Be proud, boys!

22 June 2010, 23:13

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Bloemfontein - Bafana Bafana made South Africa proud and helped unite the nation despite not qualifying for the second round of the 2010 World Cup finals, President Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday.

"You have done South Africa proud. You played very well. It is sad we did not get to the second round, but it was a big victory over a big side," he told the players in their dressing room after their morale-boosting win.



"Beating France for the first time is an important historical fact," he said.

Zuma, who was a guest of honour at Bafana's match against France in Bloemfontein on Tuesday afternoon, said Bafana's performance in the tournament had gone a long way to help unite South Africans.

"Bafana made a big contribution by uniting South Africa during the World Cup," he told the players after their 2-1 win over France, the side ranked the ninth best in world soccer.

"People were sceptical about Bafana at the start of the tournament but they came through.

"We won a big game against France today, but the real winner was our country. South Africa is the bigger winner by hosting the World Cup," Zuma said.

In a statement issued by the presidency, Zuma urged South Africans to continue to support the World Cup.

"Government urges South Africans to continue playing an active role in the country's hosting of the historic 2010 Fifa World Cup. After all, this is still our World Cup," the statement quoted Zuma as saying.

He went on to urge South Africans and visitors to make use of the fan fests and public viewing areas, which are free of charge.

Bafana, ranked 83rd in the world, ended their three-match group programme with four points - the same as Mexico.

The Mexicans, however, would progress to the next round with a better goal difference after they lost their final group match 1-0 against group winner Uruguay in Rustenburg on Tuesday.

Bafana had needed to beat the 1998 world champions and 2006 World Cup runners-up by 4-0 to pip Mexico. France finished bottom of the group with one point. - Sapa

The Star

Comments by Sonny

Does president JZ not know when to desist.

Finish is Klaar is VERBY!!!!!

Bafana was not good enough to rise to expectations!!

Defeat comes with incompetence.

Where was the equality in Bafana soccer team?

BEE does not work in soccer nor does it work in politics!