The long wait is over!

MQONDISI DUBE
Staff Writer | Friday June 11, 2010 00:00

 

The 19th World Cup roars to life this afternoon at the giant Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg when hosts South Africa open the tournament against Mexico in a Group A encounter.

But before kick-off, nearly 50 heads of state are expected to attend the official opening before 95,000 fans.  However, President Ian Khama will not be at Soccer City as he is away on official business in Cuba. Khama is, however, expected to attend the closing ceremony at the same venue on July 11. Thirty-two teams have gathered in South Africa, including holders, Italy for the month long tournament.

The winners of the first World Cup to be held on African soil will be crowned on July 11, with the Brazilians chasing a record extending sixth crown. Only seven countries, Uruguay, Italy, Germany, Brazil, England, Argentina and France have won the World Cup since it was first held in Uruguay in 1930. All the seven previous winners are in South Africa.

Proceedings start at 3pm tomorrow with the official opening ceremony before South Africa tackle Mexico in the first game.The South Africans will be eager for a flying start to maintain the momentum that has been built since the country was granted the right to host the world's biggest sporting event.

Bafana Bafana have been looking sharp in the build-up to the tournament under Brazilian coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira. They have gone 12 matches unbeaten since last December. Africa should have hosted the 2006 World Cup but controversy marred the voting process which saw New Zealand official, Charles Dempsey, abstain from casting his vote.

That proved crucial and Germany won the right to host the 2006 edition. South Africa then beat Morocco to win the right to host the 2010 event with the announcement made in Zurich, Switzerland before anti-apartheid hero, Nelson Mandela in May 2004.

The World Cup has been held every four years since 1930 except in 1942 and 1946. It has never been held in Africa but that will change today when South Africa and Mexico get the ball rolling at the revamped Soccer City, formerly FNB. Sixty-four matches will be played over the next four weeks in 10 World Cup venues. Besides Johannesburg the other venues are Pretoria, Rustenburg, Cape Town, Nelspruit, Polokwane, Durban, Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth. There is another first for Africa as six nations will represent the continent. The hosts, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria and Algeria will hoist the African flag.

Cameroon and Senegal remain the best performers for Africa after reaching the quarterfinals.

The Cameroonians were Africa's toast in Italia 1990 when it beat Morocco's 1986 record by going past the second round to the quarters where it lost to England 3-2 in extra-time in controversial circumstances.

Senegal equalled the record in Korea-Japan in 2002 when another extra-time goal proved fatal in a 1-0 loss to Turkey.