Soccer World Cup 2010 South Africa

[melissa]

just out of interest- I know you are a nation of loyal fottball supporters... Are any of you planning to come to South Africa for the World Cup in 2010?

[Andrew MacLean]

for my part, I think it is probably not likely that Scotland will be playing in the world cup . If they are I'll be supporting them from here. If they are not, I'll be supporting any other "home nations" that make it through, and if none of the 'home nations' manage to get through I'll just have to choose from the rest of the world.

Europe, commonwealth, etc.

If I were to be allowed a little moment of sheer fantasy, I'd envisage a Scotland v South Africa final, with a penalty shoot-off that Scotland won by a single goal. Is it possible? Yes. Is is likely? Well, that is a different story!

Andrew

[rosemary johnson]

I would love to come to SOuth Africa again! - irrespective of any football or otherwise.
Actually, I'm a Liverpool supporter - and I found when I was in southern Africa, as soon as I mentioned I came from a village near Liverpool, many of the black African men I met, their eyes lit up and they could rapidly give me a run-down on Liverpool's last few matches.
Trouble with the idea of coming over again is, I'll have to save up for the air fares.... not to mention either finding a travelling companion or the courage to set out alone. My nice friend from Jo'burg who did lovely thinks like meeting me at airports, putting me up for a few days, and then dropping me off at the airport again en route to my next stage of my travels has now moved back to the UK....
One of these days.......
Now, something I've been thinking for years is: never mind the football matches - what I'd love to come to is the Three Tenors Concert.
I do hope there will be three tenors concerts at all world cups from now on - even with perforce, a different three tenors. Or even four tenors.....
The thought of sitting in the open air listening to heavenly singing with Table Mountain in the background...... OOOOHH!!!
Oh, I know: maybe Jo'burg mine dumps wouldn't have quite the same effect .... but I did have a rumour they were being recycled, as with the advance of technology, they can now get more gold out of reprocessing the old dumps that digging more rock out of the ground. Be very strange, flying in and out of Jo'burg international without the mine dumps as land marks....
Back on topic..... are Bafana Bafana going to be hot favourites?
Rosemary

[melissa]

No, shame the Bafana Bafana are not currently expected to be favorites. I don't even think they would qualify--- expect they don't need to because they are the host team. Maybe the new coach will sort it out, but unfortunately in South Africa there is just too much political interference in sport.
I am sure all the stadiums will be great when finally completed. Cape Town stadium is in Greenpoint kind of caught between the sea and the mountain and its a beautiful city, although it can be a bit windy and miserable in our winter.
Durban has wonderful winters... for example- today. clear blue skies... min temp 15C max 27C. nice breeze.
Durban is very popular over our July holidays.... if you can get used to the idea of being at the beach in winter.
And we are expecting the sardine run in the next few weeks....

[rosemary johnson]

I think you are right, Melissa, and the host nation get to play automatically by right of being hosts.
And there have been host nations who have been smitten by the atmosphere and occasion and fone far better than expected.
Let us hope Bafana Bafana can by inspired along by those 40 million SOuth Africans cheering them on.
I can well imagine Cape Town being wndy in the winter - and Durban being a good winter beach place. I remember being hit by the heat first, and then rapidly the light on stepping out of the plane, and groping down the steps blinking. Mind, that was 10th january, albeit quite early morning, having got overnight flight for Europe, changed in Jo'burg .... and was being met by friend and driven out to join in the Drakensburg summer camp - fortunately for me, high enoug to be considerably cooler.
Good luck - or should that be Bon Appetit? - with the sardines. Or: Eet Lekkerlyk! (sp??)
Rosemary

[melissa]

Durban is ridiculously humid in Summer. the temp rarely goes above 35, but the humidity adds another 10 degrees in 'discomfort index'. that said, i was born and bred here and LOVE it . when i lived in London I really missed the feeling of that 'solid' air entering my lungs. You do need Aircon in your Car/ Office and bedroom if you live on the coast- not very ECo friendly... but then we don't need heaters in winter,,,