World Cup excitement reaches fever pitch

From Polokwane to Cape Town football excitement reached fever pitch with fans from across the world turning South African cities and towns into a kaleidoscope of colour and carnival.

In Durban one of the soccer world Cups eight World Cup hosting cities, residents could be seen making last minute decorations to their houses with flags of Bafana Bafana and those of foreign teams that they will be supporting during the month long tournament.

The tournament starts on friday night at 8 pm when South Africa takes on Mexico to be followed by the match between France and Uruguay in Cape Town.

Durban the sea-side city where a brand new R 3, 5 billion rand Mabhida stadium was constructed for the world cup has undergone extensive renovations. Its famous beach front which stretches for several kilometres has undergone an extensive facelift. It now looks like a paradise on earth with newly constructed roads, fan parks, swimming pools and food outlets.

The city centre also had its roads spruced up and a new transport system was on Monday unveiled by the Citys Mayor Obed Mlaba.

An artificial training turf was laid outside the Moses Mabhida stadium to cater for the training needs of the teams based in Durban. Nigeria, Algeria, Australia and Paraguay are based in Durban.

A number of public viewing places have been constructed in many of the citys suburbs. For example a shabeen in Inanda, a settlement just outside Durban, a big screen has been erected by the owner to cater for the largely poor South Africans most of whom stay in makeshift corrugated houses.

In the more affluent areas such as La Lucia and Gateway, similar big screens have been erected as well where members of the public can gather and watch soccer matches together.

To put the icing on the cake, the South African media reported on Tuesday that the South African breweries will be increasing its beer volumes by millions lf litres in anticipation of a huge demand from soccer supporters most of whom are renowned for having a good appetite for the wise waters.

A big ball similar to the Jabulani official 2010 World Cup match ball has been erected in front of the Durban Town House. Here member of the public can pose for pictures and enter competition to win the original Jabulani ball.

Along the seaside stretch, Zimbabwean sand artists are making brisk business making replicas wild animals such as lions, tigers and World Cup stadiums on sand.

Business is good people especially Mexican tourists are coming to see what we do and they are loving it, said Trevor Makurira, a Zimbabwean sand artist.

Many residents share the frenetic feeling of having the world cup in their midst.

But not many here are happy that the worlds greatest sporting show is in the backyard.

One such a person is Ashwin Desai who belongs to the Durban Traders Association whose members are battling to get space to sell their stuff at the World Cup stadium, a practice that has already been outlawed by the International Footbal Federation (FIFA).

We wonder if this world Cup is for Africans, we wonder if its for the poor, if its only for the rich they must say so rather than pretend that its an African World Cup, said Desai a prominent social rights activist based in Durban.

In the run up to the World Cup, the Durban city council popularly known as the EThekwini Municipality because of its proximity to the sea, wanted to destroy a century old market to make way for a new shopping mall which they wanted to open before the World Cup. But the traders based at the Early Morning Market, who are a mix of Indians and black people took their matter to the Durban High Court which is yet to pass a ruling on the matter.

But despite the protestations, traders have embraced the spirit of the soccer spectacle. They are selling everything associated with soccer from Vuvuzelas, flags, coated car tyres, football regalia to undergarments.