ACTUALITE |
15.06.2002
Eliminated Bafana Bafana given heroes` welcome in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG
Bafana Bafana (The Boys) were Friday given a heroes` welcome in South Africa despite their exit from the World Cup, with hundreds of fans flocking to the airport, a meeting with Deputy President Jacob Zuma, and a bus parade at their disposal.
As the team`s plane touched down around 6:20am local time (0420GMT), about 500 supporters waving flags, blowing whistles and singing songs were waiting to welcome them, among them Sports Minister Ngconde Balfour, amid a strong police presence.
"To the boys - welcome home. You made us proud, we love you," a placard said, while another stated: "Bafana Bafana, you`re still Number 1 in the heart of South Africans!"
Balfour, coach Jomo Sono, captain Lucas Radebe and the rest of the team greeted fans from a balcony in the arrival hall, and threw flowers onto the crowd, thanking them for their support, the South African news agency SAPA reported.
The team went on to meet Zuma, who is currently acting president, at the presidential guesthouse in Pretoria.
"Welcome home, boys," Zuma said.
"You have shown the world during the time you participated in the Korea-Japan Soccer World Cup that South Africa has arrived in world soccer," he added.
"The whole of the country was on its feet when you went onto the field, even management at big companies did not talk production."
Radebe told reporters the team were relieved at the country`s response to their performance in South Korea.
"When we left here we knew there was a great task ahead of us. And it is a great relief that we performed the way we did against all odds."
About his future, Radebe said the 2002 tournament might have been his last World Cup appearance.
"At the moment, I don`t know if I might make it to Germany in 2006. One can never know even though I still have a contract with Leeds United football club", he said.
Sono, who did not speak much, thanked Zuma for welcoming them and said he was pleased by the performance of the team at the tournament.
"They played their hearts out, something every South African expected of them.
Asked about his contract, which expired on Friday, Sono said: "I do not want to think about that at the moment. I want to go home and relax first because I have been under immense pressure."
Before going home, though, the team brought traffic to a standstill in central Johannesburg as they toured the streets in a bus.
Tired but jubilant, the players waved to fans and signed autographs to thank the South African public for their support during the World Cup.
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