Blogs

Who’s coming to the World Cup 2010?

2010-03-09T07:32:00Z

That's a pretty interesting question; apparently only 34 Zimbabweans have bought tickets to the matches, given the economic lunacy which prevails in our Northern neighbor. Well, we do hope that Robert Mugabe and his entourage enjoy the matches.

But what about elsewhere in Africa? This is, after all, a first for the continent, a FIFA World Cup right here in Africa. Just going off the stats and figures and stuff that we collect at Shine 2010, we can do a little bit of interpolation or extrapolation or induction (mathematical terms and writers don't always go that well together). Quite a lot of folks visit the site; some 22 263 unique visitors made their way to Shine 2010 in January alone. What we noticed was that, not only in this month, but never, ever has there been a visitor from these countries:

Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic
Mali
Niger
Chad
Central African Republic
Burkina Faso

Now the first thing you should be saying is, 'Where on Earth is the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic?' Maths may be a weak point for me, but I'm pretty hot on geography and I'd never heard of the place. Ok, the name gives it away somewhat, must be up there in the desert. Adjoining eastern Morocco to be more accurate.

Of the rest, we know that Mali, Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso and the CAR are really, really poor, landlocked countries. Back in the day, the Internet was hailed as the savior of all people poor; however, arguably, people are probably more interested in getting something to eat before they turn to the Internet. It is horribly anecdotal (and so far away from scientific that the word scientific should perhaps not even appear in this sentence) but the absence of any visits from these countries probably indicates that indeed people there have more to worry about.

While Zimbabwe is putting up screens for its citizens to enjoy the football, it is quite possible that the people of much of Africa won't see anything of the FIFA World Cup 2010. That is perhaps an indictment on the low level of development in Africa, which somehow has yet to pick up and move towards its rightful place in the world. The deadline for the Millennium Development Goals looms nigh; hopefully with the world's attention on Africa in the coming months, more can be done.

In other news, Soccer City is finally ready! That's right, one of the 'issues', the central ground on which the major matches are to be played, has been handed over. It's all systems go....just a few more minor pieces of the puzzle to be slotted in and South Africa is ready to rock and roll...

Time is inexorable…and will bring on FIFA 2010 South Africa

2010-03-01T23:00:00Z

That's right folks, today marks just 100 days until the opening ceremony of the 2010 World Cup taking place right here. It has been a tumultuous six years since Sepp Blatter announced that our country had submitted the winning bid, all the way back in May 2004. Since then, we've seen scaremongering and doomsaying, spanning the spectrum from outrageous to ridiculous. We've also seen an outpouring of the South African spirit, with many in the media and civil society putting their faith and commitment into making the preparations for a 'best World Cup ever' come to fruition.

Of course we've also seen plenty in terms of traffic jams, inconvenience at airports which change dramatically every time you visit them (Cape Town in particular seems to be 'special', every time you land there you need to figure out a new route to the parking lot!) and all stripes of construction. That is, however, resulting in what is arguably the biggest legacy of the World Cup. Maybe MTN was right with one of its billboards, announcing that a 5-lane highway is 'Ayoba'. (I swore I would never use that annoying word, hence the ''s. A literary escape clause.)

We also now have some of the finest stadiums in the world. While there are some question marks around their future use, the ones on Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town are certainly likely to do plenty of duty for sports events, concerts and other large gatherings into the future. And the architecture of each makes them, in many people's eyes, beautiful additions to the skylines of the respective cities. Durban's Moses Mabhida stands out as a magnificent venue, easily visible from the M4 passing nearby - and dwarfing the old Kings Park stadium

The entry of Zakumi, the event mascot, has a whole bunch of cleverness woven into it; ZA 'cause that's our international abbreviation, and Kumi for ten, since the FIFA World Cup takes place in ZA in 2010. And a match ball from Adidis called 'Jabulani', why, because it is precisely the booting about of this ball that will bring joy to us all (jabulani is Zulu for, you guessed it, 'bringing joy to everyone').

It has been a long and arduous road from 2004 to the present. With 100 days to go, some challenges remain; the inherent dangers of working with tight deadlines means some elements are not yet in place, such as team training grounds and finishing touches to Soccer City. But remember: 100 days is over three months. FIFA is happy that everything is lined up and Jerome Valcke's comment that 'we couldn't host the World Cup right now' was certainly not meant as a criticism. It's all coming together. And the inexorability of time is going to deliver us the spectacle of a lifetime before you know it.

