World Cup Soccer 2010: The party begins with a bang
The World Cup has started in South Africa and as expected, the excitement across the country is at its peak, especially after the encouraging start to the tournament for the hosts, who held the high-flying Mexico to a 1-1 draw in front of a boisterous soccer city.
Millions across the country especially downtown Johannesburg, well known for being the cultural headquarters of the city were at the forefront of the celebrations, as the opening ceremonies and a musical concert gave a rocking impetus to the tournament. People came out in their numbers in the area of Newtown to join in the festivities as the World Cup began on Friday. On the other hand the event was marked by a tragedy as legendary former president Nelson Mandela cancelled his appearance at the opening after his great granddaughter was killed in a car crash.
The locals were in their numbers wearing ‘Bafana Bafana’ the tag given to the national team. Besides there were jerseys and blowing vuvuzela’s - plastic horns that have become synonymous with this World Cup as fans celebrated South African style.
"This implies that it’s Africa's time, we are going to win tonight and it’s never going to be the same, so Africa all the time," said Kokwana, one of many African football fans who hope the World Cup trophy will stay in the continent.
The South African national team enjoys massive home support as well as from outside the country, who have vowed to remain loyal to their team throughout their journey in the tournament.
"I love the ‘Bafana Bafana’ and I support South Africa, Ayoba. I came from India you see, Samoa," said an unidentified fan.
South Africans have been very keen on a positive start to the tournament and have remained positive about their team’s chances and many draw parallels with the release of Nelson Mandela from prison in 1990 and the first all-race election four years later. Meanwhile it is not South Africa alone that has been ecstatic about the event as supporters of one of the leading teams in the competitions had their own entourage ready for the event. A convoy of orange cars, including a motorbike, Beetles, VW vans and a lorry full of Dutch fans drove into the city of Pretoria after a ten-week trip from Amsterdam.
Dutch fans were in their numbers at the venue of the opening ceremony as they welcomed the convoy. They have been placed at a quite camp site hidden from a main road in Pretoria will act as home to some 800 Dutch fans clad always in orange. One of the members of the convoy Johan Roos, who drove an open top, orange sports car, said the cars had endured problems along the way, with his engine blowing up in Ethiopia, yet they were determined to make it to the venue of the tournament.
"I blew a cylinder, so that was a huge problem. I had to fly in a new engine, and we put it in and now here we are," he said.
The fans said the long drive had been a fantastic experience, with one of them Daan de Groot loving his journey and the destination even more
"Perfect, everything is good about Africa. I am not done with this continent. I go back for sure," said
The entourage will be followed by another group of fans who will be joined by a bright orange double-decker bus. The next group will be around 100 mobile homes, or camper vans, which are in the process of making their way to the site.
"This was one part of our journey and the next part is winning the trophy and brings the World Cup home. That's why we are here," said Jurjen Thomas.
The Dutch fans will watch the Netherlands face-off against Denmark in Johannesburg on June 14, before embarking on a drive in a convoy of 175 cars to Durban for the game against Japan on June 19. Their final group match destination would be Cape Town for their game against Cameroon on June 24.
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