FIFA president Sepp Blatter says he is "really disappointed" at the abysmal showing of Bafana Bafana, and plans some straight talking with local soccer bosses on the issue.

Speaking after a visit on Friday to the site of Cape Town's 2010 stadium, he said South Africa was awarded the World Cup in 2004, he expected Bafana Bafana to improve..

"Now four years later, the national team is not better than it was in 2004. I would even say it is not so good. Here I am really disappointed," Blatter said.

He said Bafana Bafana were African champions in 1996.

"And where they are now, it's incredible. It's incredible. I cannot understand that."

Last moment to move

He would be meeting South Africa's football bosses on Tuesday "and I will speak really open language as I do it today".

"Because it is the last moment to move. I am looking to the press here, they are asking bring back who, and whoever. But do something, move it.

"It is the last minute to move. You have already lost to be in the next African Cup of Nations."

He said though that even if Bafana Bafana did not redeem themselves in the coming Confederations Cup, the World Cup would still take place in South Africa.

Blatter was accompanied on the visit to Cape Town's Green Point site by a bevy of local dignitaries, including city mayor Helen Zille (who he addressed as "liebe buergermeister", acknowledging her German heritage), provincial premier Lynne Brown, and former president FW de Klerk.

The 68,000 seat venue is earmarked to host a semifinal in the cup.

Most of the concrete tiers that will support the seating are in place, and the last of the massive raked pylons that will support a futuristic steel-and-glass roof are nearing completion.

According to Zille the stadium, scheduled for completion by December next year, is four days ahead of schedule, despite one of the wettest winters the Cape has ever had.

Happy with progress

Blatter said he was in South Africa on a "courtesy visit", not an inspection.

But when asked if he was happy with progress in building the venues, he said: "I'm very happy. I'm very happy. I can only repeat it."

De Klerk said he wanted to assure Blatter that South Africa was united behind making a big success of the World Cup.

"All of us want 2010 to recapture the spirit of 1994, when we launched the new South Africa," he said .

On Tuesday Blatter visits Soccer City in Johannesburg and is scheduled to have what he described as a "very private" meeting with former president Nelson Mandela.

Earlier, Blatter stated that he was not concerned over South Africa's internal problems though.

Football the answer

"The FIFA World Cup can not suffer about any differences that could arise somewhere in the country," he said after visiting the site of Cape Town's 2010 stadium.

Blatter met President Thabo Mbeki on Sunday and will on Wednesday meet ANC president Jacob Zuma, who last week won a court judgement that suggested Mbeki might have meddled in the corruption case against him.

Some Zuma followers in the party have said they want Mbeki axed from his post in the wake of the ruling.

"We are absolutely not concerned about internal political problems in South Africa," Blatter told reporters.

"What we want to do is to deliver together with authorities and the local organising committee the best ever World Cup.

In whatever country it took place, the World Cup was a "countrywide event".

"We cannot take into consideration any problems there inside. Because football solves all these problems. Football will bring everybody together, being in politics or in sports.

"And this integration value of the football will be here, and it will be transposed to the whole continent and the world."

"Football is over [above] all political issues... And this event must bring everybody together."

Sapa

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