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!~

The World Cup Question?

 So there is no more denying it… This Friday will be the opening ceremony for the Soccer World Cup, giving the mayhem a green light.

I for one have been in denial about the whole thing, personally because it is going to interfere and upset my day-to-day routine (selfish…Yes). With road closures and an influx of tourist, the thought of the traffic congestion is gut retching. Any traveling around town on match days is going to be excruciatingly slow and chaotic.

*Quick example from the office to gym, normally a 10minute drive (in traffic), now the roads are all closed on match days, what do they expect us to suddenly evolve into super humans and teleport ourselves to gym? Hello if we could do that we wouldn’t need to go to gym would we, because we would be super human. *

Oh and lets not forget the last, how many months of disruption we have endured due to the construction of the new stadium and the surrounding road system… but hang on, what was it all for as these are the roads being closed on match days and will not be in use… hmmm… lets think about that for a second.

Oh and what about our lovely African Taxis that already feel they are more important than every other car on the road… I can see them now practically mounting the pavements, vuvuzelas blearing out the window, competing with the base from their radio's (and don’t get me started on the noise pollution that is vuvuzelas) to get in front of that corsa-lite.

Not to mention the fact that the cops are going to be so focused on the stadium and its surrounding area, basically giving criminals free range in the ‘burbs… that’s were I live.

So, I’m now faced with reality and left with the burning question… Do I cave in and embrace the craziness and join the masses or do I stand my ground and be grumpy and bitter for the next month??

Did I mention I hate soccer, I love a great deal of sports… but soccer doesn’t crack a nod on that list.

But alas for the sake of my own sanity I might have to embrace the chaos, jump into the middle of the crowd, don a yellow T-shirt branded SOUTH AFRICA and join the Gees. (While I hum quietly in my car, whoooo Saaaah, as I watch my fuel dropping in the traffic)

~Feel it, it is here~