SOUTH AFRICA will wave goodbye to a global football family, which it has hosted for the past month, as the curtain comes down on the World Cup tomorrow and Africa basks in the glow that was lit by the successful hosting of the tournament that silenced doubting voices around the planet.

Initial concerns that the first World Cup on African soil will be blighted by crime, in a country battling to control one of the world’s most violent societies, have proved far-fetched as the South African security services have risen to the occasion while their people turned into admirable hosts.

As the world football family’s focus switches from the Rainbow Nation to Brazil, who will host the World Cup in 2014, it’s clar that South Africa has earned its stripes and made such a big impression that Fifa have already announced it will remain the alternative venue should future hosts come short in their preparations.

Even the weather elements have been kind…

“I’m very satisfied. We are about to have new world champions. I’m delighted to point out that the fair play has been king at this tournament, as proved by the statistics for injuries and cards,” Fifa president Sepp Blatter told a media briefing in Sandton on Thursday.

“It’s a question of trust. We trusted Africa from the very first day. I’ve always defended the initiative of bringing the tournament here and look at the results — the stadiums are real gems and no country in Europe can boast as many stadiums of the same standard.

“This has been an example for future construction efforts to follow…In addition, around 500 doping tests have been carried out on urine and blood samples and none have come back positive. Another piece of good news is that there has been a growing interest in the tournament on the part of the public — the fan fests here and abroad have attracted huge crowds.

“Africa can be proud and it has to be said that the organisers have done a great job.”

Story: Curtain Comes Down On World Cup by Robson Sharuko READ FULL STORY

(Image via Onegoal)