Sexwale's long walk to footballing freedom

By Mike Collett

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - It is a very long way from an isolation cell on Robben Island to a seat of honour at the opening match of the World Cup finals, but at least two men should complete that incredible journey next year.

One is Nelson Mandela, who spent two decades in the notorious apartheid prison off Cape Town until 1982, before finally leading South Africa to majority rule in 1994.

The other man, who was alongside him through several years of imprisonment, is Tokyo Sexwale, 56, Mandela's friend and a pivotal player in helping South Africa win the right to stage the World Cup.

All being well, for Mandela is now in failing health at nearly 91, when they take their seats at Soccer City stadium for the start of the competition on June 11, the dream Sexwale had three decades ago will finally become a reality.

It was Sexwale, now human settlements minister, who first persuaded the authorities to allow inmates to play soccer on Robben Island.

The sport evolved from a kick-around in the prison's corridors with balls made from cleaning rags into organised leagues with teams that played on marked pitches and used proper balls and kit.

As Sexwale told Reuters in an interview this week: "Behind the bars we defied the rules of apartheid and the racist leaders, but we obeyed the laws of FIFA.

"Whenever we played football, we played by FIFA's rules. We were not prisoners then, we were players. Slowly, slowly, it changed. Every journey has a first step."