KHAYELITSHA — Thousands of excited township dwellers gathered in Cape Town’s sprawling Khayelitsha yesterday to catch a glimpse of the 2010 Soccer World Cup trophy at the start of its SA tour.

Construction workers, civil servants and the unemployed thronged to be photographed with the gold trophy in the city’s largest black township.

“I feel okay, proud to be a South African. The trophy will make people happy, excited for the tournament,” said Zathini Nelani, a self-employed 44-year-old from the township.

Organisers are hoping that the trophy’s journey around the country will heighten excitement ahead of the tournament, with ticket sales seemingly waning after a brisk start to buy the last 500 000 tickets for cash.

Fifa secretary-general Jérôme Valcke said he is confident that host cities, such as Polokwane, which is struggling to sell tickets to its games, will rise to the challenge.

He said the trophy will be locked in a safe for the duration of the event.