Jumping and chanting, thousands of South African fans showed up Friday to watch Brazil's first practice ahead of the Confederations Cup.
Roughly 5,000 fans were able to get a glimpse of Kaka, Robinho and the rest of the Brazilian players at the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium in the poor township of Rocklands, outside Bloemfontein.
The fans sang nearly nonstop during the training session, Brazil's first in South Africa in preparation to defend its Confederation's Cup title.
"I can't believe it's the Brazilian players," said 13-year-old Tahbang Zaza. "It's great to see Kaka and the other Brazilians from up close."
Fans chanted loudly when the players made their way onto the practice field and the Brazilians rewarded them by going near the fences to wave to the supporters.
Kaka and Robinho were the most greeted by the fans, mostly school kids from the township. Kaka was greeted loudly as he ran around the field and waved to the fans.
"We want to party with the Brazilian players," said 10-year-old Tshwanelu Tlhabanelu, who was one of the thousands of fans without a ticket outside the stadium before the practice began.
Fans were distributed free tickets for the 16,000-capacity venue, but they were gone quickly, police officer Mosola Adam said.
Brazil has gone into seclusion at Bloem Spa Lodge on the outskirts of Bloemfontein and fans are not allowed to get anywhere near the hotel. But each of the eight nations participating in the Confederations Cup were required to have an open training session to the public before the competition gets under way.
Brazil will make its debut in Group B of the Confederations Cup against Egypt on Monday in Bloemfontein.
Brazilian players underwent a light training session as they are still recovering from the long trip from Brazil a day earlier. On Wednesday, they played a World Cup qualifier against Paraguay, winning 2-1 to move into first place of the South American group.
The Brazilian delegation arrived in South Africa Thursday night on a charter plane, boarding a bus on the tarmac and going straight to the hotel. Only a small group of Brazilian fans, holding a banner welcoming the team, was able to get near the hotel's entrance.
"Security is tight here," hotel guard Godfrey Kealeboga said. "We are not allowed to let anyone too close to the players. The fans won't be able to see anybody here." Fans are stopped about one kilometer (0.6 miles) from the hotel's entrance.
Before last year's World Cup in Germany, Brazil gave fans plenty of access to its players and opened nearly all of its practices to the public at its base in Switzerland. Directors of the Brazilian football confederation later said that it eventually damaged the team's preparation for the tournament. Then coach Carlos Alberto Parreira also complained at the time.
Despite playing with Kaka, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Adriano, Brazil was eliminated by eventual runner-up France in the quarterfinals of the 2006 World Cup.
Brazil, which qualified for this year's tournament by winning the 2007 Copa America, won the 2005 Confederations Cup in Germany and is the defending champion in South Africa. It will also play the United States and Italy in Group B.
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