VIVA ESPANA!!

Congratulations to Spain, the new World Champions! They beat Netherlands last night at Soccer city by 1-0 in extra time in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final match. They definitely played a better game than the Dutch who were committing fouls left, right and centre and even received a red card for one of their players. The Spanish are now both European and World champions, also the first European team to win the World Cup outside of Europe and it's their first World Cup win ever!!
Above is the picture of the victorious team hoisting up the trophy!

GO GHANA!!

Loving GHANA's Team Spirit! Shine Black Stars Shine!

Andre Ayew - hottie from the BaGhana BaGhana team.

After Bafana Bafana’s early yet valiant exit from the 2010 FIFA World Cup, all Africans have rallied behind the Ghanaian team (now dubbed BaGhana BaGhana) as they were the only African team in the first ever African World Cup that made it through to the last 16 and now the quarter finals. I am also naturally behind Ghana and am crossing fingers that they are the team destined to be hoisting up that trophy on the 11th of July!

Now of course I wouldn’t be a girl if I hadn’t noticed that the Ghana team also boasts some talent in the “drool-worthy, be-still-my-heart, good-looking soccer players” department. I know that we could argue between Kevin Prince Boateng and Andre Ayew as to whom wins but seeing as it’s my blog, Andre Ayew wins hands down! Andre comes from a very talented, football-focused family and based on his performance in the World Cup is the next sensation for Ghana on the field. I am already a fan :)

"André Morgan Rami Ayew (born 17 December 1989) is a French-born Ghanaian football player who currently plays for Ligue 2 club AC Arles-Avignon on loan from Ligue 1 club Olympique de Marseille. He is often referred to as simply Dédé. Ayew plays as a winger, but can play as a striker. He is the second-born son of the three-time winner of the African Footballer of the Year award and FIFA 100 member Abedi Pele and has three other brothers, Ibrahim, Jordan, and Imani who also play football."

International Football Village

I have been trying to write about the International Football Village (IFV) for the past 2 days and I have been struggling due to a lack of confidence in myself in being able to write about it and really do it justice. I am really hoping that today is d-day!

Below is a basic description of the IFV that I found on their website:

The International Football Village (IFV) has been designed to enable local and international visitors to celebrate the world's biggest sporting event in a safe and entertaining environment. This festive football village is on a five-hectare site near OR Tambo International Airport. Several partners have joined our initiative looking forward to showcase true South African Hospitality to their employees, costumers as well to all international guests. The philosophy behind the idea is having an intensive and diverse dialogue and exchange, as well as celebrating a once in a life time experience as ONE FAMILY.

Reasons why I LOVE the IFV and think it’s the best fan park:

Ample parking space – I am one of those people that always manage to park skew or worse sometimes it takes me quite a few attempts to fit my car in between other cars in a parking space, I am a hazard, I know. This is why I love this parking because there is plenty of space. The parking is a short distance to the entrance and you also have to pay a parking fee of R10.
There are BIG screens everywhere you turn – I am not joking! I think there like 12 big screens in that place which also many seating area’s which cater for all types of people.
Indoor and Outdoor seating area’s – this for me is why the IFV is the best fan park to go and watch the games. It was quite chilly on Sunday so we opted for the indoor seating area and we didn’t freeze to death like we normally do.
Live Entertainment – Jamali performed on Sunday and it was my first time seeing them perform live and I thought they were awesome. They didn’t just perform their songs but some old favourites as well and had the crowd on the dance floor, we had so much fun and we even met Jamali afterwards!
Brazilian Beach Bar & the Shebeen – These unique seating areas are what make this place fun! The Beach Bar serves Pina Colada and Mojito’s and the shebeen plays music that really does make you feel like you are in one.
Food & Drinks – was so shocked at how cheap food is at the IFV, it’s so affordable; I just kept going back for more.

If you haven’t decided where you’re watching the final yet, I would recommend the IFV, it’s only R100 for a ticket :)

http://www.birchwoodhotel.co.za/

Support OUR boys!!

Tomorrow's outfit and will be worn with PRIDE!

Tomorrow Bafana Bafana will be playing their last group match against France and in light of the final score from their last match, the boys will need all the support that they can get!
I am behind Bafana Bafana all the way, win or lose because they are representatives of my country and most importantly MY TEAM. A true supporter does just that, support their team with no conditions.

Devotion, commitment, loyalty & enthusiasm are the key requirements in order to be a true supporter. And even if we don't win the game tomorrow, we are still the hosts, so we must show the rest of the world the meaning of true supporters and gracious, humble hosts :)

Go Bafana Bafana!

Monte Casino MTN Fan Zone

I was at the Monte Casino fan park, which is sponsored by MTN, yesterday to watch the Italy vs. New Zealand game as well as the highly anticipated Brazil vs. Cote D’Iviore game. The fan park officially opens at 11:00am and we arrived there at 14:00 and it wasn’t really that full yet so we decided to go and get some food before the game. We ended up at Spur which was great because I was craving ribs but only to be disappointed by the fact that they have discontinued their salad bars!! I have been going to Spur since I was a kid and could not have cared less about the salad bar back then but age comes with health consciousness and the salad bar has increasingly become a priority for me and could have killed someone when I found out it was gone! After a thousand apologies from our waiter, having had time to ponder over this logically, in Spur’s defence, it was probably driven by a cost-saving strategy for them which we consumers after sulking will eventually get over and forget about… :(

After lunch we then headed back to the fan zone, which had a very simple setup of a big screen and rows of chairs, there was also a small a stage setup next to the big screen which I assumed was for the entertainment. Upon entry we got free hats in the shape of a soccer ball and for some reason I had forgotten that our tickets, which only cost R50, come with a complimentary wors roll and a drink, yay!! We found seats, watched the first game, met up with some friends there and had a great time. After the game we were entertained by MTN Dancers, who were dressed in next to nothing in that freezing weather and their dance routine lacked any form of choreography whatsoever, they were all just doing their own thing. Afterwards there was some fire breathing entertainment and then a DJ came on and played a variety of music.

