Soccer: Big game surrounds for men in white

The Serengeti Wildlife Estate in South Africa will be home to the All Whites during the World Cup. Photo / Getty Images

The All Whites might not have the money or status of football superstars such as Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo, but their World Cup base will be the rival of any team at the tournament.

Ricky Herbert's men will be based at the Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate, a 280ha resort with five and six-star accommodation, a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course and equestrian centre on the outskirts of Johannesburg.

They can also enjoy big game while they prepare for the biggest games of their career - the complex has a private reserve home to lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and black rhino, the so-called safari big five.

Their stay was made possible by the estate's developer and owner, self-made multi-millionaire Graham Power.

All Whites manager Phil Warbrick first met him in Hong Kong and rekindled the friendship when the side travelled to South Africa for last year's Confederations Cup.

Power asked Warbrick to call if they needed anything, and he took him up on the offer at the World Cup draw.

Warbrick rang to ask if he could borrow Power's private plane to scout accommodation suitable for a team preparing for the world's biggest sporting event.

After scouring the country, Warbrick told Power he wanted the team to stay at his resort. The businessman offered the All Whites a big discount and even approved a purpose-built gym.

The players and coaching staff will stay in homes that sleep between four and six and have private swimming pools, lounges and dining areas.

"The houses don't have gold taps or anything like that," says Warbrick. "They are like something you would get in Remuera for $3 million."

Power, a devout Christian, said the deal wasn't motivated by personal gain but embarrassment about the standard of other accommodation approved by tournament organisers.

And if he hasn't already done enough, he is adamant God has a "special plan" for the unfancied All Whites which will see them progress to the knockout phase of the tournament.