Why the 2010 FIFA World Cup shall never be forgotten

 Nelson Mandela, the inspiration behind the 2010 World Cup

Ever since the proud nation of South Africa was pencilled down to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, those sceptics amongst us laid down the gauntlet of doom for a country most famous for the era of apartheid between 1948 and 1994, which saw millions of non-white inhabitants of South Africa curtailed and minority rule by white people maintained. We questioned how a country of such social and economic struggle could possibly host football’s greatest tournament, let alone lay on a spectacle that everybody would want to be a part of. Of course, we underestimated the power of will, and we were ignorant to the passions and desires of the people who make up the beautiful country of South Africa.

Nelson Mandela’s presence as Africa’s most influential individual has provided people with hope, ambition, and pride, not only in terms of sport. ‘Freedom’ was not a word that appeared in the vocabulary of any South African inhabitant during the second half of the 20th century, yet thanks to the work of this incredible figure, the people of South Africa, and the people of Africa as a continent have rediscovered a renewed hope, and a fresh sense of freedom that has provided the backbone to the first ever African World Cup.

Upon visiting South Africa, one thing that you will instantly notice is the contrast between the rich and the poor. If you’re rich in South Africa, you can expect to have a very fulfilling and rewarding life. If you’re rich, you’re very rich. If you’re poor in South Africa, you’re poverty-stricken and any sense of quality of life is completely absent. Shanty Towns can be seen just over the back of many of the World Cup venues, including Cape Town Stadium and Soccer City in Johannesburg. Homeless people roam the streets with regularity and are typically ignored by the better-off locals with chilling normality. It is for this reason that so many of us doubted South Africa’s motives to launch themselves onto the world scene and put their own poverty-ridden country into the shop window for so many of us to see. Couldn’t the money go to a better cause? Why are so many people in desperate need being ignored by the authorities at the expense of building state-of-the-art sports facilities? To what cause will any profit made from the World Cup go towards? These are just some of the questions that have been asked, and if we’re brutally honest, will probably never be answered.

The World Cup took 80 years to reach Africa, and it those questions that also answer why. Africa hasn’t got the financial backup that a continent such as Europe has, although in modern times Europe’s economic progression is being halted at a dangerous velocity. Africa doesn’t have the stadia of an England, or a France, and the development of such facilities just adds more pressure and more money onto the host country’s production team. However, whilst we can spend all day and all night analysing and criticising Africa for what it does not possess, it is the qualities that it’s most southern country does contain that makes it stand out from the crowd.

A lot has been talked of the lack of spirit, desire, and commitment that the England team showed in their latest Group C encounter with Algeria. “The players didn’t want to be there”, “there was no passion, no flair”, and “they are not fit to wear the shirt” will sound extremely familiar to every England fan out in South Africa, and back at home. It has been suggested that it is not part of our culture’s dictum that we should be flamboyant and expressive in the way we go about playing our football, but at an African world cup you can’t help but think that spirit and character are the two things you need most of. There is no doubt that the likes of Ghana and South Africa have those qualities in abundance, and whilst they may not be the most gifted footballers on the globe, they’re attitude towards playing, and their love for their loyal supporters make them more special than any European, South American, or Asian team will ever be.

The word ‘vuvuzela’ has been used on so many occasions in the past few weeks that the customary ‘horn’ has gone out of business. Perhaps it has been overused, both in speech and in practice, but who could possibly complain about something that is so reminiscent, so representative, and so essential to the culture of the people of Africa, as well as inevitably being one of the memories of World Cup 2010?

It can be argued that the same love and joy that the World Cup has brought to Africa was evident in the 2002 tournament hosted by South Korea and Japan, yet I resent that notion entirely. There are distinct differences between East Asia and Africa, both in terms of culture and in social standing. Asia is rapidly becoming the world’s most powerful force, so much so that even the United States of America will potentially to be made to look like your typical sales representative, rather than the billionaire business tycoon it is made out to be today. Whilst the people of East Asia have a unique love and affection for football, it is only unique because it doesn’t come anywhere near to the feeling that the African people hold for Bafana Bafana and sport in their beautiful continent. You only have to look at what football has brought to the youth of Africa to see what a difference the World Cup has made, and will make in the long-term.

