Fancourt bids Japan fond farewell
Fancourt bids Fancourt a fond farewell
Japan’s advance to the Knockout Stage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup has been slightly bitter sweet for Fancourt.
While being thrilled at Japan’s success in the tournament, Africa’s Leading Golf Resort was sad to see the team depart for Gauteng, where they will be based for the remainder of their FIFA World Cup campaign in order to train at altitude.
The Japanese players spent time signing autographs and posing for photographs with staff before leaving Fancourt on Sunday. The team was equally sad to be leaving Fancourt, which they have considered to be their home away-from-home while being in South Africa.
Fancourt has also been considered a source of good luck for the team, as predicted by the President of the Japanese Football Association, Motoaki Inukai, during a visit to Fancourt in 2009.
The team’s sentiments were expressed in a special message book, which was created to commemorate Japan’s stay at Fancourt during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Takeshi Okada (Japan’s Head Coach), who was full of smiles following the team’s return to Fancourt on Friday after their victory against Denmark wrote, “You looked after us very well. Thank you!” Mr. Okada also stated that the sports massages received at the Fancourt Spa were amongst the best he had ever experienced.
Supreme midfielder Keisuke Honda (# 18), named Man of the Match in both of Japan’s victories during the Group Stage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup wrote, “Thank you. Next time I will come here for a holiday.”
Midfielder Yasuhito Endo (# 7), responsible for Japan’s second goal during their Denmark encounter, simply wrote that his experience at Fancourt had been “Hot!”
Forward Takayuki Morimoto (# 19), regarded as one of Asian football’s brightest prospects wrote, “You looked after us very well. I enjoyed it. Thank you.”
Goalkeeper, Seigo Narazaki (# 1) summed up the feelings of most players best, “Fancourt is my home! George is my home town!”
Japan takes on Paraguay on Tuesday 29 June 2010 at 16h00 in Pretoria and there can be no doubt that all Fancourt staff and residents, as well as the entire Southern Cape for that matter, will be chanting ‘Victory for Japan’.
Commenting on the team’s stay at Fancourt, CEO Kerrin Titmas said, “It has been an absolute privilege for us to host the Japanese football team. We have learnt a great deal about Japanese culture, their football and cuisine, but most importantly, we have made friends for life. We wish the team much success for the remainder of their World Cup campaign and look forward to hosting them again at Fancourt in the future.”
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