Fractious S Africa parliament unites for soccer

CAPE TOWN - South Africa's fractious parliament united on Thursday to back the national soccer team amid hopes the World Cup can bring together the country in the same way the Rugby world cup did after the fall of apartheid. Many lawmakers wore the yellow jersey of the national team Bafana Bafana (The Boys), and parliamentary officials had their hands full trying to prevent excited members of parliament from blowing the noisy vuvuzela trumpets favoured by fans at matches.

Related readings:  Blatter praises Mandela at stadium handover  Actor Pitt joins U.S. bid to host World Cup  England soccer team heads to S Africa for World Cup  3-D cinema World Cup plan might be relegated

The rare show of cross-party unity came during a special session of parliament as South Africa readies itself to host the first World Cup held on African soil. "Today we are celebrating the fruits of a democratic country and celebrating the important event of the 2010 World Cup because we have been given a fair chance," Buthana Komphela of the ruling African National Congress told a joint sitting of parliament.

The government, which has spent billions of dollars on stadiums, airports, roads and rail links, is eager to prove sceptics wrong after doubts about its ability to host the tournament, which kicks off next week.

South Africa has one of the world's highest crime rates outside of a war zone and critics had said its infrastructure was inadequate for the month-long tournament.

"I am sure that the infrastructure we have built will stand us in very good stead during our economic recovery. To those people that said we would never succeed -- you were wrong," said John Gunda, of the opposition Independent Democrats.

The game of soccer, predominantly played by the black majority, has begun to win over some white South Africans, reminiscent of the racial reconciliation when South Africa won the rugby World Cup in 1995.

At that time, then-President Nelson Mandela donned a rugby jersey, long the symbol of South Africa's white minority. Still, racial divisions remain stark almost 16 years after the end of apartheid.

"Seeing thousands upon thousands of cars flying the South African flag ... is evoking patriotic emotions in all of us," said Kenneth Meshoe, leader of the African Christian Democrats Party.

But despite the excitement, South Africa's home team is likely to have a tough tournament. Bafana Bafana are ranked 83rd in the FIFA rankings and are 125-1 outsiders to win the tournament according to bookmakers.