Brrrr … Socceroos may mitt up as mercury plunges
June 19, 2010

SPECULATION was running hot last night that the Socceroos could spring a surprise for tonight's must-win match against Ghana … by wearing gloves. Then again, so often does coach Pim Verbeek ''chop and change'', says captain Lucas Neill, that they might go into battle bare-handed.

Seriously, though, this World Cup has now officially been named the coldest on record. Johannesburg had its coldest June day recorded on Wednesday, when the mercury dipped to -3.2 degrees during South Africa's match against Uruguay. Not so far away, Freeport, in the Free State, recorded a low of -10.3.

On Friday Jo'burgers woke to unfamiliarly icy roads, burst water systems and power blackouts from Soweto to the white enclave of Sandton, where your correspondent was working on a treadmill in the luxury Platinum gym when the lights went out.
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After persevering in the dark for 30 minutes, gym junkies were dragged off the machines by staff carrying torches, and led semi-clad back to the changing rooms to collect their gear and then escorted 10 storeys down the stairwell to the ground floor.

Plumbers and electricians reported a rush of SOS calls, and a spokesman for the metropolitan police, Wayne Mimmar, said workers had to be called in to break up ice on exposed roads.

Cold winds, possible showers and temperatures ranging from 15 degrees to zero are forecast for Rustenburg, near where Australia play Ghana. The city, a two-hour drive north-east from Johannesburg, also reported its first tourist mugging yesterday.

An Irish fan had all his belongings, including cash, a camera, a mobile phone and a Leeds United flag carrying a picture of South African football hero Lucas Radebe, stolen by five men. Appalled local residents have offered to join the search for the perpetrators.

Elsewhere, local government officials have apologised for poor traffic management in the Johannesburg area, which has led to fans missing the start of some games, while events have been further disrupted by snap strikes and protest meetings by security staff.

That's not to suggest this World Cup is being played out in sub-Antarctic chaos. Most things work, the people are helpful, happy, hospitable. Even the most hard-to-please visitors, the media, are having a good time.

John Huxley

http://www.smh.com.au/world-cup-2010/world-cup-news/brrrr-x2026-socceroos-may-mitt-up-as-mercury-plunges-20100618-ymq5.html