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Johannesburg – The streets of Sandton erupted in joy and celebration as Bafana Bafana paraded amongst thousands of eager fans on Wednesday.
"South Africa is my team, I love it here. This is a place of unity," said 12-year-old Diryon Wasom from Delhi, India, just before the team arrived.
"I am especially here for the South African soccer team...they are my favourites for the World Cup."
As the team paraded on buses outside the Sandton Sun hotel on Rivonia road, supporters jumped up and down, screaming "Bafana let's go", "Bafana all the way", "We love you boys" and "Let the cup stay at home".
Fans wore Bafana T-shirts, wrapped themselves in the South African flag and painted the flag on their cars.
Vuvuzelas filled the air
The sound of vuvuzelas filled the air.
"I feel it, it is here... when my child saw Steven Pienaar on the bus, I think she almost fainted because he is her favourite player," Heidie Claus said.
A Korean tourist said he had been to many World Cup tournaments, including the Korea/Japan one in 2002, adding: "I didn't even see support such as this in my country, look at the different colours. South Africa is going to do the world proud."
People danced in the streets as the popular song "Make the Circle Bigger" blared on loudspeakers and hordes of journalists – many of them from foreign media houses – looked on.
"I am so happy, I am so excited, make the circle bigger against Mexico. Bafana, we love you," a supporter said.
"South Africa is my team, I love it here. This is a place of unity," said 12-year-old Diryon Wasom from Delhi, India, just before the team arrived.
"I am especially here for the South African soccer team...they are my favourites for the World Cup."
As the team paraded on buses outside the Sandton Sun hotel on Rivonia road, supporters jumped up and down, screaming "Bafana let's go", "Bafana all the way", "We love you boys" and "Let the cup stay at home".
Fans wore Bafana T-shirts, wrapped themselves in the South African flag and painted the flag on their cars.
Vuvuzelas filled the air
The sound of vuvuzelas filled the air.
"I feel it, it is here... when my child saw Steven Pienaar on the bus, I think she almost fainted because he is her favourite player," Heidie Claus said.
A Korean tourist said he had been to many World Cup tournaments, including the Korea/Japan one in 2002, adding: "I didn't even see support such as this in my country, look at the different colours. South Africa is going to do the world proud."
People danced in the streets as the popular song "Make the Circle Bigger" blared on loudspeakers and hordes of journalists – many of them from foreign media houses – looked on.
"I am so happy, I am so excited, make the circle bigger against Mexico. Bafana, we love you," a supporter said.
