LOS ANGELES. July 6 (AP): Being on the African continent is helping South Africa in its bid to be coffie 2006 World Cup hosts. It also is the No. 1 drawback.

"The biggest problem we have is the general perception against Africa." said Danny Jordaan, the leader of South Africa's bid committee. “That's it's inept, that it's corrupt, that it's disease, it's hopelessness South Africa is different. We came with different solutions to the problems of colonialism and racism.

"We didn't go through final destructive phase of flattening the country, which has happened in 80 per cent of Africa."

With FIFA President Sepp Blatter repeatedly and openly announcing his support for the 2006 World Cup to go to the African continent, and with most believing that South Africa has a clear infrastructure advantage over fellow continental bidder Morocco, many consider Jordaan's bid to be the one to beat.

Germany and England are considered to be its biggest rivals. while Brazil also remains in the race. But with Africa never having hosted a World Cup. many are of the belief that the continent should be next, and in many people's opinion, that means South Africa.

"It’s not pressure,” Jordaan says. The requirements will be the same for all of the candidates. We have the infrastruc-

ture. We have the capacity. We will meet FIFA's requirements. We will exceed FIFA’s requirements:"

FIFA general secretary Michel Zen-Ruffinen says there are many elements that will go into any successful bid, and that no bid will be perfect. But foremost in the bid will be the technical requirements, such as stadiums, telecommunications, lodging and transportation.

Ana while FIFA realises it has an obligation to spread the gospel of soccer and promote its growth in places where it is not with the 24-member Executive Committee to decide on the 2006 host in March.

Jordaan says he is aware of the perceptions regarding African sports administration, and he and his group are prepared to prove that South Africa will not

suffer from some of the same problems its neighbours have in staging world championship events.

The World Cup is a business, and business parameters must be in place." he said. "We will present a business plan, a budget that will demonstrate that a World Cup in Africa is a safe bet."

Besides the general perceptions of the African continent, Jordaan also knows he must overcome the fears about crime and safety, particularly in cities like Johannesburg.

Jordaan says Johannesburg is like any other major cosmopolitan city, with good and bad areas, but South Africa is more than capable of keeping its problems to a minimum.

We have the capacity in the military police." he said. “We have one of the biggest militaiy police forces in the world. Our history depended on the military police in enforcing the apartheid regime.

“We must convince the Executive Committee that personal security, and the security of the event, is a top priority."

South Africa already has hosted major events successfully such as the 1995 Rugby World Cup and will get more practice when it stages the 2003 Cricket World Cup.

“If the matter is decided on meeting FIFA requirements, the logical choice must be South Africa," Jordaan said. "It will provide for the ascendancy of African football in a new millennium."