Johannesburg – For an hour or two on Sunday night, Orlando was transformed into a mini-Spain, as the world champions mixed with their fans in the land where they conquered the footballing planet.
Men, women and children, clad in the shirts of La Roja, or Barcelona, or even draped in the national flag, posed with their heroes on the Orlando Stadium pitch, just before Spain’s first training session since arriving in South Africa on Sunday morning.
Spain are back here to play Bafana Bafana in a friendly on Tuesday night at FNB Stadium, the same venue in which they beat Holland in the World Cup final some three and a half years ago.
This game has been billed as a thank you from Vincent del Bosque’s side for those great memories, and they certainly seemed delighted to be back.
“We are very happy to be back in South Africa, to walk again in this country, with all these warm memories, we are here to play football, but also to remember the wonderful things we achieved here,” said striker David Villa.
Defender Sergio Ramos was also brimful with nostalgia, saying he has a photo in his house of that great moment in Johannesburg when Spain won the World Cup for the first time.
“I have a big picture, it was a special moment, obviously this was not the neighbourhood team, it was the world champions team, and I am very proud to have it in my house,” said Ramos.
“Every time I walk past it (the picture) I look at it with very warm memories,”.
Villa added that the Spanish were very grateful for all the support they received from South Africans during the 2010 World Cup, and implied that victory even made the vuvuzelas seem nice!
“When Bafana were knocked out a lot of people supported Spain and we appreciate that,” said Villa.
“We have good memories of the vuvuzelas,” he added.
“It was a bit difficult when we were playing but going back we remember it warmly.”
Spain arrive in South Africa on the back of a 2-1 win over Equatorial Guinea in Malabo on Saturday evening.
The pitch in Malabo was apparently not very good, and La Roja will be without Xabi Alonso for the Bafana game, after he limped off the field.
Spain last met Bafana here at the 2009 Confederations Cup, Villa scoring in a 2-0 win in the group stages, while it took extra time for Spain to beat Bafana 3-2 in the third place play-off.
“We are happy to play them again and we have respect for them,” added Villa.
The Star