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.