Melrose Fans Get To Wave Bye To Ghana

Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, 4 July – Thousands of fans gathered this afternoon at the upmarket and highly successful fan zone of Melrose Arch in Johannesburg for the umpteenth time during the World Cup – this time, to say “congratulations, goodbye, and come again”, to the Black Stars of Ghana.

Ghana, who stepped out of the tournament on Friday evening after a titanic match against Uruguay, conquered the hearts of millions of South Africans with their football skills and lion-heart approach to the game.

A sea of red, black and yellow greeted an emotional Ghanaian team and the Minister of Sport, Hon. Ref Makhenkesi Stofile as he lauded the Black Stars on the stage of the Melrose Emporium. Overcome by the tremendous support of their surprise fan base, the team enthusiastically signed memorabilia  for its supporters – further entrenching themselves as South Africans’ second favourite 2010 team.

With its central location and with various local and international media reporting that Melrose Arch is “the unofficial people’s park and fan zone for the upper middle classes”, the precinct was the perfect location for the Ghana team’s visit, followed by an earlier stop in Soweto.

“We are very excited by the impact of Melrose Arch’s success as one of South Africa’s most successful fan parks,” says Andrew Douglas, spokesperson for Melrose Arch. “Being, literally, flavour of the month during June and July 2010, is a clear indication of the precinct’s extreme popularity amongst local fans and tourists alike.

The past 2 months have been a heady mix of colour and flavour and culture, with a variety of events entertaining visitors along with screening all the games on the Big Screens at the Melrose Emporium and Melrose Square and Douglas confirms that visits to Melrose Arch is about to get even better.

“In addition to today’s visit from the Ghana, fans of Melrose Arch can look forward  to an entertaining and unique line-up of super-events for the rest of the year and into 2011. The fun is not over with the tournament!”

Tony Raciti, manager of the Melrose Emporium where the Ghana team were welcomed today, adds: “The Melrose Emporium was chosen as the U.S. Soccer Federation’s Bar of the Month with great reason – and we look forward to party and play host to all our fans during the remainder of the World Cup.”

To reserve you seat in the Melrose Emporium visit www.melrosearch.co.za or contact Mirela at The Venue on mirela@thevenue.co.za

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