100 Day Celebration: I WAS THERE

Moses Mabhida Stadium during a thunderstom in Durban in February 2010. Pic: Sandile Ndlovu

It's a milestone! A milestone the world thought we would NEVER achive and I am so proud to tell the world I AM GOING TO BE THERE!

As part of the festivities, Independent Newspapers KZN had a huge anthem singing spectacle at 12h00 midday and most of the staff came out to sing the national anthem with so much gusto, I got goosebumps! Even though some people didnt know the national anthem (why were we dissing Ras Dumisani then???) there were many who knew it and it drowned out those who didn't know it. But that's beside the point.

I watched the Moses Mabhida Stadium grow from being just a plot of sand and cement into this magnificent basket shaped structure that has already won 7 awards!!! 7 awards and it's not even 6 months old??? Super!!!

I went to the Durban City Hall where they were launching the 100 days countdown and the mayor, Obed Mlaba, deputy; Logie Naidoo, Premiere Zweli Mkhize and Deputy President, Kgalema Motlanthe we there to celebrate and mark the occassion with the crowds of Durbanites who had come to celebrate this milestone!

A bit disappointing that Sepp Blatter didn't make an appearance, but that didn't deter the crowds as they had Zakumi there (I actually don't like the mascot *hides*) and so were the super fans! I spoke to SADDAM and KULPY and they were so ecstatic that they we are just 100 days away from the biggest showpiece the world has ever seen! I actually understood WHY they are called super fans. They live soccer! Kulpy- the Ajax Cape Town superfan, told me that his family would be watching the quarter and semi-final games; courtesy of CASTLE LAGER!!! I was so jealous, but I wouldn't want to give up my life for soccer. No thanx.

All in all it was a great day. I had fun and I saw why South Africa is a beautiful place and as I said on my Twitter, I am tired of South Africans, especially those who are well off, complain about South Africa! I am sick of all this negativity that they exude on us and it is rather sickening! So from now on, I'm all about positivity. Oh and to just stick it in even more, I'm going to watch Bafana Bafana play Namibia tomorrow at the STUNNING Moses Mabhida Stadium! Eat your heart out!

Picture: Sandile Ndlovu, Independent Newspapers

Elections campaigns are waste of money!

For me all this campaigns for the up comming ellections are now the waste of money,the reason why I am saying this is because if you look all the billboards aside of the road, it only about political party especialy ANC(am not taking side am neutral) But it clear to everyone that posters of JZ are all over and that limits the space of advertising for the 2010 for the comming world cup and other important ads that can be put on boards.No offence to anyone!

Pressure builds on Joel Santana

By Kobus Pretorius (CPUT)

Joel Santana hasn’t even started his new job as head coach of Bafana Bafana but already high expectations are expected from him.

In an article that appeared in the Independent on Saturday’s May 10 issue, Fifa secretary-general Jerome Valcke said that Fifa expected the host nation of both the Confederations Cup in 2009 and the 2010 Soccer World Cup to reach the second round of both tournaments.

"We would like to see the host nation of major events such as the Confederations Cup and World Cup to get at least to the quarter-finals or semi-finals. That would help keep the interest going in the host country.

"It would not be good if Bafana were knocked out in the early rounds of either the Confederations Cup or World Cup. That is why we hope the new coach (Santana) will succeed with Bafana and make sure South Africa produce a competitive host team for the events."

Valcke also expressed the hope that Santana would continue the work Carlos Alberto Parreira, his predecessor, started in early 2007.

The draw for the Confederations Cup, which features eight leading countries, would be held in Johannesburg on November 22.

These comments by Valcke will add more pressure to a man already expected to turn a steadily descending Bafana around and making them competitive for the two looming tournaments.

We’ll have to wait and see if it is enough time for Santana to overturn Bafana’s fortunes and make them serious title contenders.

A huge setback for Bafana

By Kobus Pretorius

Carlos Alberto Parreira has resigned as coach of Bafana Bafana. A shocking development some may say, especially if you take into account the recent performances of the national soccer team. They beat a highly rated Paraguay less than a month ago.

So why this bold step by Parreira?

Instead of getting cynical and blaming a whole lot of people, not least of all Parreira, there is a simple explanation for the highly rated coach wanting to return to his native Brazil.

It’s a word that most people embrace and protect because family is the most important thing in the world. And it seems that is exactly the way Parreira feels because he has just walked away from R1, 8 million a month to be with his wife who is reported to be suffering from cancer. Another reason, apparently, is that he wants to spend more time with his grandchildren.

For most people it would be a no-brainer. Others may take a little while longer to see the bigger picture. After all, we are talking about R1, 8 million tax-free every month for the next two years at least.

So you can’t really blame him for quitting can you? Of course not. Especially not at his age where any normal person would like to take life a bit easier and spend it with their family. I mean, at 65, wouldn’t you?

Nevertheless, it doesn’t make the SA Football Association’s dilemma any easier. They now have to search for a coach before Bafana play a host of qualify matches at the end of next month for the Confederations Cup in 2009.

Apparently Parreira has pointed out a few potential successors with quite a few Brazilians among them. These include current Flamengo coach Joel Santana and Internacional boss Abel Braga.

Other high profile coaches linked to the post is current Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari and Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson. Scolari won the World Cup with Brazil back in 2002 and took Portugal to the Euro 2004 final and World Cup semi-finals in 2006.

The bad news for Safa is that Scolari’s contract with Portugal only expires in June after Euro 2008. It may not be possible for them to wait that long to make an appointment as Bafana have a few crucial qualifying games as stated earlier before that.

Another option can be to give the job, albeit temporarily, to Parreira’s assistants, Jairo Leal and Pitso Mosimane. This would insure a certain amount of consistency until a permanent replacement can be found.

It is therefore likely that Safa will again look at an international coach before they consider local talent.

At least we know they are not scared to throw a lot of money around to make sure the team is a success.

Digital Media for 2010

Dinilohlanga Mekuto

Digital media has an important role to play in promoting our country for 2010 and beyond.

Imagine the reach of the World Wide Web,with 1 173 109 925 users world wide according to Internet World Stats, we could use this medium of communication to promote our country. With the technology at our disposal i.e digital cameras, blogs and video clips we could help in promoting the country and various venues where the matches will be held.

Let us use this technology for our benefit, let us use it for the good of our country. Let them see, let them know and let them come. You have the tools, now use them.

See you soon.