the other football

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.

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.

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.

Uruguay Training Camp in Kimberley

I arrived in Kimberley on Friday night.  Already, I have been shown immense hospitality.  Folks here are proud to be hosting Uruguay.

Kimberley is proving a wise choice for La Celeste.  The place resembles the character of provincial Uruguay.  You could be in a Fray Bentos, Paysandu or Salto.  It's a low key, simpatico place.  It's dead central South Africa, yet completely off the radar screens.  There are no World Cup games here.  It's perfect for training and tightening up your game.

I was the only character with a camera sniffing around Uruguay's training ground yesterday.  It's the home of local Rugby team, the Griquas.  It does not feel very "World Cup". The ground is set in the middle of a dusty clay car park.  There's a lad selling bags of oranges on the side of the road.  That's it.  Not much else going on, except the ground staff working on the pitch.  Uruguay stay in a standard 4 Star Hotel in the City, then jump on the bus to training.  It's as it should be. 

I grabbed a few words with Diego Forlan.  He was super friendly and spoke like a Mancunian.  Álvaro Pereira, the other goal scorer, was also agreeable.  I interviewed Álvaro, but I have decided against uploading the video.  The team is in a great space right now.  I do not need to be messing with it.  Diego Pérez was gracious.  And a big thanks to Loco Abreu and Walter Gargano for posing for photographs.  Edinson Carvani has a bit of Beatles about him.

There was a special moment also yesterday.  The great Alcides Ghiggia pitched up to training.  Uruguay's connection to the World Cup remains fundamental.

Yebo Celeste!

Uruguayans celebrated.  Some South African went home early.  But all South Africans were gracious in defeat.

Paysandu está Presente

For Oscar.

Uruguayans Celebrate Bafana Beat Down

There was much said about South Africans heading for the exits with 10 minutes to play in Pretoria.  (I was close to several Australian Uruguayans who 'politely' inquired as to why they weren't staying to support their team at precisely the moment they needed to be supported.  I concurred aloud.  Had they not heard we were notorious for conceding late goals?)

The story that was not told, however, was the Uruguayan stay behind.  2,000-3,000 Uruguayans celebrated La Celeste's beat down of the Bafana Bafana with a few beats of their own!

(Check out the mobile ringing about 36 seconds in the recording. That was Producer Ben of The Guardian trying to get through to me.)

Luis "Pato" Suarez Makes Your Dreams Come Through

It was like Disneyland last night for South African football supporters.

Luis "Pato" Suarez was on hand to make their dreams come through.  (But how will they will feel if "Pato" scores the winner against Bafana?  Roast Pato con Samp, for favor?

"We Have to Beat Uruguay"

What the South African Sunday Papers are saying, "We Must Beat Uruguay." 

I am about to travel across South Africa to attend the match.  It promises to be emotional occasion, and not just because of the football.  The game kicks off on "Youth Day", a most significant South African National Holiday.  June 16th will mark the 34th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising.

Uruguayans Drown out Vuvuzelas

Uruguayan supporters manifesting on the roof of a Cape Town nightspot. Scores of Uruguayans in the street below sang "Soy Celeste", easily drowning up the Vuvuzelas.

Uruguay's Opening Gambit

The wires are reporting Oscar "El Maestro" Tabarez has already named his Uruguay team for the opening match against France on Friday.  This is a classic opening gambit designed to take advantage of current French insecurities.

The French don't know what they are doing in South Africa.  "El Maestro" has just signaled the Uruguayans do. 

"The system we have chosen can adapt to the different things we could face against France," said "El Maestro".

Mauricio Victorino who plays for Universidad de Chile and midfielder Egidio Arevalo Rios (pictured above) who enforces the midfield for Penarol in Montevideo, are solid squad players, but not stars.  So what is behind El Maestro's opening gambit? What is he really saying by including Victorino and Rios?  What is he really up to?

The reflex among some Uruguayan commentators and bloggers is to express disbelief and sigh.  But El Maestro is thinking deep here, which is what he has to do if Uruguay are going to go deep into the tournament and win the World Cup.

