Africa's biggest construction site will see an underground rapid rail link between major centres and the airport in operation by the time the tournament kick off.

In their latest report, the Fifa technical inspection committee painted a glossy picture about the progress that is being made by the LOC.

The only blemish in their report was that the new venue in Cape Town was two months behind schedule. Those who have been following the events will know who caused all the trouble.

But with South Africa's proven expertise in civil engineering and the will to silence critics, contractors have promised to make up for the lost time.

The team

Parallel to infrastructure preparations, the national side is also being brought back from the ashes.

Former World Cup winning coach Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira has been appointed to lead the project.

South Africa took off with verve after being re-admitted to the world body in 1992 following the collapse of apartheid.

The country's team, popularly known as Bafana Bafana, won the 1996 African Cup of Nations and qualified for the 1998 World Cup in France, another first.

But after a dismal performance at the 2002 edition in South Korea and Japan, the team's fortunes started tumbling.

The country failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, a move that led to the big reforms within.
All eyes will be on them in three years' time and they better not disappoint.