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Madiba backs Proteas

Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma has said that Nelson Mandela smiled broadly when he spoke about the Proteas, who will be leaving for the cricket World Cup in about a fortnight.

"Go teach them a lesson...come back and hand over the trophy to Mandela. I promised him this morning that you will be doing your best and will make the country proud," Zuma told the national cricket team at the presidential guesthouse in Pretoria.

"When he spoke about you he smiled broadly. He supports you all the way and will be watching you."

Zuma visited Mandela earlier on Tuesday, leading to over an hour delay of the meeting with the Proteas.

He assured them that South Africans were confident about the team, and wished them all the success in the Cricket World Cup 2011 in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India.
 
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