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Bloemfontein - A rain shower could not deter thousands of Free State soccer fans at the Mangaung Fan Fest Park on Friday from watching the Fifa 2010 Soccer World Cup opening.

With a heavy rain shower towards the end of the opening ceremony, making the conditions almost unbearable, fans stuck it out waiting for Bafana Bafana to appear on the big screens.

"It was magnificent, kwaai (vicious) man, kwaai," said Rossouw Thomas, a technician, commenting on the opening ceremony.

"The flags and names item was the one."

His wife, Elriza, thought all of the ceremony was very beautiful.

Andrew Mogale and his friends thought the opening was "brilliant" and well organised.

They were also impressed by the Fan Fest facilities and set-up.

"Security is tight, very well organised, there is no regrets being here." Pule Molatenyane, standing with two friends, also had praises for the opening.

"It looked great, well prepared and we've proven those critics wrong."

Images of the Bafana Bafana team arriving at Soccer City and players on the screen were met with deafening vuvuzela blaring and cheers from the crowd.

Every image of the South African team, such as team lists, was welcomed with cheers.

President Jacob Zuma's speech was almost lost under the blaring vuvuzelas, while the park attendants clustered in small groups under umbrellas for cover. The thunderstorm and hail lasted for about 15 minutes before the game started.

Sounds of the singing of the National Anthem at Soccer City brought fans streaming back to the viewing area in front of the big screen, blowing vuvuzelas and cheering.