World Cup 2010: If you babe it, they will come

2010-02-23T09:35:00Z

Remember that awesome Wayne's World, excellent, party on SCHWIIIIING! franchise which saw us through the very confused time that was the grunge-infested, long-haired 1990s? Well, OK most of you probably don't, but I sure do.

Anyway, in the second of the two movies (which themselves evolved out of Saturday Night Live skits), there is a memorable scene where Jim Morrison tells Wayne that 'If you book them, they will come' - referring to booking famous bands for a rock concert.

So, what's that got to do with anything? Not much, on the face of it. Except, of course, that there is a modern take on 'if you book them, they will come' (which itself came from the movie 'Field of Dreams', where it was 'if you build it, he will come'...see, even phrases are subject to the process of evolution!). That take is 'if you babe it, they will come'. The phrase sums up a marketing theory, probably one of the most effective ever, which simply says that pretty girls help sell stuff.

For a look at how ohsoglamourous the World Cup is (start screaming 'Brazil, people!), we skedaddled over to BetWorldCup, where you can place, well, bets on your favoured teams. But more than that, you can also get a look at the 'Girls of the World Cup'. Take a squizzle over here: http://www.betworldcup2010.co.uk/worldcupgirls.htm. See, they babed it, they got the hits. It works, mate, as Eric Idle famously intoned in Monty Python's 'The Last Supper' skit.

SCHWIIING!

And don't just be thinking that it's a boy thing, either. Where the ladies are concerned, they get a whole whack of 'man-babe' running about on the footie fields. Apparently the hotties are led by one Fabio Cannavaro who has pipped old (yes he is getting old) Becks at the post. Be that as it may, Becks still holds second place ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, which has to be a bit denting to the latter's famous ego...

Whatever. What's certain is that in a couple months, the rich, famous and beautiful people are a-coming. Heat's gonna have a field day...

Click here for men of the World Cup and here for women of the World Cup

Drink some of this good stuff!

2010-02-16T15:13:00Z

Ah, ze Germans. Legendary for their precision, efficiency, culture and inventiveness. Ze Germans gave us Goethe, Einstein, quite a few notable musicians and that chap who used to drive a Ferrari. Football-wise, there have been a quite a few famous names too.

So it is, with quite a bit of snickering, that we appreciate the background of engineering and thousands of years of 'Sihr Gut' cultural development that had to go into the 'Umschnallbarer Getranke Tarnbach'. Available in his and hers, naturally, this is a clever little gadget designed to foil the Machiavellian machinations of FIFA. As we know, FIFA likes to lock down the World Cup football matches so you have to drink what it wants you to drink and eat what it wants you to eat (and watch what it wants you to watch, but here there is at least some symmetry).

That's right folks. In the Umschnallbarer ze Germans have invented a cunning device designed to help you sneak some contraband booze into the football match. What's more, it's disguised as a beer boep for the blokes and a robust bosom for the ladies. And here we South Africans were injecting naartjies with brandy all these years. Go with the boep, though - 2.3 litres versus the 0.75 of the ladies version. Classic.*

In other news, the Catholic Church is getting jiggy with it, producing a prayer for the World Cup. Again, we have to come back to the draconian FIFA regulations around logos and whatnot; seems like the church might be flying a bit close to the sun with this one. But anyway, recite the words, bless the world cup. And bless good old South Africa as we get ever closer to the biggest spectacle we're likely to see for a long, long time.

*By no means does Shine 2010 advocate smuggling anything into stadiums. But we do enjoy a good laugh just as much as the next guy.

Zakumi and the President

2010-02-02T14:51:00Z

You've seen him, the cute 2010 mascot Zakumi. What does he have in common with our Zulu Mr. President, Jacob Zuma? Apparently, little Zakumis and little presidents of the republic are coming out of the same Chinese factory to satisfy the needs of fans all over the country, and possibly the world.

It seems the dodgy goings on of top politicians, soccer players and golfers have temporarily suspended World Cup fever. Then there is the absolutely mad story of our intelligence minister's wife and the drug mules. While it may be easy to grow despondent on such news, it is rather, as Stephen Grootes points out here, encouraging that action has been taken and continues to be taken.

