It was a very happy birthday for 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee CEO Dr Danny Jordaan yesterday when 1200 young school children gathered at Diaz Primary School in Nelson Mandela Bay to celebrate with him and World Cup mascot Zakumi.

Diaz is one of 8 349 schools which took part in the My 2010 School Adventure Campaign which is aimed at improving the lives of learners and educators throughout South Africa.

The children had gathered with their teachers to hear Dr Jordaan talk to them about his experiences in getting the World Cup to Africa for the first time.

In celebration of Dr Jordaan's visit the schools three football sides formed a guard of honour as he made his way to the stage along a 280 step path signaling the number of days which were left to kickoff for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ yesterday.


"When we lost the 2006 bid we could have one of two things. We could have given up and walked away or we could have dusted ourselves off and said next time we will try harder. That is what we did and look where we are today," Dr Jordaan said.

He emphasized the importance of believing in yourself citing the examples of South African athletes Oscar Pistorius, Natalie Du Toit and Caster Semenya.

"In life do not be a wheelbarrow," Dr Jordaan said. "A wheelbarrow goes nowhere unless someone is pushing it. You must push yourselves to do well in the classroom and on the sports field."

Zakumi's arrival at the assembly was met with loud cheers and Dr Jordaan promised that the World Cup mascot would be back to visit different classrooms soon.

The children and Zakumi then surprised Dr Jordaan with a birthday cake and a framed photograph of Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium as a gift.