That's A World Cup Wrap

Best Stadium

For sheer design value and welcoming atmosphere, I would say Moses Mahbida in Durban gets my vote.

The only shortcoming of this stadium, that I realized most during the Semi-final is the distance to the field when you are sitting behind the goal.

Even Soccer City provides one with greater proximity to the pitch for these category 4 seats.

In terms of spectator value from the cheap seats, it is difficult to beat the vantage point achieved at Ellis Park where at times you feel you are right on top of the pitch. 

Bloemfontein deserves a shout out in terms of the waterfront shopping mall that leads into the stadium and the generally friendly vibe.

Similarly, the fan walk in Greenpoint was probably the most fan centric venue during the pre-match build up.

The new stadiums of Nelspruit and Polokwane, while I fear these may become white elephants, were excellent venues to see Italy and France go down and were more than suitable.

Best Roadtrip

On June 17th, near the conclusion of the Argentina v South Korea match at Soccer City, which despite not scoring a goal, Lionel Messi dominated, I was convinced by some French volunteers to drive to Polokwane, about 300 plus kilometers away from Soweto to watch France v Mexico.

It was a very cold evening in the Limpopo province, but who could give up the chance of this rare World Cup doubleheader.

Having always supported the French teams of Platini and Zidane, one always felt that this current French addition was like the Titanic, waiting for their iceberg.

The Mexicans and their terrific traveling supporters provided such the tonic and thoroughly dispensed with the French ensuring their passage through the knock out rounds and setting up the French implosion to come in the run up to the Bafana Bafana match the following week.

Best Visiting Supporters

Sombreros off to the Mexicans. At every ground we went to, regardless of who was playing we saw Mexican fans who showed the fact that they like to travel and have a passion for the game which goes beyond the support for their side. 

Unlike the Brazilians, the Argentineans and to a certain extent the Dutch, the Mexicans had none of the arrogance of entitlement – that expectation that their team must and should win. 

The Mexicans, passionate and devoted, were happy to see their team progress and with their wrestling masks and Azteca gear where colour, loud and fun. 

An honorable mention goes to the Chilean brigade whose ropey run into the knock out rounds ensured, their travels continued into the tournament’s second half.

Best Group Match

This is a very difficult call.

Probably Bafana Bafana v France, while it was largely a dead rubber, had us believing for a minute, that Bafana could actually get through the knock out rounds on goal difference.

The atmosphere in Bloemfontein was electric and it was great to see the French go down.

Best Overall Team Performance in a Match

While it will go down as a disappointing tournament for them, the Selectao of Brazil played absolutely sublime football in demolishing Chile in the Round of 16 at Ellis Park.

Having seen Chile play Spain more closely a few nights early, we were lulled into the false belief that all was rosey in the Brazilian camp and they would glide into the finals dispatching the Dutch and another other followers along the way.

How different the World Cup would have been.

Brazil were devastating on the night and in retrospect, while the Dutch deserved to be in the final, one can’t help thinking that Spain v Brazil was the dream final that the tournament deserved.

Best Knock Out Round Match

While Ghana v Uruguay had the most incidents, the final result left too bitter a taste.

I therefore have to go for Rustenburg and the Round of 16 - Ghana v USA.

I owe much to the USA as the place of my childhood including were I learned to play and love soccer but I have never had much an attachment to the national team.

I wish them well, but they do not inspire me.

Ghana on the other hand, caught our imagination this tournament and promised so much including a dramatic hard fought and deserved victory of the USians.

It was a night for the Stars, as Mick Jagger and Bill Clinton were in the house in this dusty north west town 2 hours outside of Johannesburg.

What a night as the Black Stars prevailed!

Best Goal

While Diego ‘the heartbreaker’ Forlan was devastating in his strikes I witnessed notably at Loftus against South Africa and at Soccer City against Ghana in the quarterfinals from a free kick, the best goal for me was Maicon’s near post strike against the North Koreans.

We were right on top of the corner flag on the side of the pitch where Maicon made his lightening run and watched events unfold as he beat the Korean keeper for pace on his near post the ball somehow swearving into the side netting.

Brilliant Maicon!

Special mention must also go to Tshabalala who opened the tournament's scoring on June 11th with a wonder strike against the Mexicans in the upper left hand corner.

It was such a pity Bafana Bafana was unable to hold on to that lead that opening day, how things could have been different.

I contend that the ball, Jabulani was perfectly fine.

