Cape Town - President Jacob Zuma says South Africa is a country that can be counted on to deliver.
"When given a challenge, we always rise to the occasion," said the President during a tour of Greenpoint Stadium on Thursday, to mark the 365-day mark until the FIFA World Cup kicks off in South Africa.
He was accompanied by Local Organising Committee Chief Executive Officer Dr Danny Jordaan, FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke and Premier of the Western Cape Helen Zille, who had served as Mayor of Cape Town when construction started.
He reiterated that all systems were on track to deliver a successful tournament, despite the world once believing that South Africa could not do it.
"But we said, 'yes we can', and now we have proved to the world that South Africans are special people who rise to the occasion," said President Zuma.
At the heart of South Africa being ready for the tournament, were the thousands of workers whose hard work had gone into building the infrastructure for the World Cup.
President Zuma gave great praise to the construction workers gathered at the stadium, which is 70 percent complete and will be ready by December.
He said they had made history with their passion and enthusiasm, their strength, sweat and hard work. "You have done us good, made us proud. Thanks for a job well done."
The President said South Africa was a unique country in that it had a workforce that could put itself to such timelines and succeed.
One of the construction workers, who were given the afternoon off to attend the ceremony, told BuaNews he was proud to be part of the project.
Siyanda Jaxu, a junior engineer, said: "I feel so proud of myself. I have learnt so much and have gathered so much experience in the time I have been working on the stadium. I am looking forward to watching the games from the stadium that I helped build."
This was echoed by others, including Industrial Relations Officer Marco Matshoba who said working on the stadium was an experience he would never forget.
"Having the President here today and listening to what he has to say, gives us all extra motivation and an extra push to ensure that everything stays on track."
Regarding the national team, President Zuma said he could guarantee that they would surprise the world.
"They are South Africans and once we are given a challenge we rise to the occasion."
He joked that the Confederations Cup trophy would never leave the country after 2010 even if it meant he himself had to referee the final match to ensure it happened.
President Zuma launched the 365-days to the tournament, by kicking a soccer ball from the makeshift stadium standing on the sand that will later be home to special grass been grown to FIFA regulations.
The City of Cape Town, represented by the stadiums only female crane operator Zoliswa Gila, gave President Zuma a pair of gold-coloured soccer boots.
Ms Gila had dreamt of becoming a pilot but she could not afford flying lessons. She decided to become a crane operator where she sits 80 meters above the earth.
