SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Japan meet fans at township after victory
Record ID:
1535279
SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Japan meet fans at township after victory
- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Japan meet fans at township after victory
- Date: 26th June 2010
- Summary: GEORGE, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 25, 2010) (REUTERS) GROUP OF BOYS ENTERING SPORTS GROUND AT LAWAAI TOWNSHIP CARRYING SOCCER BALL TO MEET JAPAN TEAM RESIDENTS OF TOWNSHIP GATHERING TO MEET JAPANESE TEAM BUS CARRYING JAPAN TEAM ARRIVING COACH TAKESHI OKADA AS HE GETS OFF BUS PLAYERS ON PITCH CHILD LOOKING THROUGH FENCE PLAYERS GETTING OFF BUS RESIDENTS OF TOWNSHIP GATHERED TO WATCH PLAYERS WALKING ACROSS PITCH WITH AUDIO OF PEOPLE CHANTING: "HONDA" MIDFIELDER KEISUKE HONDA WALKING ACROSS PITCH TWO WOMEN SCREAMING FOR HONDA, ONE SHOUTING: "I WANT TO SEE HONDA PLEASE" PLAYERS LINED UP ON PITCH IN FRONT OF PUBLIC GEORGE MEETING PLAYERS, SHE HOLDS UP HAND OF HONDA AND SHOUTS TO CROWD CHILD ON FATHER'S SHOULDERS AND BLOWING A VUVUZELA CROWD GATHERED TO SEE JAPANESE PLAYERS VARIOUS OF HONDA SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS (SOUNDBITE) (English) YOUNG BOY, A RESIDENT OF THE TOWNSHIP, SAYING: "It was good, I see Honda there. You know, it was great." GOALKEEPER EIJI KAWASHIMA GIVING FLAGS TO FANS/ MIDFIELDER MAKOTO HASEBE ALSO GIVING OUT FLAGS TO CHILDREN PLAYERS ON PITCH AFTER MEETING FANS PEOPLE WAVING AS PLAYERS LEAVE IN DISTANCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) JANELLA, A RESIDENT OF THE TOWNSHIP, SAYING: "It was very nice, Japan are very welcome here. Come again, great." VARIOUS OF BOY PLAYING WITH BALL
- Embargoed: 10th July 2010 22:30
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Sport
- Reuters ID: LVAE7N06RJYMK44CMQN2HWATP8RM
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Japan's national soccer team delighted residents of a township near their base camp on Friday (June 25), as they met fans and signed autographs for children.
Around 200 residents of the Lawaai township on the outskirts of the city of George turned out to meet the Japan team, many chanting "Honda, Honda" as they waited to catch a glimpse of midfielder Keisuke Honda, who has turned into somewhat of a local hero.
Since Bafana Bafana crashed out of the World Cup on Tuesday (June 22), many residents of George, where the Japanese have their base camp, have adopted the Asian side as their own.
"It was good, I see Honda there. You know, it was great," said one boy after he met his hero.
"It was very nice, Japan are very welcome here. Come again, great," added Janella, another resident of the township.
Japan returned to George earlier on Friday after clinching a place in the last 16 of the World Cup after they beat a disappointing Denmark 3-1 in their final Group E fixture in Rustenburg the previous day.
The victory was the first time the "Blue Samurai" had reached the World Cup second round on foreign soil. They reached the second round in 2002 when they co-hosted the tournament with South Korea.
Japan became the second Asian team after South Korea to qualify for last 16. They meet Paraguay in Pretoria on June 29. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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