FIFA World Cup Local Organising Committee Chief Executive Danny Jordaan ordaan believes a top four spot in the 2009 Confederations Cup is a reasonable finish for Bafana Bafana.

"Let's say Spain, Italy and Brazil all make it to the semis, who do we (South Africans) want to see up there with them?" he asked and then added. "Not Iraq, New Zealand nor the USA. We want to see Bafana Bafana there and I believe it is possible."

Bafana qualify for the Confed Cup as hosts of the World Cup while Brazil - the South American champs, Spain — European champs and Egypt — African champs, all qualify as they are they are the holders of their respective continental titles.

Italy are the reigning World Cup champions and the US, who beat Bafana 1-0 in last year's Nelson Mandela Challenge are four-time CONCACAF champs, will also be making their way to our shores. Minnows in world football Iraq — the Asian champs, and New Zealand will also be contesting but are not expected to make it beyond the first round. Nevertheless, they are all ranked higher than the hosts on the FIFA World Ranking chart.

Spain is number one, Italy third, Brazil fifth, the Pharaohs 21st, USA 24th, Iraq is 60th, the rugby-crazed NZ are five places above SA who are in a lowly 80th place.

Jordaan says the challenge for SA is to perform better than the Africa champs.

"If they (Bafana) want to give us hope for the World Cup then we have to finish ahead of Egypt in this competition. We may not play against them but to finish this tournament in a better position than them will be good for us," he said with reference to the 'seeding' FIFA has given Bafana.

"We are seeded in this tournament and that should give us an advantage, but at the same time it does not take away anything from this being a challenge," Jordaan, who confessed he is a Bay United supporter, stressed.

The two teams from Africa will not be in the same group and, due to the seeding, Spain and Italy too will not meet in the round-robin stage. Despite this grant by FIFA, SA will still face one of the European giants and then either Brazil, Iraq, the US or New Zealand.

"The players have to make the fans come back to the stadium and they have to connect with them too. When Bafana wins we must all celebrate, but if Bafana loses then we must all cry together," he said in an appeal for the fans to support the national team.

"The Confederations Cup is a big challenge and it can make a big difference to us all if the team performs well. The world sees South Africa as a rugby and cricket country but we all know that there are more soccer supporters here. The stadiums are not full and that also adds to the notion that we are not a football-mad country. We have to use the Confed Cup to show the world that soccer is our number one sport," he said.

"There is also a possibility of Iraq facing the US and our people should embrace this game and support these teams and show the people of these countries that we support football irrespective of the political background of these nations."

The draw for the Confederations Cup will be made on Saturday, 22 November, at the Sandton Convention Centre.

Sapa