Still on a very serious note, I hope all readers out there can join us at Shine 2010 in absolute outrage at the bizarre decision to suspend Togo from the African Cup of Nations tournament for two years. The 'crime' committed by the Togolese, you will remember, was being the victims of an attack on their team bus, and subsequent withdrawal from the most recent tournament.

While the Egyptians won yet again over Ghana, their triumph is somehow, unfortunately, overshadowed by the tragic event itself...and the subsequent fiasco of the unfortunate handling of the Togolese decision to withdraw.

There's been some antsy-ness with FIFA, too, as we take the final run in to the World Cup, with Kevin McCallum taking a bit of a run at the governing body. Makes for interesting reading, it does.

Yes, it's a crazy world we live in. Soon to be football crazy, though, and boy do we need an escape.

World Cup silliness prevails....

2010-01-27T19:23:00Z

Even as the final countdown towards the World Cup in South Africa is underway, more silliness seems to emerge from overseas. Just this morning, some oke who is in charge of Bayern Munich was whingeing on about what a big mistake it was for Sepp to send the first Tournament to Africa. The dude reckons he is staying home because of the Angola attacks. Yesssss, OK, haul out the atlas again. Or better yet, consult Wikipedia and you'll learn that Angola is NOT a province of South Africa and has a very different history.

Of course, as we have made clear in previous blogs, security is a concern. It is a concern for all South Africans, but that's something we mitigate by taking appropriate precautions, none of which include a stab-proof vest (so far as I know, anyway). But the considerable furore kicked up by the stab proof vest fiasco (can we call it Protektorvest-gate?) really does have some of us wondering if it really is necessary to dissuade fans from buying the things if they make them feel more happy and safe. It can't hurt, can it? And a lot of them can use the items back home in England, to ensure they're safe against knife crime in that nation. For our part, we'll just continue to be vigilant, exercise caution and stay out of potential trouble spots.

Of course, the whole thing could just be an elaborate prank...

Meanwhile, on the ticketing front, it seems sales haven't been quite what was expected, especially not from local fans. The good news where that is concerned is that the rather complex system which FIFA uses may well just give way to something we impulsive South Africans are more used to: going to Computicket (or some such similar outlet) paying some money and getting a ticket. Nice and easy!

Togo tragedy and the World Cup

2010-01-13T09:24:00Z

The cowardly attack on the Togolese soccer team has quite possibly only been surpassed by the callous response of CAF to the surviving members and support staff. When people who spend so much time together that they can be regarded as a family have to endure the trauma of seeing members of that family severely wounded or killed, expecting them to get on with it mere days afterwards is patently ridiculous. Disqualifying them from the tournament is rubbing salt into raw wounds; the recall by the Togolese government can only be appropriate given the trauma the team has suffered.

Anyways, that's my thoughts on that perspective.

The other incredibly pressing issue is of course, the impact that this attack has had on the willingness of tourists to come to South Africa. That Angola is far away is without question. Equally, that a lot of people see Africa as a country and not a continent cannot be denied (regardless of the fact that a billion people in 54 countries live here....an American on a train travelling from New Orleans to Washington DC, on hearing that I was from South Africa, said 'I've always wanted to see the Pyramids' - huh? A case in point).

So it seems that the response of people like Rich Mkhondo and Danny Jordaan, to quell fears, is quite appropriate. After all, Angola is not only far away, but it also has a far less stable political and social climate than South Africa does. And we have a long, long list of successfully hosted international events, from the rugby and cricket World Cups right through to the recent Confederations Cup. What is a little more perplexing is Police Commissioner Bheki Cele's assertion that British football clubs have a 'slave mentality'. First time I've heard of slaves enjoying multimillion pound annual packages and all the trappings of success, but there you are.

World Cup tickets...aaah, the touts are hard at work. At Shine 2010 we're receiving a number of 'really attractive' offers for tickets from the touts, at the expected massively inflated prices. People, apply for tickets yourselves - they are still available for at least another week and don't HAVE to cost you an arm and a leg. Don't wait until it is too late and then pay through your nose to secure tickets and enrich someone else, the only attribute of whom is to plan ahead for your own silliness!

2010: Welcome to our World Cup year!

