Hide in South Africa #5

Hide scratching his nipple?! lol





Thanks to Tomo for the tip!!

Singapore readers, can you help us?

Hide appeared on the cover of August Man magazine in November issue (Singapore edition). Does anyone have this issue ? Can you share it with the rest of us? Please email me and send the scanned pages and I will upload them for us to enjoy :)

Random photos # 8

Hide in South Africa # 4

Article from Sowetan (South African media) :
....

Former Japanese striker Hidetoshi Nakata and Lebo M of Lion King fame also attended the function.

Nakata, who could not hide his elation, said: “I have been to South Africa three times before.

“It is such a beautiful country, I’m sure people will enjoy this tournament.

“But the World Cup is more than just football, it is about unity and bringing people together. It is also about the pride of the African continent and I have no doubt that South Africa will organise a fantastic World Cup.”

He did not want to commit himself about Bafana Bafana’s chances. “I’m not sure how they are going to fare but I’m sure they have been preparing well.”

The tiny trophy, which is less than 40cm high, has already made stops in Kenya, Rwanda, Liberia, Uganda and Zimbabwe – among other countries, crisscrossing the African continent for the first time ever.

The heavily guarded gold statue will remain under lock and key in Cape Town until Friday’s final draw at the International Convention Centre – before jetting off on another leg of it’s world tour, returning to South Africa next May ahead of the tournament’s kick-off on June 11.

Hide in South Africa # 3

Article from FIFA:

The world’s biggest festival

(LOC) Wednesday 2 December 2009

The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ will be the biggest cultural and sporting festival South Africa will ever experience according to Japanese football legend, Hidetoshi Nakata, who is in South Africa as part of the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola.

Speaking at the unveiling of the FIFA World Cup Trophy in the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town last night, Nakata said that, based on his experience of playing in a home World Cup in Japan/Korea in 2002, those who attended the tournament next year could expect something that is about “more than just football”.

He described the atmosphere playing in front of home crowds in Japan as “unbelievable” something that could go a long way in helping hosts South Africa perform better on the pitch in 2010.

“The World Cup in 2002 was the biggest festival I have ever seen in my life. It was not just about football it was about different people trying to engage culturally. I have never seen anything like it. The energy of the people, all the people, was amazing,” the former midfield great said.

Nakata, who was recently appointed as a friendship ambassador of the Coca-Cola Trophy Tour said he was looking forward to returning to the country next year to witness the World Cup. “I just want to watch some good matches and enjoy a good atmosphere. I am sure there will be good matches and good organisation next year.”

Since retiring from football Nakata has joined the Japanese Tourism Department in an advisory capacity and he has also been involved in charity work.

Speaking about strengthening ties between Japan and South Africa Nakata said: “Well that is why we are here. It will be a good opportunity. Tourism is both inbound and outbound. Both sides should understand each other.

In November this year Nakata donated 240 footballs to underprivileged South African kids and has also committed to donating a further 100,000 dollars for 30,000 more footballs in the future.

Nakata began his professional career in 1995 and won the Asian Football Confederation Player of the Year award in 1997 and 1998 as well as the Scudetto with A.S. Roma in 2001. He played for Japan in three FIFA World Cup tournaments (1998, 2002 and 2006) and played in the Olympics twice (1996 and 2000).

Hide in South Africa # 2

Below is the article from Japan Times:

Nakata tells Japan to aim high

CAPE TOWN (Kyodo) Former Japan and AS Roma star Hidetoshi Nakata said Tuesday his country should go to the World Cup finals in South Africa next summer with the aim of winning the tournament.

"There is no point in playing in the World Cup unless you try to win the tournament. To that end, it doesn't matter who you play," Nakata said in Cape Town, where the 2010 World Cup draw will be held Friday.

He is visiting South Africa as part of the World Cup trophy tour.

"I never thought about who we were facing, or what position we would be in the group standings, in my three World Cups" Nakata said.

Nakata retired shortly after Japan's campaign in the 2006 World Cup in Germany ended in disappointment.

"In the process of becoming intermediate players in the World Cup, Japan should establish their own style of soccer that the world will recognize," he added.

Japan coach Takeshi Okada has called on his players to fight for a place in the last four in South Africa.

Hide in South Africa

As a goodwill ambassador of Japan, Hide visited Cape Town, South Africa as part of "Coca Cola FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour" on Wednesday. The trophy is made of pure gold and has traveled to more than 30 countries.