JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South African soccer fans are split whether Nelson Mandela should attend the opening ceremony of the World Cup.
Mandela, who emerged from 27 years in prison under the former government’s oppressive apartheid system to eventually become president, is expected to make an appearance at Soccer City on Friday ahead of the opening match between Mexico and South Africa.
Lardus Bosman, a 21-year-old university student in Pretoria, says “it is important for our country (that he attend) as he is the one that united our nation, especially through his attendance of the 1995 Rugby World Cup.”
