So as the sun has now set on our amazing hosting of the fifa world cup, we will look back with a range of emotions. There were the highest of highs when Bafana took the lead against Mexico and the lowest of lows, Suarez, need I say more. But mostly we will look back with pride, we did it. It was here.
But as this blog is simply a sporting blog and not one to speak about politics or where to from here. I thought I would share with you my winners and losers of the world cup.
Let’s start with losers, so we get the negativity out of the way
Losers
England
I could add France and Italy to this, but they were both ageing squads who had past their peaks and had coaches to stubborn to change. England paid Capello more than any other manager at the world cup, in total they won one game; they were poor and scored a measly 3 goals in 4 games. This was going to be their year!
Luis Suarez
You all know my feelings on Suarez (just look at the last entry!). He is possibly the most hated footballer in Africa and I can promise you the first African to play against him this year at club football will go in a little bit higher than required
The Naysayer’s
“Don’t go to South Africa!”
Let me just say to those – hahahahaha
Here are some things they said
They will never finish the stadiums – they are not just finished but world class. Durban was just voted fourth best stadium in the world with soccer city and Cape Town in the top 20! How awesome is that!
You need to wear bullet proof vests – Seriously, i've never worn one, and im still here. The tourists were not scared, but comforted and welcomed!
They don’t have the infrastructure – well apart from the Durban debacle it was a full success
They will never fill the stadiums – Really? Is that why we broke the fifa world cup attendance records? Better than Germany!
Africa
As much as it was good to host the world cup, the performances of the African nations were not enough to justify any extra spots.
The continents performance reads as follows:
P20 W4 (Ghana 1-0 Serbia; Ghana 2-1 USA (aet); Ivory coast 3-0 N Korea; Bafana 2-1 France) D 6 (including Ghana – U-R-Gay) L10
The ability to win was there, but the teams just didn’t finish when it counted!
Winners
Spain
World cup winners with beautiful football. The signs are great for Arsenal then!
Paul the Octopus
Never before has an aquatic animal captured the attention of the globe so much. In fact Andres Iniesta had a fluffy octopus with him on the celebration day. True Story
The Vuvuzela
“We are considering banning it” said Danny Jordaan. The vuvuzela is now a global phenomenon. Just ask youtube about it
Technology
How was technology a winner you ask? Simple, the world cup not only enforced the need for technology, but pretty much guaranteed that there will be technology used in the future. Football, the planets leading brand, is lagging behind the likes of tennis, rugby and cricket in terms of technology. Hawk Eye, here we come!
South Africans
That’s right. South Africans. I got to see (live) David Villa, Cesc Fabregas, Asomoah Gyan (Heartbroken), Diego Forlan, Thomas Mueller, Miroslav Klose, Simphiwe Tshabalala, Steven Pienaar, Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, Diego Maradonna, David Beckham and the list goes on. I saw them in my own country, I saw them for an inexpensive price, and I felt it. In speaking to an American who has been to the 5 previous world cups, he simply stated that the pride and appreciation in South Africa was amazing. He had never seen anything like it. A journalist reported after the world cup that South Africa is the worlds best kept secret!
So in leaving you today, this is my thought, I know it was here, but the legacy and history and infrastructure are still here. And will be forever. The world cup is over, the memory will never be!
Have a great week and enjoy the rugby (come on Bokke!)
Jabu
But as this blog is simply a sporting blog and not one to speak about politics or where to from here. I thought I would share with you my winners and losers of the world cup.
Let’s start with losers, so we get the negativity out of the way
Losers
England
I could add France and Italy to this, but they were both ageing squads who had past their peaks and had coaches to stubborn to change. England paid Capello more than any other manager at the world cup, in total they won one game; they were poor and scored a measly 3 goals in 4 games. This was going to be their year!
Luis Suarez
You all know my feelings on Suarez (just look at the last entry!). He is possibly the most hated footballer in Africa and I can promise you the first African to play against him this year at club football will go in a little bit higher than required
The Naysayer’s
“Don’t go to South Africa!”
Let me just say to those – hahahahaha
Here are some things they said
They will never finish the stadiums – they are not just finished but world class. Durban was just voted fourth best stadium in the world with soccer city and Cape Town in the top 20! How awesome is that!
You need to wear bullet proof vests – Seriously, i've never worn one, and im still here. The tourists were not scared, but comforted and welcomed!
They don’t have the infrastructure – well apart from the Durban debacle it was a full success
They will never fill the stadiums – Really? Is that why we broke the fifa world cup attendance records? Better than Germany!
Africa
As much as it was good to host the world cup, the performances of the African nations were not enough to justify any extra spots.
The continents performance reads as follows:
P20 W4 (Ghana 1-0 Serbia; Ghana 2-1 USA (aet); Ivory coast 3-0 N Korea; Bafana 2-1 France) D 6 (including Ghana – U-R-Gay) L10
The ability to win was there, but the teams just didn’t finish when it counted!
Winners
Spain
World cup winners with beautiful football. The signs are great for Arsenal then!
Paul the Octopus
Never before has an aquatic animal captured the attention of the globe so much. In fact Andres Iniesta had a fluffy octopus with him on the celebration day. True Story
The Vuvuzela
“We are considering banning it” said Danny Jordaan. The vuvuzela is now a global phenomenon. Just ask youtube about it
Technology
How was technology a winner you ask? Simple, the world cup not only enforced the need for technology, but pretty much guaranteed that there will be technology used in the future. Football, the planets leading brand, is lagging behind the likes of tennis, rugby and cricket in terms of technology. Hawk Eye, here we come!
South Africans
That’s right. South Africans. I got to see (live) David Villa, Cesc Fabregas, Asomoah Gyan (Heartbroken), Diego Forlan, Thomas Mueller, Miroslav Klose, Simphiwe Tshabalala, Steven Pienaar, Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, Diego Maradonna, David Beckham and the list goes on. I saw them in my own country, I saw them for an inexpensive price, and I felt it. In speaking to an American who has been to the 5 previous world cups, he simply stated that the pride and appreciation in South Africa was amazing. He had never seen anything like it. A journalist reported after the world cup that South Africa is the worlds best kept secret!
So in leaving you today, this is my thought, I know it was here, but the legacy and history and infrastructure are still here. And will be forever. The world cup is over, the memory will never be!
Have a great week and enjoy the rugby (come on Bokke!)
Jabu
No comments:
Post a Comment