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Nelson Mandela Day: How the beautiful game shaped the Rainbow Nation

By Karl Harrington

SOWETO, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 15: A boy plays with a South African national flag in front of a mural of Nelson Mandela in Soweto Township, as the funeral of former South African President takes place in Qunu, on December 15, 2013 in Soweto, South Africa. Mr Mandela passed away on the evening of December 5, 2013 at his home in Houghton at the age of 95. Mandela became South Africa's first black president in 1994 after spending 27 years in jail for his activism against apartheid in a racially-divided South Africa. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)
SOWETO, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 15: A boy plays with a South African national flag in front of a mural of Nelson Mandela in Soweto Township, as the funeral of former South African President takes place in Qunu, on December 15, 2013 in Soweto, South Africa. Mr Mandela passed away on the evening of December 5, 2013 at his home in Houghton at the age of 95. Mandela became South Africa's first black president in 1994 after spending 27 years in jail for his activism against apartheid in a racially-divided South Africa. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) /
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JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 11: Former South Africa President Nelson Mandela and wife Graca Machel wave to the crowds prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Final match between Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City Stadium on July 11, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 11: Former South Africa President Nelson Mandela and wife Graca Machel wave to the crowds prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Final match between Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City Stadium on July 11, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) /

2010 World Cup

In 2004, Nelson Mandela travelled to Zürich to address a FIFA congress who would vote on the hosts of the 2010 World Cup.

Mandela thanked FIFA for throwing South Africa out for racist practices during apartheid. He went on to tell of how ‘football was the only joyful release for the prisoners’ on Robben Island.

The following day, 40 years after expulsion from the organization, South Africa was awarded hosting rights for the game’s most illustrious showpiece.

In relation to the victory, head of the World Cup committee Danny Jordaan called Mandela the ‘difference maker:’

"“Any country can put together a programme of stadiums and airports and roads but we had Nelson Mandela. Other countries used to complain that it wasn’t equal.”"

Five new stadiums were built for the tournament including Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, and Cape Town Stadium – just a few miles from Robben Island.

Mandela had fallen ill by the time the World Cup came around, but did manage to make an emotive appearance during the final in Johannesburg.

"“Looking at it now, it was his last big public appearance,” commented Jordaan. “The last time the cameras were around him – and it was so appropriate that it was at a World Cup final he had worked so hard to bring to the country.”"

Football appreciates Nelson Mandela

Mandela rubs shoulders with the likes of Pele and Johan Cruyff after he was awarded the FIFA Order of Merit, the highest honor awarded by FIFA, for bringing international football back to South Africa.

The ex-president has long inspired players around the globe. Pele called him his ‘hero’; while, David Beckham said meeting him was ‘the highlight of [his] career.’

Likewise, the beautiful game gave back to Mandela. From the solace it offered him while in isolation, to dancing on the pitch after AFCON glory in ’96, to feeling ‘like a young man of 15’ after being awarded the World Cup hosting rights, football was a constant positive force in his life.

The same could be said for those involved with Makana F.A. (the organization given honorary membership to FIFA in 2007). These men, including three future presidents, went on to shape the country that is now referred to as the Rainbow Nation.

Next: Courtois to leave Chelsea

And during their most testing times it was football that kept their spirits up, in resounding proof that sport really does have the power to change the world.

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