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World Cup Comment: 100 Days – A Countdown To The Assertion Of African Supremacy
According to Siyabulela Makunga, South Africa has come a very long way and can boldly say: IT’S TIME – KE NAKO!
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Mar 3, 2010 1:00:00 PM
By Siyabulela Makunga
A lot has been said about the historic 2010 FIFA World Cup, and I believe that this billion-populated continent knew little of the ‘practical’ reality, the responsibility and opportunities this worldwide event brings to South Africa, but most importantly, to this beautiful, treasured and hallowed continent of Africa.
One might ask why I believe Africa is a treasured continent. Well, history tells us that the economic giants of the west, the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Germany, looked to nowhere else but Africa as an absolute treasure and battlefield for the world’s political and economic hegemony, consequently Africa was colonised. The attraction must have been, but not limited to, the wealth of natural resources and/or commodities Africa possesses, the people who were once turned into slaves, maybe because they were mistaken for wild animals.
The decolonisation of Africa gave way and eventually restored the political power to some of the African countries, who later opened their doors and hearts to South Africans who, back in the day, skipped the country to play their part in the political cause of rooting-out the inhumane apartheid system. The struggle to end apartheid in South Africa inevitably became the world’s collective responsibility. It fundamentally united African countries against the system which unintentionally gave birth to the world-renowned political figures such as Nelson Mandela, the late Steve Bantu Biko and Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe amongst others.
FIFA also made their presence felt in the struggle against apartheid when they banned South Africa from participating in international football in 1962. The country was readmitted by FIFA in 1992. The international football organisation stood against the enormous pressure from both World Wars, and called for a collapse because of its strong ability to enjoin nations.
Ironically, the apartheid system was an eye-opener not only to South Africans, but to the people of the world, that it was a form of discrimination that had no room in human kind. It was 'Madiba', as Mandela is affectionately known, a lifelong Patron-in-Chief to nation-building, who embodied the ideals of peace, democracy, human rights and equal opportunity, who redefined the political and economic trajectory of South Africa and, ultimately, Africa as a whole. To date, democracy and human rights are universally practiced by governments across the globe.
In 2004, the world reaffirmed their confidence and faith in South Africa and voted our beloved country, as an able partner of FIFA, to host the first ever African soccer World Cup. It was the second time South Africa had participated in an official bid to host the World Cup, with the first one lost in the hands of Charles Dempsey, whose abstention from voting cost South Africa the right to host the World Cup in 2006.
The earth-shaking announcement by FIFA president Sepp Blatter was met with a unifying and fulfilling ecstasy in South Africa and Africa, out of which South Africa marked yet another historic African victory. It must be noted that amongst the delegation who represented South Africa in Zurich was none other than the international icon Dr. Nelson Mandela, who many of us believe contributed to the inspiring of votes that eventually gave us the ticket to host this gigantic event.
It was the same Madiba who enthused the Springboks to annex South Africa’s first ever world accolade, the Rugby Union World Cup in 1995, when the world and even South Africans had already written off AmaBhoko-Bhoko from winning on home soil. As if that wasn't enough, Madiba stood proudly next to the legendary Bafana Bafana captain Neil Tovey in 1996 to lift the African Nations Cup at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.
Annexing these two prestigious achievements had indeed shaken the Afro-pessimists in the global village. To date, our African stars are out there in Europe and various parts of the world competing against their counterparts to reclaim ‘African supremacy’.
For the past 15 years, South Africa has attracted and caught the attention of many, thanks to world-renowned political heavyweights, musicians, tourists, sports personalities, media personalities and asylum-seekers. South Africa has notably become an economic and political mainstay of ‘African supremacy’.
If the world recognises African talent and Africa’s role in the modern world’s political and economic landscape, then the Afro-pessimists who continually questions South Africa’s ability to host a successful FIFA World Cup must definitely be aliens.
Judging by how South Africa has shaken the world in various segments of the global village, I am justified in believing that the FIFA World Cup, which kicks-off in exactly 100 days, presents Africa with a golden opportunity to re-affirm the ‘African supremacy’.
This is particularly true if the words of FIFA secretary genearl Jerome Valcke are anything to go by, when he claimed that “the money making” FIFA World Cup guarantees South Africans billions of rands in dividends of the revenue that will be generated through the World Cup. FIFA announced that the money will, among other things, be invested in the country’s development.
