Page16 TheTrumpet FEBRUARY 24 - MARCH 9, 2010
Sport
SA’s number one World Cup fan
D
ecorated names that do not international football feast. “We will have
need a second mention hold enough football pitches for our football
various individual records for matches. Nothing irritates me more than
the FIFA World Cup. The legendary being told that a match has been
Pele’s illustrious career includes the postponed or shifted to make way for
record for the most times an individual rugby. I specifically remember sometime
has been with a winning team. He ago when the Telkom Cup final was
collected three winners medal in 1958, moved at the last minute from Ellis Park
1962 and 1970. (Johannesburg) to Mafikeng because the
Diego Maradona, perhaps the only venue had been taken over by a rugby
other player that can, with justification, match. Those days are now gone”.
claim to having been a better player than Ngcobo, who claims to watch as many
Pele, has the most appearances as captain as four matches per week, believes
with a tally of 16 matches. Cameroon’s eclipsing the 20- match record would be a
great striker, Roger Milla, remains the stroll in the park. “My sponsors have
oldest player to play in the World Cup arranged two matches per day which is
when he turned out for his country in really easy to achieve, given that logistics
1994. He was 42 years old and 39 days. such as transport and accommodation
Thulani Ngcobo, whose only claim to have also been well planned and are also
fame is cheering his favourite South sponsored.”
African Premier Soccer League club, With that taken care of, he intends to
Kaizer Chiefs, from the terraces each time enjoy all his matches and has already
they play, will seek to join these football picked his favourites. “The opening game
luminaries in the Guinness Book of will obviously be very emotional for me. I
Records when Africa hosts its first FIFA cannot wait to see the spectacular opening
World Cup in June and July. ceremony and cheer on Bafana Bafana as
The 29 year old has vowed to break they kick off the tournament against
the individual record for watching the Mexico. Like me, they will also re-write
most matches in a single tournament after
Thulani Ngcobo
the history books in that moment. The
winning a competition held by FIFA
when Bafana Bafana play Mexico and end attending a World Cup match. However
final will be even more special as I will
Partner MTN, which was looking for
with the final on 11 July. with it here, we can show off our love for
also be celebrating fulfilling this
South Africa’s number one fan.
The South Africa Kaizer Chiefs this great game while we also get the
challenge at the magnificent Soccer City
“It is a once in a lifetime opportunity
supporter views the opportunity to break opportunity to see the best football talents
Stadium,” he said.
for me and I am very confident of
the world record as the second biggest in the world showcase their skills,” said
Besides, the opening game, Ngcobo
succeeding in being the best fan of not
development in his lifetime romance with Ngcobo.
highlighted the exciting prospect of
only this historic World Cup but also in
football. The Tshwane/Pretoria based fan
watching Brazil, Italy, France, Spain and
the world,” said Ngcobo who will be
“Nothing can beat the day South pointed out that the World Cup benefits in
the Cote d’Ivoire in action.
going to 38 matches during the FIFA
Africa won the right to host this World his country were already visible. “Our
“A few years back, I could only dream
World Cup as the winner of the
Cup, not even this competition. It was not road networks and airports have
of seeing players like Lionel Messi, Kaka,
competition.
only a victory for my country but for the undergone a major facelift. A lot of job
Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba, Samuel
Ngcobo said he will be out to better
whole African continent and I remember opportunities have been created for our
Eto’o, Fernando Torres and Ronaldo kick
the present world record of 20 games and
celebrating like there was no tomorrow people”.
a soccer ball.”
as he gave an insight into his calculated
when we won the 2010 bid. However, his face beams when he
busy schedule. “I have lined up 38 games
“We are a poor continent and most of talks about the football facilities that have
Credits: 2010 FIFA World Cup South
that will begin with the opening match
us football fans would have died without been built in preparation for the
Africa Organising Committee
Zakumi - a Mascot with attitude
S
o what can we say about him? people but not in a mean way. He is warm- open savannahs, forests, jungles to
One thing is for sure; Zakumi hearted and caring, and wants to make as mountainous areas, even deserts). He has
will be first on the dance floor many friends as possible. therefore learned to adapt to new
and last off it at the biggest party in the He loves to play football as it is a great environments; enjoying the diversity in
world - the 2010 FIFA World Cup way to connect with others and break nature and people across the African
South Africa. He wants to dance and down language barriers. He always carries continent.
entertain as many people as he can. his football around which he will use to The name ‘Zakumi’ is a composition
He is an animator for fans, players and invite people to play with him. of ‘ZA’ standing for South Africa and
officials, for schoolchildren, teenagers Zakumi loves football. At one time he ‘kumi’, which translates into ‘10’ in
and big kids alike! decided to dye his hair green as he felt it various languages across Africa.
Needless to say, he is extremely proud would be the perfect camouflage against Zakumi’s main priority is to turn the
to be the Official Mascot and determined the green of the football pitch; a bit like 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa into
to be the best host for everyone visiting his rosette spots are when hunting in the one huge, joyful and unforgettable party
his beloved country. He symbolises South wilderness! and show the thousands of international
Africa and the rest of the African He does have one striking weakness. With guests the warmth and spirit of the African
continent through his self-confidence, all his energy, he needs frequent rests. continent.
pride, hospitality, social skills and warm- Occasionally, in-between performances “He wants to create a good mood for
heartedness. on stage, he may suddenly fall asleep on the fans and raise the excitement for the
Zakumi is a jolly, self-confident, the spot at the most random times! But 2010 FIFA World Cup, the first on
adventurous, spontaneous, and actually rest assured, these are only short breaks African soil. He is a proud South African
quite shrewd little fellow. He loves to that a leopard of his calibre needs to and wants to ensure that the world will
perform and always follows his instinct recharge his batteries. come together in South Africa,” explained
and intuition, yet sometimes has the Over the last years he has travelled the Lucas Radebe, South Africa’s football
tendency to exaggerate a bit. You will whole of Africa where the leopard habitat icon and close friend of Zakumi.
often find him fooling about and teasing is good (pretty much everywhere from
Zakumi
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