How could Diego Forlan keep it down so well when other were ballooning their efforts. And the Blue Samurais with their free kick goals didn’t have a problem keeping the ball down. The problem with the ball was a lot of hype as far as I am concerned.

Best Players of the Tournament

Diego Forlan deserves all the kudos he is getting. His scissor kick in the 3rd place match against the Germans, showed his consistency throughout the tournament and his ability to score different types of goals, whether it be his penalty against Bafana Bafana, to the free kick against Ghana he consistently delivered through the entire competition.

A special mention to David Villa and his soul patch, he is a gutsy player and his endeavor and fox in the box predator approach, helped Spain out of a few tight spots.

In terms of all around midfield play, you have to give credit to Schweinsteiger and Sneider for their over all box to box play, including Sneider for his contribution in front of goal.

Given the progression of the Spanish to the final, it would be hard to dispute the incredible contribution of Xava and Iniesta and the manner in which they keep control and dictate play.

They dominated the Germans and despite van Bommel best efforts to kick and disrupt them, they got the better of the Dutch in the end.

At the back, I am a big fan of Diego Lugano the captain of Uruguay. He plays with heart, leads from behind by example and helped inspire his team to make an unlikely semi final run.

Maicon remains the best fullback in the competition, a total footballer in defense and attack, and in goal it is difficult to take anything away from Iker Casillas, whose foot save alone on Robben, saved Spain the ignominy of going down to an inferior team.

Best Young Player

I think the trio of Khedira, Ozil and Muller of Ze Germans must get the nod as the outstanding young players of the tournament. 

Muller of course, was known to those who watched Bayern Munich, but I don’t think his pre tournament billing could come close to what he achieved in this tournament.

Muller may have been the difference for Germany in the Durban semifinal, and certainly, his second yellow card against Argentina was one of the most unfortunate decisions of the knock out rounds.

Most Dramatic Moment

Every World Cup has that one moment, that will live on infamy.

The Zidane headbutt in 2006, the Maradona hand of god in 1986, England’s not over the line goal in 1966.

For South Africa, 2010, that moment was the Suarez handball that denied Ghana automatic passage at the end of extra time and ensuring Africa’s first semifinalist.

The Ghana v Uruguay match was both the emotional high and low of the tournament.

Gyan should have made his penalty, Suarez became a hate figure here in South Africa and the bitterness of disappointments of World Cups past all came back to the memories to haunt us.

Best pre-match meal

The Durban semi-final.

Cape Town Fishmarket at the Sun Coast Casino, salmon teriyaki, yum!

It beat the rubbish were forced to eat the stadiums.

What Made it All Worthwhile

Spending precious time with my brother Nikhil and my nephew Andrew and my generous friends, Ebrahim, Mick, Nina, Rika, MS, Adam and Anita.

Thanks for making it all such an incredibly memorable time. And to Ashley for supporting this blog!

As David Byrne sang... once in a lifetime ...

Matches Attended

1. June 11, Soccer City – Bafana Bafana v Mexico (1-1)

2. June 12, Rustenburg – England v USA (1-1)

3. June 13, Durban – Germany v Australia (4-0)

4. June 15, Ellis Park – Brazil v North Korea (2-1)

5. June 16, Loftus – Uruguay v Bafana Bafana (3-0)

6. June 17, Soccer City – Argentina v South Korea (4-1)

7. June 17, Polokwane – Mexico v France (2-0)

8. June 19, Durban – Holland v Japan (1-0)

9. June 20, Nelspruit – New Zealand v Italy (1-1)

10. June 22, Bloemfontein – Bafana Bafana v France (2-1)

11. June 23, Soccer City – Germany v Ghana (1-0)

12. June 25, Loftus – Spain v Chile (2-1)

Round of 16

13. June 26, Rustenburg – Ghana v USA (2-1)

14. June 27, Bloemfontein – Germany v England (4-1)

15. June 28, Ellis Park – Brazil v Chile (3-0)

16. June 29, Cape Town – Spain v Portugal (1-0)

Quarterfinals

17. July 2, Soccer City – Ghana v Uruguay (1-1) 

      (Uruguay on penalties 4-2)

18. July 3, Ellis Park – Spain v Paraguay (1-0)

Semifinals

19. July 7, Durban – Spain v Germany (1-0)

Final 

20. July 11, Soccer City – Spain v Netherlands (1-0)

WHY THE WORLD CUP DIDN'T MAKE SA R93BN RICHER

by Terry Bell

The recent claim by government that R93 billion was “pumped into the domestic economy” was probably correct — and downright misleading. The implication was that the country is now R93 billion richer. It is not. Far from it.

