[Eljay]

Hi there, all soccer lovers!

As you know, the first WORLD CUP on African soil kicks off this Friday. I am from Cape Town, South Africa and I love soccer. We cannot wait to welcome the world to this great event. Our citizens are driving around with national flags on our cars and wearing the yellow and green of our national team.
Our national team are called 'Bafana Bafana' which means "The Boys". The mascot for the event is called Zakumi. He is a little leopard dressed in soccer gear, holding a soccer ball and sporting an African dreadlock style haircut. The official ball that will be used is called Jabulani, which means 'celebrate'. Then their is the Vuvuzela, a flute like pipe that you blow to make a noise. We either love or hate this instrument. I hate it, 'cos it makes one hell of a load, irritating sound. But one thing is for sure, this will give the tournament an unique African atmosphere. One can even buy earplugs if you can't stand the sound in a stadium.
Our stadiums are world class, we have enough accommodation and hopefully enough transport, ranging from trains and busses to airline flights.
South Africa is a country of contrasts. The gap between the rich and poor are tremendous. We have serious political problems, severe poverty, a very high AIDS rate and a huge crime problem. Some tourists will be very upset when they see the conditions in which the poor live. In respect to crime, they must not wear expensive jewelery and carry expensive gadgets like cameras etc. in clear view of everyone. Tourists should always lock their doors, day and night, and not visit so-called high risk areas. They should always ask hotel staff or locals for information before they visit an area.
South Africans are friendly people and we would always do our best to help. We are so honoured to receive all the people of the world to our beautiful country. We have beautiful tourist attractions, scenery, beaches, wine estates and wildlife parks. And remember there are no lions walking in the streets!
Our biggest cities, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth etc. are modern and has a lot to offer in terms of entertainment. We have world class shopping malls, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, etc. There will also be designated 'jolkolle'(outside party spaces) with huge TV screens, music, food and drink available.
If you are lucky enough to be here, try 'Pap and Wors'(corn pourage and sausage), an outside 'Braai'(barbeque), 'Bobotie'(curried meat), 'Potjiekos'(meat and vegetable stew in a black pot,roasted over an open fire), 'Kerrie vis'(curried fish) etc. And, of course, enjoy our great variety of wines. But we have over and enough beer and spirits to go around!
Another thing, if you are coming, you can even buy your countries flags and shirts in our shops or at a street crossing. And remember, we call our traffic lights, 'robots'! And we drive on the lefthand side of the road. If you need directions, information etc, just ask us. You would be able to use English everywhere.
Well, back to the soccer. I think the excitement for 'The Beautiful Game' to begin is now tangible around the world. If you are coming, I hope you have a wonderful time. I know I'm being biased, 'cos I live in Cape Town, but you have to come and see Table Mountain!
Is there anyone out there coming to South Africa? And if you are watching from your couch, which team do you root for? And which team do you think will win? I think it will be Spain.

Viva World Cup 2010! Viva South Africa! Viva 'The Beautiful Game'!

[Fresia]

Thank you for this, a wonderful description and explanation. I will feel more a part of events now having your insight. I would have loved to come for the Cup and to see your country and events. I will be watching from my couch. I will be routing for the US and several other teams as they progress. Spain is definitely one of the stronger contenders. I so look forward to this and am excited for you, being there as it is happening. Enjoy the games!

[Eljay]

Hey, thanks Fresia. Great to find another soccer lover. Especially in the USA. I know soccer is not one of the 'biggest' sports over there. But the rest of the world knows that your team are becoming a force to be reckoned with. Good luck with the England / USA game!

[403K]

I am looking forward to it also The US game that is. lol

[Hunny]

I too am looking forward to the excitement of the soccer in South Africa. I watched my first World cup about twenty years ago. My son was playing soccer and he watch all the games and still has the videos of all of them. It was so exciting!\

You are a great advocate for you community and I wish I could be there and experience all the tastes and sites and sounds.

Please put up photos of the celebrations if you can or keep giving us the colourful dialogue that you are so good at.

I'll watch for you on the TV LOL

[Sabrina]

Thank you for your wonderful description and informative Eljay!

[sugahorse1]

I have my Bafana Bafana shirt! Not going to any games, but watching at home. I can see Durban stadium from home.
Think I'm rooting for the Germans, even minus Ballack!

