Organisers of the Confederations Cup on Friday hailed the tournament for uniting South Africans in a way no other sporting code has managed, boding well for the World Cup next year.

After a slow start, the tournament of continental champions has been embraced by a country that is better known for cricket and rugby.

Vuvuzela-blowing fans have turned out en-masse to support the South African side despite the cold weather, but also to see some of their favourite stars from Spain, Brazil and Italy.

Average attendances have been around 36,000 so far, with most fans locals.

"For me this was a test event for the organising committee and for FIFA but I must say for South Africa it has been an historic moment," said Irvin Khoza, chairman of the local organising committee.

"Never in the history of this country have we seen South Africans so united on the field of play. The spectators showed that all of South Africa can be united facing the same direction.

"The Confederations Cup has achieved what no other sporting code has achieved. This was the greatest achievement of this tournament."

At the same press conference, FIFA president said he was "generally satisfied" with how the tournament had gone, paying special tribute to the fair play of the teams and the enthusiasm of the supporters.

"One compliment I must give is for the fair play on the field and by the spectators," said Blatter, who was instrumental in bringing the Confederations Cup and the World Cup to Africa for the first time.

"Thousands and thousands of fans have come and more than 90 percent were South Africans.

"In all the matches so far the wonderful face of the public of South Africa must be commended. It is very special."

Organising committee chief executive Danny Jordaan said he was happy with the ways things had panned out, but was reluctant to revel in any praise, aware that the World Cup next year was a different ball game altogether.

"I think we achieved everything we set out to at this tournament," he said.

"The key issue is that the teams are happy, the media are happy, the commerical partners are happy, and the fans are happy.

"But we are not going to celebrate the plus points but look at the debrief after the tournament to help us deliver the kind of World Cup that we all want to deliver and we will work with FIFA to make that a reality.

"The World Cup is a huge and different proposition to the Confederations Cup."

Among the issues still concerning FIFA and local organisers is the park-and-ride transport system on match days, a new concept in South Africa that has been problematic with chaotic scenes and long waits for buses.

There is also a shortfall of hotel rooms in some cities.

Despite thefts from the Egyptian and Brazilian teams at their hotels, organisers insist security has not been a key problem at the tournament.

The final is on Sunday with Brazil playing the United States.

AFP