Johannesburg — ARGENTINA legend Diego Maradona yesterday dismissed security fears around the 2010 World Cup and urged soccer lovers around the globe to travel to SA in June.

After inspecting World Cup facilities in Pretoria and Johannesburg over the past four days, Maradona said he was satisfied that questions raised by alarmists after the terrorist attack in Angola on the eve of the African Nations Cup earlier this month were unfounded.

"I would like to tell the world that there is no need for anyone to be afraid of coming to SA," the Argentina national team coach said.

"I have no doubt that it is going to be a great World Cup and there will be no problems with security. This is the impression that I will take to my players and to my country.

"I will tell my players that they only have to worry about how they perform and nothing else."

The attack on the Togo team bus in Cabinda province had far-reaching negative consequences for SA, with some coaches, former players and journalists painting the region with a single brush. Three people were killed and eight injured in the attack, blamed on militants fighting for the independence of Cabinda.

Danny Jordaan, CEO of the World Cup local organising committee, said Maradona travelled to the townships while in SA and visited places that would have been considered security risks by other so-called celebrities.

"He went to the townships and did not settle for the black-and-tie events like other stars," Jordaan said. "He went to places where those who talk of doubts about this country have never gone to.

"That is just the kind of person he is. Even during the inspection tour, he left the delegation and went to speak to the workers."

Maradona completed his whirlwind tour of SA with a visit yesterday to Soccer City, the venue of the opening as well as the final match of the World Cup. The Argentinian said he had played and visited many stadiums around the world in his lifetime but had never seen anything as spectacular as the calabash-shaped venue, the jewel in the crown of the 10 stadiums that will host the global showpiece in SA.

"This has got to be one of the most splendid stadiums I have ever seen in my life. I have been to many stadiums but I do not think that I have ever seen anything like this. Splendid!

"This stadium means a lot to many people and for (SA) to build a venue like this is something."

Maradona said Africa has deserved to host the World Cup for years and visitors would be amazed by what they see in SA.

Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira will hope to begin the year on a winning note when he leads his charges against Swaziland at Chatsworth Stadium tomorrow.

The featherweight visitors are not expected to put up much of a fight, but many have warned that Bafana should tread very carefully against a side that does not have anything to lose.

With former Bafana coach Ephraim "Shakes" Mashaba guiding the Swazis, Parreira would be well advised to heed the warnings.

Bafana will complete their training camp in Durban with a friendly international against neighbours Zimbabwe at the new Moses Mabhida Stadium next Wednesday.