2010-01-06T10:04:00Z

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.

The Online Guide to Visiting Cape Town and other holiday season silliness

2009-12-22T07:21:00Z

I was in equal parts amused and annoyed by a letter to News24 in which a Capetonian, in rather typical Capetonian fashion, provided a handy guide to what he believes is proper tourist behaviour. Submitted, of course, under a pseudonym.

Up on this end of town, the much maligned Gauteng, we citizens don't have such a sense of exclusive ownership of our towns and cities. And yes, they do have some appeal, especially the bits just outside of Jozi, like the Cradle of Humankind and any one of number of game lodges from Krugersdorp through to Pretoria. It's kinda nice and everyone is welcome to come visit. We won't prescribe behaviour like we might do to kids, all the while committing the same peccadilloes we tell you not to.

Maybe that's why the feared and loathed Gauteng tourist is considered by many to be a much nicer and friendlier bloke than the average clique-ey Capetonian. Maybe. When 2010 tourists arrive, they'll probably notice that we don't have 'The Mooountain' but we have the hospitality.

With the silly season in full swing, a lot of us are off on holiday; I'm down in sweltering Durbs, from where I had a good look at the Moses Mabhida Stadium being put through its paces with a Kaizer Chiefs versus Mamelodi Sundowns match taking place there last Saturday afternoon. From the corner of Umgeni and Goble roads, it really is quite an impressive presence. Chiefs went down to Sundowns 2-1 in that encounter.

Of course, silly season or not, the big stage managed news event of the year end has to be the Copenhagen conference. Now, PJ O'Rourke once wrote a somewhat scathing (and hilarious) account of the newsworthiness of stage managed news 'events', when he had to cover the Reagan/Gorbachev summit along with 6000000000 other newsmen. But Copenhagen...we have all been compelled to believe that climate change is the challenge of our time. But is it really? A major scandal erupted on the eve of the Copenhagen conference confirming that much of the science to justify climate change was fudged. The people involved simply made up data to support their position.

Now, while I have made clear that I believe responsible use of resources is critical, that doesn't mean we should be bamboozled by pseudoscience and lies to suit a parallel agenda. I'd recommend reading Ivo Vegter's extremely well-argued columns on The Daily Maverick to get a broad understanding of the issues and what is now emerging as the scandal of the century.

And notice that the politicians are ignoring the now growing pile of contrary evidence...

Opportunity knocks...it doesn’t tear the door down!

2009-12-15T09:08:00Z

One of my colleagues mentioned to me the other day that there are so many people who seem to have a somewhat vague idea that there may just be some sort of opportunity around the now very imminent World Cup football tournament. But they just can't quite put their fingers on it...so they instead complain about the lack of obvious prospects.

Um, people, like my headline says, opportunity KNOCKS, it doesn't come beating down the door and begging you to 'be the lucky one'. Remember, if business was easy, we'd all be a raging success and driving vulgar cars. If you'll permit me an aphorism, 'Success is just a matter of luck. Ask any unlucky man.'

The point is that identifying an opportunity and making it work isn't easy. It takes courage, the sort that not everyone has, if you are going to identify a gap, add value and as a consequence, laugh all the way to the bank. Clint Eastwood once remarked something along the lines of 'People engineer their own doom; we are as afraid of success as we are of failure'. I reckon that means people are scared of trying sometimes... It comes down to you; the universe is funny like that, it doesn't provide unless you make it provide.

So, making your business fly really comes down to what you're prepared to do; no amount of complaining is likely to get it anywhere.

But British Airways is giving a helping hand in making business fly by dishing out a whole whack of international air tickets so your small business can connect with the world.

It's a clever campaign since its research indicates that 89% of businesspeople say they believe that face-to-face meetings are essential to 'sealing the deal' (People buy from people...being in front of them works.)

With its campaign, British Airways South Africa is giving 50 SMBs 10 international business class air tickets each, totally 500 international air tickets to promote the expansion of local businesses. You can check it out and apply www.ba.com/safrica-grants

We think that's pretty cool. If you're keen on getting some international business going, around the World Cup or otherwise, there's no better time to give it a go than right now.

Oh, and what's that sound? Could it be a knock at the door? Remember to open it, could be opportunity gently knocking and wondering if anyone will answer.

Pitted against the best? Good..!

