Ronaldo: I Hope To Visit South Africa
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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.”