DAY 8 WORLD CUP

I flew back from Johannesburg last night. I was able to watch the South Africa Uruguay game on television. As I alluded to before, staunch South African supporters of the national soccer team Bafana Bafana awoke with a hangover tinged generously with a bout of depression. The politicians were already voicing their call to arms and encouraging the populace to get behind and continue supporting the team. A new angle emerging for the first time to my recollection was the branding of the 16th June as an unlucky day for South Africa, given the events in 1976 that made this a momentous day in our history.

As the day drew to a close, the mammoth task facing the soccer team if they were to qualify for the second round of the tournament. Most persons felt that Bafana had to beat France by 5 nil if they were to succeed. This was not entirely correct. There were various computations including that of the group log leaders Uruguay and Mexico participating in a lopsided match with one team beating the other by a large margin. There was still the small issue of Bafana overcoming the French in the last game of the first round. All in all, the task seemed impossible.

South Africa must not make the error of making the national soccer team’s progress synonymous with its interest in the World Cup. We secured this international event to our country to participate in it from start to end. The successful bid for the World Cup was never made in the belief that our soccer team shall progress all the way to the finals. The world cup provides a once in a lifetime opportunity to welcome the rest of the soccer playing world to our beautiful land. It is one of the ways in which we show the world the true meaning of South African hospitality and our ability to run with the big countries when it comes to the successful organisation of the biggest sporting event in the world.

South Africa has not disappointed. The organisation and delivery of the world cup tournament has thus far exceeded all expectations. The initial gloomy forecasts have evaporated like the warm weather that we were hoping for. The colour and warmth amidst some of the coldest weather experienced in these parts has not gone unnoticed amongst some of our harshest detractors.

Yes, three games were played today. Mexico beat France 2 nil, Greece beat Nigeria 2-1 and Argentina beat Korea Republic 4-1. The goals are being scored with more ease now. The loud noises about the Adidas Jabulani ball are diminishing. Let me complete this day’s entry by noting that we have a soccer ball that was named with one of our official languages- happiness.            

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