In just 465 days Cristiano Ronaldo may well get his
expressed wish of visiting South Africa should Portugal
qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 2010.
The Manchester United and Portugal star was talking to Kick
Off editor Neil Greig at Old Trafford, Manchester during the
launch of Nike’s Mercurial Vapor Superfly boot.
Asked whether he had been to Mzansi and what he knew about the
country, the winger said: “Last season Manchester United went there
and the lads say it is an unbelievable place to go. I hope to go
there one day too.”
Speaking right at the end of what was an interesting 40 minute
press conference, Ronaldo looked more comfortable and relaxed than
when he first walked in, joking and smiling relaxedly by the end of
proceedings.
“I know quite a few parts of the world, but not South Africa. I
wish to go there one day,” he said, perhaps identifying with
the majority of South Africa’s children, having also spent a large
part of his youth playing street football in Madeira,
Portugal.
His message to South African kids who want to emulate his
journey from the street to the glittering heights of an
international career is a simple one. “I started to play
sometimes in Madeira in the street. The kids there still love to
play football and all would love to be professional footballers one
day,” he explains.
“What the kids (in South Africa) have to do is believe in
themselves and try all the time. Everyone has an opportunity and if
someone catches the opportunities it is very good. But believe is
the best word.”