During our wait at the airport in Nelspruit on the way back to Durban we met a few Swiss fans. We kicked a mini jabulani ball around the airport, learned a few Swiss chants (Hopp Schwiiz!), were offered Swiss chocolates (Yummy) and had great conversation. When he heard that I worked in the MLS he brought up the fact that the Seattle Sounders signed one of their starting strikers, Blaise Nkufo. I had known about this but was further impressed with his knowledge of other MLS facts. It looks like the MLS brand is growing all over the world.

It was a surprise to see that the same Swiss fans we met at the airport walked across my seats at the stadium, this time, face painted and all. They sat right next to me at the Stadium for the game that evening against Spain. What are the chances that happens in a stadium of 62,000? They were clearly in party mode at the end as they too were surprised with the result. One person’s joy though can be another’s pain and three seats behind me there was a young boy, all of 5 years old, wearing a Spain jersey crying his eyes out, covering his head in the red and yellow Spanish flag, inconsolable. That is how much the World Cup means to so many. I couldn’t help but share the boy’s pain; it truly is quite a range of emotions that can be felt in one single arena.

Later that evening the rest of South Africa felt that same pain when they were pretty much all but knocked out. The whole nation was looking forward to the big game against Uruguay and we parked ourselves in one of the fan zones to watch the match. It was packed, everyone had their eyes glued to the screen – even the Police who were tasked to keep the place secure couldn’t keep their eyes off the game. It’s too bad that the result wasn’t what everyone wanted. I could certainly feel that it was the quietest night in South Africa yet.

I finally got to Cape Town the next day. Below are the highlights so far:

· It might be one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

· Fan Zones here are much more interactive than the ones in Durban; one holds 25,000 people. I ran into a Crew Fan named Bernie from Washington State before the USA game.

· Green Point Stadium is amazing,

· Nightlife here on Saturday night was bumping. We didn’t leave the bars and clubs till 4.30am.

· I went to see the Penguins on Penguin Beach and Cape Point, the southern most tip of Africa. This is where the Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean meet. I brushed shoulders with “The Don”, England Manager/Coach Fabio Capello here.

· Attending an England Game is like no other. The whole day is a treat when you head toward the Waterfront which is near the vicinity of the Stadium you can tell the English have arrived. They quite literally have taken over the town with large flags bearing the St. Georges Cross; draped off every railing, fence, lamp posts, trees and everything else you can attach a flag too. They fill the pubs and chant non stop. When they sing ‘God Save our Queen’ at the Stadium it is extremely powerful.
Cape Town has so much to offer and tomorrow I head to ‘Robben Island’. I am sure I will have some quality stuff to share with you on that.

Tags: 2010 FIFA World Cup, Soccer, South Africa

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