Sithandiwe Velaphi
The provincial government has vowed to make the 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in the Nelson Mandela Bay a success following the tournament’s flag raising ceremony in Port Elizabeth on Friday.
The occasion also launched the “Football Fridays”, a campaign through which South Africa promotes support for SA teams in international sports.
Other flags raised alongside South Africa’s were of Ghana, DR Congo, Mali and Niger. The event took place at the Vuyisile Mini Square.
MEC for sport, recreation, arts and culture Xoliswa Tom reminded those who attended the event that hard work earned the country success in the hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup. She encouraged officials to work even harder as Afcon “belongs to the African continent”.
“It is important to always remember that the Eastern Cape is part of the broader continent. During the apartheid struggle African countries were our homes. We must then remember that the countries that will be coming here are brothers and sisters that provided a home for us when we were ill-treated in our own country,” Tom said.
The four countries will call Nelson Mandela Bay their home when they compete in the six Group B matches at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. A quarterfinal, a third and fourth place playoff matches will also be played at the stadium.
Tom said the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality made it clear that it could not host the tournament on its own.
“They asked for the
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