On Thursday we spent the day with Diane and Michael and took them to the soccer in Polokwane (well it might have been the other way around…who knows!). It was also a nice compact stadium, and it was a pity that it was quite empty and turned into a goalless draw between New Zealand and Paraguay as neither side were that intent on winning.

Friday we travelled back from Louis Trichardt to Randfontein. We would have been back by mid-afternoon, except we stopped in Krugersdorp to do some necessary shopping.

On Saturday we had a braai with most of the family we hadn’t seen. All those staying in Secunda came late on Saturday. Not sure how they packed 4 adults and 5 kids into the back of a bakkie, but I didn’t want to look and find out! It’s about a 3 hour drive to Secunda, not something I envy!

Sanjay, Susan and Petrus

Moira, Dot and Louise

After a couple of days in Steelpoort we travelled on to Louis trichardt, up near the northern border of South Africa. We got to visit plenty more family
and had a large family dinner on Wednesday at Aunty Jean and Thursday at Landi’s.

On the way we noticed our rear number plate had fallen off. Amazingly we got one couriered to Polokwane and had it on (with double-sided tape) the next morning!

Landi is a professional photographer,  who runs Reflection studio. After dinner the family had some photos taken…what an experience! Having to have my photo taken with a bunch of crazy ladies can only be described as interesting!

Rheanna, Susan, Diane, Chanty and Landi

On Monday before we left Middleburg I got to play with our two nephews Zander (5) and Rico (3). Zander loves his fishing more than rugby, but Rico looks like a natural rugby talent with a great boot!
With 3 month old nephew Wyatt who lives in Steelpoort looking like he may be more of a forward and provide some greater bulk surely these future Bulletjies can ensure Bulls rugby remains strong!

Rico, the klein bulletjie	Zander playing rugby
Rico playing rugby	Zander playing rugby with Sanjay

We left Middleburg on Monday and headed for the small industrial town of Steelpoort, some 2 hours away in the warmer interior of South Africa. Not much there but family to visit. It was great to see Susan, Hannes and 3 month old Wyatt!

Wyatt

Not sure if it is a true reflection on the area, but the police from Burgersfort had a BMW police car!
Nice for some…

On Sunday we travelled further east to Nelspruit, which took 2 and a half hours from Middleburg.

The Nelspruit stadium is called the “Giraffe stadium” because of the “Giraffes” on the outside. It is a compact and beautiful stadium with an open air design. We had fantastic seats and New Zealand scored early against Italy and held on for a 1-1 win! I think the Kiwis feel they have won the World Cup, and they were celebrating massively after the game.

On the bus back to the parking area, the comment of the day belonged to a young black man who said, “This is the new South Africa, I’ve never seen a white guy on a bus before!”

Honestly, the atmosphere at the games and camaraderie has been fantastic.

I don’t think I’ve heard the vuvuzelas as loud before, and as I told the lady selling ear plugs outside the stadium, “I don’t need them because I’m already deaf!”  What is also great is that Bafana Bafana colours are still the predominant colour, and it has been a truly African World Cup!

Giraffe stadium - Nelsruit	Sanjay inside Mbombela stadium
Rhenana inside stadium - its colourful - for a stadium	Sanjay and Rheanna at Mbombela stadium
Italy vs New Zealand	Italy vs New Zealand
Italy vs New Zealand	Mbombela stadium at dusk

Couldn't block the penalty

Saturday was a change of pace yet again as we left Jozi at 6am for Middelburg, some 2 hours east of Johannesburg. We were staying with Uncle Ding and Aunty Pop and we haven’t really spent much time with them. They were fantastic hosts, and it was great to spend time with them even though it went very quickly.

Saturday lunchtime we went to Witbank stadium, (also called Atlantic stadium and home to the Mpumalunga Pumas). It is not such a lekker stadium…very old,slightly run down, but provides a great insight into the provincial rugby heartland. Our seats were on concrete slabs that had painted seat allocations!

