Mandela likely to appear at WC opening
Wednesday, 9 June 2010
JOHANNESBURG, June 8(AP): Nelson Mandela will likely greet fans and players for 10 to 15 minutes at the World Cup opening ceremony before watching the rest of the game from home, his grandson said Tuesday.
"We believe that maybe before the game we could bring him to the game just to greet the players and greet the fans," Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela said.
The 91-year-old Mandela was South Africa president from 1994-1999 after spending 27 years in prison during the apartheid system. He attended the 1995 Rugby World Cup final in Johannesburg, and any possible appearance during Friday's ceremony at Africa's first soccer World Cup would energize the nation.
"We believe that maybe before the game we could bring him to the game just to greet the players and greet the fans," Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela said.
The 91-year-old Mandela was South Africa president from 1994-1999 after spending 27 years in prison during the apartheid system. He attended the 1995 Rugby World Cup final in Johannesburg, and any possible appearance during Friday's ceremony at Africa's first soccer World Cup would energize the nation.