The unveiling, which took place at the grounds of the Lagos Polo Club in Ikoyi, attracted a motley crowd of businessmen, artists, footballers and sundry other people.
It was a colourful event, made memorable by the performance of Nigerian Pop star TuFace Idibia, who performed the World Cup theme song composed by American singer, Kelly Rowland. Also on hand to spice up the event were two former Super Eagles, Austin “Jay Jay” Okocha and Daniel Amokachi, as well as current Eagles vice-captain, Joseph Yobo.
Biggest event, biggest ball
On hand to steer guests round at the event was Bola Akingbade, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer of MTN who said the programme formed part of his organisation’s build up to the World Cup also said about 133 MTN subscribers who were successful in the company’s World Cup promo will be taken to South Africa to watch first round matches of the tournament. He disclosed that an addition 300 high profile Nigerians will also be watching the games on the bill of MTN. He added that as part of his firm’s World Cup programme, a United African Club of supporters would be formed to give support to all African teams at the tournament.
Asked about the rationale behind the decision to design the biggest ball in the world, Akingbade said:
“The World Cup is the biggest football event in the world; as sponsors of the event we felt that nothing would be more fitting than to kick off our official countdown to the tournament with a huge ball, the kind of which you have seen tonight”.
The official unveiling of the ball was conducted by Lagos State Commissioner for youth, Sports and social Development, Demola Adeniji-Adele who represented the governor of Lagos State. He was accompanied on by Al-Hassan Yakmut Saleh, executive secretary of the Nigeria Premier League, who represented the Minister of Sports, Ibrahim Bio as well as Mr Okocha, Mr Amokachi and Mr Yobo.
Bisi Taiwo, a guest at the event who was enthralled by the spectacle of the huge ball dominating its surrounding, gushed: “This is just so wonderful. I have not seen a ball this size before; without doubt it has got to be the biggest ball there is.”
The 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa will feature 32 teams battling for the ultimate prize, an 18-carat gold trophy. Nigeria has been placed in group B alongside Argentina, Greece and Korea and will kick off its World cup campaign on June 12 with a match against Argentina at the Ellis park stadium in Johannesburg.
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