It was great to have a day time test, played in warm, sunny conditions that allowed us to get close to the action. We took some fantastic pics and the day was only disappointing by the performance of the Boks who made too many errors and didn’t produce the cricket score I was hoping for! Still a win is a win, it was a great day.

Witbank Stadium	Springboks coming onto the ground
Springboks singing Nkosi Sikilele	Scrumming in Witbank
Morne Steyn	Morne Steyn

On Friday we went to one of my favourite stadiums Ellis Park. It’s in the centre of Jozi, and not the greatest area, but a great place and atmosphere to watch sport.

After having been to Soccer City the day before, you notice how old Ellis Park is in comparison! The views are great however with a 30 000 smaller capacity, you are closer to the action which is great.

We watched the USA take on Slovenia. There were heaps of US supporters, dressed in all sorts of attire from the Pope to Elvis, to Captain America!

The Slovenians were a bit more subdued but they can sure play soccer. I was mighty impressed with their skills before they relaxed on a 2-0 lead and let the States come back to an exciting 2-2 draw.

Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg	Sanjay at Ellis Park
View of Ellis Park	USA supporter

Wednesday wasyouth day…a celebration of the youth uprising in Soweto in 1976. It’s a very important day in South Africa’s history and just a pity Bafana Bafana couldn’t quite make it a truly great day. But the whole country is still proud of them and right behind them with 1 game to play.

On Thursday we went to Soccer City in Johannesburg to watch Argentina v South Korea. What an amazing place!

Welcome to Johannesburg (soccer city)	Sanjay and Rheanna outside soccer city
The walkway inside soccer city	Sanjay and Rheanna outside soccer city

This time we were prepared for the cold. I had 3 polyprop tops on! (And I was still cold…). Mind you going to the toilet with 4 layers of pants is not easy…might have to rethink that one!

Everything was so well organised. Hats off to all the organisers, this is one place it all worked like clockwork.

The Stadium is brilliant. I fell in love with the place. A capacity of 94 700, not a bad seat in the house, and just brilliantly designed, with a great great atmosphere.

Sanjay inside soccer city	Rheanna inside soccer city
Sanjay and Rheanna inside soccer city	Sanjay inside soccer city

With a crowd of 82000 we were treated to a great game, and got to witness the world’s best player, Lionel Messi, orchestrate a comfortable 4-1 win. The people were fantastic, supporting Bafana Bafana, Argentina and Korea with great gusto. Truly an awesome day,and I look forward to returning one day to watch the Boks play here!

Argentinia vs Korea at soccer city	Argentinia vs Korea at soccer city
Argentinia vs Korea at soccer city	Korean supporters in Soccer city

Argentinian supporters

Tuesday we moved to Rustenburg. It’s just over an hour’s drive from Randfontein. We had been warned that the cold snap was coming and it was going to be cold!

Not quite sure why I didn’t listen to Rheanna, but I had figured once the sun came out, and being in Rustenburg (where my last memories in 2005 had me sweating in the shade…mind you that was summer!). As soon as we stepped outside the car, I regretted unpacking our beanies and not packing more clothes.

It was freeezing! I can’t believe how cold it was…The cold snap is intense. Some places are recording their coldest temperatures in over 20 years! (whatever happened to global warming…surely it can’t be that big a deal!)

We were at the Royal Bafokeng stadium with over 3 hours to kick-off, so we enjoyed the entertainment, including going onto the Ayoba MTN stage and being part of the show. We got a small prize for our efforts!

Welcome to Rustenburg	Royal Bafokeng stadium
Inside Royal Bafokeng stadium	Security is very tight at the Soccer

The Slovakians were the dominant side, but New Zealand scored an equalising goal in injury time. They recacted like they had won the cup! Good on them, and the place was very excitable after the game.

