Durban – The city of Durban is abuzz with activity as hundreds of local and international media and delegates have already arrived in the city for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Preliminary Draw this weekend.

At the peaking Local Organising Committee (LOC) briefing recently, Danny Jordaan said Sunday's preliminary draw will be the country's first opportunity to showcase its preparations for the coveted event - senior Fifa and LOC officials will use the opportunity to not only further cooperation, but also reiterate that South Africa and Africa is indeed ready.

Addressing public servants on Wednesday last week, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sibusiso Ndebele had said: “There is absolutely nothing you can take for granted in terms of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

"The majority of us present here today will never see the FIFA World Cup again in Africa. This is a once in a life time opportunity, in a literal sense."

The bonus, he said, was that the 2010 FIFA World Cup Preliminary Draw was being hosted in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, on 25 November 2007, and the province was the host.

KwaZulu-Natal will host 2010 matches and Confederations Cup matches in 2009, at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Infrastructure preparations include the King Senzakhona International Airport, which will cost R6.8 billion.

The Moses Mabhida Stadium is set to cost R2.2 billion.

Earlier this year, the Premier's Office said municipalities will have to define the Zulu brand and sell it to the international visitors coming to the World Cup preliminary draw.

The Zulu brand must be upheld through the courteous and royal treatment of guests at the airport, he said.

"When they arrive we must make sure they do not want to go back. The totality of their experience must be such that they will want to come back to our province in the time leading to 2010 and beyond," said Mr Ndebele at the time.

He said this will afford the province an opportunity to position and showcase itself from the tourism and investment point of view.

Mr Ndebele said KwaZulu-Natal's participation in the Soccerex conference in November will be another opportunity to market the province to an international audience.

Soccerex is an international business-to-business soccer exhibition to be held in Johannesburg. - BuaNews