This proclaimed boost to the economy is an estimate of the total amount spent on mounting the World Cup. Some of this was in infrastructure upgrades that were essential and would, in any event, have been necessary; at least a third of the amount is accounted for by the cost of building new stadiums and in stadium upgrades, something that is highly controversial in the sense of necessity or future viability.

A World Cup of Special Type: South African Exceptionalism and the Question of Legacy

JOHANNESBURG. There have been numerous milestones in South Africa’s journey from a pariah state characterized by the most brutal form of settler colonialism and white supremacy to a young democracy struggling to find its rightful place in a the post new world order. The release of Nelson Mandela from Victor Verster prison thirty years ago marked the first chapter in South Africa’s new beginning. As the tide turned against apartheid and power was transferred to a democratic majority through elections in 1994 and the adoption of new egalitarian rights based constitution in 1996, South Africa has laid claim to distinguish itself amongst the community of nations as an exceptional nation. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) that followed, to examine atrocities committed under apartheid and during the liberation struggle, has been held up as a model process for transitional justice.

One of the roots to the notion of South African exceptionalism springs from the notion developed by the former General Secretary of the South African Communist Party (SACP) Joe Slovo that South Africa had suffered a colonialism of a ‘special type.’ Developed in a treatise called, ‘The Road to South African Freedom: Programme of the South African Communist Party, published in 1963, colonialism of a special type posed the view that despite the fact that South Africa was an independent republic and not a colonial territory, with power concentrated in the hands of a white minority government, South Africa was for all intents and purposes still a colony. South Africa was an exceptional case and liberation in South Africa was not going to come through the lowering of one colonial flag and the raising of a new democratic flag, handshakes all around. Rather, the unseating of a settler minority government would come through a protracted struggle involving an exile armed struggle, an internal resistance movement, and a growing tide of international condemnation and solidarity.

Today is the Day

17:30. SOWETO. SOCCER CITY, SOUTH AFRICA. Greetings from the Media Centre at Soccer City. Arrived in Soweto a couple hours back to watch the build up. Wow, I can't believe today has finally arrived, its like Christmas, New Years and the FA Cup final all rolled up into one. 

I have seen every World Cup final since 1978 in various far flung places, but I never imagined myself tapping out this entry 3 hours before kick off at the ground. I just saw Arsene Wenger, hardly a wax statute, he looked... well, a very much like Arsene Wenger, wearing comfy sneakers nogal.

There was a sea of orange on the way through, the Dutch announce their presence less with their noise and more with the appearance.

Time is too tight, I cant miss Shakira. I don't really know what to expect from this match but I know what I am hoping for... namely, an open honest to and fro attacking brand of football from both sides, goals and lead changes a la Uruguay v Germany. Give us a spectacle that matches the dignity of this tournament up to this point. Therefore, no hand balls on the line, no diving, no penalties and no dodgy refereeing decisions. May the best team win and may the best players play to the potential they have shown through out the tournament namely, David Villa and Wesley Sneider.

Got to sign off and get to Shakira!! Go Oranje!

NY Times: South Africans Put Past Aside

By J LONGMAN

JOHANNESBURG. Given that the Dutch are former colonial masters and their descendants instigated the harsh racial policies of apartheid, one might think that many South Africans, blacks especially, would not cheer for the Netherlands against Spain on Sunday in the World Cup final. 

In truth, many will not, but mostly for reasons involving the aesthetics of soccer, not a half-century of state-mandated oppression of blacks. 

Sceptics drowned out by another rainbow nation miracle

South Africa rises above all the pre- tournament pessimism to host a successful and memorable event.  
David Smith in Johannesburg, 11 July 2010

No one died. No one was stabbed, no one was kidnapped and no one took a wrong turn into the clutches of a  gang of garrotters. One American tourist did get shot - in the arm - but he wasn't here to watch the World Cup.

History will show that South Africa defied fears of violent chaos to host one of the best-attended World Cups ever. It has put Africa on the global sporting map in a way which seemed unthinkable only six months ago when Togo's footballers were ambushed by machine-gun fire before the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola. Afro-pessimism spiked, with a prophet of doom in the unlikely shape of then Hull City manager Phil Brown questioning whether South Africa was up to the job.

