SA declares itself ready for WC
Monday, 7 June 2010
PRETORIA, June 6 (AFP): South Africa declared itself ready Sunday to stage the first World Cup on African soil, with President Jacob Zuma saying the event had shown the Rainbow Nation finally coming together as one.
Five days before South Africa take on Mexico in the tournament opener, FIFA President Sepp Blatter said Africa as a whole could take a bow for its organisation efforts and the world's poorest continent could no longer be sidelined.
"We are truly pleased and humbled to host the world in our country for this historical and extraordinary event," Zuma told a press conference at his offices in the capital Pretoria.
"South Africa is more than ready. For us the World Cup has already begun."
The event is being held in South Africa some 16 years after the demise of the white supremacist apartheid regime, which ended with the election of Nelson Mandela as the country's first black president.
While efforts to forge what South Africa's Nobel Prize winning archbishop Desmond Tutu called a Rainbow Nation have been fraught with difficulties, Zuma said the tournament had done wonders to bridge the lingering racial divide.
"The enthusiasm, joy and excitement that has engulfed the entire nation in the last few weeks has not been seen since President Nelson Mandela was released from prison" in 1990, said Zuma.
"The explosion of national pride has been a priceless benefit. It's clear that millions of our people look upon this tournament with hope, pride and sense of belonging.
"The South African flag has become the most popular item on the shopping list of South Africans and this augurs well for our nation-building," he added.
National expectations have been swelled by a sharp upturn in performances by the South African team, known as Bafana Bafana, who are now unbeaten in 12 matches after beating Denmark 1-0 Saturday.
"Bafana Bafana is ready and is in fighting form," said the president.
During his address, Zuma also paid tribute to Mandela whose lobbying for the tournament was seen as crucial in FIFA's decision to pick South Africa.
Five days before South Africa take on Mexico in the tournament opener, FIFA President Sepp Blatter said Africa as a whole could take a bow for its organisation efforts and the world's poorest continent could no longer be sidelined.
"We are truly pleased and humbled to host the world in our country for this historical and extraordinary event," Zuma told a press conference at his offices in the capital Pretoria.
"South Africa is more than ready. For us the World Cup has already begun."
The event is being held in South Africa some 16 years after the demise of the white supremacist apartheid regime, which ended with the election of Nelson Mandela as the country's first black president.
While efforts to forge what South Africa's Nobel Prize winning archbishop Desmond Tutu called a Rainbow Nation have been fraught with difficulties, Zuma said the tournament had done wonders to bridge the lingering racial divide.
"The enthusiasm, joy and excitement that has engulfed the entire nation in the last few weeks has not been seen since President Nelson Mandela was released from prison" in 1990, said Zuma.
"The explosion of national pride has been a priceless benefit. It's clear that millions of our people look upon this tournament with hope, pride and sense of belonging.
"The South African flag has become the most popular item on the shopping list of South Africans and this augurs well for our nation-building," he added.
National expectations have been swelled by a sharp upturn in performances by the South African team, known as Bafana Bafana, who are now unbeaten in 12 matches after beating Denmark 1-0 Saturday.
"Bafana Bafana is ready and is in fighting form," said the president.
During his address, Zuma also paid tribute to Mandela whose lobbying for the tournament was seen as crucial in FIFA's decision to pick South Africa.