SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: WORLD CUP 2010: President Zuma hopeful Bafana Bafana can make World Cup second round

Record ID: 455918

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: WORLD CUP 2010: President Zuma hopeful Bafana Bafana can make World Cup second round
  • Date: 23rd June 2010
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 22, 2010) (REUTERS) **FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY** VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SEATED AT A REUTERS EVENT (SOUNDBITE) (English) JACOB ZUMA, SOUTH AFRICA PRESIDENT SAYING: "We are truly excited by the success and the spirit engulfing the country. For the first time ever in the 16 years of freedom and democracy, you see black and white South Africans celebrating together in the stadiums and fan parks. This unity and explosion of national pride will go down in our history as one of the most defining moments of the history of our young nation." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (English) JACOB ZUMA, SOUTH AFRICA PRESIDENT SAYING: "Bafana Bafana meet France in Bloemfontein. We are proud of our national team which shows that the work of the coach Albert Parriera and his team is paying off. We urge the nation to keep supporting Bafana Bafana and to come out in the customary huge numbers this evening at the stadiums and fan parks." PEOPLE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) JACOB ZUMA, SOUTH AFRICA PRESIDENT SAYING: "What is the fact is that every year in South Africa mid-year around this time, it is in fact the season of negotiations between the trade unions and management. This happens all the time even during the years that there has been no World Cup and the years to come. So, it's not necessarily as a result of the World Cup." MORE OF PEOPLE LISTENING
  • Embargoed: 8th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAE4GRRCCXXOWTXKDC39OHIGRZD
  • Story Text: President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday (June 22) called on South Africans to come out in huge numbers to support Bafana Bafana as the team makes a last ditch effort to qualify for the soccer World Cup second round later in the day.
    Zuma also noted that the World Cup has created an unprecedented sense of national unity in the country 16 years after the end of apartheid.
    "We are truly excited by the success and the spirit engulfing the country. For the first time ever in the 16 years of freedom and democracy, you see black and white South Africans celebrating together in the stadiums and fan parks. This unity and explosion of national pride will go down in our history as one of the most defining moments of the history of our young nation," said Zuma speaking to Reuters Television in Johannesburg.
    Bafana Bafana are on the brink of the worst ever performance by a World Cup host but they play a French side torn apart by problems. A players' rebellion in the French camp, which has disgusted fans at home, has opened up a slim chance for the local Bafana Bafana team to progress. They need both a convincing win over France and a win for either side in the other Group A match between Mexico and Uruguay being played at the same time to go through.
    Despite the difficulty of the situation, Zuma said he is hopeful the South African team will win.
    "Bafana Bafana meet France in Bloemfontein. We are proud of our national team which shows that the work of the coach Albert Parriera and his team is paying off. We urge the nation to keep supporting Bafana Bafana and to come out in the customary huge numbers this evening at the stadiums and fan parks," said Zuma.
    The South African president said he was confident the Soccer World Cup, hosted for the first time in Africa, will boost job creation and economic growth in his country. He added that threats of strike action during the World Cup from unions were not directly targeted at the event as wage negotiations and strikes traditionally took place each year around June or July during the so-called "strike season".
    "What is the fact is that every year in South Africa mid-year around this time, it is in fact the season of negotiations between the trade unions and management. This happens all the time even during the years that there has been no World Cup and the years to come. So, it's not necessarily as a result of the World Cup," added Zuma.
    Unemployment in South Africa is officially around 25 percent but analysts say the figure could be as high as 40 percent.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register