A STAR-studded lineup that included luminaries such as President Thabo Mbeki, former presidents Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu was honoured at a banquet in Sandton last night for helping to bring the 2010 Soccer World Cup to SA.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter?s ?Three Musketeers? ? South African Football Association (Safa) president Molefi Oliphant, his vice-president Irvin Khoza and 2010 local organising committee CEO Danny Jordaan ? were also celebrated on a night that saw all the honorees continue to bask in the golden glow of last year?s history-making effort.

Safa and the South African Breweries hosted hundreds of local and international guests at the Sandton Convention Centre in appreciation of the long and difficult journey that was taken by the people who made numerous personal sacrifices along the way.

The seven men were also part of the failed 2006 bid that fizzled out under controversial circumstances after much-maligned New Zealander Charles Dempsey?s decision to abstain from voting handed the tournament hosting rights to Germany in a close 12-11 vote in July 2000.

But last night was about the eventual triumph in the race for the 2010 showpiece that was confirmed by governing body Fifa on May 15 last year. Guests were provided with insight into how football?s greatest spectacle was brought to the continent.

Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns player Esrom Nyandora was confirmed as the Rookie of the Year when the Zimbabwean international was announced at a function held earlier in the day.

Observers were visibly stunned when Nyandora was announced as the winner as there were several other contenders many felt were more deserving recipients for the award.

Many had expected the race to be between the two most lethal strikers last season ? former Kaizer Chiefs forward Collins Mbesuma and his Downs counterpart Sandile Ndlovu. The duo made the scorer?s race a truly entertaining one this past season.

The other nominated greenhorns were Thabiso Rammile and Lerato Chabangu also from Sundowns, Christopher Katongo from Jomo Cosmos, Sydney Nkalanga from relegated Wits University and Thembinkosi Fanteni from Ajax Cape Town.

Mbesuma could not attend the function as he is currently at home in Zambia to finalise personal arrangements before returning to England to begin life as a Portsmouth player.

The guest for the afternoon, Jordaan, once again reiterated the need to produce a Bafana Bafana side that will be capable of holding its own against the likes of World Cup holders Brazil.

?Building a stadium only takes about two years if you are pressured into completing it during that period,? Jordaan said.

?But when are we going complete the building of a truly world class team? That is the real challenge for us.?

Source: Business Day

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