[Eljay]

Sugahorse, you're lucky. The Durban stadium is beautiful. I hear there's a cable car to the top for the wonderful view! Good luck with the vuvuzelas! We applied for tickets twice for Cape Town, but couldn't get any. I was not prepared to sleep outside the City Fifa office, to try and get one of the last tickets though. Too dangerous! So I'm also on my couch. Yeah, pity about Michael Ballack, but Germany has still got Miroslav Klose and Philipp Lahm etc. Enjoy it, my friend!

[Eljay]

South Africa is truly unique. Have you ever heard of another country with 3 capital cities? (Cape Town: legislative, Pretoria: administrative, Bloemfontein: judicial) But that's not all. Wait for this: We have 11 official languages: English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, South Ndebele, Venda, North Sotho and South Sotho! And we are all excited to welcome the world to the soccer!

[Eljay]

Today, on TV, I saw one of my heroes and best players in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo, arriving in the Magaliesberg, a holiday destination outside of Pretoria. In South Africa! Can't wait to see all the other sexy guys, like Kaka, Frank Lampard, Tim Cahill, Eto'o, Fabio Cannavaro, Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba, Roque Santa Cruz, Nani, Paulo Ferreira, Sergio Ramos, Iker Casillas etc. etc. There's really gonna be a lot of talent for us girls to look out for!

[Eljay]

Yesterday 5 known Argentinian soccer hooligans arrived in Johannesburg. They were denied access to the country and were put back on a plane to Buenos Aires! Good one! Peace!

[Eljay]

Thanks Hunny and Fresia for asking me to keep people up to date with the World Cup for the following month. I'm actually a very shy, anxious person. So I feel somewhat uncomfortable. I don't want people to think that I think I know everything. My greatest wish is just that this event could unite our nation. I know the movie 'Invictus' stated how the rugby event united our country, but that fact was overplayed for the sake of the movie. I am an Afrikaner(mixed Dutch, French, German). My language, Afrikaans, sounds like Dutch, my surname are French and I look Portuguese) My people were responsible for 'apartheid' and I'll always feel guilty about that. And unfortunately I'm a very sensitive person, too. Which doesn't help. I would say the fact that Nelson Mandela held out a hand of friendship to rugby,a sport sinonymous with white people, was tremendous. But it was he personally who did it. It wasn't really all the nationalities making peace and everyone forgiving each other. He is the real idol.
But anyway, I love soccer. So I'll keep writing for the love of the game!

[Eljay]

Most of the members of Psych Central are American. One of you asked me if I think you could win against England. I think England will win, but anythings possible. My dad on the other hand says the USA is an upcoming force in international soccer. He says he's sure you would at least reach the last 8!
At least you can watch Saturday's game against England live, 'cos it's a night game in South Africa.
Enjoy! And watch out for all the Wayne Rooneys and Frank Lampards!

[Sabrina]

Eljay, you are very informed and though I personally don't enjoy soccer, I love reading your informed and knowledgeable posts. So please don't feel that you shouldn't post. Nobody here is going to think that you think you know everything. I am sure we will all enjoy reading your posts.

Keep them coming!

[Eljay]

Today, we went to an informal marketplace in town to look for small R10 (Rand is our currency)flags. I think it's less than 2 dollars or so.
We each decided which country we would support, when our team sadly falls out, as is very, very possible. So we were looking for Portuguese, Argentinian, Spanish, Italian and Brazilian flags. We were talking to this black guy from Cote'd Ivoire(Ivory Coast).
When my mum said that our surname is also French, but we can't speak a word of French, like him, he became so friendly. But when I said Didier Drogba's name (he's their star player), you should have seen his beautiful smile!
Wonderful how sport can bring people together in peace and harmony even if it's just for 5 minutes!

[Sabrina]

That's a nice story. You get R10 flags? Really? We get guys selling all sorts of (probably illegal) world cup things at the robots. Including the flags on everyone's vehicles. But I have never seen currency flags. That's cute.

[Eljay]

Hi Sabrina, you know, I must have written the sentence in the wrong way. Remember English isn't my first language! I actually meant we bought small flags of different countries that each cost only R10! But that's okay, 'cos now perhaps someone could get the idea to sell illegal little 'currency flags'! Yeah, then this can strenthen our economy even more!!!

