21 July 2006
Johannesburg - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson claims South Africa will stage a successful World Cup in 2010, despite growing fears over the ability of the country to host the tournament.
Ferguson, whose United team play the final match of their three-game pre-season tour of South Africa when they face Kaizer Chiefs in Pretoria on Saturday, admits the country still has ground to cover before the 32-team event kicks-off but has no doubt they can achieve their aims.
Fears about the building of stadia, inadequate public transport and a rise in violent crime have led to suggestions that Fifa is considering switching the tournament to Australia, a claim vehemently denied by Fifa and the Safa.
However, Ferguson is backing the South Africans to overcome the problems and prove to the world they deserve to play host to the World Cup in four years time.
Ferguson said: "It's a big challenge for South Africa, but it's such a good country and there is so much enthusiasm that I think it will all work well.
"The important issues they face are to add more stadiums to the ones that are already built because you will need ten stadia to operate in the World Cup.
"The transport system and security of the fans is another issue, particular the fans who are coming into South Africa.
"How are you going to incorporate them into a friendly atmosphere like Germany did. The Germans made all sorts of arrangements for the fans from many different countries.
"I have been impressed during this trip, however. The Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg was absolutely fantastic and what really impressed me there was the floodlighting. It was incredible, the best I've ever seen!
"I know they are going to do some renovations there for 2010, but as the stadium is at the moment, there is not a lot wrong with it. It was brilliant.
"Newlands in Cape Town is an old stadium, but it creates a fantastic atmosphere. They are also already planning to build a new stadium in Cape Town and also in Durban, so progress is being made."
Ferguson, meanwhile, was forced to distance himself from claims in the South African media that he had suggested that Premiership champions Chelsea are "hell-bent on ruining football" while speaking at a gala dinner on Wednesday.
He said: "It's unfortunate that you can't go to a dinner nowadays without someone sneakily reporting everything you've said. That's unfortunate, but that's the nature of life today.
"But I didn't say that. What I said is that supposedly Chelsea have signed 30 African players. I never made any reference to what effect that has on football.
"If it's good for Chelsea, that's the important thing, but the question I posed is that, if it's correct that they've signed 30 African boys, how are they going to get them all a game?"
