Jordaan delighted to silence doubters

Danny Jordaan said he has been receiving apologies from those who levelled criticism at South Africa in the build-up to the World Cup.

With just eight teams now remaining, the tournament enters its final stages today after a difficult few years in which questions had been raised over South Africa's ability to stage one of the biggest events in world sport.

Jordaan, the chief executive officer of the Local Organising Committee, said: "I think it's wonderful that the doubters are the believers today.

"The strange thing is that some of the countries that were our worst critics have come forward and said 'you know what, we were wrong. This is an incredible experience for us, our delegations and our fans. We are just having a wonderful time'.

"One or two in fact apologised for saying all these things about the country, its people and about the World Cup.

"So it's very satisfying to us as a nation, it's not a personal thing. Affirmation is always good, affirmation of a country's ability to deliver helps."

Fifty-six games have already been completed across the 10 venues, with just eight to go in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth.

One of the major disappoint-ments has been the elimination of the hosts after the first round, while the likes of France, Italy and England have also departed.

But Jordaan was not too fussed by their exits, insisting that the interest drawn by some of these major teams, including their support, would now be replaced by new arrivals of those still in the competition.

He continued: "It is so in the World Cup when one team drops out, their fans naturally go home. But what happens then is that supporters from other teams come in, so that's how it is and how it will be.

"We will now see more Ghanaian fans arrive, more fans from Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina and more from the other countries. So there is a substitution of fans."

With 10 days remaining, Jordaan was pleased with the prospects that remained for the first ever World Cup on the continent, including a first African team in the last four.

"The prospects are just amazing," Jordaan said. "We have the possibility of an African team going beyond the frontiers ever achieved by any African country.

"Ghana is there still and we hope we will see the first African player to dance at the corner flag of a semi-final and final of a World Cup.

"We also have the possibility of a Brazil-Argentina final, which has never happened before. In terms of the world game, this is one of the biggest international matches."