Dempsey abstained from the 2006 vote

"I have sent my congratulations to the South Africans and I've no doubt it will be a wonderful tournament," he said.

New Zealander Dempsey abstained from the vote for the 2006 World Cup host, which ensured South Africa's defeat to Germany four years ago.

I have sent my congratulations to the South Africans Former OFC president Charlie Dempsey

Dempsey was the delegate of the OFC on Fifa's executive committee when the vote took place in Zurich in 2000.

Although he had been instructed by his region to vote for South Africa, he said that his lawyers advised him to abstain from the vote after he was put under pressure from unknown quarters.

Dempsey resigned from his position a week after the 2006 World Cup ballot.

His decision not to vote attracted fierce criticism from the international football community, which accused him of failing to live up to his responsibilities.

But he feels that the South Africans have won the right to host football's most prestigious event at the appropriate moment.

"A lot of people didn't think they would have been ready for the 2006 tournament.