In the run up to the World Cup, Bafana were unbeaten for twelve games which led some people to believe that they could really win the tournament. However, most South Africans knew that there was a strong possibility that Bafana might be the first host nation in the history of the World Cup who would fail to proceed to the knockout stages.
So when Bafana were eliminated from the tournament after a stunning performance against France, South Africans were disappointed, but prepared!
The theme for this World Cup was “Ke Nako! Celebrate Africa’s Humanity”. South Africa invited the world back to its roots… to Africa… to the Cradle of Humankind! But ironically, as the World came to Africa to discover their origins, South Africans did exactly the opposite…
Before the start of the tournament, genealogy websites must have experienced a surge in demand as South Africans were on a mission to discover where their ancestors came from. And by the time the World Cup kicked off, most people had figured it out and now had a backup team and an excuse why they supported it! While some discovered French and Portuguese grandparents, the majority – and this should not come as a surprise to anyone - found that they had Dutch roots.
So South Africans were thrilled that the Netherlands made it to the final and Oranje can look forward to a home game when they face Spain tomorrow night. But despite playing an impressive tournament, they are the underdogs and everyone expects Spain to win their first World Cup!
Personally I would probably prefer the Netherlands to win – the Spanish will only get cocky if they make the double – but end of the day I am not that bothered. I will certainly watch the game – after all, it is the final - but my thoughts will be revolving around how I can get a job in Brazil by 2014 for another chance to see Germany win the World Cup on home grounds… Ke Nako!
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