Spain VS Portugal

On Tuesday morning I arrived at work to a parcel waiting on my desk form one of my clients. Upon opening the courier packaging I get my first glimpse of a Fifa logo, not thinking much of it at the time I continue to unwrap the layers. Inside is an invitation to a hospitality venue for pre match drinks and entertainment, and two tickets to the soccer! WOW I couldn’t believe my eyes or my luck. I think I must have read the letter 5 times before it had sunk in.

So at 17h00 Clark Kent and I arrive at the venue, which just happens to be one of my favourite venues simply because it is loaded with classics and sports cars, yes we were at Future Exotics. We are greeted by some fabulous ladies who lead us to registration where we collect our hospitality passes, tickets for the game, a beanie, scarf, blanket and poncho each. Wow talk about prepared.

We were spoilt with lovely entertainment, food (which was practically dinner totally amazing everything form lamb chops, chicken curry, salmon, to chocolate brownies and more) and drinks. We even got flags painted on our faces, which raised a few issues as I was supporting Portugal and Clark Kent was routing for Spain, we then had a picture taken wearing Makraba’s and blowing a vuvuzela. Which we received a framed copy of once we had returned from the game, and also enjoyed some warming soup.

To add to the fun of the evening, each guest was issued with a number 22, 23, or 24; this was the number bus that would be escorting you to the stadium. But this is no ordinary bus; this is a foot bus consisting of two people and two signage boards, one at the front and one at the back, and all the guest in between. It was very festive!

We arrived at the stadium feeling like little kids on Christmas morning, we couldn’t contain ourselves and acted like great tourists in our home city. I was blow away by the stadium and the ease and efficiency of entering, ok yes we did go though a special hospitality entrance but the procedures were the same.

It made me wonder why can we get it right with an event as huge as this but things go so wrong on far small events.

But that is beside the point, the game was great, the atmosphere electric, the Vuvuzelas… oh the vuvuzelas, we were surrounded by so many different variations and sounds it was like a dysfunctional orchestra, but somehow it all came together in harmony.

I was sad Portugal lost but Clark Kent milked Spain’s win for all he could (which really wasn’t much), but we had a most magical evening and feel proud that we can now say,

~We were there!~