JOHANNESBURG: Dutch captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst is hoping to lead the Netherlands to their first World Cup title in Sunday’s final against Spain in front of South Africa’s former president Nelson Mandela.
"I really hope to see him, it would be fantastic," Bronckhorst told Dutch journalists on Thursday.
"I have already met him twice and it was very powerful, very special. And it would be so nice to accept the trophy in front of him."
The 35-year-old van Bronckhorst will retire from football after Sunday’s final and will earn his coaching badge before becoming the assistant coach of the Dutch Under-21 side.
Mandela will celebrate his 92nd birthday on July 18 and with his health failing, a decision on whether he attends the final at Johannesburg’s Soccer City will be made closer to the kick off at 2030 on Sunday night (1930 GMT).
He was due to attend the World Cup’s opening ceremony on June 11, but was unable to come after his great-granddaughter was tragically killed in a car crash on the eve of the tournament.
