The entire world elite including the Dutch and Spanish Royal Families, leading politicians, actors, musicians and probably even Paris Hilton were in the Calabash to watch the Closing Ceremony and crown a new World Champion.
Despite an abundance of international superstars, for most (or all I dare say) of the lucky South Africans who got a ticket to the Final, the star of the evening was not Shakira, who performed in a rather questionable outfit, or any of the footballers on the pitch.
The real star was the fragile old man wrapped up in a big coat and fur hat, who circled the pitch in a golf cart and waived to them!
After missing the Opening Ceremony, Nelson Mandela made one of his rare public appearances and “graced the World Cup Final”.
Madiba, who will celebrate his 92nd birthday next week, surprised an ecstatic crowd who greeted him with unconditional love and affection and the sound of thousands of Vuvuzelas.
For many South Africans, Nelson Mandela, who freed South Africa from Apartheid in 1994 and played a crucial role in bringing the World Cup to the country, is an iconic figure and seeing him once, being in the same room or just knowing that he is in the same building will be a dream come true and a moment they will cherish forever.
No bum-shaking pop singer or record-scoring footballer will ever gain half as much love as South Africans feel for the father of their nation.
Spanish footballers may think that they were the Stars of the Night, but South Africans know better…
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