Cape Town — Former Robben Island prisoners have urged South Africans to rally behind Bafana Bafana saying South Africa will host a successful world cup next year.

The Makana Football Association, formed by Robben Island prisoners expressed its confidence in the country and the national team.

"Definitely South Africa will host a successful World Cup next year and I have no doubt about that, since our liberation we have been hosting big international events - nothing will prevent us from hosting a safe and exciting World Cup.

"As freedom fighters we wished that one day this large sporting event could come to our country," said the 66-year-old Lizo Sitoto who was detained for 15 years for terrorism.

Speaking to BuaNews in Robben Island Prison on Thursday, the former liberation activist said his dreams had come true, adding that it was time for the entire nation to embrace this event and make sure it was a success.

International and local media visited this heritage site after the FIFA Executive Committee meeting which aimed to discuss issues around the 2010 Final Draw as well as preparations for the next year's event.

It was in Robben Island where, for many years, political prisoners had to fight for the right to play football, with men secretly playing the game in their cells with balls made of pieces of paper, cardboard and rags tied together with string.

The island's authorities finally gave in, granting inmates the right to play football in 1965 shortly after former President Nelson Mandela was imprisoned there.

Former Makana FA secretary general, Tokyo Sexwale who is now Minister of Human Settlements, said after the prisoners were given the right to play the game they erected their own goal posts and would swap their prison clothes for colours of their teams on Saturdays.

Sexwale told reporters that Robben Island was not only Nelson Mandela or Walter Sisulu's home, but it was a home of football.

"The Makana FA was founded in this area in 1969 and it was a football association which adhered strictly to the FIFA statues and principles and the laws of the game," said Sexwale.

He said Makana FA was declared closed in 1991 after the release of Mandela. On 18 July 2007, Mandela's birthday, the association became the first FIFA honorary member association.

Sexwale said when he arrived today with FIFA President Sepp Blatter, all the delegates were shocked when told about the hardships and cruelty the freedom fighters experienced in the prison.

Meanwhile, another Makana FA member and former prisoner Anthony Suze told BuaNews that South Africans should rally behind Bafana Bafana, adding he was positive that the national team will do better in the tournament.

"The World Cup will play in our soil and we cannot disappoint, but the entire nation must support the players and surely they will play well the what they played in the Confederations Cup," he said