That's right people - it's here and the World Cup is just about ready to rock and roll. Ke Nako - it is indeed time, the year we have all been waiting for is finally here.

Over its course, 2009 certainly proved to be a year full of ups and downs. From a Shine 2010 perspective, what we see as enormous ups include the completion of most of the stadiums, to the point that matches are being played in most already by domestic teams. What we have also seen is a consistent improvement in sentiment around the World Cup; even the most ardent of naysayers really have little option but to admit that they were wrong. The resolve of South Africans is making sure that the tournament will take place is bearing fruit; indeed the notion that the event wouldn't take place at all here, now seems as quaint and outdated as the idea that the earth is flat. It's not really nice to say 'I told you so', but..., well, Shine 2010 told you so.

As a great curtain raiser and an opportunity for five of the 6 African teams taking part in the World Cup, the African Nations gets underway this coming weekend in Angola. The missing African team? Bafana Bafana, unfortunately, which is arguably a real pity. Our boys need as much match time together if they are to make an impression...

Had a bit of a chuckle this morning reading my daily dose of The Daily Maverick, seems the publication has incensed some 'End of the World is nigh' crackpots. They have, as you will see, sent some irrefutable evidence of the end of the world to the website. That evidence consists of portly Americans wearing T-shirts, driving cars and looking at billboards which confirm their assertion that on May 21 2011, it will all be over.

Luckily for us, that's nearly a year after the 2010 FIFA World Cup Champions will hoist the golden trophy.