16/05/2008 11:39

Sun City - The 2010 World Cup finals are not for the government, Fifa or the Local Organising Committee.

They are for 45 million stakeholders - all South Africans who will help create the greatest and most successful sporting event in history.

That was the passionate appeal from 2010 LOC chairperson Dr Irvin Khoza on Thursday night at the Sun City Convention Centre where the LOC celebrated the fourth anniversary of winning the bid to become the first African country to host the biggest soccer event in the world.

Khoza who worked tirelessly alongside his chief executive officer Danny Jordaan to bring the event to South Africa made one of his most passionate speeches ever to an audience of 600 invited guests.

He stated: "I will never forget the moment on May 15 2004 when Fifa president Sepp Blatter pulled South Africa's name out of the envelope as host of the 2010 World Cup.

Khoza known as the "Iron Duke" for his no nonsense and practical approach to soccer showed a softer side he said: "We appreciate the R28bn the government has given us plus the incredible support. The government has gone more than the extra mile to make sure we will stage the best World Cup ever. Fifa and the LOC are fantastic.

Face of South Africa

They are all remarkable people."But it is the 45 million South Africans who we did this for. The 45 million are the people who count and who will welcome out foreign guests in 2010.

It is the customs officer, the taxi, bus drivers, policemen and women plus all the volunteers who will be the face of South Africa. "It is our 45 million South Africans who will make this the greatest sporting event ever staged.

When it comes to team work and being together South Africans are united. My message to the world is that we are ready to host 2010."He said South Africa could look back with pride at what the country had achieved in four years.

He added: "We can look forward to the next two years with supreme confidence. Everything is on track. "But Khoza said that while on Thursday was a day and night of celebration after four hard years of preparing the ground work he stressed that on Friday morning it was back to work.

In a special message via video Blatter said the world was in for a big pleasant surprise. Said the world soccer boss: "South Africa will leave a legacy not just for themselves but for Africa.

We are going to see something in 2010 that has never been seen before. The World Cup in 2010 is going to be a truly magnificent spectacle."Blatter agreed with Khoza that preparations were on track. He said that South Africa deserved to host the world's biggest soccer event.

He explained: "Africa has done so much for world soccer they deserve the World Cup. When I became Fifa president in 1998 I made it my priority to stage a World Cup in Africa and I know South Africa will prove me right."