World On Press
Ian Jindela
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
Bafana Bafa player takes final bow
South African National team- Bafana Bafana winning game of 2-1 against France at Bloemfontein was a final bow at this year’s World Cup tournament. It has been thus far the green and yellow boy’s played a winning 12 games prior to the tournament. Last night Mangaung stadium Bloemfonetin seats were in full swing all over green and yellow in support of Bafana Bafana. South Africa won the match but it was not enough for the host nation to progress past the group stage of the tournament. The game was attended by the President of the Republic of South Africa, Jacob Zuma who congratulated the players for their gallant effort. “You have made our country proud and the Nation is proud of your achievement. The existing carnival atmosphere in the country is because you have represented all of us with pride, winning against France in an official competition is an achievement you should be proud off. In tournaments like this, sometimes you win and sometimes you loose. You gave it your best; and now it’s time to enjoy the World Cup. We have built a solid foundation for future tournaments, and you can count on the country’s support all the way”.
SAFA president salutes Bafana Bafana for their great work done. “The South African Football Association on behalf of the continent therefore express its profound gratitude for all the hard work that the team in placing Africa on the map. It is one of the few moments in sport when we can justifiable see victory in defeat when taking stock of the bigger picture of your contribution” said SAFA President, Mr Kirsten Nematandani. SAFA invested heavily in this world cup. It is an investment well spent considering the positives outcomes that have already started pouring to our country and continent. Magnificent football facilities, a state of the art transport networks, security, and tourism opportunities will be a lasting legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup for generations to come. “Development projects such as Football for Hope and 1Goal project that FIFA has introduced to South Africa and the rest of the continent will ensure that the African football improves and more children enjoy the right to education”added Nematandani.
“Yes they did not make it past the group stage but they did what the country asked of them – they played with pride, passion, skill and commitment, they gave their best. They did the national team jersey and every single South African proud and we want to thank them for what they’ve done for this country,” said 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC) CEO Dr Danny Jordaan.
The dream of South Africa winning the tournament is over. South Africans are urged to raise their flags high in support of South Africa as the host country. The World cup is still on until 11 July. Support for the tournament to date has met all expectations with a total of 1 570 447 people attending the first 32 matches (an average of 49,076). More than a million people have watched the matches at the ten FIFA Fan Fests in South Africa and hundreds of thousands more have watched the games in public viewing areas around the country, with World Cup matches also shattering television audience records in the country.Durban has proved to be the most popular FIFA Fan Fest with 238,546 visitors from the start of the tournament until 20 June. Well done Bafana Bafana.
