I Love Soccer

When I heard the next World Cup tournament was headed to South Africa I, unlike many other people, was ecstatic. Ever since my 11th grade investigative study on the country I have been enamored with South Africa’s efforts to overcome the ramifications of apartheid and racial disparities, while still maintaining the ability to differentiate itself from grave obstacles like political corruption and violence, extreme economic turmoil, and basic resource scarcity facing many other African countries. As the result of my high school project I have placed South Africa at the top of my very lengthy list of countries to visit. Although I will not have the opportunity to watch the 2010 World Cup in person, I relish in the chance to see more of a country rarely discussed or displayed and of course, to watch some great soccer games.

Unlike the Olympics, FIFA has declared it a priority to rotate the Cup host between continents. Next summer’s tournament will be the first opportunity for an African state to take part in this new strategy (Morocco and Egypt were also in the running for consideration). Authorization to be a World Cup host is an absolute milestone for South Africa, especially since just fifteen years ago it was banned from a number of international activities and sporting events.

South Africa is a country with a lot to offer. It is historically home to a number of European and African immigrants and as a result encompasses a wide array of diverse cultures, languages, religions, and ethnicities. Despite economic disparities, South Africa’s metropolitan areas are said to have an abundance of shopping, restaurants, nightlife, and fun activities. The beaches and vineyards are reportedly some of the best in the world. Furthermore, South Africa is known throughout the world as a nature-lover’s haven, possessing an abundance of beautiful landscapes and wildlife.

I digress. From the time the announcement was made for South Africa to host the 2010 World Cup, harsh disapproval has overshadowed the country’s chance to celebrate this momentous occasion. Many do not believe that South Africa is ready for such an undertaking. With an expected international crowd of around 450,000, critics argue that South Africa is not capable of producing adequate resources required for a successful event. Some are also concerned that the much needed jobs created for the event will be lost immediately following the conclusion of the Cup. Multiple questions have come up as to whether or not the many new stadiums will be up to par, or if there will be sufficient hotel rooms for the expected travelers. During the Confederation Cup earlier this summer (often seen as a rehearsal for the much larger tournament next year), complaints were made regarding insufficient transportation methods which caused tardiness for many people. Perhaps the biggest concern is for the safety of the players and tourists. South Africa has a reputation for extremely high numbers of murders, violence, and theft.

Evidently South Africa has a lot to prove. There is a lot riding on the eventual success or failure of the event. Perhaps due to my naiveté and inclination to favor the underdog, I am optimistic that South Africa can find a way to pull off the tournament without any major glitches. Yes, there probably will be incidents of theft, and I’m sure that a number of traffic jams will occur since large numbers of people will be heading to the same area at the same times. Let us be reminded, however, that such complications have occurred and will continue to occur in the most developed countries. Just like in any other city during any other major event, those in attendance should take extra precaution to ensure their own safety and plan ahead of time to work around the complications that may arise. South Africa would not have been given the chance to host the upcoming World Cup if a number of people didn’t think that they could handle it.

The opportunity to host such a major international sporting event brings great pride to the people of South Africa and the entire African continent. They are finally given a chance to show of the wonders of their home to an audience tuning in all over the world. I take my hat off to FIFA in allowing this great sport to open new doors for so many people. Instead of coming down on South Africa’s inefficiencies, let us at least give them a chance to shine on the world stage and come together to celebrate soccer at its finest.