Posted in News on Dec 05, 2009.
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Also in Bafana's group are 1934 World Cup winners Uruguay and
France, the 1998 World Champions.
The draw was conducted by Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke
and South African Hollywood movie star Charlize Theron. A total of
2000 invited guests and 800 local and international journalists
attended the glittering event watched by an estimated live
television audience of 200 million viewers.
Said Benoni born Theron: "I stand here tonight as a very proud
South African." She said she was a soccer fan and added: "I have
bought my tickets already and would not miss the World Cup for
anything."
The presenters were assisted on stage by a star-studded line-up
of sports celebrities which included England soccer star David
Beckham, one of only a few players to score in three consecutive
World Cups, Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia), two-time Olympic gold
medallist and nine-time athletics world champion, Protea fast
bowler Makhaya Ntini, the first black player in the South African
cricket team, John Smit, the captain of rugby world champions South
Africa, and Bafana player Matthew Booth.
President of the Republic of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, and Fifa
president Sepp Blatter welcomed the audience at the beginning of
the 90-minute live show.
Guests included Issa Hayatou, chairman of the World Cup
organising committee, Nobel peace prize winners FW de Klerk and
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, as well as former football icons Franz
Beckenbauer, Michel Platini, Eusebio and Roger Milla.
The majority of the 32 coaches of the teams who qualified for
the 2010 showpiece were at the draw. Former South African president
and Nobel peace prize winner Nelson Mandela, 91, addressed the
audience by video message.
Madiba, who did much to secure the 2010 World Cup for South
Africa, said: "This is the first time that the World Cup will be
played in South Africa.
We feel privileged and humbled. We must
strive for excellence and reap the rewards of the World Cup. Ke
Nako - It is time," said Madiba.