Members of the Drakensberg Boys Choir particiapate during the 100 Days Gala Dinner. (Photo: Rajesh Jantilal)

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Marc Strydom

Durban – The final countdown has begun with only 100 days left to the kick-off of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Tuesday marks the last 100 days until the World Cup kick-off with the match between Bafana Bafana and Mexico at Soccer City on June 11.

The event was marked by a banquet at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban on Monday night.

As part of Durban’s hosting of the 100 days celebrations a friendly international match between Bafana and Namibia will be played at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

On Tuesday a media roadshow that is touring the 10 World Cup venues will make its stop at Moses Mabhida.

LOC chairman Irvin Khoza said the World Cup countdown is now into two digits. “There are 100 days until the African dream becomes a reality. We cannot wait. We are in a hosting mood already, the current is running, the wire is live.”

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said the World Cup in South Africa would not be possible without the influence of former president Nelson Mandela.

“We all hope here and, perhaps the heavens can help us, that Nelson Mandela will be able to be there on June 11 at Soccer City in Johannesburg when we kick off,” he said.

Blatter thanked the South Africa government for its support of the preparation for the World Cup.

“You will see the architecture of the new stadiums, or the renovation of the existing the stadiums, will enter into architectural history.”

The FIFA president said he attended a function in 1989 of the national soccer association (SAFA), “4046 days ago where I said ‘the World Cup one day will be in South Africa.”

Deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe said: “From the year 2004 when we were announced as the host of the FIFA World Cup we committed ourselves to complete the preparations on time to ensure a successful and memorable tournament.

“Tonight as we gather here to mark 100 days to start the event we do so having delivered on the bulk of the required construction. We can assure you that no football fan will sit on a wet cement block from June 11.”

The six African nations to have qualified for the World Cup received certificates from Confederation of African Football president Issa Hayatou, and ex-African playing legends were also honoured.

A survey shows “a record high” of 85% of South Africans believe the country will be ready for the World Cup, African Response said in a statement. The survey results were released to mark 100 days to the FIFA 2010 World Cup.

Despite the 15% who professed their scepticism, 89% of the respondents said they intend to watch matches on television.

The survey respondents were most positive when it came to the construction of stadiums, with 89% saying they would be ready on time.

They had a more pessimistic attitude on Bafana Bafana - only 55% believed the national side would be prepared for the World Cup.

Bafana did marginally worse in the survey than Eskom, with 59% believing the power supply will be ready ahead of the matches.

Half of the survey respondents, 51%, said they intended to attend matches. This is down from 54% in October of last year.

The city professing to be most desirous for live matches is Durban with 55%. Cape Town was the least enthusiastic with only 45 % of survey respondents saying they intended to attend matches.

Nine percent of parents surveyed said they intend to take their children to matches.