Today is the day we have all been waiting for, when our team runs onto the pitch at the magnificent showcase of soccer in Soweto. We have listened to the countdown from 1000 days ago, we have worn our yellow jerseys on ‘Football Fridays’, we have watched with trepidation as construction crews ripped apart our road system and dug great gouges in the earth, we have cheered in the streets as our boys have driven past, we have been whisked to the airport on the mighty Gautrain and now we smile with pride as we drive through the sleepy early morning streets with our beautiful flag flapping from our car. Today is the day.

Today is not just the day our national team plays the opening game against Mexico, its the day where we can look back on all that has been achieved, we can hold our heads high as the world looks on, impressed. We can believe in our future, we can revel in the unity of our nation. Once again, we can dream of a wonderful future for our land.

Good luck Bafana Bafana, good luck. Ke nako

The final 32 qualifying countries  have been announced, and plans are on track for South Africa to host the event - a first for the African continent since the humble beginnings of the competition in 1930. It  promises to be the planet’s biggest sporting event ever, with over a billion people expected to follow the month long tournament between the world’s top soccer playing nations for the title of World Champions 2010.

32 flags were hoisted along the borders of Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg. These flags represent the teams, the hundreds-and-thousands of fans and the hopes of nations for the World Cup.

After winning the bid on May 15 2004, South Africa has engaged in a flurry of construction activity. “The stadiums that were once just architectural plans, artists impressions and piles of dirt have risen from the ground to now become world class sporting facilities”  The Cape Town stadium has a great location with Robben Island ahead and Table Mountain behind the stadium. Durban has a great design with the motor arch that goes across the stadium. Soccer City in Johannesburg is designed to look like the African Calabash with 94 700 seating and Mbombela in Nelspruit has African giraffes holding up the stadium, with zebra design on the seating.

South Africa is definitely no stranger to hosting world class events, including the Rugby World Cup in 1995, the African Cup of Nations in 1996, the Cricket World Cup in 2003 and most recently the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Soccer teams and international visitors have been assured of their safety during their stay in the country. “The South African Police Force (SAPF) is spending R640 million on the deployment of 41 000 officers specifically for the event. Immigration Liaison Officers will be deployed at key international airports to ensure ease of access in and out of the country. Dedicated 2010 police stations will be erected within close proximity to each of the stadiums, as well as crime investigation teams and special courts to deal with all event-related crimes. A 24-hour multilingual hot-line will assist visitors requiring police or medical services.

Now its over to the players and their coach to do us proud. Lets give them our support - grab our Vuvuzela, put on a Makarapa and Diski-dance!

Vuvuzela, Kuduzela, Makarapa, and now the Diski Dance! As the football teams around the world strive to qualify for a place in the 2010 Fifa World Cup, excited South Africans are embracing the spirit of the Beautiful Game. We will have a unique opportunity next year to host the supporters and players to these matches played right here  - in our amazing country.

We’ve watched with excitement, and more than a little trepidation, as huge new stadiums have been constructed, roads upgraded, and hotels built. We’ve smiled proudly at the success of the Confederations Cup, and now we need to keep the passion and enthusiasm to make it work! 

Smaller outlying towns will not be excluded from the activity, and Fan Parks will be set up to accommodate those fans without tickets. In the nearby coastal town of Gansbaai, The Gansbaai Sports Centre has been identified as a possible base camp for one of the teams. This world class facility was the first venue in South Africa to have a FIFA standard artificial grass pitch. The project was made possible by a public  / private partnership and driven by the Grootbos Foundation.  Besides boosting sport in the region, the community is able to enjoy many other sports on the five new fields. 

Back in our own village, we proudly announce that Aron Gcotyelwa has been chosen as Stanford’s Ambassador for the  Cape Town Routes Unlimited campaign to promote the region. Aron is passionate about the village, football and dancing!  We’re looking forward to seeing his team perform the i-diski dance around the streets of Stanford!

So find yourself a Makarapa, learn to blow the Vuvuzela, and learn the moves for that diski-Dance!

One year to go to 2010 kick off

To get the spirit going Cape Town Tourism are going to kick a ceremonial soccer ball off Table Mountain at the sound of the noon day gun. At the same time they are encouraging us all to make a noise to live it. So let’s make our own statement and join forces to make a noise to cheer on a successful world cup next year.

Hermanus Tourism  has invited us to join them at the amphitheatre above the Old Harbour at 11h45 on Thurs 11th June 2009. The plan is to shake the heavens with a LOUD EXUBERANT clamour at noon. Bring along your horn, vuvuzela, whistle, trumpet, drum or just come along with all your staff, family and friends and let your vocal chords run riot!

There is strength in unity so lets join together to welcome 2010 with gusto and bring on the visitors to our beautiful home, village and country!