The DA would like to welcome all the football supporters from all over the world to our beautiful country, because it is them that we need to become tourism multipliers. However, without the world's best football players we would not have a World Cup! To all the players from all over the world, namkelekile! [you are welcome!]
We sincerely hope that your preparations for the World Cup event have gone well, so that we can enjoy the best quality football ever experienced. This will be a celebration as never seen before. The rainbow nation that Nelson Mandela dreamt of will now be visible for the whole world to see. This will be the highlight of Madiba's dream. Our World Cup slogan clearly reflects our vision: One team, one nation, proudly united under one rainbow.
The first World Cup was hosted by Uruguay in 1930 and, incredibly, they won it. Uruguay beat Argentina 4-2. Francisco Varallo is the only player still alive from the 1930 inaugural World Cup. He played for Argentina. He turned 100 years old on 5 February 2010. We salute this living legend.
As a representative from the Northern Cape, I am proud to be from Kimberley, the host city of the Uruguayan team. This in itself is an historic occasion for the Diamond City. Kimberley was also the first city in the southern hemisphere to have electric street lights, in September 1882. Kimberley hosted South Africa's first stock exchange, the Kimberley Royal Stock Exchange, which opened on 2 September 1882. The Uruguayan team will also stay in the hotel next to the Big Hole, the largest hand-dug hole on planet earth.
On 16 June 2010 our national team will face Uruguay in the first round. Our support for our visiting side stops there! [Laughter.] Bafana Bafana recorded their biggest international win yet when they thrashed Guatemala 5- 0 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Monday night. You must keep this momentum going, guys!
It was a fitting celebration for our captain, Aaron Mokoena, who is the first South African footballer to win 100 international caps. We congratulate our Bafana Bafana captain, Aaron Mokoena, on his great achievement.
In 1996 we won the Africa Cup of Nations with stars Lucas Radebe, Doc Khumalo and John "Shoes" Moshoeu. Who will ever forget Clive Barker flying Boeing-like across the pitch after the 1996 African Cup of Nations? But that is all water under the bridge. It is now time for our new stars to shine.
Aaron Mokoena, Steven Pienaar, Matthew Booth, to name just a few, this is your time! South Africa stands behind you as one nation, the rainbow nation. You will hear us in the crowd shouting, blowing our vuvuzelas. You go and make us proud! Feel it! It is here! Viva, Bafana Bafana! Viva! [Time expired.]
HON MEMBERS: Viva!