German football great Franz Beckenbauer declared Friday he was "very, very impressed" with South Africa's preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, according to DPA. Beckenbauer was speaking in Cape Town, where he visited the site of the 68,000-seater Green Point stadium that will host one of the semi-final matches in the tournament. "I am very very impressed with the construction going on in Cape Town and it's fantastic what the people in South Africa are doing in preparing themselves for the World Cup in 2010," he added. The location of the Green Point stadium, underneath Table Mountain and with a view of Robben Island where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years in prison was "stunning," according to the former German player and coach nicknamed The Kaiser. Beckenbauer headed the organizing committee of the successful 2006 World Cup in Germany. Beckenbauer warned against trying to emulate the German tournament. "South Africa must ensure it's an African World Cup, with all the continent's culture and flair. I am sure it will be a great success," he said. Germany had been mentioned as one of the countries that could host the World Cup if South Africa was not ready on time, as seemed possible earlier this year when work on the construction of new stadia was delayed by budget wrangling. "And as far as I can see they're on time and I have no doubt all the stadiums will be ready before the World Cup," Beckenbauer said.
