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Africa is Ready!
By Toyin | June 25, 2009
Since the FIFA confederation cup began South Africa a few weeks back, football enthusiasts all over the world have been treated to sumptuous meals of the round leather game. The final are set for Sunday June 27, 2009. Brazil will trade tackles with United States of America in the show piece that promises to be exciting.
From Italy’s emphatic comeback against USA to their shocking defeat to Egypt and eventual ‘burial’ by Brazil, the reigning world champions had a very ‘unpleasant’ stay in Africa football wise! The noted North America champions, USA must have felt on top of the world when they discovered that they are in the Semis after all. Then they went one better by doing the impossible: beat European champions and world’s number one team, Spain!
Therefore, the great anticipation of the finals was set by the shocking loss of the Spanish national team to US yesterday. That was one upset few predicted including your true self! Despite the awesome array of players Spain assembled for this tournament, they fell to Obama’s kinsmen grit and determination. It was such a spectacle to behold yesterday. The unpredictability and spontaneity of football makes it so engrossing for us fans of the game and we are set for another exciting time on Sunday.
For me the most rewarding thing concerning this particular tournament is the fact that FIFA is holding it in Africa for the first time. This is our time to show to the world that we are not a dark continent after all! And I am particularly glad that South Africa has to show the peculiar African hospitality and culture to the rest of the world. We celebrate in our own unique ways and the horns blasting through the different stadiums show what lay in stock for the whole world come June 2010.
When the finals is concluded on Sunday, the world, I’m very sure would be more than convinced that Africa is ready to host them at the biggest and most important single sporting event in the whole universe!
The organization of the FIFA confederation cup in SA is a test of the preparedness of the Nation to host the big. With what we have seen so far, no iota of doubt should be in anyone’s mind that indeed the world is set for a spectacle come a year’s time. The reality on ground is that 78% of the job that needed to be done has been accomplished and ‘we’ are well on our way to finish the rest ahead of kickoff.
Hosting the world cup has been a long time dream of FIFA particularly the current president; Josep Sepp Blatter. Perhaps, more than any administrator of the game, he made it a priority to see to the rapid development of the game on the continent. With various initiatives and programs targeted at our youth, Blatter has left no one in doubt that he is indeed a friend of the continent. Africa will forever remain grateful to this man of vision and courage.
Courage, yes! It takes nothing else but courage to award this great competition to Africa and we must not forget the role of FIFA’s president in this. Left to others, the world cup would never be hosted in Africa! And I was quite elated to see the smile on his face as he watched South Africa gave as good as they got against Brazil this evening. To Blatter, we at 9jafans.com say a big thank you for believing in us and giving us the opportunity to host the elites of the most popular sport in the world on our continent.
As we prepare to watch the finals on Sunday, I congratulate the South Africa 2010 Local Organizing Committee for a job well done. While it is true that there’s always room for improvement, you have represented us well. And to Daniel Jordan; you’ve proven to the whole world that there is hope; a great hope for our continent.
Topics: Biz Football, Hot Stars, Cold Sands, Who Will Win |
June 26th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
i congratulate SA for making africans proud. but when is nigeria going to make africans proud?……..to stage the under 17 competition is still a problem. may God help us
June 28th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
The rest of the world is welcomed to Africa and ‘am sure they will not be dissapointed!
June 28th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
SA has shown that we can do it! The celebrations, the crowd, the horns and the excitement is simply ours and we are ready for the world; commmooooon!
June 30th, 2009 at 12:00 am
I hope the world cup is even better than what we have seen so far and what was witnessed during the tournament was world class.