The final returned to Durban after a disastrous spell in Gauteng last year.

A seven-member Fifa delegation is in South Africa to inspect the stadiums that the 2010 World Cup Organising Committee, headed by CEO Danny Jordaan, want to use for the tournament.

The delegation has already visited stadiums in Johannesburg, Tshwane, Rustenburg and Bloemfontein. Their last ports of call, after Durban, will be Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.

eThekwini municipal manager Mike Sutcliffe told The Daily News on Tuesday that the city was capable of hosting World Cup matches in 2010.

"We are a smart city and have a clear vision of what needs to be done to ensure that the tournament is held successfully in our city. This includes upgrading stadiums, improving the capacity of our freeways and the integrated transport system," he said.

He said the city was in the process of pioneering a multimillion-rand transportation system, called the "people mover", which was safe and efficient and would ensure tourists and residents moved around the city effectively.

Sutcliffe said the municipality had identified certain stadiums that needed to be upgraded for training sessions and those to be used for games.

Mayor Obed Mlaba, who has been a driving force behind making Durban a soccer playground, said the Fifa visit was crucial because it would give the city an opportunity to display how ready it was to host the tournament.

"We are ready, willing and able to serve our city and country to ensure we have the best ever World Cup in 2010. We look forward to this first meeting - a small step towards the great World Cup.

"We are confident they will be pleased that there is progress and it will encourage us to go on," he said, adding that the city also had excellent accommodation facilities.

Meanwhile, Tuesday spelt frustration and disappointment for Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates fans who could not get tickets to the match taking place at Absa Stadium in Durban on Sunday.

Durban's Workshop Computicket was flooded with requests for tickets, but for soccer enthusiasts it was a case of "the early bird catches the worm" as the 50 000 tickets were snapped up within days of going on sale.

However, those who couldn't get tickets will be able to watch the clash between two of the biggest rivals in South African soccer on the box.

Organisers said they did warn soccer supporters that tickets would "sell like hot cakes" and no tickets would be sold at the gates.

Vodacom spokesperson Maggie Sekoto said one of the reasons tickets had sold rapidly was that many companies had bought them in bulk for staff.

"I rushed here because I thought I was going to get tickets and I've been standing here for three hours, and for what? Nothing. Now I'll be forced to watch the match on television," said Chiefs fan Mkhulunyelwa Nzimande.

Source: IOL