FIFA World Cup Begins
The long-awaited, most watched, and much anticipated FIFA World Cup has started in South Africa. This is the first of the sort in the African Continent and a better World Cup venue could not have been chosen. South Africa is a beautiful country with beautiful locations. The new stadiums, built especially for the World Cup, are also stunning. The best thing is the fans in South Africa; with their dyed hair and blow-horns, they can liven-up anything. The World Cup starts with the home-team playing against Mexico in the first group, and the match would be a stunning spectacle.
The World Cup in Africa could not have come at a better time, as this year African teams are being backed by many to do well in the tournament. Ivory Coast, Ghana and Nigeria would be the teams to lead the African hopes in the World Cup, and all African fans would be backing their teams despite their nationalities. The reason is simple: the African nationalism surpasses any geographical demarcation. However, the African hopes were dealt with a major blow as Didier Drogba, who was the fans' favorite, fractured his arm. He is a true African Ambassador in the game and he would surely be missed, supposedly for only some half of the tournament. He has already returned to World Cup training, and according to coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, might even feature in their opening game against Portugal.
If we look at the recent club football, we would see many African players shining for their teams and rising to glory. Didier Drogba did it all with Chelsea, winning three league titles and FA cups as well. Samuel Eto'o, the Cameroonian striker, did extremely well for his club Barcelona. He won the treble with the club and was the top scorer for the club as well. Despite his performances, he was transferred to Inter Milan, where he again he won a treble with the new club. Eto'o has won three Champions League titles now and his confidence would be sky-high at this moment.
Michael Essien is another big name of Africa, and he plays for Ghana. Essien plays his club football for Chelsea and he is regarded as the best defensive midfielder in the world right now. He is strong and resilient, a true African giant, and is touted to do well in the World Cup. His Chelsea teammate John Obi Mikel, a Nigerian Star, has been dealt with an injury blow, which would be another loss for the African nation. Other players include Kolo Toure from Manchester City, Yaya Touré from Barcelona, and Kolou from Chelsea. These players would be driving the hopes of Ivory Coast in the tournament.
The Football World Cup could not have come at a better time for Africa. The continent has been neglected for a long time by the world. Africa was synonymous with wars and battles, poverty and hunger, backwardness and feudalism. The world still believes that Africans are people who lack any sense of civilization. The African continent is one associated with diseases and hazards. If we all think for a while, we would recall that most of the information we have about Africa is either related to civil wars, AIDS and other serious ailments, famine and drought and the Pirates. The World Cup has provided Africa an opportunity to clear their image on the world stage.
The World Cup will show the world that Africa is a civilized country; only their civilization is different from other nations in the World. It will tell the world that the African inhabitants are passionate people, who love their game and honor their heroes. It would provide Africa a chance to show the world that they are also developing into a mainstream nation, and have the potential to be among the top nations of the world. A lot of responsibility lies on the shoulders of the news media in South Africa, to show the world the true colors of Africa. This World Cup would provide a great opportunity to African fans to show their enthusiasm and love to all the football lovers in the world. That is why we will witness the whole continent backing all their African heroes, which would a spectacle in all the matches of the World Cup.
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