The Chief Executive Officer of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa (OC), Dr Danny Jordaan, visited the South African national football team at their hotel in Johannesburg today to wish them well ahead of their match with France on Tuesday. He also thanked them for their contribution to the tournament.
In a private meeting with Bafana Bafana, Jordaan told the players that they should be proud and hold their heads up high ahead of the crucial clash.
“I must thank you for what is happening in this country right now. I know you might not have seen all of it but the spirit in this country is amazing. You saw some of it when you went into the streets here before the tournament. There is such an incredible atmosphere in this country and you must feel very proud about being a part of that.”
Jordaan also told them to look to the future and not dwell on their last performance.
“What happens in Tuesday’s match is what this country will remember. You must not dwell on what happened before. We can do nothing about what happened in the past. Sometimes, in life and even football, we have days where nothing works. You have had that day. As players you will remember the first moments and the last moments when you are on the field. You gave us an incredible first moment.”
He asked the team to show commitment on the pitch in Bloemfontein/Mangaung saying they would enjoy some of the best support from fans there.
“This is your opportunity to run like you have never run before, to commit to playing until the final whistle and to make us say, ‘they gave us their best and we are very proud of them for giving us their best’. Go there and do your best and you will see that your best might even surprise you.”
Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira thanked Jordaan for his words of encouragement and echoed his sentiment.
“You should be very proud of what you have already achieved and you must keep your heads up. History will talk about this game,” Parreira told the team.
Captain Aaron Mokoena said the team was 100 per cent committed ahead of Tuesday’s match.
“We are going to go there and give nothing but our best against France,” said Mokoena.
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