From 1648 to 2010, Its Spain v Holland, For the World Cup Final

In the 15th century the idea of Spain was synonymous with empire. While Spain once ruled the world, or at least became the first European colonial power - in the modern era, with football coming into international popularity at the turn of the 19th century, Spain, the nation, the idea, has never dominated world football, until now?

In Real Madrid and Barcelona and deeply profound footballing culture across the country, dominated by strong regional identities, what can now be described as ‘the Spanish approach’ has gained ascendancy in international football. In La Liga, Spain has the most talented league in modern day world football. Interestingly, the Spanish approach has much to do with their Dutch connection and links between Dutch notions of Total Football in the 1970s and the arrival of Johan Cruyff from Ajax, Amsterdam to Barcelona FC in 1973.

A Word from Fergal

Well - I think everyone knew that Germany wouldn't be able to do to Spain what they did to other teams. When you look at the other teams and how Germany performed it was misleading. England? Very overrated. Argentina? Everyone said how weak their defense was. Spain have 7 or so Barca players who all know each other well and play with each other during the year so their passing is immaculate but they nearly blew it yesterday because of selfishness.

They were very cautious of Germany going on the break and the way they've been playing this cup shows an ability to change play to match their opponent. They have shown they can GRIND out a result. On the other hand you have Van Persie and Robben for the Dutch - lethal - but then you have Pique and Puyoul in defence and the Spanish have the best midfield in the world and AMAZING depth on the bench. So...if I can find a bookie with good odds - I'd put $100 on Spain!

Funny story...I texted Karam yesterday if he was at the game. As the text was coming through that he was 'behind the Germany goal', the Spanish were already celebrating Puyol's amazing header. Feeling bad for a second i retexted and asked Karam if he missed the goal because of me....his answer? "Yes - you fuck!!!"

This moment is brought to you by "stolen life time moments that you can never get back by O'Gorman". How will Karam spin this for his grand kids? "There I was witnessing history but I was texting????" or "I was on on the sideline with my boots on, ready, just in case they needed me and then from the abyss of the edge of the box I saw his curls spring into action in a flash of red brilliance....."

The later sounds like a good spin... I did see his locks as I heard the roar of the crowd... Damn you Fergal!

Ask.... Paul

Tangerine Dreams, Jan Rules Again in Cape Town

HOME. If you are a Dutch fan and you were not basking in Amsterdam on what looked like a lovely summer’s evening, then the only place to be last night was Cape Town. I was in Johannesburg, the city named for a Dutchman, and there were few tears for Uruguay, a team for whom most locals felt achieved their semi final berth through cheating. 

While I contend that the rule of law functioned perfectly well in assuring Suarez received his marching orders and Ghana a rightful penalty that would have seen them progress to play a first time African semi final if converted, for both footballing history, world history and the significance of the tournament for South Africa and beyond, in my view it was all for the best that Uruguay were sent packing and Holland booked their place at Soccer City this coming Sunday. Diego did his best to break hearts again, but the Dutch had enough on the night.

Semi Final Form: The Fighting Spirit v the Oranje Machine

HOME. Since 1930, including this year, there have been 19 World Cup Finals. 

Of those 19 finals, Germany are the most successful of the current Last Four having played in 12 previous semifinals, going to 7 finals with 4 World Cup victories. 

Next is Uruguay, who won the tournament in 1930 and 1950. 

The 1950 edition interestingly enough was played without semifinals or even a final as the top four teams from the group stages played in a round robin format with Uruguay finishing top. 

Uruguay’s last proper semifinal was in 1970 in Mexico when they lost to Brazil 3-1.

Spain were part of the 1950, last four round robin, finishing 4th. This is their first proper semi-final.

Holland have played in three previous semifinals, in 1974 and 1978, both times winning their semis before going on to lose in the final against Germany and Argentina respectively. 

Trying to Make Sense, For History's Sake

HOME. This past week, I had the unbelievable fortune of watching three pulsating football matches between Cape Town and Joburg. Spain vs Portugal on Tuesday in Greenpoint, Ghana vs Uruguay on Friday at Soccer City and Spain vs Paraguay on Saturday at Ellis Park. 

Over this period, my understanding of how this tournament was going to unfold was rocked to the ground by Holland’s unlikely defeat of Brazil and the Germans one two three four punch out, knock out of Argentina in Cape Town.

