October 21, 2005, 18:45
The head of an inspection team of the world soccer body Fifa said he was overwhelmed by South Africa's enthusiasm to host the 2010 World Cup. "Our report-back to our president (Sepp Blatter) will be positive as well," Jim Brown said at a press conference at the Johannesburg International Airport before his departure.
"We were quite frankly overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and the willingness that is required to deliver (a successful World Cup)," he said at the end of a five-day visit to South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique.
Brown said although the three-man team's visit was successful, the delegation had "some questions. "We obviously have some questions. There are stadiums that need to be built. I would say that it's not an issue, it's obviously a question that we have," he told reporters.
Brown is the director of competition at Fifa. With him were Jerome Valcke, director of marketing and television and Alain Leiblang, head of media operations.
Danny Jordaan, CEO of the 2010 World Cup's local organising committee, who attended the press conference, said South Africa's focus would now be on eliminating three venues from the 13 proposed stadiums that were in the country's 2010 bid book, then to start with the construction of those that needed to be built.
"We are very happy with where we are now. We are comfortable that we are well ahead of some of the matters that we had to deliver on," Jordaan said.
Leiblang said Fifa would have a permanent office in South Africa from the beginning of next year. - Sapa
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