Mandela Meets South Africa Team Ahead of World Cup
Source: Agencies |
June 5, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
NELSON Mandela met South Africa's national soccer team Bafana Bafana on Thursday, wearing the captain's No. 4 shirt, ahead of this month's World Cup.
The former South African president, who turns 92 next month, is increasingly frail and rarely makes public appearances. His stature, however, is widely seen to have helped sway the 2004 vote to award the Cup to the country, and FIFA President Sepp Blatter said on Wednesday his presence at the opening match on June 11 would be a highlight of the tournament.
The Mandela Foundation said in a statement he was introduced to the team and coaching staff at its Johannesburg offices. His office, however, would not confirm media reports that the Nobel Peace Prize winner would attend the opening ceremony.
Mandela helped inspire the Springbok rugby team to World Cup glory at home in 1995, famously wearing captain Francois Pienaar's jersey.
The former South African president, who turns 92 next month, is increasingly frail and rarely makes public appearances. His stature, however, is widely seen to have helped sway the 2004 vote to award the Cup to the country, and FIFA President Sepp Blatter said on Wednesday his presence at the opening match on June 11 would be a highlight of the tournament.
The Mandela Foundation said in a statement he was introduced to the team and coaching staff at its Johannesburg offices. His office, however, would not confirm media reports that the Nobel Peace Prize winner would attend the opening ceremony.
Mandela helped inspire the Springbok rugby team to World Cup glory at home in 1995, famously wearing captain Francois Pienaar's jersey.
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