John Travolta dances to the Aussie beat

Johannesburg: Hollywood actor John Travolta flew into South Africa in his own jet to boost the Australian team here today ahead of their opening World Cup match against Germany. The 56-year-old star of popular movies, `Saturday Night Fever`, `Grease` and `Pulp Fiction`, is in South Africa for five days with his his pregnant wife, Kelly Preston, and their daughter, Ella.

Travolta, a qualified pilot, landed his own Qantas-branded 707 aircraft at Lanseria Airport, north west of Johannesburg early today, before visiting the Socceroos` base camp to meet with the players. He is popular with the Australian squad and was coaxed into a few impromptu disco dancing routines by Socceroos` Everton star Tim Cahill. Travolta`s connection with the Australian team stems back to the previous World Cup in Germany when as an ambassador for team sponsor Qantas, he flew a jumbo jet into Sydney to see Australia qualify against Uruguay for Germany 2006. The actor was today presented with a personalised Socceroo shirt bearing the number 10 of one of his favourite players, Harry Kewell, and also posed for photos with the Socceroo squad and support staff. "Hopefully, it was a good omen to meet him again because the last time it worked in our favour (against Uruguay)," goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer said. While in South Africa, Travolta will also be assisting in promoting the Nelson Mandela`s Children`s Fund to help raise awareness of their needs. Bureau Report