| With less than a year to go for the 2010 FIFA World | | | | coming together, that all their efforts and sacrifices |
| Cup football fans around the world are restless and | | | | were not in vain... |
| can't wait to hear the first whistle blow! After all, it's a | | | | This World Cup's mascot is Zakumi, a cute leopard |
| four year wait before one gets to see world class | | | | with green hair! He was born on the 16th of June 1994, |
| football that's pure magic! And the countdown has | | | | the year that apartheid ended. The 'Za' in Zakumi is the |
| begun. This World Cup will be the 19th tournament and | | | | international abbreviation for South Africa and 'kumi' |
| it's all set to take place in South Africa. So, keep the | | | | means ten in many African languages. It also means |
| 11th of June to the 11th of July aside for some adrenalin | | | | 'come here' in some southern African languages. The |
| pumping action! | | | | green and yellow colors of the mascot stand for the |
| It will be the first time that the World Cup is being | | | | host nation's flag and playing strip. Zakumi's designer, |
| hosted by South Africa. Nine cities across the country | | | | Andries Odendaal, explains that the animal's green hair |
| are being readied in terms of infrastructure and | | | | was designed to provide camouflage on the football |
| operations. Thousands of fans and tourists are | | | | pitch. |
| expected to descend on South Africa to watch their | | | | With the qualifiers taking place, the heat is already on! |
| favorite teams take centre stage in their national team | | | | There's been a global rush to apply for tickets to the |
| uniforms. Overall, an estimated six billion people will | | | | 2010 World Cup. Bets are on as to who'll make it and |
| watch the matches worldwide. | | | | who'll be left out. Some traditional favorites are already |
| The CEO of the World Cup Organizing Committee, Dr | | | | facing a tough challenge to qualify! |
| Danny Jordaan admits that it's been a tough road at | | | | Putting aside relocation rumors, resettling controversies |
| times, but he finds inspiration in the men and women | | | | and preparation deadlines, the first FIFA World Cup in |
| who have worked tirelessly to ensure they go from | | | | the African continent is all set to take your breath |
| the planning to the playing stage. "When you look at | | | | away! So, get your custom soccer jerseys out and |
| them and you look in their eyes you get a sense | | | | get into the spirit of things! If you don't you're your |
| they've all decided, 'we won't let you down, we won't | | | | favorite teams soccer jersey, it's high time you picked |
| let the country down', and that they're going to make | | | | one up or you might not get any later! After all, we're |
| this work," says Jordaan. He hopes that when the final | | | | talking about the World Cup here and fans are |
| whistle has blown, Nelson Mandela and the many other | | | | seriously loyal when it comes to supporting their |
| freedom fighters will be smiling in the realization that | | | | favorite team! |
| the World Cup was delivered by both black and white | | | | |