When I woke this morning, it was bleak, gray and cold. The weather sucked too.
Spain rightfully defeated my Dutchies 1-0 in a match that will be remembered more for Holland’s thuggish approach than for beautiful soccer. Nigel De Jong’s flying karate kick to Xabi Alonso’s chest in particular is receiving as many replays as the winning goal. Mr. Miyagi would have been proud. Bonzai!!!
Today the post World Cup hangover is kicking in, both literally and figuratively. Going to the mall, everyone seemed a little bit deflated. No Argentinians, Mexicans or Brazilians running about, just…South Africans. How boring. I did see a guy with a Spain scarf trying to go up the wrong escalator, so he could be a foreigner. Or just really confused.
The World Cup “legacy” stories have been running in various media for the better part of a week now, the consensus being investment in infrastructure and (mostly) good global P.R. bode well for the future. Hopefully, South Africa is now seen as a desirable travel destination and a good investment for international business. The vuvuzela trade alone should make the country billions.
As for the bad, we now have several sparkling new stadiums, all dressed up and no one to dance with. The venues in Cape Town, Durban and Jozi should be fine, but I worry the others will look like crumbling Greek ruins in a few years. It also remains to be seen just how long this national feeling of good will holds out, as murmurs of a return to the xenophobic attacks on immigrants of 2008 are rearing their ugly head. Hopefully the government makes it clear that lynch mobs have no place in the future of this country.
Even with the plethora of stories patting ourselves on the back for a hosting job well done, the focus is already shifting to whether Brazil will be ready to host in 2014. South Africa is a bit like the only child who suddenly has to compete for parental attention with a newborn. You still love us, right guys? Guys?
Spain rightfully defeated my Dutchies 1-0 in a match that will be remembered more for Holland’s thuggish approach than for beautiful soccer. Nigel De Jong’s flying karate kick to Xabi Alonso’s chest in particular is receiving as many replays as the winning goal. Mr. Miyagi would have been proud. Bonzai!!!
Today the post World Cup hangover is kicking in, both literally and figuratively. Going to the mall, everyone seemed a little bit deflated. No Argentinians, Mexicans or Brazilians running about, just…South Africans. How boring. I did see a guy with a Spain scarf trying to go up the wrong escalator, so he could be a foreigner. Or just really confused.
The World Cup “legacy” stories have been running in various media for the better part of a week now, the consensus being investment in infrastructure and (mostly) good global P.R. bode well for the future. Hopefully, South Africa is now seen as a desirable travel destination and a good investment for international business. The vuvuzela trade alone should make the country billions.
As for the bad, we now have several sparkling new stadiums, all dressed up and no one to dance with. The venues in Cape Town, Durban and Jozi should be fine, but I worry the others will look like crumbling Greek ruins in a few years. It also remains to be seen just how long this national feeling of good will holds out, as murmurs of a return to the xenophobic attacks on immigrants of 2008 are rearing their ugly head. Hopefully the government makes it clear that lynch mobs have no place in the future of this country.
Even with the plethora of stories patting ourselves on the back for a hosting job well done, the focus is already shifting to whether Brazil will be ready to host in 2014. South Africa is a bit like the only child who suddenly has to compete for parental attention with a newborn. You still love us, right guys? Guys?
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