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In the
News
Nov 18, 2010
U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM
MEETS WITH NELSON MANDELA IN JOHANNESBURG
Joined by Bafana Bafana ,
U.S. Welcomed by Former President of South Africa After Competing in 2010
Nelson Mandela Challenge
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Nov. 18, 2010)
— The U.S. Men’s National Team had the privilege of meeting with
Nelson Mandela at his office in Houghton, Johannesburg, on Thursday afternoon.
The team was joined by the South African national team following the USA
’s 1-0 victory Wednesday night in the Nelson Mandela Challenge in Cape
Town .
"Mr. Mandela is one of the most significant and inspirational
leaders of our time, and it was a great honor for our team to spend time with
him,” said U.S. head coach Bob Bradley. “We have spoken of the honor
of playing in a match bearing his name, and to meet him personally is certainly
a highlight and a once in a lifetime opportunity. U.S. Soccer went out of their
way to make this possible, and we are very grateful.”
U.S. captain
Brad Guzan and South Africa captain Steven Pienaar sat with Mandela. Bradley
presented the former president with a U.S. team jersey with Madiba and No. 10
on the back, and then introduced the players and staff individually before
taking a group photo.
“For the players, it was a real privilege to
meet Mr. Mandela,” said Guzan. “He is such a great man, and we all
know the profound impact he made in South Africa and around the world. It is an
experience we will never forget.”
The William J. Clinton
Foundation help facilitate the meeting. President Clinton is the honorary
chairman of the USA Bid Committee and will travel to Zurich , Switzerland ,
with the U.S. delegation to make the final presentation to the FIFA Executive
Committee on Wednesday, Dec. 1.
Prior to the match against Bafana
Bafana, U.S. Soccer joined SAFA in presenting a check for $125,000 to the
Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.
Photo Credit: Debbie
Yazbek/Nelson Mandela Foundation
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