- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER:Thousands watch Brazil squad training in Soweto
- Date: 4th June 2010
- Summary: FANS LEAVING STADIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) SHIMANE, BRAZIL FAN, SAYING: "I'm really really excited, seeing the likes of Kaka, Maicon, those are very great players. Actually I was here for Kaka, he's a very good guy, I like him so much, and the fever it is here, we're feeling it." FANS FEMALE FAN SHOUTING "BRAZIL" (SOUNDBITE) (English) PINKY (LEFT) AND JIVOYI (RIGHT), BRAZIL FANS, SAYING: "(Pinky): We are extremely excited. (Jivoyi): This is the best thing that ever happened to Dobsonville, we are very excited." MAN WITH RED HAT WALKING OUT OF STADIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) LUYANDA, BRAZIL FAN, SAYING: "Just to be here to watch Brazil training, it was a brilliant moment. I got to watch everything, it was nice to be here." LOCAL FEMALE FANS SCREAMING KAKA'S NAME WOMAN BLOWING INTO VUVUZELA MORE OF FANS LEAVING STADIUM
- Embargoed: 19th June 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA1T7PEW7KJVHAGRQ7TB2LVI6PK
- Story Text: World Cup fever was high in Johannesburg's impoverished Soweto township on Thursday (June 3) as thousands of fans gathered to watch Brazil train in public for the first time since their arrival in South Africa.
At least 5,000 locals went to the area's Dobsonville Stadium with many waving Brazil flags and others blowing on their Vuvuzelas to create a party atmosphere.
Brazil are fresh from a 3-0 pre-World Cup victory away to Zimbabwe on Wednesday (June 2) and much of the session involved a light training routine.
One notable absentee from training was first-choice goalkeeper Julio Cesar, who was substituted off with a back injury in Wednesday's match.
Brazil coach Dunga had told journalists at a news conference earlier that he was not worried over the Inter Milan player's fitness.
However, Cesar's absence did little to ruin the party at the stadium.
Fans cheered at the players as they jogged around the pitch.
Many fans were overjoyed by the sight of Brazil's world class squad.
"I'm really really excited, seeing the likes of Kaka, Maicon, those are very great players. Actually I was here for Kaka, he's a very good guy, I like him so much, and the fever it is here, we're feeling it," said local fan Shimane.
"This is the best thing that ever happened to Dobsonville, we are very excited," said Jivoyi.
Another fan, Luyanda, said it was a dream come true for the residents of Soweto.
"Just to be here to watch Brazil training, it was a brilliant moment. I got to watch everything, it was nice to be here."
Brazil can expect fervent support during the World Cup as they take on North Korea, Ivory Coast and Portugal in Group G. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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