Players, officials and fans,
If any of you are tempted to cheat, feign injury, get another player sent off, award dubious penalties, fix a result or riot, DON'T!!
Remember the extraodinary sacrifice Madiba made for South Africa along with Steve Biko, Ruth First, Chris Hani, Chief Albert Luthuli, Govan Mbeki, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Cyril Ramaphosa, Albertina Sisulu, Walter Sisulu, Jo Slovo, Oliver Tambo, Desmond Tutu, Donald Woods and countless others and, what that sacrifice cost him and his family.
Once the tournament is over, converge on the Waterfront in Cape Town and catch a ferry to Robben Island where Madiba spent eighteen of the twenty seven years that he was imprisoned. Once there, you'll be shown his cell and the narrowness of its confines will make you wonder how it was possible to retain one's sanity let alone one's humanity. You will also be shown the quarry where Madiba and others spent many hours chipping the limestone. You will be driven there in a bus with tinted windows, but even that won't stop the sun's glare from penetrating the air-conditioned interior and then you will understand why Madiba's eyesight is ruined. And after the tour is over, you will marvel at how one can experience all this and still retain one's humanity without bitterness or rancour.
So don't do anything to dishonour the sacrifice Madiba made, especially during this very tragic time - we all owe him that much.
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