SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Crowd gathers for soccer friendly between South Africa and Colombia

Record ID: 453299

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Crowd gathers for soccer friendly between South Africa and Colombia
  • Date: 29th May 2010
  • Summary: FANS PLAYING DRUMS AND BLOWING VUVUZELAS PEOPLE WALKING TO SOCCER CITY STADIUM
  • Embargoed: 13th June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVACC9P4L4ZRQQRIBDBUHMRU2QLE
  • Story Text: A sell-out crowd of 75,000 was expected to gather at Soccer City in Johannesburg on Thursday (May 27) to see South Africa play Colombia in their first international match at the stadium just 15 days before the World Cup starts.
    The stadium, which will host the opening match of the World Cup finals on June 11 between the hosts South Africa and Mexico, was opened for the first time last Saturday (May 22) when Bidvest Wits beat Amazulu 3-0 in the Nedbank Cup Final. Traffic problems caused by a major rugby match being played in nearby Soweto on the same day meant that kick-off for the Cup Final was delayed 30 minutes, but it was hoped that all 75,000 fans, 19,000 below the stadium's full capacity, would arrive in time for the 2035 local (1835gmt) kick-off.
    Fans travelling to the stadium, even though South African, were not all showing support for their home team which is not generally expected to progress far in the competition.
    "The World Cup is coming here. I'm supporting Italy as you can see. Four times champions of the world, soon to be five times. I love my country (South Africa), but I don't even think they are even going to make it through the group stages. I love Italy with all my heart, my blood is blue," said South African Sameer Mutala.
    Other fans, though, were happy to show their support for their nation.
    "I was supposed to support Brazil, but now I'm supporting South Africa," said one in the crowd.
    "We waited too long for this World Cup, and it's our time to shine now. We have to go 100 percent behind Bafana and there's nothing and no one can stop us now - we waited too long for it," said Simone Mbata.
    South Africa come into the match unbeaten in 2010 following a 1-1 draw against Bulgaria last Monday (May 24). They will play two further friendlies against Guatemala on May 31 in Polokwane and Denmark on June 5 in Atteridgeville before returning to Soccer City for the World Cup opening.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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