Cape of Storm Settles As Spanish Armada Sails On

CAPE TOWN. As we arrived in Cape Town on Tuesday morning, to heavy rains and gale winds, we began to wonder what effect the extreme conditions may have on the evening’s clash of the Iberian giants. For me, it’s always special to be back home, returning to Greenpoint stadium area where I lived for almost 2 years. The weather has always loomed in the background as a potential factor given this is the first winter World Cup since Argentina 1978. 

However, as the day progressed, particularly after some fine wine-tasting in Constantia, and the day darkened, the conditions actually cleared up and provided the perfect backdrop for this mammoth encounter. Parking just above the Cape Town CBD, in the Bo-Kaap, we joined the fan walk on Somerset Road in Greenpoint for a 1.5 kilometre walk into the stadium.

Africa Won, USA Out, while English Karma Disallows Goal

BLOEMFONTEIN. It was inevitable, with matches coming thick and fast, keeping up with the daily postings was going to be tricky. Apologies. 

Its Monday morning and after another hectic weekend and another 1000 kms later with my trusty Swedish vehicle, the tournament is truly beginning to take shape, including the as predicted, less than reliable refereeing decisions. 

Aint karma a bitch! Its taken some time for England’s allowed, but ‘not over the line’ 1966 winning goal to come back to them, but didn’t it come back with a vengeance in Bloemfontein yesterday as England searched for an equaliser and eventually bowed out.

Even from our end of the stand a good several hundred meters away from the contested goal line, our perch showed that the ball had crossed the line.

Then the sms’ began to flood in from New Jersey, Pretoria, and UK – ‘over by at least a yard’ … ‘should be 2-2’ … ‘shocking decision…’ and from friends in the ground… ‘the referee is wanker.’

Que sera sera. This is the World Cup! 

If the Germans don’t beat England including some luck or good fortune or dodgy decisions or penalties thrown in for good measure, then it just wouldn’t be as I have always known it. 

Blue Samurais tame Jabulani, as Italians at last, finally, not even quarterfinally, 'get' No Country For Old Men

HOME. Yesterday marked the most dramatic result yet in this 2010 World Cup, as Slovakia knocked out the holders who fly home disgraced without recording a win. 

While not physically present at Ellis Park, across town from Sunninghill, on a fresh but sunny afternoon, I thoroughly enjoyed watching Italy sent packing from the comfort of my HD living room.

As we previously witnessed this past Sunday in Nelspruit when the All Whites held Italy, there was a significant lack of impetus in the lacklustre Italian play that only really started having a go in the last 15 minutes.

Black Stars Fight On; Rooney's Free Rolls to Amuse or Bemuse Germans?

JOHANNESBURG. Soccer City was the venue for last night’s stark contrast in footballing cultures. 

The Black Stars of Ghana, who I picked early as my sentimental team for this tournament, versus one of the World Cup’s all time giants, those heart-breaking, make you cry, Germans. 

The Ghanaian fans were decked out in an almost rasta red, gold and green and their contingent included a brass band (close to where I was directed to sit in the upper tier) doing their best, along with a few West African drummers to compete with the vuvuzelas.

Ghana even appeared to have muti men and women with big cauldrons with some strange brew, going from corner flag to flag across the vast Soccer City cathedral doing their best to try and unsettle the Germans. One wonders if a fully Africanised Bafana Bafana, with a South African coach, can in future call upon the local sangomas for more assistance.

The Germans by contrast cast a different image all together on the evening including what we witnessed as the first signs of crowd trouble and hooligan activity as they faced off against the South African Police Services riot squad during the match. A certain section of the German brigade, seated close to the ground by the one corner flag, refused to sit down prompting spats with local fans. As the riot police sought to intervene, the atmosphere grew more tense with abuse and insults hurled by some sections of the Germans fans towards the police. The police had to forcibly remove at least one German fan and had to retreat and regroup to quell further unrest.

These ugly scenes which are the first we have witnessed after 13 match days and having visited 8 venues of the 10 venues thus far, are worrying as we await Sunday’s clash in Bloemfontein between Germany and England. One hopes that the security detail for tournament which thus far have been given an easy ride anticipated a German v England clash at some stage in the competition and have a plan in place for Bloemfontein. Based upon our recent visit to Bloem, one wonders how the authorities will be able to keep German and English fans separated at the Waterfront Mall in the centre of town, adjacent to the stadium, where fans congregate prior to kick off.

Yesterday’s afternoon kick offs however started off in a more serene fashion at Six Cocktail Bar in Melville for the highly anticipated England v. Slovenia clash. 

