So serious is the region about this that Duma Nkosi, executive mayor of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, recently launched a programme designed to ensure that an East Rander proudly wears the Green and Gold in six years' time.

The metro's sports development programme, the brainchild of Nkosi called Masidlaleni (Let's Play), was launched at KwaThema Stadium.

Nkosi distributed soccer balls to KwaThema kids at various informal football fields as the first phase of "a mutual objective to promote sport throughout Ekurhuleni in an attempt to contribute meaningfully to the search for talent for the 2010 World Cup".

"You cannot play a ball game without a ball," he said, "and by giving those children who would love to play soccer the ball to play with, we hope to promote a healthy and friendly, competitive environment that participating in sport brings to a community.

"By encouraging our children to spend their free time playing sport, we are helping them reject the destructive temptations of drugs, alcohol and crime.

"It would naturally be very thrilling to all involved if this project helps build strong Ekurhuleni contenders for the 2010 World Cup."

During the launch of the project, central defender Nkosi, who soccer nickname is "Shakes", captained his metro team to a 4-2 victory over a team comprising representatives of Masidlaleni's numerous co-sponsors.

But, no, he has no ambitions of playing for Bafana in the 2010 global showpiece.