Johannesburg - A group of 350 hardy 'pioneers' left Johannesburg International Airport as the advance vanguard of approximately 2 500 South African soccer fans who will be in Germany for the World Cup.

"We'll be handling the arrangements for approximately 1 500 of the total number," said Nazeer Camaroodeen, managing-director of the company which acts as official ticketing and travel agents for the South African Football Association (Safa).

"Many of them are old, familiar faces who have been going to the World Cup for the past 20 years," said Camaroodeen.

"I see them every four years," he added, "then I have to wait another four years for the next World Cup before I see them again."

However, there was a tinge of regret emanating from Camaroodeen as he reflected that "the number of South Africans at the World Cup could easily have been tripled had Bafana Bafana qualified.

"There was enormous interest building up about going to Germany in view of South Africa's hosting of the 2010 World Cup - and with Bafana holding a healthy three-point lead in their World Cup qualifying group," he added. "Then the wheels came off and after Ghana won the group, most of the prospective South African fans dropped out of the picture.

"However," said Camaroodeen, "it's made little difference to the regular pioneers. They always make the trip to the World Cup come hell or high water - and even without Bafana, nothing would stop them going on their regular pilgrimage."