My Dream, Your Dream for 2010The 2010 World Cup will mark the first time an African country hosts this prestigious tournament that makes the earth stand still for a month. The feeling is hard to describe… only when writing it using the word “beauty” can one illustrate what awaits us next year in JUNE – the beautiful game of football!
It makes one’s heart feel the joy of happiness… as we eat, drink, sleep, and breathe football eMzansi these days. President Jacob Zuma said ‘Working Together We Can’ make a better South Africa – it’s a statement that will apply to each and every South African as we must work together to ensure we host a fantastic World Cup.
A successful warm-up to 2010: The 2009 Confederations Cup was testimony to great success and, despite what many thought, we showed the world that we are capable of hosting one of Fifa’s biggest events. Even our beloved Bafana Bafana showed the hunger to win, bringing some smiles and hope to the nation throughout the event.
2010 stadiums awaiting us: The stadiums according to Fifa are 90% ready for ACTION after their recent visit to South Africa! When everyone (players and supporters) enters the stadium physically or spiritually for the first time on 11 June 2010 they’ll be having dreams like Martin Luther King Junior and Nelson Mandela! Yes like any South African, Brazilian or Spanish person, I will be dreaming of Bafana winning the World Cup. It may seem like Mission Impossible, but “YES WE CAN” like Barack Obama said before winning the USA elections… as yes I believe we can do it.
Shine your Vuvuzela and get ready: The trumpet has spiced up the beautiful game in South Africa… and also now in cricket, rugby and tennis tournaments one will at least see one Vuvuzela making the beautiful sound. South Africa is known for producing legendary music stars like Bra Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba and it was no surprise for the Vuvuzela to born in a country of historical music icons.
However, international media and other star players complained about the Vuvuzela during the Confederations Cup, calling for Fifa to ban it because it was disturbing. But Sepp Blatter told the world that to enjoy football in SA you need to enjoy their culture. So it’s 100% clear that I will be blowing my Vuvuzela come 2010 with you alongside me, wearing our Bafana soccer jerseys.
Business opportunities and job creation:
The great side – Fifa has produced thousands of jobs in South Africa from building stadiums and roads to tourism… with many people already benefiting. It’s not as big as everyone expected, but one can say having the World Cup in SA is a bonus for South Africans especially during this worldwide economic crisis.
The sad side – Unfortunately Fifa will not allow our mamas to sell our favourite dishes at the stadiums. However, it will be our responsibility as SA supporters to show the visiting supporters our culture of food. This will give them an idea of how we enjoy the game while chewing our favourite meal. It may not be the same as watching Kaizer Chiefs vs. Orlando Pirates eating Mama Moloi’s dish, but we will make the best out of it.
Expectations for Bafana Bafana: Our national team has failed in recent years to live up to expectations. However, as a South African I will put my negative thoughts aside and support the boys throughout the tournament. This will not be our first World Cup… as we have played in previous World Cups in 1998 (France) and 2002 (Japan and Korea) and our record is not GOOD or BAD, but OK after 6 games. We managed to lose 2, win 1 and draw 3 games.
Dream start for the host: In every World Cup the host nation’s dream is to start the tournament with a win. It would be good for South Africa to stay in the tournament as long as possible so the spirit of the event doesn’t die in the opening rounds of the World Cup. This has shown in recent tournaments that the longer the host nation stays… the more the event becomes spectacular.
Security, crime and prostitution: The South African government will be faced with three major issues come 2010: Security, Crime and Prostitution. It’s not clear yet whether the government will legalise prostitution or not. Crime is said to have dropped after the crime stats were released in September by the SAPS. The SAPS commissioner, Bheki Cele, has promised a clean World Cup with HIGH security all over South Africa during the World Cup. This is a great thing as we will be hosting millions of people across the globe and we don’t want any bad publicity.
Mzansi support: Is it easy to recognise a South African supporter? OK look for a person who is wearing the famous makarapa, dressed in cool home designed gear (clothes), has painted his/her face with the colours of the rainbow nation, having a written a banner probably saying “Shapa Bafana Shapa!”, blowing a plastic horn and singing our beautiful song “shosholoza”.
