SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Fans enjoy Bafana Bafana's opening match

Record ID: 455695

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Fans enjoy Bafana Bafana's opening match
  • Date: 12th June 2010
  • Summary: FANS CHEERING
  • Embargoed: 27th June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA8FFXQCVLTBOCZ0V9YR8JIVKCT
  • Story Text: South African fans in Cape Town and Durban followed their team's 1-1 draw against Mexico on Friday (June 11) on big screens in fan zones.
    Crowds waved national flags and blew their vuvuzelas as they watched their team impress in front of 85,000 fans in Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium.
    After a goalless first half, South Africa began to pick up the tempo and a stunning Siphiwe Tshabalala goal ten minutes after the restart sent the crowds into jubilation.
    But a Mexican equaliser towards the end dampened the host nation's hopes for a perfect start.
    One fan at the Durban fan zone was impressed with the location.
    "It's the best ever, the warmest place to be in South Africa, it's great, it's on the beach, it's beautiful, it's fantastic and Bafana's gonna win," he said.
    Ashley Gresh, an American football fan from New Hampshire in the United States, agreed.
    "It's perfect, you couldn't ask for more, the beach, the weather, it's beautiful, beautiful people."
    The World Cup has brought South Africans together in a country which has suffered from racial discrimination and apartheid in the past.
    "No, I'm a rugby supporter obviously, but in South Africa we've got to support everyone and come together. Football's a great game, I think Bafana Bafana was shown great support tonight. Sad game, I think it shows a good result for us and hopefully we can pull it off against France as well," said fan Alan Foulis.
    South Africa, basking in a wave of national euphoria in the buildup to the month-long tournament, almost stole the show when they hit the post in a golden opportunity to win the match just before the final whistle.
    "No we were not robbed, Bafana Bafana played perfect, they could have won, we lost too many chances, but next time, we'll beat Uruguay big time by 5-0," said fan Siya Mpungose.
    The credible performance -- from a team even many South Africans had written off until a sudden boost in form in recent months -- eased sadness at Nelson Mandela's absence from the opening party.
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