Post World Cup - South Africa is a winner

The shouting and excitement is over – the 2010 World Cup has come to an end.
Congratulations to Spain who have emerged as the champions after defeating the Netherlands in a scrappy 1-0 final at Soccer City.
Congratulations to Diego Forlan from Uruguay who wins the Golden Ball Award for the world cup’s best player.
Congratulations to Thomas Müller from Germany who wins the Golden Boot Award for the top scorer in the tournament and was also named as the young player of the tournament.

Farewell World Cup but thank you FIFA for giving us the chance and whilst Spain may be the football champs, South Africa is the winner. We were given the opportunity to welcome the world and we said “Ayoba”! We did it.

We had superb stadiums, efficient organization, effective transport, we had crowd enthusiasm and we hosted a stunning, secure tournament. Congratulations South Africa on a job well done! I was humbled as the final whistle blew to get an sms from a friend in Holland which read, “South Africa! Thank you for a great World Cup. Too bad for our final ending but what wonderful international support”

We depart this world cup with our heads held high and hearts full of pride. Africa is not the dark continent many thought it was – so many people around the world have discovered South Africa and so many South Africans have discovered themselves. I believe that it is the South African people who have made this World Cup a success. The friendship, the welcome, the enthusiasm, the humour, the support, the comaraderie, the unity, and the confidence of South Africans is the true legacy that many will remember. There is no price that can be attached to a nation coming together. Our very own world icon Nelson Mandela (Madiba) made his entrance to Soccer City at the 2010 World Cup final on Sunday night 11 July 2010 to a standing ovation. Madiba once said, "Through football, we can celebrate the humanity of the African continent and share it with the rest of the world." This event was his dream and with it came so many dreams of world peace and a better life for all.

It is the first time a host nation has been knocked out of the tournament in the first round and many thought that would impact on the success of the tournament. Not here – we were too excited! We picked new teams, we dressed in different colours and in fact I overheard a friend declare supporting a new team because he needed a new outfit!

Who would have thought our vuvuzela’s would become brand South Africa’s biggest export? I loved the chirp that went “I hate it when I go to a vuvuzela concert and people start playing soccer”. Love them or hate them, when you hear a vuvuzela you will always be reminded of World Cup 2010 in South Africa.

The most famous animal in South Africa was not one of the Big Five – it turned out to be an octopus who lives in Germany! Marine life topped the charts in Cape Town too as shark cage diving and viewing proved to be the most popular activity for visiting fans that booked through Cape Point Route.

Questions of morality were raised. Faced with a few seconds left, Luis Suarez of Uruguay defended a certain Ghana goal by using his hands. He cheated! He was duly punished and his team was lucky but faced with the same challenge of cheating to save your country – would you do it?

The tournament was not without drama and disappointment: There was a “disabled” Italian who breached security by miraculously leaping out of his wheelchair and running onto the field. There was a fan who walked into the England team’s changing rooms and a journalist was accused of orchestrating this. There was the small matter of an airport fiasco at the semi-final in Durban. The referees did not crown themselves in glory and the debate to use technology has arisen more fiercely than ever before. France and Italy proved to be massive disappointments, England did not deliver and the Green goalkeeping error against the USA was one of the biggest blunders of the tournament. Brazil did not produce the beautiful game they are hailed to represent and the final produced more cards than any other final ever.

But the thrills outweigh the spills. Can any South African forget the opening goal of the tournament by Tshabalala that lifted the spirits of the entire nation? With 150 million You tube views, Shakira’s Waka Waka song (This Time for Africa) featuring Freshly Ground is the No 1 single in 15 countries! I have no doubt there are more statistics and figures that will emerge in the post mortem.

We don’t have final visitor numbers but the fans who came to South Africa in spite of propaganda reports in the media, all said they would be back. They met beautiful beaming faces, shining bright eyes, warm welcoming arms, and a crazy burst of colour from the Rainbow nation. South Africans showed the world the biggest soccer party on earth. Those that didn’t come wished they had. Even if only a tiny portion of the estimated 700 million people who watched the final come to visit South Africa, we know they will leave will the same impression as the fans that did come!

What Now? What Next? These questions may be on everyone’s lips but I have goosebumps thinking about South Africa’s achievements. I am so proud and I believe this is the start of great things to come. The hearts and minds and perceptions of South Africa have changed and the hearts and minds of South Africans have changed. Thank you South Africa for hosting the first World Cup on African soil and proving the naysayers wrong. I challenge the global community to come and experience Ubuntu for yourselves. I challenge South Africans to experience their own country like our visitors did. I challenge you to get out there and explore. We have so much to offer and so much happening.

If in doubt contact the Cape Point Route for some of our favourite activities and things to do. Cape Point Route offers a wide range of Accommodation, Activities,Attractions, Restaurants, Venues, Shops, Tours and Packages on the CAPE PENINSULA, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA