By Angelique Serrao
'There's a Sony TV, internet access, satellite access and a phone that is working. What else does a World Cup team need, for goodness' sake?"
That was Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke's response to questions from the English press about the England team base in Phokeng, Rustenburg.
At a media conference at Sun City with 19 team coaches, Valcke and local organising committee CEO Danny Jordaan on Tuesday tried to reassure the media that the England team camp was almost complete and already had people staying in the hotel.
The English press reported this week that the England base camp was little more than a construction site, with only half of the 72 rooms ready, the pitch not yet built and the medical centre nothing but cement and bricks.
Jordaan said the organising committee members had just had lunch at Rustenburg, so they could see the reality.
Pictures came up on a screen of a beautiful building with a sparkling pool in the forefront. He said the pictures showed the hotel, so he did not know what the press was talking about. Next was a picture of a superb room with a double bed decorated in African style.
"The hotel is complete," Jordaan said. "There is development adjacent to this but it's for Platinum Stars."
An English journalist challenged Jordaan about the pictures.
"That is a rather selective view. You are showing us the one half that is built. What about the other half that isn't?"
This is when Valcke said there was a TV and phone, and that was all that was needed.
England coach Fabio Capello seemed to agree.
"Our camp will be Rustenburg. It's still by far the best camp site for us," he said.
Valcke said there were still 108 days left until the World Cup and construction would be completed by then.
"We have a few challenges. We still have things to do and we will do them. If you asked me if we can host the World Cup tomorrow, my answer is no, but that is normal," he said.
He also confirmed that a pitch in Nelspruit was being dug up for the third time as the grass was not suitable and the sand had to be relaid.
Jordaan said Bafana were staying at the Southern Sun Hotel in Sandton and the coach had to choose the new training site.
He said Carlos Alberto Parreira was considering looking at Sandown High School's fields to practise on.
Parreira said: "We don't only want to practise in one location, I am looking at other places as well, like Wits. I just need to check with Fifa to see which grounds are blocked and which are not."