Johannesburg — FOOTBALL governing body Fifa expects the ailing national soccer team to at least reach the quarterfinals of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

The uncompromising view was expressed by Fifa secretary-general Jerome Valcke, who also said Bafana Bafana was at leastalso expected to get to the semifinals of next year's Confederations Cup.

"What we know (at Fifa) is that if Bafana Bafana are not playing well, then it is not good for the tournament," Valcke said yesterday.

"The host nation of major events such as the Confederations Cup and the World Cup has to stay in the tournaments for as long as possible.

"That would help keep the interest going in the host country. So the quarterfinals should be (SA's) objective for the World Cup and the semifinals for the Confederations Cup."

Valcke said Fifa was saddened by Carlos Alberto Parreira's shock departure from the national team last month, only 15 months into a contract that was supposed to last till the 2010 World Cup.

"I think it is a sad story. But there was nothing that we could do about it."

Bafana's preparations for the World Cup were plunged into turmoil after Parreira confirmed his resignation from his R1,8m-a-month job, citing his wife's ill-health as the reason.

The Fifa secretary-general said they were aware that journeyman coach Joel Santana would be arriving in SA in the next few days to take over where his compatriot Parreira left off.

This means Santana's task of returning Bafana to the heights they scaled in the mid-1990s will become even more urgent as it is clear Fifa is keeping a very close watch on the national team.

Valcke also disclosed that African National Congress president Jacob Zuma assured Fifa at a recent meeting that the politicians who are part of the 2010 World Cup board of directors would not be forced out should he become the president of the country next year.

"We got a commitment from Jacob Zuma that whatever happens next year it will have no bearing on the composition of the board. Zuma said he would keep continuity in the 2010 organising committee and ensure that the current people are retained. It would be against SA and the World Cup's interests if new people came on board one year before the event."

Turning to the doubters who still do not want to accept that SA will be the hosts of the 2010 World Cup, Valcke said Fifa was puzzled by the English media's concerted efforts to rubbish the country and its preparations for the global showpiece.

In the most recent example, Fifa demanded that an England newspaper retract a claim that the football governing body was forced to build a £400m contingency fund to cater for the possible collapse of the World Cup.

The newspaper claimed insurers were holding off on a decision to provide coverage for the event amid fears the stadiums would not be ready in time.

"I really have no idea why they (the English media) are doing this. But if, for an example, we concerned ourselves about what was written about Fifa, the president Sepp Blatter or even myself, we might as well stop working. So whatever they are writing about SA, we are all still here doing our jobs."

Valcke said he had no doubt in his mind that all the World Cup stadiums would be finished on time and the event would be successful, despite the relentless efforts of the all the detractors in Europe. "All the stadiums will be ready and I am not afraid to say that. I am sure that it will be a great World Cup."

The draw of the Confederations Cup will be conducted in Johannesburg on November 22.

Confirmed participants in the event are Bafana, world champions Italy, African champions Egypt, Copa America champions Brazil, Concacaf holders the US, and Asian Cup champions Iraq.

The winners of Euro 2008 and the Oceania champions will complete the line-up.