The entire African continent was ecstatic about the showpiece which eventually turned out to be a huge success.
Five years later as the scandal unfolded fingers were pointed to South African authorities for “stealing” the right to host the tournament from another African nation.
The South African Sports Ministry in the early going of the breakout of the scandal have been restless in trying to establish the “truth” through press releases and conferences. However, doubts linger over their version of the story.
South Africa admitted the payment of the above amount to the Caribbean Football Union, but says it was meant to support the African diaspora and not in exchange for the votes of FIFA's former Vice President Jack Warner and two others, according to the indictment.
The timing of such a kind gesture from South Africa is open to question. Why was the money not sent long before or after the bidding process? Why was it not announced through media outlets in both regions? Perhaps Africans and the African diaspora were too happy and too hooked on the prospect of a World Cup event for the first time on African soil to care.
A number of football associations on the continent might have been in a direr need of that money than Trinidad and Tobago. Why was the focus steered to a body that would only produce three votes for the bid?
CAF and now Interim President of FIFA; Issa Hayatou is yet to render his version of the “truth”, but it is very unlikely that he would not back the South Africa Football Association (SAFA).
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Interim FIFA and CAF President Issa Hayatou with Indicted former FIFA VP Jack Warner
Who is telling the truth?