Abby Brammell

By Sportsmail Reporter

Luxury: The Royal Bafokeng Sports Hotel & Complex will be England's World Cup base


England will faced many obstacles as they chase World Cup glory in South Africa, but here's one they weren't expecting - dealing with deadly snakes near their World Cup base.

Killer pythons, spitting cobras, puff adders and black mambas are known to be on the hunt around the Bafokeng Sports Campus in Rustenburg.

The medical unit has been stocked with anti-venom if any of England's stars are unlucky enough to be bitten, according to the Sun.


Deadly: The Black Mamba


The players will also be banned from fields after dark.

Local health chief Dr Keba Mokgethi said: 'We have prepared for emergencies. Anti-venoms are among the medicines stocked. We will sit with the team and tell them they may encounter snakes.'

The electric fence around the base can stop pythons, but not smaller poisonous species.

The black mamba is a particularly deadly snake, with enough venom in a bite to kill several people.

The England squad arrive in Rustenburg on June 3, ahead of their first World Cup match against the United States on June 12.

Before that, England face a friendly against Mexico at Wembley on Monday night and a match against Japan in Austria next weekend


Getting ready: England stars and boss Fabio Capello will arrive in South Africa next week


source: dailymail