Certainly, government’s public infrastructure investment has already restored some hope to hundreds of thousands of South Africans, who benefitted from jobs created by the roads and stadia infrastructure government has built in preparation for this mega event. Investment has undoubtedly been stretched to communities in and around the host cites, and, yes, this is a legacy that FIFA’s Sepp Blatter is determined to deliver to South Africa.
On the pitch, between June 11 and July 11, 2010, African countries will be called to task, to deliver and give 20 out of 10 when they battle it out against the world football giants to assert ‘African supremacy’.
One thing that will separate our boys, Bafana Bafana, from the rest is a home advantage, which comes with an inescapable duty to showcase the 13th player, the national pride. This inner-developed 13th player first manifested itself in 1995 when Francois Pienaar led what many adjudged a mediocre team to a historic World Cup triumph. This was later re-affirmed by Neil Tovey’s proud and all-time legendary Bafana Bafana, who conquered Africa to annex their first ever international football accolade.
South Africa’s Penny Heyns, the physically impaired Natalie Du Toit and Josiah Tugane are now world celebrated gold medallists, not because they are extra-ordinary sportsmen and women, but because of how much they were determined to serve and protect the pride of the rainbow nation.
On the flip side of the gallantry and patriotism our African players are charged with, we must always remember, that names are made and broken in this pinnacle of world football that is the FIFA World Cup. But consider the likes of Brazil, where players would kill to represent their country in the World Cup. This maybe explains their success in world football.
When I look around to capture a sense of the intrigue that comes with the history the FIFA World Cup brings to Africa, I see fit to call upon African governments and the LOC (Local Organising Committee) to ensure that every South African and African citizen is afforded an equal opportunity to indulge in this once in a lifetime experience, and proudly say ‘I WAS THERE, I SAW, I EXPERIENCED AND I WAS PART OF HISTORY’.
In my view, through the extensive mass awareness and mobilisation campaigns, fan-parks that are not only erected in host cities, provinces and country, and the immediate opening of over-the-counter ticket sales, will not only amass the much-needed euphoria about the World Cup, but will afford all of us an opportunity to proudly say that this is indeed an AFRICAN WORLD CUP.
Africa cannot afford to overlook the unique glamour and impact the Makarapas, Vuvuzela, dance and singing of the patriotic and passionate fans and supporters of the African countries, brings to the stadium. It is the same colourful glamour, energetic and ecstatic showpiece that has separated us from the world, making us champions in architectural and passionate support for football.
I am also certain that with the scorecard rating of over 70% Sepp Blatter gave South Africa for organising the Confederations Cup in 2009, the LOC will stop at nothing to ensure that we indeed deliver to the world a scorecard that can be equated to an improper fraction of 20 out of 10 in 2010 when Sepp Blatter delivers his post-World Cup impressions. Areas where we could have done better need to be improved with double the effort. This we will do to protect our ‘African supremacy’.
Our efforts will need to also look at the diversity of football fanatics who will be coming to our shores during the FIFA World Cup, to ensure that our logistics and hospitality meets the challenge. We need to be watchful of issues like customer care, signage, communication and linguistic skills, and thus give a little push to our proud South African brothers and sisters, who will be tasked with safety, security, logistics and hospitality during this mega event. I have trust in the government’s promise that access roads, transport and crime-prevention measures are intact to make South Africa and Africa proud.
History further tells us that South Africans are a proud, patriotic and peace-loving bunch, who, in my view, will open their hearts and homes to embrace the world and reclaim “African supremacy’. The world will learn and see for themselves what we mean by African Humanity – Ubuntu. The legendary Diego Maradona of Argentina, Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast, Samuel Eto’o of Cameroon and Brazil's Carlos Dunga and Ricardo Kaka all had their fair-share of experience of Ubuntu.
The Afro-pessimists will, post-World Cup, have nowhere to hide, but can only come out to apologise for misleading the world in doubting South Africa’s readiness to host a safe, secure and successful African World Cup.
South Africans and the entire continent have no obligation to defend themselves against these pessimists, but have accepted a mammoth task to host the first ever African FIFA World Cup, and the undertakings the government made in Zurich in 2004 must be fulfilled.
