Pretoria - Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe has called on the nation to unite behind Bafana Bafana when the team faces France in their final Group A make-or-break encounter in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
"We need to rally behind Bafana Bafana in the same way we did prior to the start of the tournament, and ensure that the spirit remains high," Motlanthe said.
Government also encouraged the nation to be a part of Football Tuesday by wearing the green and gold of the national team, wave the country's flag and blow vuvuzelas in a show of support for Bafana Bafana.
Even if the national soccer team did not live up to the country's expectations, all was not lost, Motlanthe added.
"The one thing we need to keep in mind as a nation is that, at the end of the tournament, the winning team will lift the trophy, but South Africa, as the winning nation, we will lift the honour," the Deputy President said.
Motlanthe called for South Africans to come out in their numbers to cheer Bafana Bafana to victory.
"That type of spirit, of a nation coming together behind a single vision, we'll need to build on for future events," he added.
While government was impressed by the organised and professional manner in which South Africans had hosted the World Cup so far, Motlanthe reminded the nation that its support was needed more so, now that Bafana Bafana was "facing an uphill battle".
The Deputy President urged South Africans and visitors to cheer Bafana Bafana on at the fan parks and public viewing areas which were open to the public at no charge.
The match between Bafana Bafana and France kicks off at Mangaung Stadium in Bloemfontein at 16:00