Slovakia vs New Zealand in Rustenburg	Slovakia vs New Zealand in Rustenburg
Sanjay and Jamie (a very happy New Zealander)

Getting home we were reminded that this is an African World Cup. The park and ride was disorganised…and people were jumping into the mini vans (they were still moving at the time!!!). The mini-vans were crowded so much, you would never have imagined so many people could fit in…but this is Africa after all.

Funniest was seeing a moving bus, and people jumping on it. Even once the doors closed a thin lady jumped on and we’re not sure how, but she slid in through a closed door. We saw her slide part way in, with just a leg and arm hanging out, and then her limbs seemed to just sliver in like a snake! Only in Africa!

After all the excitement of the soccer world cup, Saturday was a change of code for the game they play in heaven…Rugby!

The Springboks were playing France at Newlands in Cape Town at 2pm. The Boks were looking for their first win over the French since 2005.

We got to the ground just over an hour early, and had a chance to soak up the atmosphere. All around Newlands it was rugby fever.

Stalls lined the streets, the smell of Wors on the braai, beer gardens and green and gold everywhere. We had our boerwors roll, and I had to go back and have another one they were so good!

Hmm, boerewors rolls (and Adnaan)	The biggest springbok supporter
Sanjay with some pictures he would love to take home	Sanjay at the Green & Gold springbok bus

With so much to do and look at, we rushed to our seats to get there before kick-off at 2pm. I am so much more in favour of day time rugby tests rather than the night time matches they play in Australasia, where the dew also becomes a factor. People here really make a day of it.

The noticeable aspect was the difference in the crowd compared to the soccer. The crowd was definitely more ‘white,’ with no vuvuzeals allowed and a more diginified atmosphere. Not better or worse, just different, and still extremely passionate.

Having never been to a winning Springbok test match, or a Bok test on South African soil, I was confident for a change in fortunes this time round. It was special to hear the anthem and join in the siniging with 50 000 others.

The Boks took their opportunities brilliantly, and were never in danger of losing after racing out to a 17-0 lead and eventually winning 42-17.

Then we went to the Springbok press conference, before leaving the ground after 6pm!

South African's national anthem	Springbok line out reigns supreme
Springboks vs France	Springboks win line out

Springboks get a try

The time had arrived for the FIFA Soccer World Cup.

We got ready, and headed into Cape Town. Even though we are staying 25km from the city, all you could hear were vuvuzelas all morning.

To watch the opening ceremony we had thought about going to the official FIFA fan fest in the city. However we were given passes for a fan party at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. It was one massive room, with heaps of big screens.

There was live entertainment initally before the opening ceremony. Seeing everybody wearing yellow to unite for Bafana Bafana, and all the associated South African parefernalia such as the vuvuzeals, scarves, hats, face paintings etc etc was awesome. I have never seen anything quite like it.

The whole country is behind Bafana Bafana. Everybody is united. Words cannot describe the atmposphere, the hospitality, the cameradrie, the pride.

The power of the World Cup has been immense for the country.

The opening cermony was awesome. Short and sweet, proudly African and something to make the world sit up and take notice. One could not help but to puff up with pride at what South Africa put on.

The opening match was brilliant. Filled with tension. I have never experienced such excitement, passion and atmosphere at a game. The yelling, the

vuvuzelas and the noise were amazing. You can barely talk or hear yourself think, and there’s a constant noise.

When Bafana Bafana scored to lead 1-0, it was unbelevable. That was one of the greatest moments ever. The cheering was just amazing.

Unfortunately Mexico came back to draw the match, but I think it was a great result for Bafana Bafana who will only get better as the tournament progresses.

After the match we got ready and headed to the new stadium in Green Point for France v Uruguay. It was also a great experience. Obviously there were queues getting in, but the stadium is fantastic, with great views all around.

The pitch was like carpet, and we had a great view watching all the action unfold. It was a late night after the match ended, and we walked back into Cape Town city centre before getting home after midnight!

Sanjay and Rheanna - big South African Fans	Fans at the CTICC watching Bafana Bafana
Green Point Stadium Cape Town	Inside Green Point Stadium Cape Town