All things considered we would have loved to stay at the fan zone to watch the BRA vs CIV game but it was freezing AGAIN and we left at the 11th hour to go and watch the match at home. The Monte Casino fan zone is very kind to the pocket and definitely worth the R50. The only disappointing thing was the boring entertainment which I am sure MTN as the sponsor could definitely assist in improving!

Indawo Fan Park - St. Stithians College

My World Cup experience plan includes not only going to the stadiums but also visiting the fan parks,watching the games in 3D at the cinema's, attending soccer themed parties etc. The aim is to soak in as much of the atmosphere, euphoria and spontaneous friendships as I can for this month.

On the 16th of June Bafana Bafana was playing against Uruguay and I decided to go and watch the game at the Indawo fan park which was based at St. Stithians College, which also happens to be a very expensive, top-notch school. I went to Computicket to buy two tickets for my boyfriend & I and you can imagine my shock and horror at discovering that a ticket is R195 per person!! This is when I decided to utilise my boyfriends credit card, with his knowledge of course, to purchase these pricey tickets. Now, you're probably wondering but why buy them at all, other fan parks are only R50?

Well firstly Monte Casino fan park was sold out, secondly I didn't want to attend the free fan parks because of the stampede rumours and thirdly, Bafana was playing so I thought some company would be awesome especially if they won. I was also quite curious as to what it is that this fan park offers for it to be so expensive.

The afternoon of June 16th was freezing but we had paid R390 for tickets and there was no ways we were staying home! We arrived at the fan park with our camp chairs, blanket & vuvuzela's and set up camp. Being black we noticed that we were a minority here and upon entry we did get a few funny looks but because as South Africans we all currently have a cause that unites us, the looks didn't last long...

Indawo fan park had a very relaxed vibe, very family-friendly and safe. People were leaving their belongings without the fear that someone would take what wasn't theirs, I guess you have to pay a lot of money in this country in order to feel safe, which is very sad :( The facilities are also very clean and there is a kids zone that keeps the kids entertained.

We watched the Spain vs Switzerland game and when it ended we bought some food, which wasn't too expensive either. In between the 4pm game and the 8:30pm game is a 2&a half hour gap so they had a stage set up and called kids to the stage to have a dance competition. It really was so cute and they even asked one little boy, that won the competition, what his favourite team was and he said "Bafana Bafana!", a country united I tell you, melts my heart! Then Jozi performed quite a few of their songs and had us on our feet dancing which also helped us warm our frozen toes. Then Locnville performed and all the girls went crazy! Personally I think the boys are good-looking but their singing talent especially live is not so great or maybe I am getting old, either way I didn't understand what the fuss was about. The line up of artists that perform everyday is also worth the trip, just make sure that you like the artists on the day that you choose to go.

Their performance ended at 20:00 and the Bafana game was due to start at 20:30 and by this time we were frozen to the bone and didn't care how much money we had paid but we were leaving. When we got into the car the temperature gauge read 1.5 degrees and we were more than happy to head home at the thought of a heater and an electric blanket!!

Besides the cold, even paying R390 wasn't enough for us to stick around, we really had a good time and may just be going back soon!

Le Good Life ;)

Our company took us to watch the Argentina vs Korea game at Soccer City yesterday. It was my first time at Soccer City and it is stunning and oh so huge! We were sitting in the hospitality suites where there was an over share of food and drinks, had our own waiters and waitresses on hand & such comfortable seating as well as a great view. I just wanted to share the pics of living Le good life!!

A record-breaking perfomance by Bafana Bafana!!

I always blame my love for soccer or "the beautiful game" as I prefer to refer to it on my father and brothers. Being the only girl at home, I never had much of a choice as to whether or not we were going to watch soccer on a Saturday, it was a given. I love "the beautiful game" so much that if my team is losing, it takes an emotional toll on me and yes I am the type of fan that screams and shouts vehemently throughout the game.

Bafana Bafana's game last night vs Guatemala was one of those games and I was so happy that I was shouting and screaming happily as the boys delivered a sterling performance! The only ranting I did was directed at our captain Aaron "Mbazo" Mokoena who is notorious for moemish's at the worst of times but that is a story for another day.

Bafana Bafana have been undefeated in their last 11 games which also coincides with when Parreira took over as coach from Santana.The difference in the team's performance is vast and the past few games have given their confidence and morale a deserving boost. Last night's 5-0 win was also the first time that a Bafana Bafana team scored more than 4 goals in an international match, hence why it was a record-breaking performance.
It also garnered more support for Bafana Bafana from South Africans and elevated the levels of excitement and confidence for the 11th of June when they take on Mexico.

We are so proud of you boys and we are behind you all the way!
GO BAFANA BAFANA!

Feel it, it's here!!

I needed to go and do some shopping this Saturday and Sandton City is the closest mall to where I stay but considering the influx of foreign visitors in our country due to the FIFA World Cup, I decided that I will try to avoid it until is over.

This is how I ended up at the Melrose Arch Mall, which turned out to be the best decision I made firstly because it was crowd-free, relaxed and peaceful shopping experience and also because the GIANT BAFANA shirt was there!! The patriotic nature that this World Cup has instilled in everyone is so contagious and ever more prevalent wherever people are celebrating the countdown of this World Cup via all the exciting events much like Bafana Shirt signing.

By this stage, if you have not accustomed yourself to the Vuvuzela, bought a Bafana Shirt, own a South African flag, YOU.ARE.ON.YOUR.OWN!!!

FEEL IT, IT'S HERE!!