Tournament News
Boks get behind Bafana
2010-03-02 08:25
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Johannesburg - Rugby bosses on Tuesday threw their full weight behind Bafana Bafana and South Africa's preparations to host the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup.
Oregan Hoskins, president of the South African Rugby Union, and Springbok coach Peter de Villiers were in Durban to mark the beginning of the 100-day countdown to the World Cup kick off and back the national soccer team in their preparations for Wednesday's night match against Namibia.
"All sports lovers and all South Africans must now be feeling their pulses quickening as the World Cup countdown reaches this significant milestone," said Mr Hoskins. "We are heading into one of the most extraordinary periods in our history and I'm not sure any of us are yet aware of what a magnificent experience we're going to share with each other and the world.
"The 1995 Rugby World Cup was a special time in our nation's life and Rugby World Cups are major international sporting events but the FIFA world cup brings the eyes of the world with it and it is a marvellous opportunity for our nation to demonstrate how far we have come since 1995 in the global shop window.
"We are backing our soccer brothers at the South African Football Association (SAFA) and on the Local Organising Committee (LOC) to deliver an outstanding and memorable African World Cup of which we can all be proud."
Rugby authorities established a smooth working relationship with their soccer counterparts during last year's tour by the British & Irish Lions, which staged at the same time and in flour of the same venues used for the FIFA Confederations Cup.
And recently an accord was struck whereby by tournament rules were relaxed to allow the Springboks to host France in a Test match in Cape Town at a time when other major sporting events have been postponed.
"The LOC and SAFA as well as our government took on a huge challenge when they won the rights to host the World Cup but the facilities and the supporting infrastructure that is being created is simply magnificent," said Mr Hoskins. "They have created a magnificent stage and we look forward to celebrating their success with them."
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers said he believed Bafana Bafana would be inspired as the host nation: "They raised their game during the Confederations Cup last year and when they run out at a packed Soccer City they'll probably feel ten feet tall - or at least as big as Bakkies Botha.
"It's a special thing to play in a World Cup but to do so as a host nation is a very rare privilege and that will come through on the field.
"The milestone is significant enough for Saru to interrupt its Champion Tour to show its support to soccer. Soccer is a national sport that has shown its solidarity to rugby on big occasions and it is now our turn to reciprocate as the countdown to the opening match continues".
The Boks get behind Bafana (Gallo Images)
