Football (soccer) fever is gripping South Africa as the nation preparesto take the international sporting stage Sunday with the opening of theConfederations Cup.
Thesix continental football champions Sunday join World Cup winner Italyand host South Africa for the first Confederations Cup on African soil.
Theeight teams-which also include Brazil, Spain, Egypt, Iraq, New Zealandand the United States-have already held several training sessionsbefore celebrating fans.
The head of football's governingassociation, Sepp Blatter of FIFA (Federation Internationale deFootball Association), told reporters Friday he is more than satisfiedwith the preparations and looked forward to the excitement generated bythe game of football.
"It's the game of the world," he said."And it is the game also of Africa. And I'm very happy to be back onthe African continent and especially in this case, in South Africa. Ireally feel at home here."
The tournament, which is seen as awarm-up for next year's World Cup kicks off Sunday afternoon with amatch between South Africa and Iraq, the Asia Cup champions.
On Sunday evening, Italy plays New Zealand, the Oceania Cup winners. The remaining four teams play on Monday.
Organizers say stadiums in the four match cities, Pretoria, Rustenburg, Bloemfontein and Johannesburg, are ready.
Thechairman of the Organizing Committee, Irvin Khoza, dismissed concernsover security by noting that South Africa has hosted more than 100international events, including recent cricket and rugby series,without incident.
"The record is there," he said. "The capacityis there and the experience is there. This country has got a history.Of any major events that have taken [place] in this country, it was allsecured."
"So we are confident with the security plan that hasbeen put in place for the Confederations Cup and also for theorganizing of the FIFA World Cup in 2010. And we are more thansatisfied," he added.
Ticket holders will receive free transportation to the games through 3,000 private buses hired by organizers.
Footballfanatic Saddam Maake calls himself South Africa's number one supporter.Dressed entirely in his team colors of yellow and green and sporting anoutlandishly decorated hat and super-size glasses, he flashes thefistful of tickets he has bought to almost all of the games.
"Weare ready," said Maake. "We are going to support each other. We aregoing to say to all the countries who come here, you are my brother andmy sister from another mother. Long live South Africa, long live."
Theopening ceremonies are being staged by South African producer Lebo M,who won a Grammy award for his work on the stage production of the LionKing. He has promised a vividly African performance using more than 700children.