S.Africa to welcome England's World cup fans

A World Cup 2010 draw that places England's team on the pitch at Loftus Versfeld stadium will get top marks from Pretoria restaurant and bar manager Andre Malan.

"That's would be our first prize -- I think everyone says they would definitely want them at their stadium. They've got the largest following of supporters," the manager of the sport haunt Eastwoods Tavern told AFP.

Malan speaks from experience. His establishment, a stone's throw from Loftus, fed and watered 6,000 rugby fans on match day when the touring British and Irish Lions tour took on the Springboks in June.

"It's important to have teams like England and Holland to be part of this spectacular because they've the largest following of football supporters in the world. You want the big teams playing," he said.

England's walloping of Croatia 5-1 -- putting Fabio Capello's team in the running to relive a sole 1966 championship glory at Africa's first World Cup -- saw immediate media reports of a rush for flights to South Africa.

Failure to qualify would have been a dent to the event, said Mark Williams, South African tourism director for the United Kingdom and United States, whose fans have snapped the most match tickets after local sales.

"When the Lions tour came to South Africa, there were close to 40,000 Brits or English that came out to South Africa and spent a billion rand (135 million dollars, 92 million euros)," he told AFP.

And more than 480,000 football tourists are tipped to spend R8.5 billion during the month-long championship in June.

The recession is unlikely to stop fans from making the long-haul flight, Williams said. "I don't think it will have too much of an impact. The World Cup comes along once in four years and people will follow."

The English players will also arrive to an adoring audience. The English Premiership is the most-televised foreign league in South Africa with fans lapping up regular visits by top teams, such as Manchester City this year.

"Probably, they will bring more supporters than any other country from abroad. We want them there because they bring the fans," said former England goalkeeper Gary Bailey.

"Also, a lot of South Africans follow English football and enjoy the English footballers. It has an aura about it. It has just become over a period of time, the most exciting football to watch."

While England's fans have a reputation for unruliness, FIFA's local organising committee has warned that well-known hooligans will be barred with the help of Interpol.

Rowdy fans have also been cautioned. South Africa will have 41,000 police officers dedicated to the 10 World Cup host cities with 700 officers stationed at each stadium.

"We are ready for them -- anybody who misbehaves will be locked up," said spokesman Rich Mkhondo.

Some 80,000 English fans travelled to Germany for the 2006 World Cup, but Mkhondo hopes for more, saying there is enough accommodation available.

"England is a powerhouse. The fact that they are coming makes the World Cup even more attractive," he said about the team.