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.
The Confederations Cup has been described as 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.
Blatter paid tribute to the local fans whom he said had supported the Confederations Cup enthusiastically.
“Over 90 percent of the fans in all stadiums were South Africans and they deserve a Fair Play award for such tremendous support,” he sad.
The chairman 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 chairman 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.”
LOC CEO 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 learnt valuable lessons from the Confederations Cup.” – Sapa
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