20 days from now, South Africans will watch with pride as their  players run onto the pitch at the Soccer City Stadium for the opening game against Mexico - and the Vuvus will go wild!

You may have a good knowledge of the intricacies of the game, and be tempted to argue with the ref’s whistle from your privileged position on the couch, but how much do you know of the history of the Beautiful Game?

Did you know that Soccer was first played in Johannesburg in 1888,  two years after gold was found on the reef?   Although very competitive, it was mostly amateur soccer.

• In 1896 Indian Football Clubs united to form the Indian Football Association.
• 1937 – Orlando Pirates, 1947 – Moroka Swallows, 1971 – Kaizer Motaung’s All-Star XI became Kaizer Chiefs.
• In 1958 the South African Bantu Football Association affiliated with FASA and FIFA and subsequently recognised FASA as the sole governing body of soccer in South Africa.
• In 1959 Orlando Stadium in Soweto opened.
• In 1965 Moroka Swallows won their first national championship in the South African Soccer League.
• In 1983 Jomo Sono bought Highlands Park, a historically white club and renamed it Jomo Cosmos.
• In 1985 the National Soccer League (NSL) was launched.
• In 1989 the First National Bank Stadium (Soccer City) with a capacity of 80 000 opened at Nasrec.
• In 1991, four historically divided and entirely separate bodies united to form the non-racial South African Football Association (SAFA) in Durban.
• 1990 SAFA was accepted back into FIFA.   Domestic soccer was re-organised along non-racial lines at last.
• In July 1992 South Africa re-joined international football by hosting the first fully representative international soccer match at King’s Park Stadium in Durban.   The South African team (dubbed Bafana Bafana – the boys), defeated Cameroon 1-nil.
• Three years later Orlando Pirates won the African Champion’s Cup.
• The following year SA hosted the African Cup of Nations and the national team became champions of Africa after beating Tunisia 2-nil at the FNB Stadium.   The Premier Soccer League was launched the same year.
• In 1997 South Africa qualified for the 1998 World Cup with a 1-nil victory over Congo at the FNB Stadium, but the team lost in the first round of the World Cup in France the next year.
• On 15 May 2004 South Africa won the bid to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
• In June 2009, South Africa successfully hosted the Confederations  Cup

Let celebrate being part of history, and embrace with pride,  our national team.

Good luck Bafana Bafana!

With just 40 days to the start of the eagerly awaited  Soccer World Cup and the arrival of plane loads of frenzied fans, the locals in Stanford have come up with their own solution to home grown hospitality. The Village has an impressive collection of talented chefs, artists, wine makers, bakers and warm wonderful people who are pulling out the stops to ensure that visitors, both local and from abroad,  experience the warmth of the Overberg.

The renowned country restaurant, Marianas, is offering cooking workshops  and her foodie fans will be delighted to hear that she will be open for Friday evening meals during June, with a special menu showcasing local produce.

Mosaic Farm invites their guests to indulge in a weekend of  ‘Slow Food and  Good Wine’ at the Spookhuis.

If you’re still hungry for culinary knowledge, you can join a cooking demo at Blue Gum Country Estate’s “Ready Steady Cook” while Dad and the children head into the outdoors on a nature exploration.

Children will be entertained while their parents enjoy their time out - adventure camps, playgroups, soccer tournaments on the village green, horse cart rides and a ‘Kidz Kamp’ on a nearby farm have been arranged to keep them happily and safely occupied.

There will be no excuse for feeling frazzled, or not being well groomed. Lots of specials are on offer at the spa, and Moms and the teenagers will be indulged and pampered.

The local pub will have live music and a cabaret show in the evenings and a foot-stomping, good ol’ fashioned Barn dance will be hosted by Stanford Hills Wine Estate. The regular Evening Market will ensure that guests sample the delicious local produce. Galashiels Lodge will share the secrets of the Scottish tipple at a Whisky tasting evening. For a touch of refinement, a traditional English High tea is also on the cards.

Our close neighbour in Baardskeerdersbos, renowned artist Niel Jonker will be sharing his bread-making secrets at the 2 day “Sourdough Experience”

Great specials are on offer for accommodation, so don’t let that long winter holiday get you down. The village of Stanford is warm and inviting, any time of year.

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!

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!