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.
There even was a Mexican pope with whom we snapped a picture. I later saw the Mexican Pope after a timely trip to the Gents toilet where boxes of condom packets were on offer. Upon taking my share, it was with deep amusement and irony that I was able to offer a sex packet to the Pope!
There even was a Mexican pope with whom we snapped a picture. I later saw the Mexican Pope after a timely trip to the Gents toilet where boxes of condom packets were on offer. Upon taking my share, it was with deep amusement and irony that I was able to offer a sex packet to the Pope!
There was music everywhere with a brass and drum marching band and larger than life stilt puppets of various township characters. But largely, it was the sea of lemon and lime South African fans from all communities whose pre-match exuberance, anticipation and vuvuzelas dominated proceedings. Getting into the actual stadium was easier than could have been imagined and ticket collectors did not check the names on the tickets. Despite obtaining FIFA category round 1 tickets in an early ticket lottery draw, we found ourselves sitting in the upper deck row BB near the top of the stadium but on the side. While well elevated, the seats actually provided an excellent vantage to watch the development of play including some late afternoon sun after 5 pm as twilight was soon descended on South Africa’s most famous of townships.
The 4pm kick off ensured that the match was a ‘day nighter’, the first half in the day light and the second half under the lights. As if the drama to unfold was not enough. The opening ceremony was a spectacular but somehow an understated event and moved along nicely, the highlight being the brief appearance of Cheb Khaled, the King of Algerian Rai. R Kelly, Jacob Zuma and Sepp Blatter were also there but no Nelson Mandela after the tragic death his granddaughter Thursday night in a car accident coming home from the pre-tournament concert.
So what of the Bafana Bafana’s performance? Most succinctly stated, they were not over-awed and played well enough, if not dangerously so with the heart strings of the nation. They started slow and were lucky not to concede. In retrospect, the Mexicans were good value for their goal conceded by way of some naïve non-marking at the back post eventually exposing Bafana for the equalizer - much to the delight of the revelers in Mexico City and thousands of Mexicans in the ground. But it was certainly the strike of Siphiwe Tshabalala marking his 50th cap, a postage stamp finish in the upper right hand corner that proved that Bafana are ready for this competition and remain capable of moving into the next round. Tshabalala was a deserved man of the match and my sense is that the team performance was adequate for the occasion providing immeasurable drama including hitting the post late to kept South African hearts a flutter.
And getting home after the match? It was always going to be the ‘getting home’ which would reveal the real capacity of the organizers to ensure fans reach their destinations safely and in good time. Getting back to the buses involved waiting in what could only be described as human mosh pit or rugby scrum for close to 40 minutes as people slowly pushed together from all sides to get through a narrow access gate poorly 'personed' by security leading towards the buses. This process had some chaos in it and was below acceptable safety standards. The jokers in the pack started recalling great soccer disasters like Hillsborough, which was not even funny. In short, we survived and got home unscathed.
When all was said and done, it was not that bad and our 60 minute journey on the way in, took 120 minutes on the way out, but the organizers, like Bafana Bafana, will have up their game to ensure success and better safety and information flows over the next few weeks.
So, after an exhausting day, I was happy to cozy up on the couch in front of a full High Definition (HD) screen to watch France v Uruguay from the Mother City. 0 – 0 draw was the call and this predication came to form to Bafana fans delight. Of greatest irony was Henry’s call for a hand ball in penalty area in the dying minutes of the match. I found myself secretly hoping for the Uruguayians but also anticipating something special from Frank Ribery. Patrice Evra is an admirable captain and one of the best left backs in world football. But generally, the French were lack luster, lacking imagination and composure in the final third.
The French coach Domenach must be one of the least likable figures in the world football and the disunity and lack of cohesion in the French team at present should hasten their exit. Having said that, there remain magical players in the French squad who, if they can knit together, could surprise. It is with great anticipation that I await a trip to Bloemfontein in two weeks time to see France vs Bafana Bafana.
So later today, its off to Rustenburg about 90 minutes north west from Joburg for the USA v. England. Temperatures are falling so the 20.30 kick off should ensure that scarves and wool caps protect. As for travel plans, the issue remains getting to Rustenburg so we can find a TV somewhere to watch Argentina v Nigeria from 16.00.
My hope for today is simply that all the teams play to their full potential. I have never been a USA supporter or an Argentinean one and feel the Nigerians, particularly the thousands living in Joburg, deserve the right to embrace this tournament as their own. Having said that, it will be great to see an Argentinean team with Messi and Tevez that is in full flight turning the tournament alight.
In England and Argentina, the World Cup provides a platform for two of best players in the world to shine, namely Wayne Rooney and Lionel Messi. My experience of watching both these sides in qualifying and recent friendlies is that this may not happen.
The USA match in particular should be a tight low scoring affair. Capello’s instincts remains Italian and England will likely play with Rooney as a lone striker, 5 across the middle and hope to keep it tight, not too expansive. Having left Theo Walcott at home, of particular interest will be how Capello uses his wide men, Lennon and Wright-Phillips, perhaps as impact players later in the match if the question needs to be asked. Also a question remains who partners the cheating John Terry at the centre of England’s defense in Rio Ferdinand’s absence. An unlikely early goal may just trip the script and open up the match, but this should not be anticipated.
As for Korea Republic (South) v Greece soon to kick off, it is difficult to predict. The Greece nation has been through a nightmare. It is unclear whether such events galvanize or demoralize a team. As for South Korea, they should not be forgotten for their fortuitous semi final run at home in 2002. The fitness and running of the Koreans, if short on flair, will no doubt characterize their endeavor. I hope JS Park has a successful tournament. Then of course, there are the amazing Korean fans! May the best teams win, the goals arrive and the referees keep it flowing.
Lastly, as the England match remains today's focus, if England fail to win or draw playing badly, be sure that Fleet Street won’t let them hear the last of it. While I see England as a likely quarter final loser, one expects them to have enough to beat the well travelled and solid USians.
Posts
So the Pope was looking for sex in the men's room? Shocker.
ReplyDelete