Pretoria - Scores of people descended on Super Stadium, Atteridgeville on Saturday to pray for the national soccer team Bafana Bafana ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
Organisers said the prayer aimed at boosting Bafana's moral strength and character ahead of the World Cup which kicks off on 11 June.
"We are here to ask God to give our team Bafana Bafana strength and wisdom during this world cup and only through prayer can they really go far in the tournament," said Reverend Mcebisi Xundu, president of the National Interfaith Leaders Council (NILC).
Bafana Bafana will be playing Denmark in the same stadium on 5 June in their last warm up friendly match before the start of the World Cup.
Those who had attended the prayer were bused in from various parts of Gauteng while South Africans across the country were also urged to dedicate a moment of prayer for the national soccer team.
Xundu described the World Cup as an event that sought to unite the country and that if people prayed together "a world of possibilities await Bafana". "We are saying God must help us. He must let this event to unite us and indeed South Africa is a victor not a victim," said Xundu.
African National Congress Chief Whip Dr Mathole Motshekga said Parliament viewed the World Cup as an event that will prove that sports is key to the development of the nation.
"We are of the view that through sports our nation can prosper and as we pray for Bafana we must appreciate how we have worked all of us black and white to bury apartheid so let's use this event to unite us behind the team," said Matsheka.
NILC was formed in July when various faith organisations convened an urgent meeting in Johannesburg in response to the current impatience with the speed of service delivery by Government, which is contributing to strikes by ordinary members of community.
The establishment of the council was also seen as a response to President Jacob Zuma's call for the religious community to partner with Government to establish a cohesive and caring society including an enabling environment for sustainable development.
