Cardinal: World Cup created solidarity among Africans

(July 12, 2010) The soccer World Cup in South Africa has brought to the country a greater sense of communion with the international community and solidarity among the countries of Africa, said the archbishop of Durban. “The first thing that I think that the World Cup in South Africa will leave is the sentiment that finally this country is part of the global community,” said Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier in comments over the weekend to Vatican Radio. The World Cup ended on Sunday night with the final match, in which Spain beat Holland with a goal in extra time. The month-long sporting event, which takes place every four years, pits the world's best national soccer teams in a head-to-head competition. The next World Cup will take place in Brazil in 2014. Cardinal Napier noted that "soccer is the main sport of the majority of South Africans, especially the blacks.” “And for them, to have the World Cup in their country is significant for feeling connected… With the championship over, the cardinal said it is now the responsibility of their politicians to accomplish with the same determination that which the World Cup did, to do it for their people, when the spotlight of the world is no longer on the nation. Cardinal Napier however acknowledged that the soccer World Cup has brought a sense of solidarity among the various African countries, who considered the championship not as an event only for South Africa but for all of Africa. This, he pointed out, accomplished much for the unity of Africa, much more than could have been done by a lot of words from politicians.