It is for such reason that all of us, as African nationals, need to play our part in complimenting the good work by the South African government and the LOC, by, among other things, uniting and rallying behind Bafana Bafana and the other African teams, so as to claim our ‘African supremacy’.
Makunga is an Executive Director of the South African Football Supporters Association (SAFSA)
One might ask why I believe Africa is a treasured continent. Well, history tells us that the economic giants of the west, the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Germany, looked to nowhere else but Africa as an absolute treasure and battlefield for the world’s political and economic hegemony, consequently Africa was colonised. The attraction must have been, but not limited to, the wealth of natural resources and/or commodities Africa possesses, the people who were once turned into slaves, maybe because they were mistaken for wild animals.
The decolonisation of Africa gave way and eventually restored the political power to some of the African countries, who later opened their doors and hearts to South Africans who, back in the day, skipped the country to play their part in the political cause of rooting-out the inhumane apartheid system. The struggle to end apartheid in South Africa inevitably became the world’s collective responsibility. It fundamentally united African countries against the system which unintentionally gave birth to the world-renowned political figures such as Nelson Mandela, the late Steve Bantu Biko and Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe amongst others.
FIFA also made their presence felt in the struggle against apartheid when they banned South Africa from participating in international football in 1962. The country was readmitted by FIFA in 1992. The international football organisation stood against the enormous pressure from both World Wars, and called for a collapse because of its strong ability to enjoin nations.
Ironically, the apartheid system was an eye-opener not only to South Africans, but to the people of the world, that it was a form of discrimination that had no room in human kind. It was 'Madiba', as Mandela is affectionately known, a lifelong Patron-in-Chief to nation-building, who embodied the ideals of peace, democracy, human rights and equal opportunity, who redefined the political and economic trajectory of South Africa and, ultimately, Africa as a whole. To date, democracy and human rights are universally practiced by governments across the globe.
In 2004, the world reaffirmed their confidence and faith in South Africa and voted our beloved country, as an able partner of FIFA, to host the first ever African soccer World Cup. It was the second time South Africa had participated in an official bid to host the World Cup, with the first one lost in the hands of Charles Dempsey, whose abstention from voting cost South Africa the right to host the World Cup in 2006.
The earth-shaking announcement by FIFA president Sepp Blatter was met with a unifying and fulfilling ecstasy in South Africa and Africa, out of which South Africa marked yet another historic African victory. It must be noted that amongst the delegation who represented South Africa in Zurich was none other than the international icon Dr. Nelson Mandela, who many of us believe contributed to the inspiring of votes that eventually gave us the ticket to host this gigantic event.
It was the same Madiba who enthused the Springboks to annex South Africa’s first ever world accolade, the Rugby Union World Cup in 1995, when the world and even South Africans had already written off AmaBhoko-Bhoko from winning on home soil. As if that wasn't enough, Madiba stood proudly next to the legendary Bafana Bafana captain Neil Tovey in 1996 to lift the African Nations Cup at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.
Annexing these two prestigious achievements had indeed shaken the Afro-pessimists in the global village. To date, our African stars are out there in Europe and various parts of the world competing against their counterparts to reclaim ‘African supremacy’.
For the past 15 years, South Africa has attracted and caught the attention of many, thanks to world-renowned political heavyweights, musicians, tourists, sports personalities, media personalities and asylum-seekers. South Africa has notably become an economic and political mainstay of ‘African supremacy’.
If the world recognises African talent and Africa’s role in the modern world’s political and economic landscape, then the Afro-pessimists who continually questions South Africa’s ability to host a successful FIFA World Cup must definitely be aliens.
Judging by how South Africa has shaken the world in various segments of the global village, I am justified in believing that the FIFA World Cup, which kicks-off in exactly 100 days, presents Africa with a golden opportunity to re-affirm the ‘African supremacy’.
This is particularly true if the words of FIFA secretary genearl Jerome Valcke are anything to go by, when he claimed that “the money making” FIFA World Cup guarantees South Africans billions of rands in dividends of the revenue that will be generated through the World Cup. FIFA announced that the money will, among other things, be invested in the country’s development.
Certainly, government’s public infrastructure investment has already restored some hope to hundreds of thousands of South Africans, who benefitted from jobs created by the roads and stadia infrastructure government has built in preparation for this mega event. Investment has undoubtedly been stretched to communities in and around the host cites, and, yes, this is a legacy that FIFA’s Sepp Blatter is determined to deliver to South Africa.
