the other football

The Mourning After

The official week of mourning for my stolen laptop and with it much work is over. 

There are some post World Cup stories to tell.  I will try to tell them while I am still a guest here.   

I want to thank Damian, Elliot, Greaterman, Moses, and Sydney for their efforts and support.  They were hurt and insulted by the theft as much as I was. 

South Africa is a giving country.  It gave to me thousands of times.  An "inside job" by some semi rich kid staying at Madison Flats at 26 Juta Street who fancied a bit extra cash or a laptop upgrade is not going to change my love for the country.

Coming Soon: The Cup Stays Here.  It didn't.  Why not?  And more views from not so famous folks about their continent, their football and their future.

Behind Every Great Football Team is a Great Woman

This is Fabiana, the woman who runs the show for Uruguay.  (Interview with Fabiana to follow and posting of other assorted smarteez to come over the weekend.)

Africa Unite

The Sowetan leaves its readers in no doubt. Africa Unite.

Amos is With Ghana

The feeling for Ghana came strong in Bloemfontein, but is even stronger in Johannesburg.  I hit the pavements early yesterday and found a man hard at work keeping Johannesburg clean.  Amos is with Ghana.

Inside Information from the Holland Camp

Should Uruguay beat Ghana, Holland could be an potential opponent for La Caleste.

My intrepid self worked my way into the Dutch Training Camp to secure an interview with the Mita the Tea Lady.  What's going on with the Dutch?

Gizza Song Supporter Series - South Africa

Another from our OTHER FOOTBALL Gizza Opinion, Gizza Song Supporter Series. 

South Africa may be out, but folks in Bloemfontein will never stop singing.

Take it away, Amons.

Mayor Playfair

Among the locals at the bar in Bloemfontein was the Mayor of Bloemfontein, Mayor Playfair Morule.  Mayor Playfair was comfortable among his constituents and agreed to speak with me about who he is feeling now Bafana is out.

A Toast to our Visitors

It had been our intention to avoid an overnight stay in Bloemfontein.  Pablo and I had wanted to avoid bumping into English fellas dressed up as St. George or Germans dressed in one of their kinky uniforms.  But all the roads pointed to Bloemfontein.  We eventually found a low key lodge.  Cheap as chips.  We checked in and headed to the bar.  There were no English or Germans to be found, just twenty local characters inside watching the Argentina Mexico match. 

Soon enough, we found ourselves the recipients of a toast.

Radio and Podcast Appearances

I was a guest on The Guardian World Cup Daily Podcast with James Richardson a few nights ago.  Click on the link above to listen to the show.  I join the show after about half an hour.

And for those in Metro Johannesburg area, I will be a guest on the Alex Jay show, 94.7 FM Highveld Stereo in the 11 O'Clock hour tomorrow, Friday, July 2nd.  I will be previewing the Uruguay v Ghana match, as well as discussing what I have been doing in South Africa.

The Kimberley Uruguayan Youth League

The drive from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg was spectacular, though perhaps not as pretty as watching the sun rise over the Transkei from Mtatha the morning before. 

There were a couple of unexpected surreal and magic moments on the journey, as seems always to be case on this World Cup South African odyssey.

Pablo and I had given a spin to our first local hitch hiker.  A poor farm worker looking to get 10 miles down the road.  He helped us translate the Afrikaner radio commentary of the England v Germany match, though he was hard pressed to translate the Lampard goal.

We reached a Wimpy bar near Colesburg just in time for second half, when a car of Uruguayan fanatics jumped out and began singing praises to Uruguay.  Turns out they were from Kimberley and had made the long trip down to Port Elizabeth to see Uruguay play.  The man on the left is Monwa, leader of the ANC Youth League for the Northern Cape province and now fanatical Uruguayan supporter.

I conducted a great group interview of the five, but deleted it when one of them very alert to the reach of global new media realized he hadn't told his significant other about his football road trip.  You know you don't want to be the cause of a brother having to sleep alone, he said as he pleaded with me to delete the interview.

Brazil has it's supporters in Durban.  Uruguay has it's followers in Kimberley.  What about the South Africans who are feeling Ghana.  What they at?

Meet Alberto. The Uruguayan AC Jimbo

I ran into Alberto at midnight in a Port Elizabeth Steers.  He was getting an ice cream and was reluctant to engage me on the prospect of a Brazil v Uruguay Semi Final.  Alberto only wanted to discuss Ghana.

Luis "Pato" Suarez Kisses the Girls

Our friend "Pato" was at it again in Port Elizabeth.  More and more South Africans are starting to feel Uruguay.  Although the knee jerk reaction of most folks is to cheer for Brazil, there is some serious respect for Uruguay because of the nature of the Beat Down issued to Bafana Bafana.

