SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Celebrations as country counts down to the last seven days before kick-off of the 2010 World Cup

Record ID: 452189

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Celebrations as country counts down to the last seven days before kick-off of the 2010 World Cup
  • Date: 5th June 2010
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) NELSON MANDELA'S EX-WIFE AND POLITICIAN, WINNIE MANDELA, SAYING: "We are here to send our boys to those sports grounds and we are here to say Madiba (Nelson Mandela) has said we must keep this cup in Africa."
  • Embargoed: 20th June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Lifestyle,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA56FROVKIQ74LMLGDMIB9VJNU1
  • Story Text: Two huge banners bearing the image of former South African President Nelson Mandela holding the World Cup trophy were unveiled on Friday (June 4), as the country began its one-week countdown to kick-off.
    The two banners dominated the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Johannesburg as excitement reached fever pitch ahead of the official opening of the World Cup on June 11.
    Celebrations erupted all across Johannesburg with residents, wearing the country's Bafana Bafana jerseys, drove around the city blaring horns and blowing their vuvuzela trumpets.
    In many places, people on their lunch break boogied down to the official World Cup "diski dance."
    In flamboyant costumes and South African coloured wigs, the country showed full support to the national team and wished them well.
    "Break a leg boys (South Africa national squad) all the best. We love you." said Vuyi Manyandela, one of the may soccer fans who attended the street party.
    Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, ex-wife of former South African President Nelson Mandela, addressed an enthusiastic crowd in an impromptu gathering in downtown Johannesburg.
    "We are here to send our boys to those sports grounds and we are here to say Madiba (Nelson Mandela) has said we must keep this cup in Africa." she said.
    In the historic township of Soweto, schoolchildren with faces painted in different flags, joined the celebrations as the World Cup trophy reached their neighbourhood.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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