SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Township residents root loudly for the home team

Record ID: 452423

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Township residents root loudly for the home team
  • Date: 12th June 2010
  • Summary: ATTERIDGEVILLE, PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 11, 2010) (REUTERS) CHILDREN ON MAIN STREET IN ATTERIDGEVILLE, PRETORIA WITH VUVUZELAS AND SOUTH-AFRICA-SHIRTS YOUNG BOY BLOWING PLASTIC VUVZELA PAN FROM THE CHILDREN TO LOCAL PUB
  • Embargoed: 27th June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAB2KQGAQNTO0MFIC7165YJ3BLS
  • Story Text: Football fans went crazy in the bars of the poorer areas of Atteridgeville a township in Pretoria as South Africa took on Mexico for the opening match of the FIFA World Cup Friday (June 11), Where money might be lacking, innovation abounds - those fans who couldn't fit into the packed local pubs set up TVs in the back of their cars.
    South Africans have embraced the tournament in a swell of national pride not seen since Nelson Mandela was released from prison in 1990 and the first all-race election four years later.
    "I'm honoured that the World Cup has come to Africa, as to whole of the continent, not to South Africa, but Africa. And it's the first time it came here, so I am honoured and to the organizers, especially President Nelson Mandela, the former President, I am happy that he made it possible for us. Now we are sitting here in the back, watching the game and its fine," agreed Steve Kumanu as he watched the match with others on a TV in the back of his van outside his house.
    Siphiwe Tshabalala's left-foot shot after 55 minutes sent South African soccer fans in downtown Johannesburg crazy as he put Bafana Bafana ahead. But the joy was to be short-lived, as Rafael Marquez equalised for Mexico after 79 minutes Most South African fans had predicted a clear win over Mexico and said they were "a bit" disappointed that the hosts did not win the first match, but nothing could dampen their football fever.
    "We feel very happy. We feel very very happy, because it's the first time it comes to Africa. And that makes us feel really really happy. For the people who organize it, all of them, we say thanks for that," said Iko Oba.
    But for most fans it was the excitement around the opening match of the first World Cup in Africa that had them celebrating. The vuvuzelas, the plastic trumpets, blew their sound throughout the whole match, no matter how South Africa were playing.
    Celebrations are expected to go late into the night and it looks like we are in for a very loud World Cup.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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