Port Elizabeth Lady for Uruguay

I ran into my first touts in Port Elizabeth, all working for a Canadian character.  The touts had been working on the assumption South Africa could have been involved.  They were also pushing tickets for the Uruguay v Ghana match on July 2nd, a fixture that had seemed likely to involve England, hence their glut of supply. 

The touts were being were undercut by Mexicans (who had also planned too far ahead) and others who were practically giving tickets away.  I met a Uruguayan who had a spare.  We donated the ticket to folks from a nearby block of flats who had been enthusiastically for Uruguay.  I hope the lady managed to go or at least got something for the ticket.

The atmosphere surrounding the Mandela Stadium was weak.  This was a shame, because the community could easily have been more integrated into the occasion.  Some of the small shops, places to eat were closed or were inaccessible because of the fences all designed to funnel fans into the stadium.  I managed to navigate my way around the cordon to find a knock out Chicken Bunny Chow in side street cafe.  It was a shame few other guests of the city were able to share such a tasty pre match meal or talk football with folks on the steps of their homes.

Not Brazilian for a Day

This colourful character suggested Durban folks were only Brazilian for the day.  I suspect he underestimated the power of Brand Brazil.  Still, it was great to meet a supporter who hasn't bought into the Brazil thing swirling around South Africa at the moment.

Beaches for Brazil

North Beaches.  South Beaches.  All the beaches in Durban were for Brazil.

But why?  What is about Brand Brazil South Africans find so attractive?  Mum was refreshing.  She was reluctant to be Brazil for a day (although when pressed she came close to expressing a little love for Argentina).

Lifeguards for Brazil

Brazil.  Brazil.  Brazil.  Everyone loves Brazil on the beaches of Durban.  What is it about Brand Brazil?  Why do so many South Africans support Brazil?

Who is the Man on the Beach Cheering for?

No Uruguay fixtures in Durban, but some Uruguayans could not resist the chance to take a dip in the Indian Ocean en route to Port Elizabeth.  The locals had not caught up with Uruguay yet, accusing them of being Argentines or Paraguayans. 

With Bafana out, I was curious to hear if folks in Durban (often accused of being the Rio de Janerio of South Africa) were inclined to cheer for any other team.  The responses were overwhelmingly predictable.  Here's the view from the man on the beach.

Jorge's Uruguayan Football History Lecture Series II

Jorge continues with the Uruguayan football history.  What else is there to talk about on the road to Pretoria?  Here Jorge tells us about the Andrade family and their contribution to Uruguayan World Cup success in 1930 and 1950.

Jorge's Uruguayan Football History Lecture Series I

I hitched a ride with Jorge and Graciela from Rustenburg.  Jorge was in rare form delivering lectures on Uruguayan football history.  Here Jorge discusses contribution of the late, great Isabelino Gradin.

Coming Soon

Jorge the Uruguayan football historian.  The view from the beaches, streets and wickets of Durban.  Who South African's support now?  And an appearance on The Guardian's World Cup Daily Podcast: An interview with Jimbo Richardson while navigating my way through last call in a Transkei Wimpy Bar.

Zimbabweans Looking Forward

Meeet Moses and Isaac in Kimberley (not Pretoria as I said on the tape).  They suggest politics makes football difficult, but have been pleased with the recent performances of their Warriors. They are looking forward to the next World Cup in Brazil.

Pato Scores, Pato Dances

Pato's goal prompted a few arrogant and angry Mexican supporters to hurl bottles of Budweiser at the Uruguayan contingent.  This unreported old school football aggravation carried on for about 5 minutes into the half time interval.

It came to an end when the other "Pato" (dancing to the Tambor below) was forced to take off his "Pato" head and join the Uruguayan massive with rearguard vocal quacks of support as a bare chested Peñarol posse gave the Mexican morons an off the field football slap down. 

Much credit here also to the Elders from Mexico who confronted their own fools and forced them to watch match from some other vantage point during the second half.

Cameras had a assist here also.  No one wants to be YouTube hooligan and it's hard to throw a punch when you have a camera in hand. 

PS. 20,000 Argentines versus 20,000 Mexicans at Soccer City next Sunday.  Waka Waka time?  More like Makarapa time!

Uruguayans Clmb the Rafters in Rustenburg

Uruguay March On

Uruguayans held another post match celebration, this time at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.

Tinashe for Uruguay

While waiting for the midnight bus to Pretoria, I popped into a local tavern. Tinashe hooked it up.  Steak, Castle Milk Stout, the usual.  I noticed he was rocking his Uruguayan key chain.  La Celeste had popped in a few days before. 

I will leave the keyboard to Tinashe to tell you how he feels.

"Considering the performance of the Uruguayan team I felt so enthused to place my hopes for the World Cup to the Uruguayan team. Above all being a team hosted or should i say residing in Kimberley, I scrutinised them and realised their determination in the World Cup.  This alone festered me to wholly support them all the way through..."