World Cup craze hits Batswana

FREDERICK KEBADIRETSE
Staff Writer | Friday June 11, 2010 00:00

Being the biggest soccer showpiece on the globe, the World Cup never comes without much hype and fanfare as soccer lovers and other well-wishers go all the way behind their nations to give them support and cheer them on, hoping they will ultimately win and return home with the coveted trophy.

The fans, sometimes referred to as the 12th player on the field of play, can do amazing and hilarious things just to demonstrate the support and loyalty they have for their national teams. Painting faces, and buying replica jerseys in national colours have long been the tradition for any supporter at this spectacular event.  There is no doubt that South Africa will successfully host the first ever soccer World Cup finals to be played on African soil.

 Almost all the teams are now in the host nation, doing final touches on their preparations and most importantly acclimatising to the local environment.

The Local Organising Committee (LOC), headed by Danny Jordaan, has done a remarkable job and now the facilities: stadiums, roads, security and others are already making doubters go home with tails between their legs. South Africa is ready; forget the whole 'It is an African World Cup' talk. Back home, despite the country's failure to lure World Cup-bound teams here, the euphoria, vibe and fanfare surrounding the soccer showpiece has not by-passed Batswana. Soccer colours are the order of the day; people go around clad in colours of the teams they have chosen to support during the month-long event.

Car side mirrors are covered in team colours. You go to shops, malls and vendors, it is all about soccer and the World Cup. For obvious reasons, most Batswana have chosen South Africa as the Zebras did not qualify and the South Africans are our closest neighbours, plus they are the hosts. 

'We almost feel like it is our own World Cup,' declared one Isaac Matsetse, who said he is only going to watch one match live, between England and the USA in nearby Rustenburg.  'Well, as Batswana we have a long standing attachment to our southern neighbours, actually some of us grew up thinking we were part of South Africa,' he said. Back then we could only watch South African teams like Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs on television.

We attached Bafana Bafana to our hearts as if they were our own side. Who can forget the joy we felt when they won the African Nations Cup in 1996 when they hosted it? Young boys called themselves Doctor Khumalos, Phil Masinga and Helman Mkhalele. Well, they were not wrong, that is how they saw things and felt then.

So we can just go ahead and join the soccer frenzy that will be taking over the world this entire month and get behind the teams we chose to support without fear or favour. Let us feel it, it is here!