KOLKATA: The FIFA World Cup trophy began its journey to South Africa, host country of the 2010 edition of the mega football event, from Kolkata today. The tour began with the unveiling of the trophy by the 1990 World Cup winning German skipper Lothar Matthaus. Huge number of football enthusiasts, dignitaries along with Sports Minister of the West Bengal Government Kanti Ganguly, were present during the programme at the football crazy city. After three days of tour in the City of Joy, the trophy will cover a distance of 138,902 kilometres before reaching it’s final destination — the Soccer City Stadium of Johannesburg in South Africa. The World football’s coveted prize will travel across 83 countries covering all five continents around the world before making its way to Johannesburg. Nepal’s Radhika Secondary School of Morang, who is here to witness the tour, will get a chance of taking the glimpse of the 18 carat 6,175 grams of gold on Saturday at the grand ceremony in the world’s second largest crowd capacity stadium, the Salt Lake City. The players of Radhika School earned the opportunity to have a close look at the trophy after winning the Coca-Cola Cup Inter-school National Football Tournament held from August 11-17 last year in Kathmandu. The former German international Matthaus, who also played for the top flight Bundes Liga Club Bayern Munich, was the highlight of the unveiling programme. He also shared his experiences of his football career. Lifting the trophy for the second time after he helped his country to the 1990 World Cup triumph, the privileged football star shared his memories of playing against the likes of arch rival Diego Maradona of Argentina in 1986 World Cup final. Apart from sharing his happiest moments of winning the 1990 World Cup, Matthaus also recollected the disappointing 3-0 loss against Croatia in 1998 World Cup — his last shot at the world football’s epic event.