All that I’ve been seeing – all over the news, in the streets, magazines, the newspaper, EVERYWHERE is SOCCER. WORLD CUP FEVER has hit South Africa, and HOW! I understand its a big deal, but heck people, life as usual is still happening!! Believe it or not there are some of us who would still like an update on things other than soccer.
FIFA has taken over our country for nearly two months and everyone seem to be hypnotized into loving soccer. People who have never even watched a game in their lives are diligently following the cup. [FAKE] Promotional merchandise can be bought on every street corner, there are flags on all the light posts, EVERYONE suddenly has soccer shirts, almost all cars have flags all over them, and vuvuzelas sounding the trumpeting theme for soccer world cup 2010.
For the loyal fans I understand that this is a big deal, but what the heck is up with everyone else just “going with the flow”? Actually spending their money on something which otherwise they would have no interest in?
To get back to my point about FIFA, I read the article about the ladies in their orange dresses, which mentioned that South Africa had some law altered in 2006 to ensure we adhere to FIFA’s standards?!
QUOTING AN ARTICLE ON TELEGRAPH.CO.UK:Â
“What is shocking, however, is the manner in which the machinery of the state has been deployed to do Fifa’s bidding. Those Dutch women are being held under the 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa Special Measures Act (2006) and the Merchandise Marks Amendment Act (2002). The offenses are “unauthorised use of a trade mark at a protected event” and “entry into a designated area while in possession of a prohibited commercial object”. Read Full Article
I feel sorry for the fans who visit SA, in fear for their lives, but at the same time so keen to see their favorite team play live at a stadium. I feel embarrassed at the South Africans ripping of foreigners – charging them more than double what the locals pay for drinks, accommodation etc. For police arresting visitors for wearing orange dresses! Just because FIFA obliges them to?
If I see what some tourists said about not going out after dark, not wearing jewelry when they go out it sounds pretty sad, and a bit like a war zone. On top of all this the weather has been pretty miserable, the coldest part of winter started on the day of kick off, 11 June. I am freezing my butt off, and I’m not even on a stadium, so I don’t want to imagine how cold the fans & players must be.
All in all the spirits are high, the atmosphere is festive, and I guess some of the locals are friendly to foreigners without any mall-intentions, still I cannot imagine this being a too pleasant experience for someone visiting from a first world country…
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Well it’s a big business, here in CR very far away from there and even if our soccer team didn’t classify to the Cup, we have banners, promotions, t-shirts, flags, etc. Just a few days before the kick off, a new Sports Bar opened a few blocks from the office.. and believe me it’s full at lunch which is our time for the night matches over there. So.. just take it easy.. probably you get a bit sick of it because you are not a soccer fun
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