CELLULAR phone companies MTN and Vodacom used yesterday's 2010 Fifa World Cup 100 days countdown celebrations to mobilise Africans to embrace the event.

CELLULAR phone companies MTN and Vodacom used yesterday's 2010 Fifa World Cup 100 days countdown celebrations to mobilise Africans to embrace the event.

At the MTN function in Roodepoort, also attended by various artists, the company unveiled the "Africa Unite" campaign.

The company's 2010 World Cup manager, Ntombi Mahangwe, said: "The campaign is aimed at mobilising support for the World Cup in Africa.

"We operate in 21 African and Middle East countries. There were 100-day celebrations in all those countries and it went very well. We urge fellow Africans to support the six teams that will represent our continent at the World Cup in line with a call by LOC chairperson Irvin Khoza."

In Midrand Vodacom lined up Bafana Bafana players Teko Modise, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Itumeleng Khune and Reneilwe Letsholonyane as part of the celebrations. Also present were players from Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.

Tshabalala said: "It's a great honour for our country that the 2010 World Cup is coming to our shores. We urge all South Africans to support the tournament.

"It is also important for the country to rally behind Bafana Bafana. We count on South Africans to support us to do well during the World Cup."

Hundreds of people who attended the Midrand event were given vuvuzelas.

"We at Vodacom are the voice behind Bafana Bafana. We believe by showing our support to the team, we can help to galvanise the country behind Carlos Alberto Parreira and our national side," Shameel Joosub, managing director Vodacom SA, said.

"We wish Bafana Bafana the best of luck in their coming match against Namibia this week."

Vodacom held a similar event on May 15 2004 when Fifa president Sepp Blatter named South Africa as the country to host the 2010 World Cup.