At the start of the tournament it was hard to imagine England not having enough to get out of this relatively soft group. With Capello shuffling his pack yet again to insert some pace up front with Jermain Defoe and a more free role for Rooney, a la Messi for Argentina, England looked more convincing going forward and were good value for their one goal.

South Africa beat France 2-1, Go out of the World Cup on Goal Difference

BLOEMFONTEIN. Yesterday was a monumental day in the history of South African football as they defeated France in Africa’s first World Cup ensuring they finished the group stage on 4 points: one win, one loss and one draw. 

This is the same number of points that Mexico finishes on having been beaten yesterday by group winners Uruguay who finish as group winners on 7 points.

Mexico’s superior goal difference ensures they go through to the knock out rounds as second in group at Bafana’s expense setting up a mouth-watering round of 16 clash with Group B winner’s Argentina at Soccer City on Sunday. 

South Africa, despite beating France and drawing with Mexico in the opening match go out of the tournament largely due to their heavy defeat by Uruguay on June 16th.

South Africa becomes the first host nation to fail to qualify for the knock out round of the World Cup. When Bafana Bafana set their target at the start of this World Cup, having qualified automatically as hosts, their goal was to qualify for the knock out round. 

Ronaldo Gets One Into The Back Of The Neck

BLOEMFONTEIN. Its beautiful to be in Bloemfontein. You can already hear the music on the streets from the local Bloemfontein Celtic Supporters, clad in green and gold today as opposed to their normal green hoops.

They are blaring music from massive speakers on an open top double-decker bus outside our office.

There can be no doubt, Bloemfontein has the best soccer supporters in South Africa! They know their way around a vuvuzela, but also know the power of voice, song and dance. Keep your eyes on the stands this afternoon.

Today Bafana Bafana, win or lose, will be serenaded and its going to be special. Perhaps my biggest gripe with the vuvuzela is that it can stifle other forms of mass expression at the match – whether it be chanting, or simply the ooohs and aaahs of the crowd at those critical moments.

Today is a day of song and the world will fully understand why South Africa is an exceptional place and a rightful 2010 host. Song has always played a critical role in the South African liberation struggle.

For any interested in exploring this issue further, you will be hard pressed to do better than watching Lee Hirsch’s brilliant 2003 documentary Amandla: A Revolution in Four Part Harmony. At a minimum, see if you can get your hands on the soundtrack. 

Up Close and Personal with Middle American Irony

ALL OVER THE SHOW. Match Day 10 has come and gone, so too has the second weekend of the tournament, and apparently so too the French. Quelle horror! What a mess!

But first, what a weekend. It started on a Friday evening at Moyo in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg to watch the abject English against the spirited Algerians from Greenpoint on the big screens. 

Abject is a word which has surprising emerged on numerous occasions herein.

You will find it on page two of your English dictionary. According to Oxford it means: ‘1. Terrible and without hope or 2. Without any pride or respect for self.’ An unsettled goalkeeping situation, no left sided midfielder, no reliable partner for Rooney and a centre midfield pairing of Gerrard and Lampard that has never produced the goods. One speculates if Lampard and Gerrard really hate each other and whether their rivalry to be the dominant attacking English midfielder of their generation is at the heart of their dysfunctional relationship? I think they need counselling and Dom Fabio is not the right therapist.

THE REAL WORLD CUP POST MORTEMS AWAIT

by Terry Bell

There will doubtless be many post mortems about the performance of Bafana Bafana in this World Cup and, in particular, the showing on Wednesday with its 3-0 defeat to Uruguay. But there will be other post mortems as well — and they may prove to be more important in the long run than any analysis of soccer prowess.

Maradona Puffs on a Cuban; Bafana Chill Out

POLOKWANE. So, no I didn’t miss my posting yesterday because I was so crestfallen and fed up after Bafana Bafana’s capitulation to Uruguay, nor was it my resistance to writing an obituary. It has just all been a bit hectic after watching 7 live matches in 7 days in 5 cities.

After, making my way back from Pretoria on Wednesday evening following the latest June 16th massacre, I never anticipated what a crazy day yesterday would be attaining a new level of fanaticism – namely a World Cup double-header – an early afternoon kick-off in the Soweto sun – Argentina v Korea Republic (So Ko) followed by a round trip 700 kilometers whirlwind northern road trip to Polokwane for Mexico v France with some crazy Frenchy supporters in tow. 

What a day!

But first things first.

