Zuma says S.Africa more than ready for World Cup

South Africa is more than ready to host the 2010 World Cup finals, President Jacob Zuma said on Sunday, five days before the tournament kicks off in Johannesburg.

“South Africa is more than ready. For us the World Cup has already begun,” Zuma told reporters at his office in the capital Pretoria.

“We are truly pleased and humbled to host the world in our country for this historical and extraordinary event.”

In his address, Zuma paid tribute to South Africa’s first black president Nelson Mandela for work in helping to deliver the tournament to the world’s poorest continent for the first time.

“At this point it is proper for me to acknowledge and thank our founding president and icon, Nelson Mandela, for his visionary leadership and statesmanship,” said Zuma.

“He also worked hard personally to bring us to this glorious moment.”

Zuma said he hoped Mandela would be present at the kick-off of the tournament in Johannesburg on Friday but said there were no guarantees.

Mandela’s family has said that the 91-year-old is too frail to attend.

“He would love to be there. Whether he will be there on the day depends entirely on the former president,” said Zuma.

“If he did not appear we would understand. If he is there it will be a bonus for this tournament. We wish he would be there.”

FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who met Mandela last week, said “it’s his wish to be present and his spirit will be present” even if he is not able to attend.