'Give us the World Cup'

2004-05-14 21:43

Marjolein van der Stad

Zurich - South Africa played its Nelson Mandela trump card at the very last moment to let the message ring out loudly: give it to us.

The former president was the first to speak in the half hour that South Africa was awarded for its last presentation to secure the Fifa World Cup 2010 tournament - and he did not disappoint.

All the members of the Fifa executive jostled to get a photograph taken with the most-famous South African.

His speech was an overture to a presentation of Oscar quality - even though Charlize Theron could not be present.

Everything went smoothly and the passion of South Africa to be given the privilege of playing host for the soccer showpiece in six years from now was evident.

The 24 individuals who form the executive will announce their decision on which African country will be awarded the honour of being the host country on Saturday.

Mandela expressed his gratitude to Fifa for helping to end apartheid by applying a sports boycott against the country in 1976.

"I stand before you today and can confirm that South Africa is ready and has the will, the strength and the passion to present the tournament.

World Cup will give hope

"It is now in your hands to bring the tournament to South Africa and to give us hope - just as soccer gave us hope when we were political prisoners on Robben Island," the former president concluded his plea.

President Thabo Mbeki also expressed his gratitude and said the continent is being plagued by wars and problems. "The World Cup tournament will give the continent hope again," he said.

"If it is awarded to us, we shall see to it that it gets the respect the biggest sport tournament is entitled to."

Danny Jordaan, chief executive of the bid committee said: "We are ready for the tournament. We already have five stadiums in place, although some improvements have to be made."

Jordaan added that South Africa's training to present large tournaments had begun in 1995 with the Rugby World Cup and that the country had presented 11 large tournaments.

The United States denied on Friday that it was officially supporting the bid of any candidate country. This followed remarks by the American ambassador to Morocco that America was supporting that country's bid.

President George Bush had earlier this year told President Mbeki that he was unable to influence the outcome and that the Fifa committee was completely independent.

News24 brings you an exclusive opportunity to find out whether South Africa has won the bid. Just SMS "SA2010" to the number 34051. Please note: A premium rate of R2.00 is charged for each SMS.

- Beeld