England Captain David Beckham said he was honoured to meet Nelson Mandela on Wednesday, as he and his teammates were introduced to the former South Africa president.
Speaking on behalf of the squad, David remarked: "I'd like to say this is a great honour for me, the players, the manager and the rest of the FA to meet a great man like you. It is an amazing honour for everyone involved."
As the 84-year-old statesman thanked Becks for his promise to support the country's bid to host the 2010 World Cup, another issue arose: What does Mandela think of David's new braided hairstyle? He opted for a characteristically diplomatic response, saying: "I'm too old to express an opinion on the latest developments with young people."
Mr Mandela was equally tactful when it came to guessing who would emerge victorious from the friendly South Africa-England match in Durban on Thursday. "In the interest of sport," he said, "I hope the best team will win."
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
