South Africa should be congratulated
Stephanie Brantz
15:00 AEST Mon Jul 12 2010
As the nets are packed away after the 19th FIFA World Cup we pause to reflect on the success, or otherwise, of South Africa 2010.
Opinion, as ever, comes down to perspective. If you are French or Italian, this World Cup will be one to forget. For New Zealand (the only undefeated country) and of course first time title holders Spain, it will be a wonderful memory.
Aussies casting their minds back in years to come will probably have mixed emotions.
Pim Verbeek oversaw a Socceroo's qualification campaign that may not be bettered for some time. But at crunch time there were two matches to be proud of and one to put on the selective amnesia pile.
Ultimately it was disappointing to bow out so quickly, but to be fair we were in pretty illustrious company.
As Australia continues to lobby for the 2022 football spectacle, it's important to remember that a World Cup is bigger than the football and the memories last long after the final whistle has sounded.
South Africa did an outstanding job as hosts and a few weeks in the host country demonstrated to me what a nation with comparatively little means can do when the world comes to visit.
The critics expecting terrorist attacks and riots were proved wrong. Security warnings were plentiful yet I found the locals to be friendly, warm and most of all, anxious that their guests would enjoy their time in the Rainbow Nation.
There were isolated security incidents, but South Africa did not stand out as having more problems than any other country hosting a major world event.
Transport was touted as a major issue, yet as we sat in heavy traffic on the highway surrounded by cars filled with singing fans, I was reminded of the two hours it took to travel the four kilometres from ANZ stadium to my home in Sydney after Australia defeated Uruguay that memorable night. The mood, the vibe – and the delay - were the same.
I hope all the fabulous stadiums will see some use now the show has moved on. They looked fantastic and the facilities, in my experience, were faultless. A mere 10 minutes was the longest time I spent in line for food and drink, and for the bathrooms, no queue at all - unheard of at a sold-out sporting arena.
It’s the atmosphere that makes this event and South Africa had it in spades - colourful costumes, flags and football shirts in abundance, with 90% percent of fans also carrying the controversial must-have accessory this year - the Vuvuzela.
Opinion is divided but inside the stadiums, the Vuvuzela was an essential part of the experience and I’ll admit to importing a couple. They’ll probably sit on a shelf somewhere collecting dust but will be an indelible reminder of South Africa 2010.
The advent of the Jabulani will also stay long in our memory bank. Never again will you kick around a blow-up beach ball without recalling the flight path of the latest greatest football offering from Adidas.
The number one success story though, was the people. A country so long divided, were united in the most wonderful way. Black and white, shoulder to shoulder in the stadiums and on the streets. When Bafana Bafana lived up (or is that down?) to expectations, the smiling locals kept the party going.
Away from the football, I had the opportunity with 1GOAL, a worldwide charity promoting 'Education for All', to visit a school in Soweto.
On the morning we dropped in, the kids flocked round, all of them begging... for hugs. Enormous eyes in beautiful faces.
As children stood around gulping down mouthfuls of what looked like mashed sweet potato, the teacher explained that their school undertook the feeding of children who had nothing to eat at home. Humbling indeed.
As ambassadors for 1GOAL, I, along with Andy (Andrew) Cole, Quinton Fortune and the great Socrates (of Brazilian World Cup fame), were given child-sized seats amongst the class, while youngsters no older than eight stood up and eloquently explained the importance of education in their lives.
These kids spoke of being presidents, doctors, teachers and pilots. To them, the World Cup was a chance for people to hear their dreams and acknowledge the poverty-stricken millions who would not enter the glittering new stadiums that had sprung up around the country.
Experiences like these enriched my memories of the FIFA World Cup 2010.
A beautiful nation with wonderful people.
If the world decides to 'Come Play' Down Under in 12 years time I would be proud if our guests were left with memories as positive as these.
Congratulations South Africa on a job well done.
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