WE NEED TO LEARN FROM OUR FAILURES IN EDUCATION

by Terry Bell

The great youth uprising of 1976 was properly commemorated on June 16; the terrible sacrifices remembered along with the brutality of a racist and oppressive regime. There were also reflections on the changes wrought by those sacrifices and the events flowing from them.

Vuvuzela is ancient African tradition like BMWs, R Kelly, says defiant SA

PRETORIA. The SA government has come out strongly in defence of the controversial vuvuzela, describing it as an ancient African tradition invented in Mexico in 1973.

“The vuvuzela is as proudly African as R Kelly, BMWs, Breitling watches and thousands of other inventions from the Motherland,” said an outraged spokesman this morning.

The raucous plastic trumpets have been accused of destroying World Cup spirit by preventing fans from singing uplifting traditional songs such as Ronaldo Is A Wanker, Henri Is A Wanker, Messi Is A Wanker, and the evergreen German fave, Rooney Ist Eine Wenker.

from Hayibo.com.  Read on here

The Significance of June 16th

JOHANNESBURG. The June 16 uprising in 1976 was a student led protest against the forceful introduction of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in Black schools. Organised by the students themselves, the events of June 1976 took place at a time when liberation movements were banned throughout the country.

While the protests started off peacefully, they soon turned chaotic when the police opened fire on unarmed protesting students. As the unrest gained momentum and spread to the townships around Soweto and other parts of the country, the face of South African protest was to change forever and a new chapter in the liberation struggle was written. See http://www.sahistory.org.za/pages/governence-projects/june16/index.htm

As noted by AZAPO, FIFA and the LOC missed a beat today by not ensuring that a moment of silence prior to kick off be observed for the fallen youth of 1976.

Perhaps it is not such an oversight, given that the ‘trumpeters’, many probably unaware of the days historical significance, may not have been able to contain themselves. Now known as Youth Day, officially adopted by the African Union as the day of the African Child, today is public holiday in South Africa. It’s bitterly cold in the country and Johannesburg in particular. It snowed in the Western Cape mountains on Monday bringing a chill across the entire country. It’s a winter World Cup. The first since Argentina 1978. Thus far, the conditions should not have too much impact on the players most of whom ply their club football trade in northern wintery conditions. For the fans, trying keeping warm on a sub-zero Highveld evening, means the conditions have more of an edge to them – compared to say what this World Cup may have felt like on a summer’s day in January.

For sure, there was an edge around Ellis Park last night for Brazil (the people’s team or most fan’s second favorite) v. the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), (North) or ‘No Ko’ for short.

World Cup Buzzzzz and the Vuvulezas

HOME. Apparently, the Brits are complaining to the BBC and they are considering whether they can broadcast 'clean' vuvuzela free feeds. Its disturbing to read the derisory comments from sections of the British media in particular about the vuvuzelas and African culture, while Britons are buying the plastic horns in their thousands.

While they do take some getting used to, unless they are actually having an impact on the players ability to communicate and concentrate as stated by Messi and Denmark's Sorenson, then certainly they are harmless and part of the local show, so let's move beyond this debate.

The goals are coming in slowly for sure and apart from the opening match, Argentina's attack, South Korea's free flowing ball, and Germany's all round play, the tournament thus far has failed to completely spark. 

Its early days. 

The tendency of the opening matches are often 'a don't lose' mentality which means tight and tactical encounters. The goals will come, the drama will build, and the vuvuzelas won't stop. Deal with it, even it it requires earplugs, in your living rooms!

NOTE. If the Earth's bee population were suddenly to decide to rise up and overthrow humanity, it has been suggested that the time to act is now, no one would hear them coming until it was too late...

The Best Stadium on Planet Earth?

HOME. And Paraguay SCORES! The first audible screams of the tournament from our living room echo off the TV! If a football fan screams in an empty flat when a goal is scored, does it make a sound? Bitterness remains after Italy’s hollow victory in 2006. 

The disappointment that accompanied Zidane’s red card and Italy’s eventual penalty roulette win still stings. 

The sooner the Italians are dethroned, the better it will be for the evolution, the growth, of international football. 

Please, not another anti-football Mourinho-esque cantor to the final.

Paraguayan joy in the Cape of Storms. Against the Robben Island backdrop, another set piece goal is well taken by Alcaraz (escape from?) in the ’39th minute.

