South Africa’s ability to host the 2010 World Cup was given a big pass mark by Fifa president Sepp Blatter on Friday after the country successfully hosted the 2010 test event — the Confederations Cup.
”With two games to go this Confederations Cup has been a tremendous event. There have been problems but as this is a test event … the Local Organising Committee will solve them. This augers well for 2010,” Blatter said.
The Confederations Cup ends on Sunday with the final and playoff for third place.
Blatter paid tribute to the local fans whom he said had supported the Confederations Cup enthusiastically.
”Over 90% of the fans in all stadiums were South Africans and they deserve a Fair Play award for such tremendous support,” he said.
Blatter also praised Bafana Bafana for reaching the semifinals.
”Bafana started hesitant but got stronger with every game. Who would have bet one cent on Bafana losing to a goal two minutes from time against a side of the calibre of Brazil? Well done Bafana.”
Blatter said the general performance of all teams on the field had improved.
”There are no more so-called dominant teams. The United States shone by reaching the final against Brazil, while Bafana meet Spain in the playoff for third place.
”We have a north versus south American clash and a European versus African one in the third place playoff. It does not get much better than that.”
The chairperson of the 2010 Local Organising Committee (LOC) Irvin Khoza said South African supporters had made history.
”Never before in our sporting history have all South Africans been so united. The Confederations Cup has achieved what no other sporting event has managed to do by getting all South Africans showing patriotism and nationalism on a scale never seen at our stadiums before.
”It was simply fantastic and we look forward to the World Cup with added confidence.”
Khoza said the 2010 LOC would meet on Monday to analyse the event.
The biggest problem was transport and the park and ride facilities for fans which the LOC would sort out before 2010, he said.
Blatter and the chairperson of the Confederations Cup Organising Committee Issa Hayatou supported both Blatter and Khoza.
Hayatou said: ”We are satisfied in general with the way the Confederations Cup was run and the way it was supported by fans.”
The president of the South Africa Football Association Molefi Oliphant praised Bafana for reaching the semifinals of a major Fifa tournament and said a number of young budding stars such as Bernard Parker, Siboniso Gaxa and Tsepo Masilela had been uncovered.
”This is good news for our future,” he said.
LOC chief executive Danny Jordaan said fans and teams were in for a treat with the 2010 stadiums.
”We used our four existing stadiums which were our worst. We have six new ones for the World Cup and you are all going to be amazed by each one.”
Jordaan said the test for his team was in three key areas.
”The key issues were … were the fans, the teams and media happy with the Confederations Cup?
”I can tick a yes in each of those boxes. But we are not getting carried away as regards 2010.
”The Confederations Cup is past and now we have a much bigger challenge with 32 teams in the World Cup.
”But we will be ready and have learned valuable lessons from the Confederations Cup.” — Sapa