2009-12-08T09:10:00Z

Should South Africa be concerned that we've gotten a 'nightmare draw' to kick off the FIFA World Cup?

Naaaah, I don't think so. Let's face it, the World Cup is supposed to be a showcase of all the very best football talent on the planet. So we got an entry into the tournament for the first time ever as the hosts, no matter. Apply the 'we'll take what we can get' approach, and also let's bear in mind the Saffer propensity to perform when it is least expected, and there is a chance that we will see the sort of fireworks that will build some national pride.

The draw in Cape Town went down a treat; it was heartening to see the pictures of the estimated 50 000 revellers packing Long Street for a good and proper jol. More heartening, perhaps, was the fact that very little in the way of 'incidents' was recorded. No major crimes, in fact, very few crimes at all. That bodes exceptionally well for the capability of the police to maintain law and order when the tournament kicks off with Mexico against our own in Soccer City in under 200 days. And, of course, throughout the rest of the tournament.

We've already had a taste of the star power which comes with the World Cup, courtesy of the draw. Among the top celebs seen around the country were the asthmatic David Beckham, doing his bit and voicing his support for the Good Ship South Africa (thanks Becks, we're breathing easy, don't worry) and of course one of our top exports, Charlise Theron. It's going to get a lot more starry out these parts very soon!

Speaking of stars and what they can tell us. Given that the gods of sport rarely smile down on all (South Africa's at least) teams at the same time, could there be something in it, star cross'd if you will (like those lovers in Romeo and Juliet) that our rugger and cricket teams are sucking? So recently on top of the world, they are battling magnificently to achieve any results. Maybe the pendulum is swinging to favour the struggling Bafana? The timing would be rather nice, now wouldn't it.

On that note: a quick search on the Interpipes reveals that there are many, many gods of sport. The Greek one of victory is probably the most well known. Even if you don't know who it is, you do.

It's Nike.

See here for a fuller list of deities to which you can appeal for a great Bafana performance....

FIFA Draw coincides with Silly Season

2009-12-01T07:16:00Z

Around rolls 1 December and it seems all of South Africa is ready for at least two things: the holidays and the FIFA World Cup draw taking place in Cape Town this coming Friday. It's really happening, the rich and the famous from the soccer playing dynasties around the world are jetting into the country to determine who will play who in the determining phases of the competition. The excitement is building!

A mate of mine remarked the other day that as the Tournament really starts reaching the final preparatory phases, he wants to get one of those giant waving hands with the number 86 on it. For our team, you know, the real underdog of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Hey, there is still time for the mellowing Benni to shed a couple of pounds. Check him here on the polygraph. Warning: some profanity and a lot of hilarity.

Cape Town is, of course, really close to one of our most famous - and previously notorious - landmarks, Robben Island. The FIFA bods out for the draw are taking the opportunity to pay the prison a visit, along with South African luminaries...who share tales of football under the fist of the oppressor in years gone by. JZ the goalie and later the referee? Seems like sport was imitating later life.

If anyone ever wondered if ZA was up to the task of getting the infrastructure in place to host the World Cup, those doubters must surely now be staring down a serving of humble pie. The stadiums are very nearly complete, with estimates putting them all at '95%' complete. Moses Mabhida in Durbs, the second to open after Port Elizabeth, put away the perception that coastal folk spend their days on the beach; the other four venues are due to open before February. That's in good time before the games begin. Even the seemingly endless work on the highways, with which city folk have kind of gotten used to, looks to be getting closer to completion.

It is nigh, the World Cup. But before we get there, most of us can just sit back and enjoy some of this Silly Season, after what has for many been a long and arduous year. A pinch and a punch for the first of the month, as they say!

Cough Cough....Football will never be the same again

2009-11-24T17:12:00Z

Not sure that this bears repeating, but now David Beckham has come out with shock revelations. This is hot on the heels of Joost's 'Okay it was me in the holey jocks' admission and the even more scurrilous story of Andre Agassi's toupee distracting him from winning his tennis games (vanity can be such a drag. Mind you, it may have been fashionable in the 1990s, but long hair on a man these days is more commonly associated with drag).

What's Becks got up his sleeve? Well, nothing much anymore, apparently, because he has revealed his deepest, darkest secret for all the world to see.

