With pride: The South African team were given an almighty good luck from the people of Johannesburg as they prepare for the start of the World CupThere was an indication on Wednesday of the sort of euphoria that will grip South Africa over the next month when the national side Bafana Bafana, or at least some of them, took part in an open-topped bus ride through a neighbourhood of
Johannesburg close to their hotel.
Tens of thousands turned up to greet the team, bringing the business district of the city to a standstill, and made the sort of extraordinary noise that will surely be one of the lasting memories of this World Cup.
People flooded the streets wearing the yellow and green of Bafana, thousands of them blowing ear-splitting vuvuzelas. It was proclaimed Vuvuzela Day. ‘Glorious chaos’ was how it was described on local radio.Schools across the country, where such street scenes were replicated, were given a half-day to join the celebratory blowing of the vuvuzela. It marked the beginning of a month-long school holiday, twice the normal period.
A country united: The entire nation are ready to welcome the world to South Africa
Carlos Alberto Parreira, the Brazilian manager of South Africa, was apparently nervous about allowing his players to join in two days before a ball has been kicked, but he could be seen grinning at the back of one of the convoy of buses.Parreira agreed to let some participate and former Leeds United captain and Bafana legend Lucas Radebe was on his bus.
High hopes: Despite their poor ranking there is belief that Bafana Bafana can surprise a few peopleThe country’s president Jacob Zuma had earlier surprised the host squad by turning up at their training session to deliver a personal message of encouragement.
The squad had visited former president Nelson Mandela for a good-luck message last week.
source: dailymail
