VISIT TO ARGENTINA BY MR LUCAS RADEBE- A RENOWNED SOUTH AFRICAN FOOTBALL PLAYER- AND SOUTH AFRICAN DELEGATION ON 24-28 MARCH 2010. TO PROMOTE THE 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP.

On 24-28 March 2010, the South African Embassy in Argentina will host Mr Lucas Radebe, a retired and popular South African football player, who also currently serves as the 2010 Tourism Ambassador. Mr Radebe will visit Argentina as part of the 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP 2010 International Coordinating Committee (ICC) delegation that is currently undertaking a road show in South America (i.e. Brazil on 21-25 March, Argentina on 25-28 March 2010 and Brazil’s Salvador State on 28-31 March 2010) with a view to, among others, pursue the following strategic objectives:

• Boost 2010 FIFA World Cup ticket sales in these two major countries that have qualified for the tournament,
• Relay information about South Africa’s readiness to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals
• Promote ‘Brand SA’ in terms of boosting tourism, the economy and international relations
• Profile 2010 World Cup legacy initiatives

Mr Radebe, who, during his days as a professional football player, served, among others, as captain for Leeds United FC in England as well as the member of the 1996 South Africa’ Senior Men’s national football team (known as Bafana Bafana) that won the African Cup of Nations Cup that year, will be accompanied to Argentina by a nine-member delegation that will also consist of the South African Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ms Tokozile Xasa.

During their stay in Argentina the delegation will engage in various appointments such as the scheduled media briefing at the Four Seasons Hotel in Buenos Aires city at 11h30-12h30 on Friday, 26 March 2010. Media are invited to attend this session as it will provide an opportunity to clear any related matters around South Africa’s preparations for the first-ever World Cup tournament on African soil.

Mr Radebe, known as "Rhoo" among South African football supporters, will also have an opportunity to watch, from 15h45, the popular football match on Thursday, 25 March 2010, between the two major Argentine football teams, Boca Juniors vs. River Plate, at the Boca Juniors’ “La Bombonera” stadium. On Friday, 26 March 2010, at 16h30, Mr Radebe will once more visit the Boca Juniors Athletic Club premises to conduct a brief motivational session with the club’s youth team, where he will also share with them some important attributes of a successful professional football player.

To know more about this important visit to Argentina by the South African delegation, please contact the South African Embassy during working hours at 011-4317 2900 and speak to Ms Laura Wilson, the Tourism and Information Officer.

KE NAKO. AFRICA’S TIME HAS COME!