ACTUALITE |
20.06.2002
African successes at World Cup sign of wider determination: Mbeki
CAPE TOWN
African successes at the World Cup illustrate the continent`s determination to overcome "centuries of adverse developments", South African President Thabo Mbeki declared on Wednesday as the national team Bafana Bafana (The Boys) visited parliament.
"In many ways, the honourable manner in which Bafana Bafana acquitted themselves in Korea and the progress achieved by Senegal indicate Africa`s determination to move out of the periphery in global affairs to which centuries of adverse developments have sought to confine her," he declared as the team listened from the public gallery.
"As an African country we must be proud that we are part of a continent that has set itself such a goal."
Parliamentary staff crowded the entrance of the assembly as the team arrived for lunch with Sports Minister Ngconde Balfour and Speaker Frene Ginwala.
Captain Lucas Radebe, said the team had done "the best we could" in South Korea, adding: "(It was) a pity we had to go down on goal average."
Coach Jomo Sono said the players had given it "their all".
Reuben Mahlalela, the South African Football Association`s vice president and the delegation`s head to the World Cup declared: "We might not have won something in Korea but we won friends all over the world."
The South African team beat Slovenia 1-0, drew 2-2 with Paraguay and lost 2-3 to Spain -- a performance greeted as heroic at home but not enough to get them through to the quarter finals.
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