Durban - Over 550 people came to help Durban find a place in the Guinness Book of World Records on Friday.

Durbanites, clad in their Bafana Bafana jerseys, attempted to make 1000 consecutive passes but failed to do so after three attempts.

The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Sigma International were responsible for organising the event which took place at the Durban beachfront.

Under the watchful eye of the Guinness Book adjudicator, Tom Harris, fans lined up to break the record held by China.

The rules were simple, but the kicking not all that easy as people found out - participants were expected to pass the ball to each other without touching it and had to make the pass within 20 seconds.

The first kick was taken by deputy mayor Logie Naidoo. In their first attempt, the crowd came close to reaching 200 passes over a 12m line.

But a nervous participant kicked the ball out of the prescribed lines.

While the football fans tried to cheer each other, the loudest applause was reserved for a brave blind woman who wanted to help with the attempt.

While, Durban was disappointed it didn't break the record, the crowd still had a fun time, learning how to diski dance and socialising.

Charlene Impindu was one such fan, "It was a fun experience. It's totally Ayoba. Durban is really the place to be and it's great that we attempted to break the record".

Meanwhile, the deputy mayor is impressed with Durban and how it's taking a prominent place in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Durban topped the attendance figures for the FIFA Fan Centres.

"Despite the doom and gloom predicted before the World Cup, we not only achieved our objectives but exceeded them. We competed with big cities in the world and are coming up tops. We had 100 000 more people than Cape Town," said Naidoo.

He added that Durban's beautiful weather largely contributed to the success of the Fan Centre.

"Everyone has been raving about Durban". Now Durbanites should be doing the same, said Naidoo.

Bafana Bafana has also impressed the deputy mayor and he feels that South Africa needs to build on the momentum.

Apart from beating the French, 2006 World Cup finalists, Bafana Bafana has helped alot with nation building.

"We can now see how sport unites people. We never dreamed that the Bulls would play rugby in Soweto but they did. It's a whole new world now. We need to believe that we are safe and secure."

Source: BuaNews 

Durban - It's fitting that South Africa will play their second 2010 FIFA World Cup match on June 16 as this is an historic day for the country.

Youth Day commemorates the Soweto uprising in 1976 and the role of the youth in fighting against the apartheid regime.

Durban will take time to celebrate this important day by getting behind their national team who will take on Uruguay at Loftus Stadium in Tshwane later today.

"Youth Day holds a very special place in South Africa's history, and I can think of nothing better than celebrating it with both South Africans and our international guests on Durban's beachfront or at the PVA's in Umlazi (King Zwelithini Stadium) or KwaMashu (Bridge City) whilst watching Bafana Bafana play in Africa's first FIFA World Cup," said Julie-May Ellingson, Head of the City's Strategic Projects Unit and 2010 Programme.

The entertainment line-up at the Durban Fan Centre and the Public Viewing Areas in KwaMashu and in Umlazi will be proudly South Africa.

South African super group Malaika, dance group Mzansi Arts Development and popular DJ Black Coffee will feature on the entertainment list at the Fan Centre.

Ellingson confirmed that the Public Viewing Areas at the King Zwelithini Stadium and Bridge City have drawn capacity crowds since they were opened on 11 June, and Youth Day looks to be no different.

At the King Zwelithini Stadium, Pocket Change, Big Show, Msawawa and DJ Tira will keep the crowd entertained, whilst Joe Nina, Da Babes and DJ Bongs will do the same at Bridge City.

 Source: BuaNews