Makana Municipality and most other towns in this country can be excused for feeling a little left out in the run-up to the biggest single event ever to hit this country.
Starting in little over a month, we are aware that we will not be hosting any of the 64 matches of the World Cup nor are we hosting any of the teams’ training camps.
Makana Municipality and most other towns in this country can be excused for feeling a little left out in the run-up to the biggest single event ever to hit this country.
Starting in little over a month, we are aware that we will not be hosting any of the 64 matches of the World Cup nor are we hosting any of the teams’ training camps.
We hear a lot about the World Cup on radio and TV. All the newspapers carry many soccer-related articles and just about every news organisation has a special web sub-site dedicated to the tournament.
You can’t miss it even here in Grahamstown. However, if you spend some time in one of the host cities, and particularly Johannesburg, you will understand just how crazy this country is going about the World Cup.
The Telkom tower in Hillbrow, arguably the most visible landmark in Gauteng, now sports a gigantic soccer ball enclosing its upper floors some 250 metres above the city.
Dozens of massive billboards somehow linked to the Soccer World Cup now line the highways between the city centre and the airport.
It can be quite overwhelming. To underline government’s tunnel vision on the World Cup, last month we were told that there are no problems in the country regarding water quality because water tested in all nine host cities proved to be of the highest purity.
Thanks a lot regards from Grahamstown. Have you seen the results of tests on our water quality? The point is, like it or not, we are on the fringe of this massive event.
We can either sulk about it, spend as much time in Port Elizabeth as possible, or try to work out a way of enjoying this soccer extravaganza as best as we can.
As the TV adverts constantly remind us: this is a once in a lifetime event, so do we want to be moping in a corner about how we have been marginalised?
Of course not. Let us find as many ways as possible to join in the fun, let’s read about all the teams as much as possible so we can argue about their chances of winning, and let’s organise our own parties and events to celebrate the World Cup.
Which reminds us, dear municipality, how are the plans for the public viewing area coming along?
