Blatter gets warm township welcome

“I am an African, you have accepted me as an Africa,” declared FIFA™ President Sepp Blatter, with conviction to a 10 000 strong crows at the Yeyethu Nelson Mandela Bay 2010 festival in Zwide on  Sunday, 30 May 2010.

This is the first time the incumbent soccer boss has been to a Port Elizabeth township and he was greeted with waving South African flags, a chorus of vuvuzelas and a crowd using the African term of respect to call his name: utata (father) Sepp.

The soccer-loving masses also chanted the names of other top dignitaries attending the day-long festival, including Eastern Cape Premier Noxolo Kiviet, Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor Zanoxolo Wayile and Local Organising Committee chief executive Danny Jordaan.

“Today is an important day for the metro, province and country as a whole – as they say in the bible, there are few days before we can cross the River Jordan,” said Wayile, welcoming Blatter and other dignitaries and reminding the attendees that there remain only 10 days to the first World Cup on the African continent. “It’s been a bumpy road but we have walked shoulder to shoulder till we got here today,” he added, referring to Blatter’s commitment to an African World Cup calling him a “son of the (Bay) soil”.

Blatter gave a short speech to the crowds before rushing off to catch a flight to Johannesburg. “I am happy to be a man of Africa. I am especially happy today because we are in a historical stadium – Dan Qeqe”. Blatter also paid tribute to the most famous icon of the Eastern Cape, Nelson Mandela. “This is the man who brought the World Cup to South Africa – I was only one of the workers. The man who did it was Nelson Mandela.”

He also donated 10 soccer balls and 100 T-shirts to people attending the event on behalf of FIFA™, as a symbolic gesture to emphasize the role football plays in society: “Football will bring you the emotions you need, but it will also bring you hope. My dear friends, it is time to enjoy (football).”

Also attending the event at Dan Qeqe stadium – situated in the heart of the Bay township area – were FIFA™ General Secretary Jerome Valcke, Safa boss Irvin Khoza, MECs Xoliswa Tom (Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture), Pemmy Majodima (Public Works) and councillors from the city.

“The event has been designed to bring the atmosphere of the World Cup right into the middle of the township and give people a fore-taste of what the FIFA Fast Fest™ will be like,” said 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Director Errol Heynes. Crowds were entertained by musicians, took part in Diski dancing lessons, and watched a marching band and drum majorettes in what was a carnivalesque celebration of football and fun.