The World Cup may well be held in England in 8 years time, and it may well be a superb occasion for the whole world. However, one thing is for certain; No matter where, and no matter who, nowhere and no one will ever be able to match up to the unique and truly spectacular experience that South Africa and its people have provided for the rest of the world.

South Africa & Mexico share the spoils in World Cup curtain raiser

Sip Tshabalala celebrates scoring the first goal of the 2010 FIFA World Cup

Whatever your assumption or opinion on Africa’s social and economic status within the world, you cannot deny that they know how to party. Even without the presence of South Africa’s inspirational ex-President Nelson Mandela (his absence was due to the tragic death of his great grand-daughter in a motorway accident on Thursday night), the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg had a typical carnival feel about it, a true representation of the spirit and joy that Africa is so famous for.

As for the football, you couldn’t have wished for a better spectacle to mark the opening of what is sure to be the most special World Cup in its 80-year history. The hosts entered the game on the back of a 12-match unbeaten run, which stretched back to November of last year. In Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira, Bafana Bafana have a man who knows how it feels to lift the World Cup trophy, having led his home nation to victory in the 1994 tournament. The message from Parreira; Relax and enjoy the moment.

No matter how wise his words or how calming his presence, South Africa started the Group A match like rabbits in the headlights. Ex-Tottenham forward Giovani dos Santos looked to be the most threatening, and any concerns that Parreira was reported to have had over his left-back were duly confirmed. Lucas Thwala looked sickeningly out of his depth, and was ultimately replaced at half-time by the more experienced Tsepo Masilela.

Despite having the best of the opening quarter, Mexico gradually allowed South Africa, led by Portsmouth’s Aaron Mokoena, back into the match, and although chances were few and far between, the threat of national star Steven Pienaar and Kaizer Chiefs’ Siphiwe Tshabalala was becoming more and more prominent. However, you can never let slip against a flair-ridden South American nation, and recently-released West Ham striker Guillermo Franco showed exactly why as he forced a superb one-handed save out of charismatic shot-stopper Itumeleng Khune, after Arsenal’s Carlos Vela had neatly fashioned himself a yard of space. That remained the best chance of the first 45, and both sides went into the interval relatively happy with their first-half work.

The second period started much the same as the first, with both sides reluctant to take any undue risks, or push too many men forward. However, 10 minutes in, a lovely flowing South African move, arguably the best of the match, resulted in Tshabalala finding himself one-on-one with Mexico’s bald-headed custodian Oscar Perez, and in typical emphatic style smashed the ball into the top left corner of Perez’s net, only to set 70,000 Bafana supporters inside the stadium, and millions outside absolutely wild. Cue the dancing.

For a while Mexico seemed shellshocked, either by the unexpected South African counter-attack, or most probably by the eruption of noise primarily made by the traditional vuvuzelas (an African horn). But, as the shock wore off, Mexico slowly but surely got themselves a foothold in the game, and after Giovani brought out another wonderful save from Khune, and Teko Modise had a rather soft penalty appeal turned down, the moment everybody in Africa feared arrived. Substitute Andres Guardado crossed, the South Africa defence pushed out, and Rafael Marquez found himself onside and unmarked at the back post. With the whole world watching on, the Barcelona anchor man pushed the ball past the helpless Khune, and silenced the thousands of Africans who had clamoured to see their heroes in action.

The stuffing had well and truly been knocked out of the spirited hosts, and there seemed no way back. That was until the 91st minute, of course. South African Premier League top-scorer, and Bafana’s talisman, Katlego Mphela, made one last hopeful burst forward with only Francisco Rodriguez to shrug off and Perez to beat. As Soccer City held one last deep breath, Mphela poked the ball past Perez, only for the right-hand post to stand in the way of Mphela’s inevitable glory. The whole nation put hands to head, and that was game over. 6 years of hype and excitement and the opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup was over in 90 minutes of enthralling football.