No, he's not a woman, no matter what you may have thought with all those grooming products he endorses. And yes, that hair is apparently still all his. The tattoos aren't fake.

It's far worse.

He has asthma.

Hard to believe, I know. I mean, the man is practically a demigod, and he suffers from asthma. After all this time, turns out Becks is just one of another 300 million people beaten down by the affliction. The horror. The social stigma. The world is a changed place now.

Next thing we know, People will probably reveal that the poor man also gets flu in winter. And has been known to endure the occasional headache. Heavens forbid. Or that he is actually a member of the 6 billion strong human race.

Eish. I can't wait for ZANews on this one. Or maybe Hayibo.

Speaking of Hayibo, if ever you're feeling down and unable to make sense of, well, the sometimes crazy world of South African society, you should just log on there. Sometimes it is best just to take a bit of a laugh at the lunacy.

Beats crying about it.

Winter warmers

2009-11-20T08:35:00Z

Just as Joburg slides bizarrely back into winter, I engineered an escape to the mother city. It's all sunshine and happiness down here, people, except for the sunshine bit. See, the weather was so horrible upcountry that none of the inbound flights could land. And that meant they couldn't get tidied up and sent back to the sea, either. And THAT meant sitting around in the airport having a good old chinwag with anyone who might be inclined to listen.

That South African tendency to accept that which you cannot change, without complaint or issue, came right out to the fore. Delays were substantial, but hey, the 400-odd of us crammed into the small but exceedingly generous departure lounge at Lanseria International, were cheerful and cooperative. Raaather nice.

So, now, has anyone else noticed something funny in the air? You remember how a few years back, we were all browbeaten by the media into believing that the planet was lowly heating up, greenhouse gases were surely frying the world? That global warming was a major problem?

C'mon, admit it, we all believed that. Well, nearly all. Over at The Daily Maverick, legendary smartypants Ivo Vegter never was one to fall for all that, ahem, hot air. He has consistently looked to the facts to debunk any sort of silliness, global warming included. Even if such debunking makes him as popular as a pig in Palestine.

You'll admit that what we're getting in Jozi sure isn't global warming. Actually, we tend to prefer our Novembers a little warmer, thank you very much.

You will also notice that the term 'global warming' is something of an anachronism. You just don't hear it that much any more. No, what we refer to it now is 'climate change'. Why? Because the planet is not actually getting warmer. The last 'hot' year was back in 1998.

Now that could be an inconvenient truth.

I strongly advise reading all of Ivo's columns. That's a great example of critical thinking.

Let's be clear here, though. Like Mr. Vegter, I firmly believe in living as cleanly as possible. Don't litter, no need to drive a five point oh, no need to emit pollution and rubbish into the air unnecessarily. And that includes the hot air of inaccurate information, too. Read that link, it is very, very interesting.

Thanks Ras Dumisani!

2009-11-17T10:01:00Z

Yes, you read right. Ras Dumisani has done more to unite the nation in a fractious time than the Springboks, the Proteas and Bafana Bafana have done. He achieved this unlikely feat by 'singing' the national anthem off-key and fumbling through the words.

While many are utterly outraged, there is definitely a benefit here. On news websites from the Mail & Guardian to The Times and News24, former adversaries in the comments sections have come together to castigate the unfortunate Ras as one. The shocker even prompted the Young Communist League into releasing what is arguably its most coherent and sensible statement ever. For once, we all agree.

So, let's all look through the red mist of rage and remember that this poor feller has got his due. Everyone knows what a bad singer he is, so no need to bay for the man's blood. So whaddaya say, let's just build a bridge and get over it.

Anyway, on to the soccer field. It seems Ras the rastaman is even giving our footie captain, Aaron Mokoena, something to worry about. Unless I misinterpreted the headline of this story. Apparently El Capitan is wary of the 'Reggae Boyz' from Jamaica. Perhaps he is concerned that they might break out into another inspired rendition of the anthem to take the edge off the team.

Hey and you may have noticed, the return of Carlos Alberto Parreira has got a bit of hope back into the team, too. Some wit on Twitter pointed out that this last weekend, everyone got the shock of their lives when the soccer team was the pick of the litter, outplaying the Springboks and the Proteas. OK, so it was a draw against Japan, but Bafana Bafana was still the only team of the three not Tolouse.