Blatter calls on rest of world to trust Africa

Fifa president Sepp Blatter on Friday scolded those who suggest that South Africa will not be able to mount a good World Cup, saying the moment had come to trust Africa.

Security fears, transportation problems and stadium preparations have long been hit on as the weak points in South African preparations, pushing some to call on Fifa to call for a Plan B to take the cup away from Africa.

Assessing the situation, Blatter had more criticism for the doubters than for the organisers.

"Why, why," an exasperated Blatter asked. "Is there not a bit of envy that now that this big event is now in Africa," he asked during a news conference before Sunday's start of the Confederations Cup.

As soon as the card "South Africa" came out of the envelope during the 2010 bid announcement xxx years ago, criticism started piling up. "From the very beginning, they were not at ease by trusting South Africa, or Africa at all to organise the Fifa World Cup."

"Let's go and trust a little bit, trust these people," he said.

With just under one year to go before the June 11 kickoff, nine of 10 stadiums are on schedule to be ready by the end of October, with only Cape Town's Green Point lagging a few months behind.

And ahead of the Confederations Cup, the dress rehearsal for the 2010 World Cup, Blatter had nothing but praise.

With the stadium in Nelson Mandela Bay, Port Elizabeth, already opened, it showed how organisers were making good progress. "And the four stadiums for the Confederations Cup, they are at the top. We have no problems of construction at the stadiums."

"Here I can make the first compliment to the organisers," Blatter said.

Recently concern has centred on security again and the firms that will be contracted to cooperate with police to assure safety during the Confederations and World Cup.

"If we are always speaking about security, give me one country in the world where you have perfect security," he challenged.

"We trust the organisation," he said.

Irvin Khoza, chairman of the local organising committee, insisted security at the Twenty20 Indian Premier League cricket tournament, which was moved to South Africa at short notice early this year, was proof enough of the nation's handling of safety issues. "Why does the security issue not come up when the IPL and the British and Irish Lions (rugby team) are here?"

"We have hosted 146 major international events and not had a major worry," he said.

AP