Madiba to cast magic on World Cup opening match

Pretoria – It’s official. Madiba might be present at the 2010 FIFA World Cup opening match and the boys in green and yellow will be thankful for the much-needed magic he’s sure to cast on them.

Former President Nelson Mandela might be in attendance at the opening match of the 2010 FIFA spectacle between South Africa’s Bafana Bafana and Mexico next Friday, confirmed Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile.

Speaking to the SABC on Wednesday, Stofile said Mandela had personally requested his tickets for the match to take place at Soccer City Stadium.

“He demanded his tickets for the opening match and the final and FIFA had agreed to that demand,” said Stofile.

There were fears that the 91-year-old statesman would not be able to honour the event due to age and health considerations.

Mandela was present when 14 members of FIFA in Zurich in 2004 made the historic decision to award South Africa the right to hold the world’s biggest football event.

At the time, Mandela said he felt like a ‘young boy’ expressing his excitement.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter on Wednesday said it was important for both FIFA and South Africa that Mandela attends the opening match.

“For FIFA and for South Africa it would be a very exciting moment if Mandela is attending this first world cup in Africa,” Blatter said. – BuaNews