Uruguay do not need stars to beat France is also the message here. 

Uruguay carry a poor discipline reputation and must be cautious in their opening fixture.  The referees need to be sized up.  What would be the point of introducing the likes of Victorino and Rios in the knock out stages, as replacements for better players.  The World Cup is about the making best use of your squad.  El Maestro is already doing just that.

Napoli's Walter Gargano will surely return to the team ahead of Rios when games are on the line and the calibre of opposition is higher.  Gargano is capable of both kicking shins (as Forlan found out in training a few days ago) and unleashing belters from outside the box.  Just Ask James Richardson.

Gizza Song Supporter Series - Chile

Welcome to the OTHER FOOTBALL Gizza Opinion, Gizza Song Supporter Series. 

I am asking supporters in South Africa to tell us about their team, how they think their team will do, and to share their song or chant with the world.

Each supporter has a minute.  First up, Chile.  Here's Rosendo.  Rosendo is cautious about Spain, but sees no problem with Honduras or Switzerland.  Gracias, Rosendo!

The Man on the Street Forza Uruguay!

The Man on the Street is feeling Uruguay!

Coming to a Shin Bone near you soon...Señor Walter Gargano!

Coming to a Shin Bone near you soon...Señor Walter Gargano!

They come dead hard they do, the boys from Paysandu!

Why was this ever a story?  The point of training is to get stuck in.  Diego Forlan's Fine. 

How would the world's global football media report on Uruguay if there was no Forlan to kick around?  The "former Manchester United" player is all they know.

Ladies of Gugulethu Love Uruguayan Beat

They will be cheering for their Bafana Bafana, but they would be welcome in any bar in Montevideo or at the Centenario.  The Ladies of Gugulethu welcome all the Celeste of Uruguay.

Small Bands of Argentines

 

We have had the first sightings of proper football supporters today in Cape Town.  Small bands of the scruffiest, scavenger looking Argentines you'll ever see.  Each one with a beard or body hair more stringy than the next.  "Che" tattoos all over the shop.  They look like they've crawled across the Kalahari Desert to get here.  And they look hungry.  I wonder if any of 'em have ever heard of The Gatsby?  I am not sure the locals have quite processed them yet.  They are not likely to linger, however, and seem clearly focused on training for the upcoming Die Groot Trek sponsored by Quilmes Lager.

Cape Town Candombe

In the back streets of Cape Town folks like to practice their Candombe.

Uruguayan Ultras Descend on Cape Town

Albert Lutuli is installed as Honourary President of República Oriental del Uruguay!!!

Mvumbi looks like he's feeling La Celeste!

The Boy Who Dreams of Being Captain

The Boy Who Dreams of Being Captain of Uruguay... 

I am Here for Obdulio

It's May, the World Cup is three weeks away.

I arrived in Africa yesterday.

I am here because football has come home.
I am here because I am a supporter..."vamo Uruguay".
I am here because the Struggle continues...la lucha continúa.

I am here because I am against those who are turning football into a neatly packaged product to be bought and sold like any other commodity.

I am here for Obdulio.  I am here for Oscar y Tricia.  I am here for Siddhartha.  I am here for David.  I am here for John.  I'm here for Ceci. I'm here for all y'all.

And I am here because as Eduardo Galeano once said of football, "when you least expect it, the impossible occurs, the dwarf teaches the giant a lesson, and a scraggy, bow-legged black man can make an athlete sculpted in Greece look ridiculous".

I will be passing my thoughts and moving to receive yours in the weeks ahead.

* The great Uruguay Captain Obdulio Varela (pictured above).

La Nueva Camiseta Celeste

Not as Old School as it should be, but add some black shorts and black socks and you'll soon be singing Soy Celeste.  Shame Abel Hernandez won't seen dancing in this joint in South Africa.

¿Dónde está el Fenomeno Abel Hernández?

How can Uruguay win the World Cup without Adel Hernandez? It's all about getting in the groove after you score. Diego Forlan ain't got no post goal moves like Abel H, that's for damn sure!