Johannesburg, Jul 10: FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke has said the 2010 Soccer World Cup Local Organising Committee is failing to publicise South Africa to the world.

''South Africa should now start sending out information to the world on what they can expect from this country during both the Confederations and World Cups,'' Valcke told mediapersons here on Wednesday July 9. "We should be starting with the six teams that have already qualified for the Confederations Cup (Italy, Spain, Brazil, United States, Iraq and Egypt). It is important for this country to promote itself. It will be too late after the Confederations Cup,'' he said. He also said to forget about FIFA president Sepp Blatter's reported Plan B.Earlier, Blatter told media in Vienna that FIFA had a Plan B in case South Africa was hit by a natural disaster and could not host the 2010 showpiece.

''But, no matter where we host the World Cup, there will be questions about that country's ability to stage the event. We expect the same questions to arise when Brazil hosts the World Cupin 2014.

We are confident of South Africa's ability to stage a successful World Cup,'' said Valcke. He informed that there were no immediate plans to suspend Zimbabwe due to the evergrowing crisis in the African nation but said the FIFA would discuss the issue with the United Nations.

''It is a political matter. We only suspend member countries if the government interfere with the football association of that country, but we will meet the UN on Zimbabwe,'' he added.



UNI