The support will play a major role in the World Cup and it will be everyone’s job to go out there and support Bafana Bafana whether they are in the stadium or not. The players will need the twelfth man to be behind them from the first to the last game. Bafana supporters including me haven’t smiled in years and this is the opportunity for the players to GIVE back to the supporters, as both need each other come 2010.
It’s quite clear that everyone is ready for the big tournament. My DREAM is for South Africa to host a GREAT World Cup and hopefully go as far as possible to make this event one to remember in years to come, one we can be proud to speak about… and share with our sons, daughters and grandchildren.
Dankie sani,
Proffesor Khumalo
proffesor.khumalo.diskioff@gmail.com
Thanks to these people as well: Baile, Mr. Know it All, Nito, Miss K, Tumisho, Thulani, Xoliswa, Mlungu, Doctor, Tebza, and all the contributors.
+ comments + 2 comments
Wake up sleepy people, we have always done this yacky yacky business. Each time we get closer to a major event we want the coaches head on a platter. Santana has his worthy credentials and no doubt about that. Matter of fact our standard has taken a right turn since he took charge. The man has come up with a plan and he knows exactly what he is doing. Even Gold does not just become bling bling over night, it has to go inside the pit of fire for extended periods. It has to be cooked untill it is solid Gold. Cowards would have us play weak teams so we can fool ourselves that we are great, knowing very well we just got readmitted or condoned. Individually our players have made great strides across the world, team wise only one team has conquored Africa and at National level we are lacking to work collectively. What can Santana do to correct our disability of many years over night? Very little he can do. We fooled ourselves at the latest Confederations Cup, we did not advance because we scored but many forgot that mere luck got us advancing. Still we failed to deliver. Truth is our boys are not collectively competative. Hence to those haters of Jabu Pule, Lekelea, Mabizela, Naughty, Chabangu and the list is endless. This is not to sweep crap under the rug but had we been supportive to these chaps in their weak moments. These Kids including Benny are not mere hard workers they have been designed in mind for soccer as star professionals. Any way, what can you tell some people. They are in the picture frame and think they can critique themselves. Yes we have come a long way as soccer loving people but not so fast. If the truth be told why on earth did we want to host the world cup when many African nations have been playing this tournament long before we even dreamt apartheid will be gone. We celebrated blindly and now we want to shift the blame on one man Santana.Santana sit in the bench and you have 11 South African on the field, if they are taht good where is their patriotism. I dare you cancell all these pay checks boys will get in line. These kids make more than their parents so how can they focus. Jomo, yes we love him but he need to look at his team first. If he gets relegated again he will blame SAFA. Jomo a one time master critique of the status quo but he wont take a back sit himself. Greed will also not have us appoint Hunt,Gordon and Barker. Perhaps we have not turned that corner. Guys like Gavin Lane, Garry Bailey, Deshi Backtower, Mark Anderson.Untill our herats are right somethings are not going to go right. We are still bound with the past that has nothing to do with these white South Africans who risked their lives training and playing in our thug infested areas. As for me I will stick with SANTANA and let the substandard fans run their mouths. ANYWAY THIS IS SPORTS WHY ALL THE STRESS IS DRAGGED INTO THE GAME. I know many teams who are still to win a game and yet they lead healthy lives. Perhaps those pimps in distress do not represent all soccer loving South Africans.
Viva Santana Viva, Viva Pitso "jINGLES" vIVA.
Njakes
dream alone at liberty, dreams play no soccer. dream all you can dream but you will percieve reality on the playing field.i bat in your dreams you have Ronadhinho and Kaka playing for RSA. We can careless about your dreams, this strictly soccer and no halucinating. You will soon halucinate that we had a World Cup when it's gone and forgotten. Go play FAFI perhaps at ten cents you might get bat 36 or something like that.
You damn freaken sleepy