The 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa is finally here. After thinking it through I thought as a proud soccer fan I should start a final count down blog to the Fifa World Cup 2010 South Africa. Today marks 30 days to the football extravaganza that will soon take place in South Africa, the 19th Fifa World Cup and the first one ever on African ground. In December 2002 South Africa embarked on a journey to bid to host the 2010 Fifa World Cup amongst other great countries. Looking back I realize that it was not an easy journey to this point, it took a lot of preparation and hard labor to make South Africa ready to host the 2010 Fifa World Cup. The journey started when the South African Football Association “SAFA” decided to bid for the 2010 Fifa World Cup and selected a delegation that included great names like Dr. Ivan Khoza, Danny Jordaan and of course the nations Icon, Former South African President Nelson Mandela who went to represent South Africa during the bidding period on who should host the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
On May 15 Fifa was ready to release the outcome of the poll who should host the 2010 Fifa World Cup, all soccer lovers were watching from all over the world as Sepp Blatter held in his hand an envelope containing the name of the 2010 Fifa World Cup host nation. Nations and delegates had shown their confidence and voted for the best country they thought must host the 2010 Fifa World Cup. No one knew the results until that moment when Sepp Blatter said as he opened the envelope “the host of the 2010 Fifa World Cup is…” Between “is” and the result time seemed to have stopped for a moment, suspense was truly killing. I remember the look on some of countries’ delegates faces, some wishing and hoping, some crossing their fingers, some confident that the world cup is coming to them.
At that moment I was with my friends and hundreds other soccer fans in Church Square – Pretoria watching the live announcement on TV. “the host of the 2010 Fifa World Cup is …” uttered Sepp Blatter. Silence for a moment is if we were anywhere but the middle of the crowd filled Church Square. Sepp Blatter’s facial expression suddenly changed as if it glowed with excitement and as he simultaneously revealed the note in an envelope as when he uttered “…South Africa”. Oh boy, did I leap for excitement! Those two words became music to everyone’s ears and excitement echoed throughout the city of Tshwane and the same went on for the rest of South Africa. Sounds of vuvuzela were heard from everywhere, South Africa was soon to realize a dream come true. Some sobbed with tears of joy, people hugged, people kissed, we were all caught in the moment; the biggest sporting event was about to come to our shores, the first ever Fifa World Cup on the entire African continent.
The magnitude and power of the Fifa World Cup is so amazingly powerful that that moment shook the entire African continent at large and united Africa to extends that not even political intervention could. This was not just a moment for South Africa but all Africa, to this day and beyond, the 2010 Fifa World Cup will always be a world cup for all of Africa. The 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa will always have a lasting impression on all of Africa. Thanks to all who have shown confidence in South Africa especially Sepp Blatter who has always shown confidence that South Africa is capable to host an event of this magnitude, South Africa’s delegation that included Nelson Mandela, thank you Nelson Mandela for the Madiba magic. In time we absorbed the reality that this was actually happening as preparing to host the world cup came with great responsibilities. South Africa was never the same from that moment on as this meant that its time to get our hands dirty and build a whole new world class sporting Africa and uphold the confidence to the world that South Africa can truly host the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Many tried to put South Africa down, but we prove them wrong.
I must say, this one is one hell of an event to host. Construction, infrastructure, stadia, airports, hotels, upgrading roads, building new ones, restructuring cities, new transport systems, it was time to rebuild South Africa, literally, and that was a nightmare that lasted year in and year out for 6 years. Dust filled our air, roads became almost impossible to drive on during the expansion period, scheduled explosions, demolition of buildings, hotels temporarily closing down to improve their facilities, airports became major construction sites, and entertainment places were under construction, land was rezoned, it was as if we were recovering from a major earth quake all thanks to Fifa. South Africa became very busy, I mean very busy, we literally became disorganized to organize. But on a serious note, thanks to Fifa I must say, this event has transformed South Africa in a manner that we’d only dream of perhaps not in the near future. Today we proudly have some of the world’s best facilities of our time that even generations to come will always cherish (truly amazing structures and facilities). All the sweat and hard labor has finally paid off. Today I’m proud to say, “World, South Africa is ready to host the biggest sporting event on the planet”.
Today we count 30 days to the 19th FiFa World Cup. I commit to post and update this blog each and everyday over the next 30 days to the world cup, 31 days during the world cup and way after the world cup. Football or soccer lovers, as were refer to it in South Africa, join me in this blog. Lets kindle it and keep the fire burning till the end of the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Feel it, it is here… This blog will cover many topics such as the latest in soccer news, world cup updates, participating nations, arriving teams, venues, take a closer look at each and every stadium (you will love this one, detailed information and pictures about every spectacular stadium), host cities, tourist destinations, etc. During the world cup this blog will be even more active as it will contain posts about latest scores, information about teams, players, goal scorers, eliminated teams, winning teams right through the final, I may also share what people from all over the world I come across have to say on a wide variety of subjects, perhaps even post pictures, anything, everything.
Come-on soccer lovers, lets hold the world flag high and our thoughts. Lets make this the biggest blog of the 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa, 30 days to the world cup, 31 days during the world cup, 32 participating nations, millions of fans watching live, billions of fans around the world, 1 trophy, 1 team will walk away with it… There’s so much to talk about, I for one will be keeping you posted on every topic and during the world cup I will be there live in some of the venues. If you visit South Africa during the world cup, help me spread the love. In your post also tell us who your favorite team is and wave support to them. I’m 100% behind Bafana Bafana (South African National Team) and You?
2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa, Feel it, it is here.
Vincent Rams
100% Behind Bafana Bafana (South Africa) and You?