Paraguay’s first effort on target. Shoo, Cape Town looks miserably cold, wet and windy tonight. Its getting brisk in Joburg but dry enough to go heavy on the moisturizer, a stark contrast from the humid Sunday afternoon in Durban where the Germans braaied kangaroo, dried it and made biltong! 

Westfield, NJ to Tevez-Messi-Messi-Tevez, Tshwana

DURBAN. Its 15.30 in the afternoon, and we’ve just arrived in Durban after 5 plus hours on the road and close to 600kms from our Johannesburg start. Durban is overcast and a bit humid, certainly feeling more summery then this morning’s fresh Joburg mid-winter chill.

Mexicans n' Lime, The Pope n' Condoms, Postage Stamp Authority

SOCCER CITY. Witnessing the opening match of this year’s World Cup at Soccer City in Soweto exceeded expectations. Having previous been to a World Cup opening in New Jersey in 1994 for Italy v Ireland, yesterday’s experience far surpassed the elation experienced following Ray Houghton's belter that ensured Irish glory that day.

From picking up the lads in Melville, to taking the Rea Vaya bus from Commissioner Street in downtown Johannesburg, to arriving for at carnival like atmosphere, Soccer City, it felt like we were dream walking. 

Perhaps the only down side to the day was the anticipated let down of not realising a safe and timely transport return home after the match – see comments below.

Immediately upon arriving at the stadium, the highlights had to be the inter-play and fun between the Bafana Bafana fans decked out in their banana yellow and green and the Mexican fans dressed in their red, black and green regalia from the traditional sombreros to wrestling masks to scantily clad traditional Azteca wear. 

Madly, from Cantona n' Zidane to The Hand of Henry

JOHANNESBURG. The day has finally arrived, June 11, 2010. Like the release of Nelson Mandela from prison 20 years ago on February 11, 1990 and South Africa's first democratic elections on April 27, 1994, June 11th will now join the pantheon of South African milestones

Having been fortunate enough to take part in the events of April 1994, mobilizing voters in Cape Town, its hard to believe that the nation could match the excitement and anticipation of that time.

It has. Let's just hope the queues to get onto the train from Park Town Station to Soweto are not as long as those in 1994.

As I nurse last nights tequilas, at 6.00 am this morning, I was woken by the sounds of the vuvulezas in my northern suburban complex. 

The vuvuleza has recently been described by one British journalist, as a raucous ear-splitting trumpet....

Ghana!? Are you Cameroonian? No, I am a...

HOME. In 1961, in his treatise I Speak Freedom: A Statement of African Ideology, Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s founding father and the continent’s greatest proponent of Pan-Africanism wrote, 

‘So many blessings flow from our unity, so many disasters must follow our continued disunity, that our failures today will not be attributed by posterity only to faulty reasoning and lack of courage, but to our capitulation before the forces of neocolonialism and imperialism… with innate respect for human lives, the intense humanity that is our heritage, African unity will emerge not as a Great Power whose greatness is indestructible because it is build on fear, envy and suspicion, nor won at the expense of others, but founded on hope, trust, friendship and directed to the good of all mankind.’

For me as a non-national living in South Africa, the lowest point, (dare I say the darkest hour) were the xenophobic attacks of May 2008 directed primarily at non-South African Africans leaving many dead and injured and countless other displaced in makeshift refugee camps from Cape Town to Johannesburg. 

It is against this bleak backdrop that one reflects upon South Africa’s journey from post-apartheid liberation, national reconstruction and reconciliation, to hosting the 2010 World Cup. 

From 1976 to 2010, tomorrow, Soweto will again be the centre of the world!

Its amazing to drive around Johannesburg today and see the flags of the competing nations prominently displayed and sold by hawkers on virtually every street corner. Since I thirst for...

Mexico are no World Cup minnows

HOME. Two days to go and here I go… an opening salvo!? I blog therefore I am… not exactly. I will dispense with a blogger’s manifesto. Simply, what I seek to create here is space to talk about this beautiful African World Cup.

South Africa is my home.

I’m excited. The atmosphere is electric! For, it is under the Africa skies where I lay my weary head at the end of the day and in the mornings where I rise to the fresh, cool, Highveld air.

I love living in South Africa. I love football. A footie ‘player’ for over 30 years, today more than anything I am simply a fanatic!

Poverty, corruption, neo-colonialism and the erosion of the rule of law remain the scourges that we fight against.

Will the arrival of the World Cup on African shores do anything to eradicate these evils?

I think not. In fact, indications are that the stench of corruption is not far off when it comes to the allocation of World Cup tenders.