Football, rugby union and cricket are the three top sports in South Africa, in that order of popularity. As South Africa heads towards 2010, having successfully won the bid to host the FIFA Football World Cup, there is a strong drive towards achievement in sport.

South Africa was left for dead by many of the world's sporting greats across these codes in the '80s and by pure strength of determination is only just re-launching itself into the international sporting arena.

The country won the Rugby Union World Cup and that team of champions who triumphed in France last year have inspired other sporting codes to emulate their success in a bid to make history come 2010.

‘ ...that team of champions who triumphed in France last year have inspired other sporting codes to emulate their success in a bid to make history come 2010.’

The Proteas – South Africa's highly competitive cricket team – are poised to make a shift to de facto world champion status by 2010. Currently ranked joint second below the controversial Australians, the Proteas hope to make a clean sweep in 2008 leading to the the No.1 world ranking.

With these cards on the table, the South African football team – know as the Bafana Bafana – will be fully charged for their role in what could be a golden era for sport.

Not many would put their money on the South Africans winning the football World Cup, but with a bit of steam behind them they might be good for a couple surprises in the group stages and perhaps progress to the quarter-finals or even semi-finals.