BAFANA BAFANA BOWING OUT WITH HONOUR

Jun 29, 2010

So we didn't qualify but what did we achieve? In our last 15 games, we have lost only 1. We have beaten teams rated in the top 20 in the world compared to our meagre ranking of 82nd, we scored the opening goal of this amazing FIFA 2010 World Cup, we drew to a very good Mexican team, we beat former world champions France, we finished on 4 points in a very tough group & most importantly - WE HAVE HOSTED AN AWESOME EVENT THUS FAR.

Soccer, as in life, is made up of moments & those moments could be made up of delirious joy, crushing heartbreak or both. Soccer has all the ingredients of life in 90 minutes & as in life what's most important is how you finish - that's the score that counts & Bafana you finished well. As Kevin Keegan said last night: " South Africa, you have arrived, the future is yours!" Now as gracious hosts trying desperately to showcase our incredible nation, it's up to ALL of us to finish this World Cup well by staying interested & excited & being helpful & nice to our visitors. Let's continue wearing our green & yellow on Fridays till the last game is played & prayer of all prayers, may this spirit of unity continue in our nation.

Some "if only's" that don't matter now but are worth a mention - If only we didn't let Mexico score, or if only Mphelas shot in the last minute against Mexico didn't hit the post, if only Modise had scored 1 of his 2 golden opportunities against Mexico. If only the Referee had given the blatant off-side against Uraguay that resulted in a sending off & a penalty which was scored, . if only Mphela didn't hit the cross bar against France when we were 2-0 up & there are plenty more moments that could have changed our destiny. I mention this not to bring back the sharp pangs of disappointment, but just as a reminder of how close we came & how far we have come as a team.

I, along with my wife & boys attended the Spain vs Switzerland game at the incredible Moses Mabida Stadium in Durban last week & soooo enjoyed the atmosphere. The colours, the wacky dressers, the noise (mainly vuvuzelas) & the skill of the artists playing the beautiful game of football. If there is one criticism I do have, it is of the players diving for free kicks or fooling the Refs into giving out cards, or injury pretense. This does make me want to play & show some players what it would feel like to really get kicked upside down & give the Refs real cause for red cards :-)



So with some unlikely teams progressing or about to progress to the last 16 knock-out phase & the possibility of teams like England, Italy, Germany & even Spain not going through, it's there for the taking for teams like Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Argentina & even Uraguay but don't write off the above-mentioned four teams who are not out yet - especially Spain. My prediction Netherlands vs Argentina, Spain or Brazil in the final but probably Argentina. Let's see if I can keep up my consistant track record of being accurately incorrect. So Bafana you have done us proud & South Africa you have been awesome hosts. VIVA THE RAINBOW NATION

Your increasingly amateurish analyst - Athol