Who needs cheering up?

So, yes we are out, and yes the annoying jokes started circulating immediately from our irritatingly smug foreign family, friends and colleagues. Luckily for me, there are still many exciting sights and sounds to behold at Africa's first world cup. With one of the most fitting event mottos I've heard in a longtime ( 'Feel it, it's here.' or as they've been staying in the freezing stadiums at night games 'Feel it, it's cold') if sporting events were judged purely on atmosphere this one would be way up there. The mixing of crowds, the enthusiasm, the desire to show the rest of the world where they fit in, all of it contributes to a pretty special experience with a lot of professionalism on the most part. Of course the press are starting to count the costs and disclose corruption amongst officials and those in power but it remains to be seen if the intangible affects of an African host nation outweigh the money spent.

I went to the FIFA Fan Fest in Pretoria, unfortunately to watch our last match. It was vuvuzela-tastic (I took this picture in one the shopping malls) and I have to say as much as you want to cut your ears off for the majority of the time it really has added a unique edge to this World Cup. The music is also amazing, although not without a heavy international influence. The K'naan song on the Coca Cola advert has become an unoffical anthem. I can't wait to go and watch Uruguay/Ghana tomorrow night and get my first glimpse of the African spirit in the Stadium. Until then, just look how excited my family got when they heard the very, very, very popular Shakira anthem Waka Waka at the half time show... Ke nako Africa-

IT'S AYOBA TIME!!