Blatter hopes Mandela attends World Cup
Sunday, 6 June 2010
PRETORIA, South Africa, JUNE 5 (AP): Nelson Mandela is determined he will attend the opening game of the World Cup in Johannesburg in a week's time because it would realise his dream, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Friday after meeting the former president. Speculation is intense whether the 91-year-old Mandela, South Africa's most famous citizen, will be well enough to attend any World Cup games.
He is not suffering from a specific illness, but is reported to be very frail.
Blatter revealed he had a brief meeting with Mandela Thursday, and Mandela said he wanted to be at next week's opening game. "All I can say is that he (Mandela) is convinced that he shall be at the opening," Blatter said. "He wants to be there because he wants to live up to his dream.
"We just cross fingers that his dream will be realized ... and he will honor the opening and the kickoff to this World Cup." On Thursday, African National Congress spokesman Jackson Mthembu said Mandela will make a rare public appearance at next week's tournament opener between the host nation and Mexico, and also at the July 11 final.
"Madiba will grace both the opening and the closing of the World Cup," Mthembu said, using the traditional clan name by which Mandela is affectionately known in South Africa. "We are very honored to have an icon of Mandela's caliber to grace this important event. We are very happy that Madiba will come. The Madiba magic will add to the excitement."
He is not suffering from a specific illness, but is reported to be very frail.
Blatter revealed he had a brief meeting with Mandela Thursday, and Mandela said he wanted to be at next week's opening game. "All I can say is that he (Mandela) is convinced that he shall be at the opening," Blatter said. "He wants to be there because he wants to live up to his dream.
"We just cross fingers that his dream will be realized ... and he will honor the opening and the kickoff to this World Cup." On Thursday, African National Congress spokesman Jackson Mthembu said Mandela will make a rare public appearance at next week's tournament opener between the host nation and Mexico, and also at the July 11 final.
"Madiba will grace both the opening and the closing of the World Cup," Mthembu said, using the traditional clan name by which Mandela is affectionately known in South Africa. "We are very honored to have an icon of Mandela's caliber to grace this important event. We are very happy that Madiba will come. The Madiba magic will add to the excitement."