SA wins praises ahead of World Cup

JOHANNESBURG: When FIFA president, Sepp Blatter pulled out a small piece of paper out of an envelope pronouncing South Africa as the 2010 World Cup hosts in Zurich, Switzerland in 2004, Africa erupted in celebration. The World Cup is coming to Africa for the first time in the tournament's 79-year history. It was a refreshing decision as focus shifts from famine, coups and civil wars to hosting the biggest soccer jamboree.

Blatter had not just pulled out a mere piece of paper written South Africa on it. He had pulled out an enormous challenge for South Africa to host the world's biggest soccer showpiece amid scepticism.  Against a backdrop of rising crime, pessimists doubted (and still doubt) South Africa's capability to host an event without major glitches.