South Africa to win 2010 World Cup

February 23, 2008

No, this isn’t an old news story regarding the selection of a host for the 2010 World Cup. This is the bizarre prediction of South African Football Association vice president Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana this week, who believes his country will win the 19th FIFA World Cup in 2010.

“I believe South Africa will win the World Cup in 2010. And in the highly unlikely event that South Africa do not win the World Cup, another African team will.” he told a gathering in Tamale on Monday.

Nokonyana is not the first person to predict success for an African Nation at the World Cup. Brazilian legend Pele once famously stated his belief that such was the progress of African football that one day they would win football’s most prestigious tournament.

However, despite the obvious advantage of being the home nation - an advantage which almost propelled South Korea to success in the 2002 World Cup finals - South Africa’s shambolic showing in the 2008 African Nations Cup suggests they have a long way to go if they are to make it out their group, let alone go on to win the tournament.

While it is true South Africa do have talented players such as Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy and Everton winger Steven Pienaar, it seems little more than a pipedream that South Africa could triumph in 2010.

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