Stoitchkov – Blatter was right

The Bulgarian, who spent the past eight months in South Africa before parting ways with the Brazilians recently, says in that time he has seen enough to be convinced that Fifa chose the right country to host the world's most watched sporting event.

"I have been in South Africa for many months now, and I think it's a very beautiful country. It's very nice here, I like it a lot," he tells Fifa.com.

"Before coming here, I had read a lot in the newspapers, a lot of negative things. However, what I have experienced is something different to what I read. I have been in South Africa for about eight months or so, and I walk around a lot, I go to many places. I have made many friends here.

"I meet people in the streets and my experience has been good with them. Like any country in the world, there are places you don't have to go to and this applies to Madrid, Barcelona or London," he continues.

"Fifa's president (Sepp) Blatter fought hard for Africa to be given a chance to host a World Cup, and I think he was right. Now it's up to South Africans and Africans to repay the confidence he showed to them by hosting a successful World Cup.

"Having seen the infrastructure here, I'm sure they will not disappoint. South Africa will pass this test," says the former Bulgaria international.

Stoitchkov has tipped Bafana Bafana, Ghana and Ivory Coast as the African teams that could put the continent on the map during the event.

"You have Ivory Coast and Ghana, very good teams. Then there's South Africa whom I think will have a point to prove. Those three African sides will be hard to beat, more especially if they advance to the knockout stages," he concludes.