Overarching

Taxis ply their trade outside Athlone Stadium in Klipfontein Road - the home ground of Santos Cape Town. The stadium holds 30,000 people and was built in 1972. It was extensively upgraded for the 2010 World Cup and used as a training venue

Blowing our own trumpet

I think that this photo just about sums up 2010 for me. The highlight of the year was our very successful and exhilarating soccer World Cup and the vuvuzela that shot to fame (and "infame") throughout the world.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Well why not!

Happy Christmas from Africa!

Splashing soccer balls

A joyful memory of our fantastic World Cup - a fountain in the middle of one of the traffic circles on the Heerengracht. And now everyone is talking about demolishing our lovely stadium.

Road trip to the Transkei - Mdumbi Backpackers soccer

All over the Transkei there are soccer pitches with kids playing soccer and dreaming of becoming another Diego Forlan. This pitch on the edge of the sea is near Mdumbi Backpackers. The backpackers had a big screen rigged up in an old mission church hall where everyone gathered to watch the World Cup games. As you can see, even in this remote place, the Dutch supporters were there! Orange flags, a poster saying Holland, and lots of orange feather boas. So I was sorry for them when the Spanish proved too much for them last night - although I did think the ref was a bit much ...
And wasn't it wonderful to see Madiba!

Ayoba!

A cheerful message for Monday morning. Seen on a block of flats on the way into Cape Town city. You can just see Table Mountain in the background. Roughly translated, ayoba means HAVE FUN!

What a yawn

Bring on the players! Waiting for the Netherlands vs Cameroon match to start in Cape Town's stadium last night. I just had to include a mention of yesterday's match. A gentlemanly, entertaining game with the most fantastic festive atmosphere and a huge predominance of bright orange. Pure magic! I'm hooked.
And the match to watch today? Portugal vs Brazil in Durban at 4.
Then look out for the England and Germany match on 27 June.

Bouncy mosaics

Today is Cameroon vs the Netherlands at the Cape Town Stadium. Be sure to look at these bouncy mosaics in the tunnel leading from the Fan Walk to the new Integrated Rapid Transit Bus Stop at the stadium in Green Point. They were done by Lovell Friedman especially for the World Cup.

Out but not down

The headlines of the Cape Times this morning was "Out but not down", and that pretty much sums up the feeling of South Africa and Bafana Bafana fans as they celebrate a win against the mighty France. They didn't disgrace themselves! These Macdonald's "waitrons" and a fan were taking a bit of time out in front of the Cape Town Stadium this afternoon - a day ahead of the Cameroon-Netherlands match that will be played here tomorrow night.

Go Bafana!

South Africa's Bafana Bafana (which means "the boys what count") take on the raggle taggle French team today in Bloemfontein. Even at this early hour in Cape Town I can hear vuvuzelas blowing! I noticed that this chap pushing his supermarket trolley (and wearing a helmet!) in the rush hour traffic had collected quite a few English flags - discarded by disgruntled supporters I suppose.

Volunteers

The area around the Cape Town Stadium in Green Point is alive with visitors who are already getting into the spirit of things for the match tonight when les Fennecs (the Desert Foxes of Algeria) take on the Three Lions (England's not-often-used official nickname). These yellow and green unforms are FIFA volunteers. The weather is looking ok - a bit hazy but not nearly as cold as it was for the last match here.

With attitude

Last night was freezing cold and wet, but I hear the atmosphere at the Italy vs Paraguay match was wonderful and everything went flawlessly despite an earlier strike by security staff. Fifa would not allow umbrellas into the stadium, but I wonder if this is an umbrella or a hat?

Rainy Monday

Today is cold and wet and raining madly as this view into our garden shows. I hope all the soccer fans will dress warmly for the Italy vs Paraguay match in Cape Town tonight.

English supporters

Strictly speaking this is my blog for yesterday as I was away and out of internet reach in Greyton, which is a tiny village outside Cape Town. Many of the residents of Greyton are English and the anticipation for the England vs USA match was great! The whole village was out and about - braziers burned in front of all the pubs and restaurants that were overflowing with English supporters. This is Bella the spaniel - complete with earring - with my mom in their beautiful autumnal garden in Greyton.

D-Day!

Today is the official start of World Cup 2010! Cape Town is clear and cold (3 degrees) but the vuvuzelas are blowing and the flags flying at this early hour. Bafana Bafana vs Mexico kicks off in Soccer City, Johannesburg, later today while Cape Town will have to wait till 8.30 tonight to watch France squaring up against Uruguay. Click here for a fantastic World Cup Calendar.

Car guard

With Cape Town's World Cup Soccer Stadium in the background, this informal car guard is expecting that business will boom in his area of Greenpoint when the first match kicks off tomorrow night. (Uruguay will be taking on France.)

He was quite happy with a fee of R5 for keeping an eye on the car while we had coffee at Giovanni's.

Blow our trumpet

Today is stormy and rain is threatening but these vuvuzelas at Pick 'n Pay Supermarket helped brighten my day. South Africa has this wonderfully crazy tradition of blowing vuvuzelas at soccer matches and vuvuzelas emit a blast of noise powerful enough to deafen, so anyone planning to attend the World Cup should invest in a pair of ear plugs first!

Charmed

World Cup Soccer fever hots up here and every shop window has a soccer theme. Supporters of the English Soccer team (that arrived in South Africa just over an hour ago) will find some little St George crosses in amongst the soccer charms on display here. They will need all the luck they can get as they have left out the two players that might have won them the cup - Darren Bent and Theo Walcott.

More soccer balls

Warmly dressed against the chilly morning, this little girl is trying to persuade her granddad to buy her a soccer ball in Checkers supermarket in Meadowridge. Just about everywhere in Cape Town is bedecked with flags from the 32 nations participating in the World Cup. The first two teams have just arrived in Johannesburg - the Socceroos from Australia who came last night, and the Samba boys from Brazil arrived arrived bright and early this morning.

Free wheeling

Cape Town is bouncing mad! Soccer balls everywhere. A cyclist seemed to want to blot it all out as he made his way down Loop Street in the city this morning.