Programme director
The Mayor of Mhlathuze Municipality Councillor
Mnqayi
Representatives from FIFA
Representatives from the LOC
The Nigerian team
Dignitaries present
Ladies and gentlemen
All protocol observed
On behalf of the people of KwaZulu-Natal we would like to extend a hearty welcome to the Nigerian team and the entire technical staff which arrived this morning for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which, without any doubt is an event of massive historical significance. Indeed programme director, as we meet today to give the Super Eagles the inimitable KwaZulu-Natal reception, we are left with nine days before the start of what promises to be the most spectacular world cup in the history of this biggest sporting spectacle on earth.
It seems like a dream that from Cape to Cairo to the remotest village in this beautiful continent of Africa all of us are waiting in anticipation for this football extravaganza to be held for the first time on these shores.
Programme director one of the pillars around which our country’s bid to host this world cup was anchored was the fact that this was an African World Cup. We made this earnest plea because for too long we had watched other continents hosting this spectacular event while as Africans we only had to contend with watching from the sidelines, even though our continent has contributed immensely to the development of this beautiful game.
Not only has Africa become a veritable cradle of many world soccer stars, but there is no single big league in the world which does not have an African player. This proves, programme director, that the fact that Africa had to wait for more than 50 years for her to get her turn to play host to this event has been an injustice of monumental proportions.
As the province of KwaZulu-Natal we are doubly proud at the fact that our province does not only have a host city, but also has three African Teams which have chosen to make this province their home. These are Nigeria, Cameroon and Algeria.
Programme director, South Africa and Nigeria have always shared a special bond. Apart from the fact that the two countries have strong political ties, their love for the beautiful game is also mutual. It is not an exaggeration to say that sports in South Africa and Nigeria are like religion. From the streets of Lagos to the remotest villages of our province, soccer is the language and the culture that bind our people.
It came as no surprise therefore that one of the first games that our country played when it was re-admitted back to the international football scene in the early 90s was against Nigeria. While South Africa and Nigeria have always had cordial relations, however on the field of play our encounters have been fierce. Our bond of friendship is only matched by the intensity of the battles that we have on the field of play. Such is the rivalry between the Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana. Even during the darkest days of apartheid rule, it was our Nigerian sisters and brothers who sheltered us and provided a home away from home to many of our people who were in exile. Many of our leaders and our people have fond memories of the time they spent in Nigeria. Such has been the collegiality and strong bond that has existed between these two countries, who share a lot other than their undying love for the beautiful game.
As we meet here tonight to welcome the Super Eagles, we want to assure you that, even though you have travelled for miles to be here, but KwaZulu-Natal is and will remain a home away from home to you. Such is the hospitality of our people. Programme director one of the campaigns that our government is spearheading as we mark the countdown to the world cup is for our people to support and adopt teams that are based in our respective cities. With Nigeria we feel that our work has been made all the more easy because the Super Eagles are not only a household name in this country but our people’s love for all African Teams, including Nigeria, is only rivalled by that of Bafana Bafana.
One of the mouth-watering games that we all look forward to in this province is the game between Nigeria and Korea. We want to also assure you that come that day, there will be multitudes of South Africans who will be gunning for the Super Eagles and egging them on to victory.
It is therefore fitting in this regard that the Nigerian fans have set up a village at the Westville campus. Not only is this province a home to Nigeria, but it also boasts a sizeable number of Nigeria expatriates, who have made this province their permanent residence.
In conclusion, programme director, we want to extend a warm welcome to the Nigerian Team. We would like to urge you to, in between the hectic schedule of your games, find time to explore the beauty of our province as well as the splendour of the city of Richards Bay.
We have no doubt that the Nigerian Team will do us proud as Africans in this world cup. All of us as African Teams are not only representing our respective countries but we are representing the entire African continent. Therefore as we step into the field this reality should not be lost on us. We know that a number of our critics have already written us off even before the first game has been played. However, because we believe in our in built greatness and our natural talent, we take solace in the Nigerian proverb which says: A tiger does not have to proclaim its tigri-tude.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Economic Development and Tourism, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
2 June 2010
Source: Department of Economic Development and Tourism, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government (http://www.kznded.gov.za/)
