Emboldened by the sight of the first tangible proof of 2010 World Cup delivery, South Africa's football bosses have gone on the offensive against the persistent doubters.
The keys to Safa House - football's posh new R86-million headquarters - were symbolically handed over to the football authorities on Wednesday.
Built with part of a $20-million (R145-million) advance to Safa by world soccer body Fifa, the venue's most striking feature is a glass football in the roof, which can be lit up and seen clearly by passing aircraft.
Built to accommodate about 250 people, the venue boasts numerous meeting and conference rooms, a restaurant, exhibition area and swanky wooden finishes.
In the lead-up to the 2010 World Cup, the venue will play host to the local organising committee; Fifa; Match, the company arranging the accommodation, information technology and ticketing functions for Fifa; and the Host Broadcasting Services.
Riled by constant criticism of South Africa's ability to host the event, with three-and-a-half years still to go, the chief executive of the organising committee, Danny Jordaan, chose to take the fight to his organisation's detractors on Wednesday.
He declared the occasion a "celebration that football has delivered on what it promised".
"When we made a proposal to the Fifa executive to say 'give us the money (to build Fifa House) four years before the World Cup', they agreed.
"We convinced Fifa that a legacy from the World Cup must become a reality three years before it happened. Fifa said the event usually happened before you see the fruit.
"But the fact that they gave us the money must completely debunk the notion that this World Cup must take place anywhere else. It's nonsense. Once and for all, you (the media) must kill that debate," said Jordaan.
The fact that the building, initially meant to have been completed in October this year, was ready in good time was an indication that local contractors could deliver.
"You must be guaranteed and convinced in your mind that this will be a profitable and successful World Cup.
"We've now been given the keys to this house. We will now make it fully operational and the engine room of this World Cup," said Jordaan.
Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, who was at the handover, said his search for accommodation in Joburg was continuing. "I am still looking (for a place to stay). But this is not a problem because South Africa has so many great places to stay."