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sa goes all out at draw

PLATFORM: LOC chair Irvin Khoza. Pic. Simphiwe Nkwali. 06/06/2002. © The Times.
PLATFORM: LOC chair Irvin Khoza. Pic. Simphiwe Nkwali. 06/06/2002. © The Times.

SOUTH Africa will pull out all the stops to silence those who doubt the country's ability to host a resounding World Cup.

SOUTH Africa will pull out all the stops to silence those who doubt the country's ability to host a resounding World Cup.

"The final draw in Cape Town on Friday is a great platform for us to showcase our readiness for the 2010 World Cup," said Irvin Khoza, the Local Organising Committee chairperson.

The eagerly anticipated final draw - which will be shown on television in more than 200 countries - will be attended by an array of soccer, entertainment and political personalities.

"This is a historic week for us in South Africa and the entire continent, the final draw is the last official event before the World Cup in June," Khoza said.

"When we were bidding, we made it clear it will be an African World Cup, that is why we are calling on South Africans and other brothers and sisters to purchase the tickets now.

"There are no guarantees that the tickets will still be available once the draw has been done on Friday. We want to see more Africans watching the first World Cup finals in Africa."

Khoza said they were still worried about ticket sales for Bafana Bafana matches, which remain low, but are positive that the sales will improve after the final draw.

He said they were grateful for the support from the government in delivering on all the 17 guarantees to Fifa and helping them with the preparations.

Cooperative Governance Minister Sicelo Shiceka said the final draw will end speculation about the World Cup .

Shiceka, convenor of the World Cup host cities' forum, also urged South Africans to embrace Bafana, whom coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has promised to turn into a well-oiled machine.

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