Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant on his maiden trip to South Africa has been a distinguished guest here.
Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant on his maiden trip to South Africa has been a distinguished guest here. He has been to a few live matches, and was spotted cheering the USA as they went down fighting to Ghana in the Round of 16 clash at Rustenburg.
Few know that the basketball legend actually grew up playing football as a youngster and is an avid fan of the world game.
The five-time National Basketball Association (NBA) champion with the Lakers also took time off on his trip to visit the new Nike Football Training Centre, a FIFA legacy institution set in the underprivileged district of Soweto.
Bryant was mobbed by dozens of young footballers, who clearly relished the experience of talking to one of the biggest names in world sport.
Brazilian birds of a feather flock together
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A key part of the fascination at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in South Africa is the fans' flights of fancy dress.
Passionate su1pporters go to great lengths to wear their national colours across their faces, on their headgear,
costumes. The Brazilians have always been a feisty bunch, but with the freezing temperatures at this winter tournament, it has not been easy for them to show their true colours.
There is absolutely no chance of wearing a Rio-style bikini to a late evening match here in chilly Johannesburg. But on Monday night, when Brazil faced Chile, the Carnival feathers did come out.
Ellis Park was chockful with costumes of green and yellow birds.
Some Brazilian girls sported lovely feathers in their hair, while Daniel Oliveira ufffdu00a0 attending his first World Cup ufffd turned up in a huge green-and-yellow bird suit that would have kept him warm.
The birds are a feathery emblem of the Brazil team which is known back home as the Canarinhos.
Consulates in mini buses?
German and Swiss consular staff came to the aid of their country's visiting football fans here with unusual 'mobile consulate' services in Bloemfontein. Most foreign consulates are based miles away in the capital, Pretoria.
So diplomatic staff from Germany and Switzerland set up point desks literally in two roomy mini-buses to help visitors from these countries with travel information and advice.
The Free Lions, England's well-organised supporters' club, also set up a 'fan embassy' alongside the 'mobile consulates' to help English fans with transport and ticketing queries.
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