This time for Spain, says Shakira

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Johannesburg, July 10: Columbian pop sensation Shakira’s hips may not lie; her lips are also not that averse to the truth. The Latina beauty said she will root for Vincente Del Bosque’s Spain in the World Cup final against Holland at the Soccer City Stadium here on Sunday, owing to the Hispanic connection.

The petite singer, who will kickstart the closing ceremony with her World Cup anthem Waka Waka, was also hopeful that the psychic Octopus Paul, who predicted a Spain triumph, got it right again. “I have to confess that, Hispanic as I am, it is my moral duty to support the Spanish team and also because I have friends on the Spanish team,” she said.

“I hope the octopus doesn’t get it wrong for tomorrow,” she added.

Shakira also confessed to being an admirer of Spanish duo David Villa and FC Barcelona teammate Gerard Pique. “I love the goals I saw from (David) Villa. And I love the way (Gerard) Pique plays. He’s a beautiful defender,” she said.

The multi-platinum singer added that she has now become a “football fanatic”. “I never imagined I would go straight to the sports section in the newspaper,” she said.

She also took to the stage in Soweto last month, when she performed at the World Cup kick-off concert on the eve of the opening game on June 11.

“The Fifa concert was one of the most emotional experiences of my career,” she said. “This has been one of the happiest months in my life.”

“I never saw so many people smiling and celebrating in unison,” she said, confessing a love for all things South African — from the people to the wildlife.

“I saw small lion cubs I’ve been able to stroke,” she added.

The self-proclaimed “daughter of Africa” said that her performance on Sunday would be an all-female affair because she wanted to honour the strength of African women, with whom she felt a strong kinship. “I want to highlight the struggle of African women,” she said. “We have been to their places and they are good people.”

Pic Caption:
Dutch players jog during a training session at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday ahead of the World Cup final against Spain. — AFP