Listening to South African President Jacob Zuma and FIFA president Sepp Blatter, you'd be forgiven for thinking that they are the world's biggest Afrocentrists, and the bane of all Afro-pessimists existing out in the world today. The Sunday before the biggest sporting event in the world commences, they are almost dancing with glee at the prospect that all the years of hard work and preparation are finally coming to fruition, culminating in the opening ceremony and first game between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City on June 11. If perhaps you've been living under a rock somewhere, or in the bundu, as we say in Africa, you will not know that the FIFA World Cup is taking place from June 11th until July 11th in South Africa. And, as evidenced by the fact that people from all walks of life in this country know what is taking place, even rock-dwellers should by now know.
Rather than tales of tropical malaise and fevers pitched at unsuspecting tourists and adventurers alike, the result of the winning bid to host this, the biggest of all sporting events, is that pitch fever has reached fever pitch in South Africa. If I was anyone but the construction companies, the clothing and accessories manufacturers and the hospitality industry, and I had to tell it, it would be that I was a mere spectator to the juggernaut that is the FIFA World Cup. Many hands have come together to build magnificent stadiums around the country, and what Blatter and President Zuma assure the public is that part of those billions of dollars that went into organizing the World Cup will be spent on educational and health care infrastructure, not only in South Africa but around Africa as well. I heard Blatter say the figure, $100 million, and was surprised that it made me feel that the money will be used wisely, but that it's never enough when it comes to this massive continent. It is also a small percentage of the total that has actually been spent by the host nation in preparation for the staging. As an organization, achieving certain goals towards social cohesion seems to be important to FIFA, and if they ultimately do achieve some of what they've outlined, it could mean a brighter future for some of Africa's youth. If all that is in line with the altruistic musings with which Blatter tends to fill his speeches and press moments, then FIFA would have done a bloody good job. Even President Zuma had to address this, as the country is already trying to project what the future holds, and what the true legacy of this World Cup will be.
The government has refused to release the financial details of the entire undertaking, so we as the public still do not know exactly how much has been spent on this World Cup, and most importantly, who has profited. That the government of an emerging economy should spend well into the billions (in US dollars) for an event that could at worst be described as the biggest party to ever hit Africa, is something to be left for posterity to judge.
It is amazing that a simple game could have brought this country of seeming opposites, and differences, and multi-hued, multi-linguistic cultures together. Yet there is nothing simple about the machinations and inner workings of the organizers -- they were and have been a very determined lot. Even in the face of opposition and critics who constantly snapped at their heels.
What is clear is that this is one of the biggest public relations coups that this country, and perhaps this continent, has achieved, and has been likened to the release of Nelson Mandela and subsequent democratic change of government. Yet how does Africa fare? With all the criticisms it constantly faces, Africa has quietly gone on to do what Africa has needed to do.
If at the end of the day, as political analyst Adam Habib says, that the beautiful moment for Africa has come -- and that the beautiful game has enabled Africa to shine, then it would all have been worth it. If you walk the streets, and you see the cars festooned with flags, and that the height of fashion is to wear an impossible shade of yellow with green, and you hear the vuvuzelas being blown, and shouts of 'Ayoba!' rising up to greet you -- then you know you're in South Africa in 2010. Even for those of us who don't even know or understand the offside rule, for the last few years, we've been hearing nothing but '2010' and 'World Cup.' And finally, the fever's caught up with us.
So if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. I've bought some of the gear and accessories, including a Bafana Bafana t-shirt that I absolutely love. I've been practicing on my vuvuzela, I've even precariously placed a makarapa on my fashion-sensitive head, and promptly declared it de rigueur. And which team's makarapa you might ask? Why the United States of course! But truthfully, as most soccer fans will attest when it comes to a World Cup -- you don't really have just one team to support when it begins. You don't have just one, unless, of course, you're my boyfriend, who will be trekking across South Africa to support his home country's team. But even he has his limits and says he is staunchly supporting all the African teams. As the resident vuvuzela 'musician' and keeper of the Bafana Bafana fan spirit, he says it is wide open, as no team has proven to be dominant before coming to this contest. And that makes it that more exciting. I've even decided that I am also going to support the Orange team just because of the spirit their supporters have shown. But if they're playing an African team, then all bets are off. Asked who he would be supporting, my seventy-seven year old father wisely replied "Everyone." There's a 100% chance that his team will win! There's also a good chance that Africa will win, in ways that are incalculable. In ways we as Africans have always understood, but have been until now, denied. In ways perhaps coming generations might look back and thank us for. Just like in those highly enthusiastic and extreme time-lapse commercials we've recently been bombarded with -- where different people across the country look towards the camera and smile and say "I was there."
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I love the commercials and use of traditional songs that serve as advertisement for The 2010 World Cup. I was deeply moved to tears by the striker from Ghana when he scored the penalty kick and put his country in a position to win. Who could of vision when apartheid was the norm that one day a diverse South Africa would have the world on her soil. Opening her doors to all races with no animosity and to the African players who had to endure so much hostility abroad… you are now home. God has allowed you to be respected and heal. I cried twice in the past couple of years… when Obama became president of the United States and when The Nation of Ghana won and played a respectful game today. Perhaps we can peek into the future. Perhaps the Olympics and the World Games will be next on the agenda. I love this image of Africa that is being broadcast to the world. Thank you Mr. Mandela for not burning South Africa to the ground. Your vision of a united South Africa made this event possible.
My last world is a statement made by a muscian who pointed out that it was artists, musicians and poets who supported the Anti Apartheid Struggle all those years for no return. They gave their time, their craft for their people. There were never any soccer stars on those stages, and they are now the heroes and the artists are still hungry.
Time alone - oh, time will tell:
That said, this is bigger than FIFA, and as you point out, time will tell. It doesn't make me happy that our coach was paid almost 8 times his previous salary, R3 million a month (what our president earns in a year), or that the cost of the infrastucture is double what it would have cost without the extreme deadlines. In this context a building contractor can charge anything, consumers have no alternative. I do think the way you do something is important, not just what you do.
I think what I wish for is a game changer, and I know it's not going to happen, the best we can hope for is a change in direction, and then it's up to us, our long walk. So in the mean time we spend R4.2 billion on a stadium that will host 9 games here in Cape Town, and we set aside R30 million for our main City Library where black students cram in shoulder to shoulder to study. The rules of this competition is all about trickle up economics, globalization, monopolies, consumer culture. Sadly it's not really about football, or sport, exercise. teamwork....
I had the pleasure of being in Africa for both the 1998 and 2002 World Cup. Africa is a huge and very diverse continent and there are plenty of rivalries in all matters, both friendly and not-so-friendly. I saw a unity during the World Cup which I thought was great. When Senegal beat France in the group stage in 2002, Kenyans, on the other end of the continent, were partying in the streets. Nigeria isn’t looked on particularly nicely by other African countries, but I bet all will be forgotten during the World Cup and all Africans will root for each others’ sides.
I wish The Elephants, Indomitable Lions, Black Stars, Bafana Bafana, and Les Fennecs the best of luck. I’m rooting for all of you. Wish I was there!