We built this city on soccer and goals

South Africa are going to win the World Cup! That's the word on the streets and don't anyone dare tell the Bafana Bafana fans anything different. In World Cups we will always rely on the host nation embracing and celebrating the tournament, and we feed on their enthusiasm. South African football fans have changed in recent weeks and months, from despairing about their national side, to being cautiously optimistic, to now displaying the kind of deluded optimism usually reserved for the English fans.

The British media's approach to covering South Africa in recent days has tended to be one of two strategies. Either they report on South Africa as though they were a nation of impoverished mentally handicapped toddlers who has just completed his first jig-saw puzzle, or that they are a nation of knife-wielding, car-jacking bum-rapists. English visitors to the country are left confused on how to react around a South African, do you give him a cuddle and a biscuit or run for the hills?

I can exclusively reveal that not all South Africans are mentally handicapped knife wielding toddlers intent on defiling your annus. Most of them are just like you and me. Well, not me - that would be hideous, but you take my point.

South Africa are going to win the World Cup! But will they? No. No, they wont win the World Cup, they will struggle to get out of their group. But don't let on just yet, and whoever you're supporting be sure to save a little for the Bafana Boys, the World Cup will be a better tournament with them in it.