On the pitch, between June 11 and July 11, 2010, African countries will be called to task, to deliver and give 20 out of 10 when they battle it out against the world football giants to assert ‘African supremacy’.
One thing that will separate our boys, Bafana Bafana, from the rest is a home advantage, which comes with an inescapable duty to showcase the 13th player, the national pride. This inner-developed 13th player first manifested itself in 1995 when Francois Pienaar led what many adjudged a mediocre team to a historic World Cup triumph. This was later re-affirmed by Neil Tovey’s proud and all-time legendary Bafana Bafana, who conquered Africa to annex their first ever international football accolade.
South Africa’s Penny Heyns, the physically impaired Natalie Du Toit and Josiah Tugane are now world celebrated gold medallists, not because they are extra-ordinary sportsmen and women, but because of how much they were determined to serve and protect the pride of the rainbow nation.
On the flip side of the gallantry and patriotism our African players are charged with, we must always remember, that names are made and broken in this pinnacle of world football that is the FIFA World Cup. But consider the likes of Brazil, where players would kill to represent their country in the World Cup. This maybe explains their success in world football.
When I look around to capture a sense of the intrigue that comes with the history the FIFA World Cup brings to Africa, I see fit to call upon African governments and the LOC (Local Organising Committee) to ensure that every South African and African citizen is afforded an equal opportunity to indulge in this once in a lifetime experience, and proudly say ‘I WAS THERE, I SAW, I EXPERIENCED AND I WAS PART OF HISTORY’.
In my view, through the extensive mass awareness and mobilisation campaigns, fan-parks that are not only erected in host cities, provinces and country, and the immediate opening of over-the-counter ticket sales, will not only amass the much-needed euphoria about the World Cup, but will afford all of us an opportunity to proudly say that this is indeed an AFRICAN WORLD CUP.
Africa cannot afford to overlook the unique glamour and impact the Makarapas, Vuvuzela, dance and singing of the patriotic and passionate fans and supporters of the African countries, brings to the stadium. It is the same colourful glamour, energetic and ecstatic showpiece that has separated us from the world, making us champions in architectural and passionate support for football.
I am also certain that with the scorecard rating of over 70% Sepp Blatter gave South Africa for organising the Confederations Cup in 2009, the LOC will stop at nothing to ensure that we indeed deliver to the world a scorecard that can be equated to an improper fraction of 20 out of 10 in 2010 when Sepp Blatter delivers his post-World Cup impressions. Areas where we could have done better need to be improved with double the effort. This we will do to protect our ‘African supremacy’.
Our efforts will need to also look at the diversity of football fanatics who will be coming to our shores during the FIFA World Cup, to ensure that our logistics and hospitality meets the challenge. We need to be watchful of issues like customer care, signage, communication and linguistic skills, and thus give a little push to our proud South African brothers and sisters, who will be tasked with safety, security, logistics and hospitality during this mega event. I have trust in the government’s promise that access roads, transport and crime-prevention measures are intact to make South Africa and Africa proud.
History further tells us that South Africans are a proud, patriotic and peace-loving bunch, who, in my view, will open their hearts and homes to embrace the world and reclaim “African supremacy’. The world will learn and see for themselves what we mean by African Humanity – Ubuntu. The legendary Diego Maradona of Argentina, Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast, Samuel Eto’o of Cameroon and Brazil's Carlos Dunga and Ricardo Kaka all had their fair-share of experience of Ubuntu.
The Afro-pessimists will, post-World Cup, have nowhere to hide, but can only come out to apologise for misleading the world in doubting South Africa’s readiness to host a safe, secure and successful African World Cup.
South Africans and the entire continent have no obligation to defend themselves against these pessimists, but have accepted a mammoth task to host the first ever African FIFA World Cup, and the undertakings the government made in Zurich in 2004 must be fulfilled.
It is for such reason that all of us, as African nationals, need to play our part in complimenting the good work by the South African government and the LOC, by, among other things, uniting and rallying behind Bafana Bafana and the other African teams, so as to claim our ‘African supremacy’.
Makunga is an Executive Director of the South African Football Supporters Association (SAFSA)
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