I just got back from the FIFA Confederations Cup opening game between South Africa (who desperately need a striker) and Iraq (who desperately need a strategy that doesn't involve constantly diving and trying to steal free kicks). My ears hurt. Seriously. A stadium packed with people honking on
vuvuzelas is about as soothing as the N2 highway during morning rush hour.
The opening ceremony was actually pretty good - and you have to be a South African to understand why I sound so surprised. I keep having flashbacks to the irredeemable craptitude of the 2003 Cricket World Cup opening ceremony. Happily, the soccer people realised that the rest of the world might actually be watching this time.
So here's what I liked/loathed about the ceremony, the game, and the Confed Cup in general:
LIKED The crazy vuvuzelas, which drowned out the boring speeches.
The view from my nosebleed seats at Ellis Park.
The all-singing, all-dancing soccer fans. (Seriously, rugby fans: watch and learn...)
The fact that, even when they don't play well, Bafana Bafana still manage to keep me entertained through their strikerly ineptitude.
The moment where SA striker Bernard Parker cleared the ball off the goal-line by executing an athletic backheel, preventing what would have been a match-winning goal by his team-mate Terror Fanteni. Parker's athleticism - and his unintentional defensive brilliance - should be applauded. Or laughed at. Whatever you prefer. I'm going for Option B.
DIDN'T LIKE
The world's most uptight security guard, who saw me taking a photo and demanded that I stop taking photos because I am not a FIFA accredited journalist. Purely to spite her, and for no other reason, I now post photos of her and of the game right here for your enjoyment.
I'm hoping to get one of those giguntous high-def big screens for my lounge.
