For the Love of Bafana Bafana

FOR THE LOVE OF BAFANA

I have a confession.

I never actually saw Bongani Khumalo’s “headed” goal vs France hit the back of the French net. I did watch the game. I did see the Siphiwe Tshabalala corner swing into the French area and the French goalkeeper flap at air. But as Bongani rose above the French defenders, I was already off my seat and jumping wildly in celebration.

I have another confession.

I never saw Kathlego Mphela’s goal (the second for South Africa on the night) cross the French goal line. I was still watching the game ofcourse. I saw Tshepo Masilela fighting for the ball in the French box and stroking the jabulani ball towards the French goal mouth. I saw that the ball somehow arrived at the feet of Mphela, just centimetres from the goal line. But again, before the ball rolled between the posts or touched the back of he net, I had run 50 metres in celebration while waving my green and gold South African scarf.

I have one final confession.

I believed in Bafana Bafana.

Like thousands of South Africans around our truly magnificent country, I embraced the 2010 World Cup with ready enthusiasm. I bought a unite 4 bafana wristband, a Bafana scarf, a Bafana shirt, a South African flag for my car, and most importantly I bought into the dream of Bafana Bafana at this the African World Cup.

I know thousands upon thousands of my fellow South Africans did the same. We believed in Bafana Bafana (‘the boys”). We believed that at a minimum the boys would progress to the second round of the 2010 World Cup. Some of my South African brothers and sisters even had faith that this South African soccer side would lift the World Cup itself. I know that I was close to feeling the same. Forget logic. Throw doubt out the window. We believed in our team, our country. We believed in destiny. And we lost... or did we?

Over 180 000 South Africans poured onto the streets of Sandton in Johannesburg to watch the Bafana pre-tournament parade. To show their support of our side. (It is now clear that this parade caused extreme mental exhaustion to the players and contributed to a poor and tired performance vs Uruguay)

When South Africa lined up against Mexico, it seemed as if the whole of our beloved country had stopped their day-to-day lives so as to watch and support Bafana.

And even when the dream seemed dead, South Africans from all backgrounds refused to give up the Bafana dream, and again devoted their time and hearts in support of Our Boys vs France in what was to be their final game.

So have we really lost?

Perhaps Shakespeare (or whoever) said it best. It is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.

In the year of 2010, we loved Bafana Bafana, and we lost.

But we didn’t really lose at all.

Saving the White Elephant

Before the Cape Town Stadium Visitors Centre closed down, I had the privilege of attending a show at the Centre. In the show the performers spoke of how Green Point common was used as a sports ground by slaves and how during the early years of Apartheid it was the ground where many Cape Town football clubs, such as Sea Point Swifts, played their soccer. It was explained that because of the Group Areas Act, many of the communities that had used Green Point common as a sports ground were forced to other areas in the Western Cape, which resulted in a club such as Sea Point Swifts retaining their name, but playing out of the Bonteheuwel community.

We now have the unique honour as Capetonians to have a magnificent stadium on the site of the former Green Point commons. The stadium has brought soccer back to a place where it was played by many of our forefathers. Also the stadium will play host to eight World Cup soccer matches. What is going to happen to the stadium after the World Cup?

Many have said that the stadium will become a White Elephant. Western Province Rugby have said that both Western Province and the Stormers will continue to play their rugby games at Newlands, and since Western Province Rugby have the rights to host Springbok games in Cape Town it is likely that all Springbok games will be played at Newlands too. So what will become of Cape Town stadium after the World Cup?

As I have said, the stadium is built on a historical piece of land that was used by our forefathers to play the game of soccer. Because of the FIFA World Cup, soccer will again be played on this site. In Cape Town we are fortunate to have three top soccer sides playing in Cape Town. For those of you that do not know, the teams are: Ajax Cape Town, Santos and Vasco Da Gama. It is these local soccer sides that will have the opportunity to use the Cape Town Stadium after the World Cup. And it is up to us as Capetonians to go out and attend the matches that they play, thereby insuring that our stadium in Cape Town does not become a white elephant.

I’ve heard all the complaints about dagga in the stadiums and the poor quality of soccer played by the local soccer teams. I will remind everyone that no matter how many drunk idiots are at Newlands, and no matter how poorly the Stormers have played in the past, the rugby sides in Cape Town enjoy good attendance at Newlands. So why not soccer? As Capetonians, are we going to allow a stadium that has given us the right to reclaim land in the heart of the Mother City to become a White Elephant? I for one aim to make a difference, and you can too.

I urge you, my fellow Capetonians to start supporting one of the three Cape Town soccer sides. Yes, you may have to sacrifice watching a few overseas soccer matches on TV, but if you can just pick one of these sides as YOUR TEAM – go and attend 5 of their matches at the new Cape Town Stadium – then you will be making a difference in your own city.

How easy would it be for you to arrange for 20 of your family and friends to attend 5 local soccer matches at the Cape Town Stadium? If 100 of us do this, then there will be 2000 Capetonians in the stands. If 1000 of us do this, then there will be 20 000 people in the stands. We can do this Cape Town.

We can SAVE THE WHITE ELEPHANT!!!