SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER- President Jacob Zuma attends colourful prayer service for World Cup

Record ID: 452914

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER- President Jacob Zuma attends colourful prayer service for World Cup
  • Date: 21st May 2010
  • Summary: SLATE INFORMATION
  • Embargoed: 5th June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Domestic Politics,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAEKTNLQQ33HRL37842N9WOHX1K
  • Story Text: South Africa president Jacob Zuma joins thousands in praying for the World Cup at ceremony marked by singing, flag waving and blowing of vuvuzelas and appeals to nation to welcome visitors warmly to the country.
    President Jacob Zuma on Thursday, (May 20) joined over 3,000 South Africans in an interdenominational church service to pray for the World Cup. The ceremony, characterised by much singing, blowing of vuvuzelas and waving of South African flags, was conducted at the Zamdela stadium in Sasolburg in the Free State province. Zuma called on South Africans to welcome the hundreds of thousands of visitors expected to stream into the country during the month-long tournament.
    "Let us handle ourselves, very well. Let us receive our visitors warmly with love. Let us embrace them with the special love of this country South Africa. Let us forget for this time our own troubles and concentrate in making people feel at home in our country," said Zuma.
    Zuma's comments come as rumours of possible xenophobia attacks against foreigners living in South Africa resurfaced recently. The Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (Cormsa), a grouping of human rights and migrants organisations including Amnesty International and the South African Red Cross, warned last week that attacks against foreign migrants could flare up again.
    A wave of xenophobic attacks two years ago saw at least 62 people killed and over a 100,000 foreign migrants displaced. Cormsa said at least 10 incidents of violence against foreigners have taken place since the start of the year. The xenophobic attacks in 2008 were only brought to an end after massive intervention by police and the army.
    Still, South Africa's government is optimistic that the World Cup will be successful and has time and again insisted that the country is ready to host the soccer spectacle.
    It has spent billions of dollars on upgrading transport infrastructure, improving security and building soccer stadiums, hoping a successful World Cup will boost the country's image and attract millions more tourists over the next five years.
    Africa's biggest economy has done better than many nations preparing for either the World Cup or Olympics.
    The 10 stadiums were ready early and six of them -- five built from scratch and one extensively expanded and rebuilt -- are magnificent arenas standing comparison with any in the world.
    Zuma also said that he hoped Bafana Bafana, the country's national side would make it through the first round and eventually win the World Cup, keeping the coveted trophy in Africa for the first time.
    "We are all ready to receive our visitors. Bafana Bafana is ready to play and win. We need this cup to remain here and Bafana Bafana is going to do it. We are going to surprise you," added Zuma.
    Bafana Bafana are ranked 90th in the world and will play Mexico in the opening game of the World Cup on June 11. They team up against Bulgaria on May 24 and against Colombia on May 27 in a final set of friendlies before the tournament.
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