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Confederations Cup Chronicles: Part Six - Besieged By Bafana Bafana
Goal.com's John Duerden has arrived in the Rainbow Nation ahead of the Confederations Cup and is ready to provide a daily account of the football, the country, the people and his adventures in South Africa...
Jun 18, 2009 3:42:24 PM
The international media suggests that
you can get ambushed on the streets of South Africa after dark at the drop of a hat.
That happened to me on Wednesday evening in Bloemfontein as I headed home after watching Bafana Bafana defeat New Zealand 2-0.
But this gang, 30-40 strong, was in a great mood, singing and dancing as they surrounded me to pose for the camera. It was a memorable moment and begs the question, if people celebrate like this after beating the All Whites, what will happen if they actually do well at the World Cup?
The atmosphere in the pub before had been jovial too. We downed a few bottles of Hansa Pilsner and got into the spirits of things.
The television showed pictures of Bafana Bafana arriving at Rustenburg stadium, dancing down the corridor and singing that they were going to war.
“How can you go to war in suits?” shouted one to general laughter while Bernard Parker’s appearance on screen was met with cries of ‘you owe us two goals’ – after his clearance off the line in the previous match against Iraq. And provide two goals he did.
The South African national team is obviously something that means an awful lot to a great deal of people but fans, at least the ones I have met, are happy to poke fun at the players and are aware of the team’s limitations.
Most ire is directed in the direction of Joel Santana’s ability to get the most out of them. Santana hasn’t won over the general public here and is, short of something special in this competition, unlikely to do so.
The fans at Rustenburg lustily sang the national anthem, one that incorporates five different languages. “This is the Rainbow Nation,” explained Dominic Peel of the Daily Dispatch, an East London paper, and then shouted at the screen as a silent Santana appeared on screen, “for $1.5 million a year, he should be singing the loudest.”
The atmosphere in the earlier Spain–Iraq match was certainly loud. The second half was amazing with constant singing, dancing, clapping and chatting. It was much more enjoyable than a fairly turgid game. The locals are well known for their supporting ability. Bloemfontein Celtic may not get the biggest crowds in the South African Premier League but their fans are some of the best in the country.
Spain may not have impressed too much on the pitch but the players were much friendlier with the press than their Brazilian equivalents. Albert Riera was especially open and good-natured. Iraqi captain Nashat Akram looked cool in a woolen cap as he talked of his upcoming Dutch adventure with FC Twente.
While chatting to Nashat and other members of the Asian champions’ team and coaching staff, it was easy to feel the overall mood: it was satisfaction. From their point of view, losing 1-0 to the Spanish - for a time the locals were worried that Iraq may even hold on for a draw - was not a bad result at all and means that South Africa, after their 2-0 win, will probably have to draw against the European title-holders to progress to the next round.
That will be some match and some atmosphere in Bloemfontein on Saturday. Prior to the match, I wandered the streets of the City of Roses trying to find the African restaurant recommended by the tourist. It had closed two years ago.
But still, the city is a pleasant one to wander and the waterfront, just behind the Free State Stadium is a good choice for an alfresco lunch and you can take in a movie if the football doesn’t take your fancy.
It was too cold to sit outside this morning as I departed. Th city was cold with frost on the ground. It will be warmer in Joburg as I go to watch Italy take on Egypt.
John Duerden
john.duerden@goal.com
That happened to me on Wednesday evening in Bloemfontein as I headed home after watching Bafana Bafana defeat New Zealand 2-0.
But this gang, 30-40 strong, was in a great mood, singing and dancing as they surrounded me to pose for the camera. It was a memorable moment and begs the question, if people celebrate like this after beating the All Whites, what will happen if they actually do well at the World Cup?
The atmosphere in the pub before had been jovial too. We downed a few bottles of Hansa Pilsner and got into the spirits of things.
The television showed pictures of Bafana Bafana arriving at Rustenburg stadium, dancing down the corridor and singing that they were going to war.
“How can you go to war in suits?” shouted one to general laughter while Bernard Parker’s appearance on screen was met with cries of ‘you owe us two goals’ – after his clearance off the line in the previous match against Iraq. And provide two goals he did.
The South African national team is obviously something that means an awful lot to a great deal of people but fans, at least the ones I have met, are happy to poke fun at the players and are aware of the team’s limitations.
Most ire is directed in the direction of Joel Santana’s ability to get the most out of them. Santana hasn’t won over the general public here and is, short of something special in this competition, unlikely to do so.
The fans at Rustenburg lustily sang the national anthem, one that incorporates five different languages. “This is the Rainbow Nation,” explained Dominic Peel of the Daily Dispatch, an East London paper, and then shouted at the screen as a silent Santana appeared on screen, “for $1.5 million a year, he should be singing the loudest.”
The atmosphere in the earlier Spain–Iraq match was certainly loud. The second half was amazing with constant singing, dancing, clapping and chatting. It was much more enjoyable than a fairly turgid game. The locals are well known for their supporting ability. Bloemfontein Celtic may not get the biggest crowds in the South African Premier League but their fans are some of the best in the country.
Spain may not have impressed too much on the pitch but the players were much friendlier with the press than their Brazilian equivalents. Albert Riera was especially open and good-natured. Iraqi captain Nashat Akram looked cool in a woolen cap as he talked of his upcoming Dutch adventure with FC Twente.
While chatting to Nashat and other members of the Asian champions’ team and coaching staff, it was easy to feel the overall mood: it was satisfaction. From their point of view, losing 1-0 to the Spanish - for a time the locals were worried that Iraq may even hold on for a draw - was not a bad result at all and means that South Africa, after their 2-0 win, will probably have to draw against the European title-holders to progress to the next round.
That will be some match and some atmosphere in Bloemfontein on Saturday. Prior to the match, I wandered the streets of the City of Roses trying to find the African restaurant recommended by the tourist. It had closed two years ago.
But still, the city is a pleasant one to wander and the waterfront, just behind the Free State Stadium is a good choice for an alfresco lunch and you can take in a movie if the football doesn’t take your fancy.
It was too cold to sit outside this morning as I departed. Th city was cold with frost on the ground. It will be warmer in Joburg as I go to watch Italy take on Egypt.
John Duerden
john.duerden@goal.com
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