Oh yes, thanks very much for your kind words about me writing about the soccer. You are a true friend! Have a good day tomorrow. Regards, Eljay

[Sabrina]

Oh, stupid me!!!!!!!! Sorry I misunderstood you, and I'm South African.

Makes much more sense now..............

[Eljay]

Yeah, that was a good one. You coined a new product name: 'currency flags'. I'm sure in today's world, rich people etc. would buy it just to have something new to buy!

[sugahorse1]

Flags here are about R50!
hoping to get a half day off 2moro with the opening ceremony and all!
The vibe yesteday at 11:55 AM was awesome - everyone in Durban central was hooting, blowing vuvuzela's, making a noise... The spirit of the World Cup really was here!

[John25]

Are you living close to the stadiums where they play the games, eljay and sugahorse?

[Sabrina]

I live quite close to a stadium where a match or 2 is being played, but seeing as though I hate crowds, I won't be going anywhere near it!

[Eljay]

I live in the northern suburbs of Cape Town. It's about half an hours drive to the Cape Town stadium.

Yesterday and today at 12 there was also a great spirit of vuvuzelas and people coming out on the streets in Cape Town and suburbs and a great festive spirit like in Durban. The flags I bought yesterday is about 15 cm long. They cost R10 each. How big are those flags that cost R50, Sugahorse? That's expensive!

I'm so dissapointed to have read in the paper that 3 reporters from Spain and Portugal were held at gunpoint in their hotel room and robbed of their expensive photographic equiptment, computers, passports, cell phones, clothes and R30 000 in cash. Damn, the crime in South Africa is just terrible. I just hope this World Cup will not be just remembered for the crime!

But I still have World Cup fever and tonight there's a 3 hour concert as an intro to the games. The opening ceremony is tomorrow at 2 o'clock and the opening game at 4 o'clock. We can't wait!

[eskielover]

Eljay,

I enjoy reading your posts with all your enthusiasm you have. It is very enjoyable to read.

I agree about how the sports bring people together just like the olympics. I lived in Los Angeles when we had the summer olympics there & was on vacation in Wyoming when they had the winter olympics in Salt Lake City (drove through that town on the way to our vacation condo). The looking forward excitement of the events are really much of the joy along with the enjoyment of the competitions.

I am looking forward to our World Equestrian Games that are being held in the City (Lexington Kentucky) near where I live now. I can say that all of the building & road work trying to get prepared for the event is actually a nightmare for those of us living here during the preparation as there has never been anything like that held here before. The exciting part is that they are taking 1000's of volunteers from those of us living around here.....& I will be volunteering for the floral arrangements & the plantings that will be used to decorate all the equestrian events......that is adding to the excitement for many of us around here......so I can relate very well to how you are feeling.

Really enjoy reading your posts.....keep on keeping us informed.

The neighbors that bought the farm next to my farm the same summer I purchased my farm are from South Africa & speak Afrikaans (sp?) It is a very beautiful sounding language & they are very nice neighbors....they are into the saddlebred horse training business which I guess is rather popular in South Africa also.

Enjoy your couch & relaxing while watching the games. I was going to say, try to stay cool, but realized that it is the end of your fall there so you must be getting cooler weather which will be great for all the energy that everyone will be putting out not only playing, but cheering on the teams.

It is sad when the poverty sees the wealth & sets crime going at times like this. I am sure that the horrible state of the economy throughout the world is only making the poverty worse & magnifying how bad it. Hopefully, the good will outshine the bad & there will be some stories of good things happening to balance out the bad in the views of the foreigners that come to visit.

Looking forward to hearing more updates.

[Eljay]

Thank you so much, Eskielover, for your interesting letter. I hope the World Equistrian Games are a great success. It must feel so good to be a volunteer. Good luck with the flowers! And tell your neighbours I say: "Haai, hoop dit gaan goed met julle almal. Ek kan heeltemal verstaan dat jul geemigreer het. Hoop jul besigheid doen goed!" That means: "Hi, hope you are all well. I totally understand why you emigrated. Hope your business thrives!"
Eskie, I'm glad that you enjoy my writing. I'm not able to work at the moment and living with my parents. At almost 40 years of age! But now a least I have more time to keep soccer lovers updated and watch World Cup games! I'm at least trying to see the advantages!
All of the best to you Eskie. Enjoy your horses. Animals are great!