Film by Indian-origin on Mandela to publicise FIFA 2010

M Subramoney

Durban, Jun 23 (PTI) South Africa, the host of FIFA World
Cup 2010, will screen Indian-origin producer Anant Singh's
film on Nelson Mandela playing football with other political
prisoners on Robben Island to keep their spirits high in their
fight against apartheid in the run-up to the mega event.

The film 'More Than Just a Game', documents the Robben
Island prisoners' Makana Football Club, which was started in
the 1960s after Mandela and other top leaders were sentenced
to life imprisonment there.

"More Than Just a Game will be broadcast by the BBC in
the run-up to the FIFA World Cup next year," Singh, who is now
producing a film on the life of Nelson Mandela, said Tuesday.

"The film is a tribute to the people on Robben Island who
fought for the privilege of playing football. It demonstrates
our continent's love for the game, validating the FIFA World
Cup finally coming to Africa," Singh said.

Based on the book More Than Just a Game: Soccer vs
Apartheid by Professor Chuck Korr, the film, produced in 2007,
was also played at the House of Lords in Britain recently.

"It was truly an amazing experience to have the film
screened at the House of Lords and I am delighted that the
audience was moved and impressed by the film. I was especially
pleased that a number of those who attended the screening were
involved in the anti-apartheid movement and in football and
made a special effort to be there," Singh said. PTI SB