Blatter campaigning in South Africa

 JOHANNESBURG (AP) -- FIFA secretary-general Sepp Blatter, on the campaign trail to head international soccer, promised today to back South Africa's bid for the 2006 World Cup.
 "The game is not for the elite, but for everybody and that is one reason why I am supporting South Africa's bid," Blatter told a send-off banquet for the South African team. "It is time Africa hosted the World Cup."
 The South Africans leave Thursday for a match with Argentina, starting the last round of friendly matches before the World Cup begins in Paris in June.
 Blatter is challenging UEFA Lennart Johansson to succeed Joao Havelange, who retires as FIFA president in June. The successor will be elected on June 8.
 South African Football Association chief executive Danny Jordaan welcomed Blatter's support but was noncommittal about how South Africa would vote. The Confederation of African Football will caucus June 5 in Paris.
 Blatter said Morocco and Nigeria were the other two African countries with the infrastructure to support a World Cup tournament.
 "Do not elect a man who has promised the World Cup to Germany," Blatter said, advising South Africa against supporting Johansson.
 Blatter leaves for Nairobi today, the next stop on his campaign.