THE finalisation of the draw for the 2010 World Cup on Friday evening provided a glimpse of the extent to which this country and the continent will be the focus of ever-increasing attention in the run-up to the tournament next year.

One English television station, for example, reported there could be a shortage of accommodation in Port Elizabeth, but also advised English fans to base themselves here as a more centralised location from which to travel to other venues.

There was even a reference to the Queen Victoria statue in the heart of the city.

Even American stations, where the sport hardly ranks alongside baseball, basketball and American football, appeared besotted with the tournament, and the transatlantic rivalry sparked by England and the US being included in the same group.

Certainly crime was raised as a concern, but even that was downplayed as a reason not to travel to South Africa.

The prospect of the host team facing tough matches against Mexico, Uruguay and France was also softened by the observation from Bafana Bafana player Matthew Booth that in the opening match Mexico would not only face South Africa but 70000 vuvuzelas, described as being “a metre long, brightly coloured and sounding like an elephant”.

Perhaps what we have overlooked in the race to have stadiums completed on time, the transport infrastructure running efficiently and ensuring there is sufficient accommodation is the magic and the mystery that remains part of this continent. Perhaps we have overlooked levels of sophistication in the major centres are on a par with those of the larger cities of the world and belie the classification of this country as “developing”.

There is perhaps as well the sense of adventure that would not be associated with the capitals of Europe and the excitement generated by what else this country has to offer in addition to the World Cup itself, attractions that are not available outside Africa.

Perhaps, most of all, we have bought into the Afro-pessimistic propaganda that Africa is not ready to host a tournament of this magnitude that is reflected in the obsession with an almost gratuitous seeking of approval from visitors. We do not need to do that.

We have worked hard to prepare for the event and can now put the finishing touches ahead of what promises to be an outstanding World Cup and a yardstick for the future.