Rian van Heerden from OFM’s Mambo Jumbo show hands Simon Rieche his ticket to the Germany vs England match in Bloemfontein.
Simon Rieche, wrote an email to OFM, telling the station his story - how he travelled to South Africa overland from Cairo, relying only on public transport, how it took him four weeks to cover the more than 12 000km. Why did he do all this? All to see the first African football World Cup! Simon figured that, to really see Africa, he must cross Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Botswana to get to South Africa. He did this all by himself.
When it was confirmed that Germany would face England in the round of 16 match in Bloemfontein, Simon went around looking for a ticket to the game. Even after queuing for hours he walked out of the ticket office empty-handed and disappointed because he thought he would probably miss one of the biggest games in the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa so far.
Simon, who couldn't get a ticket, decided that he would try his luck by asking OFM's Rian van Heerden and the Mambo Jumbo team if there was any way they could organise him one. The email was read out on air where his story of travelling through Africa rang out across central South Africa and subsequently was heard by the 2010 Local Organising Committee. The committee contacted the station and agreed to give Simon a front row seat to see the game after all!
Van Heerden gave Simon a call late Saturday afternoon to break the news to what would be a very happy fan. Simon though seemed a little reserved after receiving the news that he would be attending the match accompanied by Rian van Heerden from OFM. However, once Rian presented the ticket to Simon an hour before kick-off, the student and die-hard football fan's eyes lit up.
Chatting to Rian during the game, Simon became more and more excited and by the time Germany led England four goals to one, he was ecstatic. "I'm so happy, this is a dream come true, four-one against England, this has been an amazing experience!" he screamed while spurring his team on.
According to van Heerden, his team is happy that they could play a part in giving Simon a true African experience, one he would not easily forget.
Click to listen [1MB] - An ecstatic Simon Rieche thanks OFM for the experience of a lifetime!
