CBC shares the FIFA World Cup Final experience with South African orphans

Orphanage in Johannesburg

As the official broadcaster of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, CBC/Radio-Canada set a new record for a FIFA World Cup television audience in Canada: 5.816 million Canadians were watching the final game between Spain and the Netherlands. That’s 105% higher than the combined audience to the English and French live broadcasts of the Final in 2006.

Some of the greatest (and youngest) fans were not however in Canada, but in South Africa, and CBC’s David Masse, senior director of CBC Sports, had the chance to spend the day with them. He accompanied a group of nine-year-old orphans from the New Jerusalem Children's Home orphanage located in Midrand, Johannesburg to the party in Soweto and later, to the event.

HIV positive or having lost their parents to the disease, which has ravaged South Africa, the children were ecstatic to dance in the crowded streets of Soweto and visit Nelson Mandela’s house where he stayed when he lived in the township. It was perhaps the chance of a lifetime to take part in the World Cup festivities, both for the children, whose housemother received hundreds of dollars in donations, as well as for David Masse.

Matthew Bolus, Ryan Bolus, and Sr. Director of CBC Sports
David Masse with the children at Soccer City

“It was such an incredible gift to have them hold my hands as we walked into the stadium,” says Masse.  He was amazed at the children’s enthused reaction to Nelson Mandela entering the stadium: “They were standing on their tippy toes on their seats!”

“I’ll never forget hearing them giggle and chatter at the back of the bus as they made their way home after the match singing the Wavin’ Flag anthem,” adds Masse.

The five-year journey leading up to the FIFA World Cup ended on an extremely positive note, and Masse couldn’t be prouder to work at the CBC/Radio-Canada.

Four years from now, CBC/Radio-Canada will once again showcase the world’s best with comprehensive coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil.