Blatter hails African effort

Blatter and Zuma

Fifa chief Sepp Blatter is eagerly anticipating the first ever World Cup on African soil.

South Africa host this summer's competition and they kick-off the tournament against Mexico in Johannesburg on Friday.

Blatter has received criticism from certain quarters for the decision to award the Rainbow Nation with the World Cup, although it will mark a historic occasion.

He is expecting a festival of football over the next month, and praised the work that has already gone on to ensure the success of the tournament.

"It was a long way to come with FIFA's World Cup to Africa and to connect it with South Africa to make it an African World Cup," he said.

"It was a long way to come, but we did it.

"You can say it's a FIFA World Cup, but all the work to make this event possible has been done in this country.

"And when at the end of the day, compliments shall be given, it shall be given to South Africa and the African continent and I'm sure we will be able to do so."

Legacy

South Africa president Jacob Zuma also welcomed the event to the country, agreeing that the competition will leave a permanent legacy.

He added: "We have been preparing for the tournament since May 15, 2004 when Mr Sepp Blatter carefully removed from an envelope the card that named our country as the host of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

"We knew from that moment that South Africa would never be the same again.

"We are truly pleased and humbled to host the world in our country for this historical and extraordinary event.

"Building up to the tournament we have seen something that we have never seen before. South Africa is more than ready.

"We are ready and for us the World Cup has already begun."