Ghana might have exited the World Cup but the Black Stars still enjoyed a heroes status as players of the team thanked the local fans for their support yesterday in Johannesburg.

The bus carrying the players traveled through the streets of Soweto where a parade along the famous Vilakazi Street, where Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former president Nelson Mandela once lived cheered on their new heroes.

Cheering fans waved flags, sounded the vuvuzelas and took the opportunity to take pictures as the bus strolled slowly through the huge crowd the youth doing Asamoah Gyan’s goal celebration dance.

The bus finally made its way to the Melrose Arch, northern Johannesburg where another crowd had gathered two hours before the scheduled time to see their stars with every gesture by the Black Stars players drawing an uproar backed by the ever popular vuvuzela.

At the Melrose Arch, team was greeted by an eminent traditional ruler from Ghana, the Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amotia Ofori Panin II as he made his way onto the stage.

All the hurt of last Friday’s quarter-final defeat seems fresh but the atmosphere suggested that the fans had forgotten about that.

Player after player was introduced with Ghana defender John Paintsil using the opportunity to thank the crowd and South Africa for their support when he addressed them.

“We’re so happy to be here with you. All we want to say is a big thank you for your love. You’ve given us so much and we couldn’t have done this without you.

“We’re all proud of for the massive support. It’s for everyone in Africa, for South Africa and for Ghana. We thank you again and God bless us all,” he said.