Maradona Full of Praise for South Africa 2010 World Cup Preparations

(WFI) Argentina manager Diego Maradona says he has “no doubts” that South Africa will host a “great” World Cup, adding that he can foresee no problems with security during the month-long tournament.

“I don’t have any doubt this is going to be a great World Cup,” said Diego Maradona during a visit to Johannesburg’s Soccer City today.

El Diego is in South Africa to inspect the facilities his team will utilize when they arrive to participate in the World Cup later this year.

The Argentina team has selected the High Performance Centre in Pretoria as their base camp, situated on the sporting grounds of the University of Pretoria.

“Perfecto” is how he chose to give his judgment after an inspection of the facilities.

Addressing the ever present question of security, he stated that “there’s not going to be any problems with security. [People]… mustn’t be afraid.”

“They can say what they want but we know we are coming to play the World Cup in a safe country. I have seen that with my own eyes. Anything can happen in the world but I have spent a week in South Africa and everything is very good and the people very friendly.”

“This will be a great World Cup with no doubts of security. I will tell my players that they only have to think of playing football when they come here and worry about nothing else.”

As regards Soccer City Stadium, standing on the venue’s newly-laid pitch, he said: “they really did a great job on this stadium. I have been to many stadiums before but this is very big and so great. To be able to enter this stadium is so beautiful. I feel inspired to play here but unfortunately my time has passed”.

Whilst in the country he visited a number of schools in the province, and took time out to watch local Premier Soccer League team Mamelodi Sundowns training.

Argentina, whose stars include Lionel Messi, will play at Soccer City -- venue for both the opening and the closing ceremonies -- against South Korea on June 17.

"Messi will make a great impression in this World Cup. He has what it takes and we will help him,” added a confident Maradona.

"I hope Messi emerges as the great player that he is and that we can all help him to the final."

Officials claim Soccer City nears completion
Soccer City stadium manager, Songezo Nayo, says that the venue is virtually complete.

He told the Sowetan newspaper that the stadium was complete inside, but constructors were busy with final touch-ups outside.

“It’s work that will not take much time, it is to do with paving, painting, the turnstiles and planting trees. We expect it to be done by March,” he said

This is nevertheless in contrast to what was witnessed by World Football Insider today – whilst the major construction work within the stadium itself does appear to be complete, there is clearly a fair amount of finishing that still needs to be handled.

Whilst strolling through the inside of the stadium ongoing work was very much in evidence.

The entrances to all of the toilet facilities, bar one for use by the media, were covered with steel grates, indicating ongoing work inside.

The giant screens on either end of the stadium are still to be installed, and bare wires were noticed on a few walls, obviously awaiting either switches or light fittings. Constant hammering and drilling provided the afternoon's background music.

Last month WFI reported how major construction work still needed to be undertaken on the stadium concourses and car parks. Work is still not far progressed from our last visit and the late February/ early March deadline is looking increasingly optimistic.

Work is nevertheless clearly underway though. Large teams of construction workers were spotted in and around the stadium hard at work adding the finishing touches. They loudly and enthusiastically cheered the Argentina coach when he arrived at the stadium. Maradona, in turn, graciously went over to greet them and shake their hands.

Two more South African World Cup stadiums officially open this week – Cape Town’s Green Point Stadium and Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium will both be holding launch events for the public over the course of the weekend.

With reporting from Stuart Alderson-Smith in Johannesburg
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