Road to World Cup takes Thai turn

South Africa hopes to become successful on and off the pitch at next year's World Cup.

South African ambassador to Thailand Douglas Gibson told Thai journalists on Friday that his country was ready to stage the 2010 World Cup finals.

He said South Africa passed a test when it organised the recent Confederations Cup which was a dress rehearsal of the World Cup.

Construction of stadiums and other facilities are on schedule and will be ready in time for the world's most prestigous football tournament, Gibson said.

Asked about the recent strike by construction workers at a stadium, Gibson said it was normal for workers anywhere to demand more wages.

"This is about 'labour democracy'," he said.

World's football governing body Fifa said it was satisfied with the organising of the Confederations Cup although there were still problems to be resolved before next year's World Cup.

Gibson said his country had invested millions of dollars to improve facilities and security and everything would be alright during the finals.

"We want it to become the best-ever World Cup," he said.

He said South Africa could do well on the pitch after they pulled off some good performances on their way to finishing fourth at the Confederations Cup.

Asked which team he thinks will lift the World Cup, he said: "Any team can win even Bafana Bafana."

He said the organisers want fans who watch games at the stadiums or on TV to get excited and become part of the party.

He believes the World Cup will help boost South Africa's tourism as millions of people are expected to visit the country during the event.

As for Thais, it will be easy for them to go to South Africa as they can stay there for up to 30 days without a visa, he said.

"Only about 8,000 Thais visit South Africa each year, and the World Cup will be a good occasion for Thais to explore South Africa," the ambassador said.

Gibson said the first-ever World Cup in Africa would leave a legacy for the continent.

"This is not the World Cup for South Africa. It is the World Cup for the whole of Africa," he said.

Asked about the much-criticised vuvuzela, he said it was South African culture and harmless.

In a show of unity, Bangkok-based ambassadors from Egypt, Kenya and Nigeria joined Friday's press conference.

Also at the function were Football Association of Thailand (FAT) president Worawi Makudi and national team coach Peter Reid.

Worawi, who is also a Fifa execuitve member, was in South Africa during the Confederations Cup and he dismissed criticism about security there.

"I want to assure you that there was not problem about security when I was there," he said.

"Johannesburg is a good city to travel to.

"Everthing was also alright in Bloemfontein."