RARELY is there a need to package one message for both the skeptics and the laggards.

Here's one.

When the world wakes up tomorrow, a large group will have its eyes and ears on us.

There's a sizeable number, the who's who, who are already on our shores for what promises to be a glittering shindig in Cape Town as the final draw for the 2010 soccer World Cup is made.

For the doubting Thomases - and the world is teeming with them - South Africa would not be playing host if the globe wasn't convinced we were capable of pulling it off.

We might be part of the so-called Third World but our facilities, should we suffer fatigue from waxing lyrical about them ourselves, are more than capable of speaking for themselves.

Durban's R3,1billion Moses Mabhida Stadium, with its 350m high arch and a plethora of mod cons, is a microcosm of the marvels we have conjured up for stadiums.

The point we are making to the world is that we can hold our own against the best in this global community of nations.

At your own peril, continue looking down on Africa as the back of beyond.

Those on the guest list, including citizen of the world David Beckham, will bear witness to our unique brand of hospitality and their report card alone will be sufficient for more visitors to venture down south.

To Bafana Bafana, the other intended recipients of this message, please play ball!