The World Cup In My Backyard

What a feeling, what emotion to know that the World Cup is coming to South Africa in a month and that the final of the greatest show on earth will be played in my own backyard. It is incredible when I try to wrap my mind around the concept that 32 of the world’s greatest teams will be in the country in next month to fight for the title of the World champions.

Defending champions Italy, the skilful and colourful Brazilians, the clinical and hard working Germans and the smooth passing Spanish are set to make their way to the southern tip of Africa for a month-long feast of football that will be burnt into every South African’s memory for a long time to come.

As a country, South Africa stands to benefit from the immense possibilities created by an event of this magnitude, with development and financial growth accompanying the many tourists that will make the journey to one of the most beautiful countries on the planet.

More hotels have been built, roads are being extended, Internet connectivity is improving, as will many other key technological and infrastructure points in the Rainbow Nation. These additions and improvements will leave a legacy for those that remain after the tournament has ended, with a stunning array of football stadia in nine cities set to provide residents and sports teams with world-class venues to play and train in.

The World Cup also gives something very important to South Africa and Africa as a whole. With the whole world watching in anticipation, it is giving the African continent the opportunity to prove itself in front of a global audience, with many believing that a tournament staged in Africa was a mistake. It will give South Africa the chance to show that an African run World Cup can be as majestic, organised and enjoyable as any tournament taking place in Europe, South America or anywhere else.

The first step towards this was the Confederations Cup, which offered the world a unique glimpse into South Africa, and a view to seeing that the 2010 showpiece is well and truly on course. The ‘Festival of Champions’ was played in four venues – Johannesburg, Rustenburg, Pretoria and Bloemfontein – and determined the extent of the country’s preparations for this year.

As well as the stadiums, other key areas that were scrutinised were accommodation facilities, the country’s transport networks and airport expansions and security. For the most part, the Confederations Cup was a great success, and the country has built on that ahead of this year's event.

South Africa and FIFA are confident of staging a fantastic and memorable World Cup, with visitors welcomed by the friendly faces of the locals, who are excited to have guests in the country.

I fell in love with the beautiful game while watching the 1994 World Cup in the United States, and every four years since then I have felt like a kid at Christmas for a whole month between June and July!

The football extravaganza is undeniably my annual highlight every four years, but this time I will be fortunate enough to have the event take place in my country, in stadia that host the South African top-flight, with my heroes training, living and eating in the same places that I know so well. It will be an unforgettable time, something that is generating constant chatter in football clubs, pubs, shopping malls and even bank queues.

I will be at matches, at training sessions and I will be one of millions of South Africans who are determined to make 2010 an incredible success. South Africans are looking forward to the World Cup, and excitement is building as the months pass, for soon our heroes will walk the same streets as us, and the greatest show on earth will be on our doorstep!

No trip to South Africa is complete without a visit to its most beautiful and sunniest city. Durban offers much more than sandy beaches, safaris, casinos and the World Cup, for information on what to do and see,
source:goal