After six long years of preparation, the World Cup and come and gone and, although Spain won the trophy, the true stars are the people of South Africa who united to prove that this country is, indeed, capable of hosting a world class event.

President Jacob Zuma was full of praise for his citizens when he addressed the media in Sandton on Monday, saying they had proved all the doomsayers wrong. The world had been warned to expect high levels of crime, unfinished stadia and a lack of accommodation but what football fans found when they came to South Africa was a different picture altogether.The fact of the matter is that the hosting of the FIFA World Cup has effectively rebranded South Africa, transforming perceptions of the country’s capacity and instilling immense national pride.

FIFA president Joseph Blatter has also given South Africa high marks for its hosting of the 2010 World Cup. When asked to rate South Africa’s running of the event out of 10, Blatter said after hosting last year’s Confederations Cup, he had awarded the country a 7.5 but that had now risen.‘I would say now they deserve a 9 out 10,’ said Blatter. ‘Perfection does not exist.’
The Fifa supremo added the people the people and government of South Africa also played a big role and that both Africa and South Africa deserve a big compliment for what they have achieved here during the past month.

And that’s high praise indeed from a veteran organisation which has just hosted its 19th international tournament!