Author: David Patrick Lane

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On an Ear Plug and a Prayer



Bafana Bafana’s 2-1 win last night means they are now unbeaten in the ten games since the return of Carlos Alberto Parreira. Make no mistake. South Africa are good, and will be a formidable presence in Group A. They are far from the finished article, but there is a growing sense of belief about their game. One senses the players believe in themselves, television pundits are beginning to pump folk up suggesting even winning the World Cup is possible (I like that), and supporters I have been speaking to are now starting to believe too. Such optimism is contagious and will be at it most virulent for the opening fixture. I suspect Mexico will need more than just ear plugs and prayers when they take to the field in Johannesburg’s Soccer City.

Colombia came correct and deserved more from the game. But the home team had the rub of the green. An Ox was slaughtered on the pitch by a 70 year old warrior the day before the match. And the ref was blind. If the game had been more than a friendly, I suspect the Colombians may gone one up on local rituals and smoked the Kenyan referee. This was a game of three penalties. South African’s second penalty was given for a sweetly timed game saving interception, not a foul.

Continue reading “On an Ear Plug and a Prayer”

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Hosting

Storms and that “Carbunkle” in the Room



There was a storm in Cape Town last night. I now know why they call the local Rugby team, the Stormers. The lashing rain and wind forced me to have a quiet night in with the telly. I had not switched on that “carbunkle” in the room since arriving in Cape Town, but I enjoyed its companionship last night. (*As Cape Town’s Greenpoint stadium arose, residents opposed to the project commonly referred to it as that “Carbunkle”.)

Bafana Bafana versus Colombia were top of the bill, but I also managed to consume a lot of commercials (more on those later), catch up with the highlights of the previous night’s friendlies, and also got a taste of network television from the former front line states of Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe. I woke up this morning to Zimbabwe ‘showing the Willow’ to India. Two Indians were ran out in quick succession. FIFA could learn a lot from the Zimbabwean technology. The run-outs were quickly adjudicated by the help of a camera. The final decision of the umpire relayed to the crowd through a cable connected to an old set of traffic lights. Cheers of delight went up with every red light.

It’s another beautfiul morning in Cape Town, but last night was a portend of what the rainy season can bring to the game. I got a feeling Cape Town is going to host a classic or two in the knock out stages. There has been a lot of talk of teams preparing for altitude. But progress through Cape Town may require a team that can cope with a storm. (Only three teams have chosen to be based at sea level on the Western Cape: Denmark, France and Japan.)

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Hosting

Come and Get Your Warthog On



The Australians were the first to arrive in South Africa. Brazil followed yesterday. The local press are reporting the following arrival times for the rest of South Africa’s guests.

The Danes are scheduled to arrive on Saturday. Argentina on Sunday. Uncle Sam on Thursday. Chile and Mexico next Friday. France, Nigeria, South Korea, and Uruguay next Saturday. Algeria, Greece, Holland, Japan, New Zealand and Portugal all set to hit the tarmac on June 6th. Germany, Ghana and Slovenia follow on June 7th. Serbia arrive on June 9th. Cote I’Voire and Slovakia on June 10th. And Spain will be here on June 11th. (NB. I believe there is some FIFA by-law about teams having to arrive a week before the tournament, so expect those times to change.)

And there’s still time for y’all to come on through. South Africans will embrace you; apparently there’s tickets to be had and there’s plenty of Warthog and lashings of Castle Lager to go round.

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Hosting

Mature Students of the Game



I spent the morning with some serious senior folk in Cape Town. Baxter Auditorium at the University of Cape Town was packed to the rafters for a lecture on FIFA and the legacy of the World Cup, delivered by Lauren Platzky. I had ventured on campus expecting to find a small woolly collective of football connoisseurs. What I found instead were hundreds upon hundreds of Cape Town’s seniors getting their football ON!!!

Lauren Platzky was eloquent and most informative. Platzky, an Urban Planner by training, holds a quasi official role in the coordination of the tournament between FIFA and the various branches of government in Cape Town and on the Western Cape.

I grabbed a moment with Lauren Platzky after the lecture. I could have “interviewed” her. She covered a lot of material. and there would have been much to discuss. This World Cup and its legacy remain a work in progress, but there’s a time and place for everything. This was the time to be real and offer respect for the efforts of people like Platzky who have worked to make this tournament a reality. I preferred to say “Thank You.” Eikosi, Lauren!

Then I found the local seniors were interested in the fact that I was interested in them. There followed some engaging and lively discussion with folks in the foyer. Watch out for Rosemarie, and Avril and Morris coming to a YouTube near you soon!

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Video

A Passing Fancy …

Hugh Masekela tells Keme Nzerem of the UK’s Channel 4 News that he thinks the World Cup is just a passing fancy.

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Breaking Down in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso’s football championship was been suspended for lack of money this past Sunday, said the Burkina Faso Football Federation. “We regret to announce the cessation of the national first division championship until further notice, for lack of financial resources,” said the Burkina Faso Football Federation in a statement. The Federation said more than 400 million CFA Francs at banks, trainers, service providers and their movable and immovable property, including its headquarters built with funding from FIFA had been seized. “All our belongings were seized by a bailiff, even the chairs were taken…”, said Chairman, Zembédé Theodore Sawadogo, at a press conference this week, blaming the “financial difficulties” in its structure on the mismanagement of his predecessors.

It is story that has not registered much interest in the football watching world.  It’s a shame.  You want to open a Lionel Messi Church?  That’s all good.  I won’t forget to wear my Sunday best.  But let’s not forget the magical congregation over in Burkina Faso who also know a good goal when they see one.

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Players

Who Will Forget The Captain is Black?

rioferdinandandenglandcoachfabiocapello

The odious John Terry has been relieved of his duties. There was always something wrong about a character like John Terry lifting the World Cup in South Africa. Fabio Capello has reportedly chosen Rio Ferdinand to replace him. A Black England Captain leading the Three Lions in Africa! If Captain Rio lifts the World Cup, who will “forget” he is black?

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