Many South Africans would align themselves with sentiments expressed by Fifa president Sepp Blatter that Bafana Bafana must jack up their act if they have to make a competitive showing at the 2010 Soccer World Cup finals.

Many South Africans would align themselves with sentiments expressed by Fifa president Sepp Blatter that Bafana Bafana must jack up their act if they have to make a competitive showing at the 2010 Soccer World Cup finals.

While many may agree with Blatter that a competitive squad is mandatory, it must be pointed out, however, that Bafana coach Carlos Parreira still needs time and support to prepare the squad for the showpiece.

The event pins its success on the consistent upholding of a set of standards that make the World Cup brand an attractive proposition for sponsors. There is also a direct link between the success of the tournament and the performance of the host national team. The French, Japanese and South Koreans inspired their national teams to perform during their hosting of the mammoth events in 1998 and 2002 - thus creating memorable tournaments.