As Adrian Chiles quite rightly put it; “63 more of those please boys”.

Steyn 5 puts South Africa into the driving seat

Dale Steyn made his mark on the series at Johannesburg with a career-best haul against England of 5-51. 1-0 up in the series and requiring only a draw for victory, England would have been hoping to win the toss and really put the hosts to the sword by batting them out of the game. Andrew Strauss got the first part right, but not much else went his way on a cloudy morning at the Wanderers.

For the first time since 1937 an England opening captain was dismissed first ball of the match, as Strauss guided one straight off the face of his bat only to be caught superbly by the diving Hashim Amla. Ironically, the ball followed Amla around the field for the entirety of the innings, but he failed to hold on to anything else. Graeme Swann benefited momentarily from an Amla drop in the deep later on the innings.

Things didn't get much better for England as they were reduced to 39-4 by Morne Morkel. Jonathan Trott looked unusually nervous before being trapped lbw by Morkel for 5. He was followed shortly after by Kevin Pietersen, who's horribly out of form, after he pulled straight to debutant Wayne Parnell at mid-on for 7. Alastair Cook went via a review that revealed what looked to be a clear no-ball from Morkel, but don't expect 3rd umpire Daryl Harper to make a correct decision. Cook on his way back for 21, lbw.

Paul Collingwood (47) and Ian Bell (35) resurrected the innings through the morning and reached 115-4 before England's second and last batting collapse begun. Collingwood chipped South African's other debutant Ryan McLaren to point, and Ian Bell was undone by a world-class piece of fast bowling by Dale Steyn. Matt Prior (14) then gloved a bumper from Steyn through to Boucher, Stuart Broad (13) lobbed to mid-on off Kallis, and Ryan Sidebottom (0) edged behind off Steyn. England's lower order that had come to the rescue already twice in the series failed to dent South Africa's progress. Only Graeme Swann was successful in his attempt to attack the South African quicks, but even he didn't last too long. After smashing Morkel for six over square-leg, and caressing back-to-back boundaries off Kallis, he edged behind for 27 and England were all out for 180.

Despite such a low total after winning the toss, Strauss and his men shouldn't get too downheartened. The pitch looks like it will still provide some assistance for the quickies, and although not much turn is expected, Graeme Swann's form and luck right now seems to suggest that he'll have a part to play in the next day or two.

England hold on yet again in Cape Town thriller

First Cardiff, then Centurion, and now Newlands. England have conquered all. And the common denominator? Paul Collingwood, or Brigadier Block as he has been aptly nicknamed by the Sky Sports commentary team.

Collingwood scrapped and fought to 40, scored off 188 balls, in a match-saving partnership with Ian Bell, who's silenced his many critics with a 213-ball 78. However, an England draw wouldn't be an England draw without the customary nailbiting last hour of play. At 272-5 entering the final 15 overs, England looked certain to bat out the rest of the day with comfort. Then, JP Duminy, far more threatening from South Africa's frontline spinner Paul Harris, removed Paul Collingwood with the help of Jacques Kallis at slip. Just minutes later Matt Prior fell thanks to a wonderful close catch by AB de Villiers. Two more wickets fell shortly afterwards. First Stuart Broad who reviewed in vain against one that hit his gloves and ballooned up for de Villers again, followed by Ian Bell who nicked a rising short delivery from Morne Morkel.

Welcome to the crease, Graham Onions. Onions was the hero at Centurion when he saw off the last over from Makhaya Ntini, and he did it again here, this time negotiating the far more threatening Morne Morkel. England saving another Test Match by the skin of their teeth.

12 months ago it was England who were on the receiving end of a superb rearguard action, on three occasions. Fidel Edwards was the hero for the West Indies as they saved 3 consecutive Tests to claim a 1-0 series win. Chances are, that feit will be repeated by England in Jo'burg in a week's time.