The perception that the World Cup will only be enjoyed by the few who are lucky enough to fill stadium seats might not be true after all.
The perception that the World Cup will only be enjoyed by the few who are lucky enough to fill stadium seats might not be true after all.
With less than 60 days to go, between learning diski dance and following a giant Bafana jersey around the country, South Africans are being sucked into football fever.
While the issue of equal access to the World Cup is still a contentious matter, South Africans not only seem more optimistic about the hosting of the tournament, but are marketing, organising and getting involved with a number of football-related events in the run up to the opening match.
Over the past few months host cities have been transformed into virtual billboards, publicising the tournament with some of the most creative (and sometimes outrageous) advertising and marketing schemes and it appears to be working.
From the incredible stadiums that dominate city skylines to the rousing music during Castle ads on TV to the life-sized cut-outs at every airport of your favourite Bafana player clad in an Adidas strip, it becomes difficult not to get caught up and feel involved in the brew.
Businesses, schools and food outlets have all jumped onboard the World Cup train with every sale, event and ‘special’ having some kind of football spin on it.
Zakumi, the tournament mascot, can be found at every Engen station, the colours of teams can be seen in every Woolworths shop window and almost everything spherical in Johannesburg has been painted like a soccer ball.
The fever might not have reached such levels in Grahamstown just yet but it seems that it might be on its way.
This week, for example, the Association for Mathematics Education for South Africa (Amesa), along with the Rhodes University Mathematics Education Project (Rumep) and the Department of Education, hosted a soccer mathematics afternoon.
Tonight, Soccer Cinema a mobile cinema group who are travelling across the country will be screening the documentary More Than Just a Game in Joza.
Students from Rhodes University will, over the weekend, host a mini-World Cup, with 32 teams representing those that have qualified for the actual tournament.
Regardless where speculations and opinions lie over how the country will fare during the World Cup, there’s no denying that enthusiasm is beginning to reach a climax, and wherever you go, there will be a reminder that the world’s biggest event is coming to South Africa.
