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Dignitaries, Ladies and Gentlemen;
It is my pleasure to see off your team and to wish you well in your endeavours at the spiritual home of the beautiful game.
This trip of yours comes at a time that is highly auspicious for the future of South African Football. The recent 20th Year Anniversary launch of SAFA has re-affirmed that the game of football has grown in leaps and bounds in
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undefinedundefinedundefinedsince our re-admission to FIFA in 1992. Most recently, our Senior National team has advanced from the 90th position in the FIFA World ranking to 46th, in less than one year, and is well on track to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
As you know, South Africa hosted last year what has now been officially acclaimed the ‘most successful FIFA World Cup™ of all times’, and the Grassroots Development program is perhaps the most visible legacy of the World Cup; with 27 artificial turf pitches under construction in townships and rural areas; and junior leagues being established countrywide to ensure that we identify and develop talent at as early a stage as possible. |
