World Cup will prove there´s more to Africa than famine” – Eto´o

South Africa will stage the best World Cup in history when it hosts the global showpiece in 2010, Barcelona’s Cameroon international striker Cameroon Eto’o said on Thursday.

“FIFA did the right thing in granting the World Cup to us. I say and I repeat that this will be the most beautiful Cup ever held,” the former African Player of the Year told a sport conference in Barcelona.

“People don’t know Africa, when someone talks about Africa, people believe we still use bows and arrows,” the 27-year-old added.

“They will be pleasantly surprised if they go to South Africa. It’s the best way to show the whole world that there is more to Africa than just famine.”

The one month global football fiesta, beginning on June 11 next year, is being staged for the first time in Africa at 10 stadiums in nine South African cities hosting the world’s best teams.

Tickets for the event went on sale last week. Organisers are optimistic about ticket sales but have expressed caution that the event may be affected by the global economic slump.

Stadium construction for the event has been hampered by delays and worker strikes, but concerns that the venues would not be ready have abated with most construction on schedule.