Timing is everything in the World Cup.
Try, if you can, to think back two weeks. If you had an only partially clear crystal ball and you had been told that South Africa would draw Mexico and defeat France you’d have believed that South Africa would rejoice.
And that is exactly what happened. Yet as the seconds ticked off the clock yesterday Bafana Bafana fans, if not exactly disconsolate, were at least morose. After their 3-0 defeat at the hands of Uruguay a miracle was needed to advance — and at one point yesterday South Africa seemed capable of accomplishing that miracle.They fell just short.
Bafana needed to make up on goal differential with a seemingly ludicrous target of 5. Yet there was a stage when South Africa was up 2-0 on an ineffectual, uninspired French squad while Uruguay led Mexico 1-0. It was hardly unimaginable that Bafana could push one more past the keeper while Uruguay did their part. It didn’t happen. France grabbed a goal and tightened up on defense, showing at least a modicum of pride, and Uruguay, already through to the knockout round, was content to sit on their lead.
France’s performance became a nightmare for its country over the last fortnight. I love that their football administration made them ride coach on the flight home and that the entire country seems to be engulfed in outrage. But whatever their issues, yesterday’s win was a great outcome for South Africa, and in the mind of many locals wholly redeemed them from the 3-0 outcome against Uruguay. Furthermore, just how big does that red card against Khune loom for South Africa? That was a 1-0 game against Uruguay that turned into a 3-0 game in part because of a dubious referee’s decision. South Africa becomes the first home team not to advance beyond the group stages. But in some ways that does not even matter.
I watched the game amidst thousands at Durban’s FIFA Fanfest and the setting proved as thrilling as any stadium experience I have yet had. When Bongani Khumalo knocked in Bafana’s first goal the explosion of emotion was unlike anything I have ever seen. Katlego Mphela’s goal, South Africa’s second, caused the same reaction. People danced and sang. They waved flags and blasted their vuvuzelas (and shame on those who from their living rooms in the United States and England and beyond who have condemned the ubiquitous little plastic horns that have so embodied this most vibrant World Cup — they should have been there yesterday, not that they were needed or missed). The capacity of the Fanfests is supposed to be 25,000 and I would not be at all surprised if yesterday in Durban the officials didn’t look the other way as people piled in to show their love for Bafana Bafana.
The rapturous crowds throughout the game represented the best of this World Cup. Bafana Bafana did not advance, but I am not even sure that matters at this point. South Africa’s moment in the sun will continue even as Bafana Bafana’s fades.
Many of us hoped this would be a breakout year for African football (don’t bother to go back and read my predictions — I was as optimistic as possible and thus as disappointed as can be). That breakout did not happen. I was at last night’s Nigeria-South Korea game and Nigeria, a game squad despite its goose egg in the tournament, continued to disappoint. It’s not as if they were terrible, they just were never good enough, got a little unlucky, and fell apart at key times. The occasional chaos on the pitch was a representation of Nigeria’s chaotic football infrastructure (which is perhaps itself an embodiment of larger chaos in Nigeria).
The setting for the game could not have been more spectacular. Moses Mabhida Stadium is not merely one of the great facilities among several great facilities in South Africa. It is one of the greatest sporting facilities anywhere in the world. The arch that spans the length of the stadium and that rises hundreds of feet above the pitch is merely the most striking feature of a striking facility. The fear is that it will become a gorgeous white elephant because thus far the local rugby team, the Sharks, has indicated that it plans to continue to play its games at King’s Park. Such a decision would represent foolish intransigence. I’ve been to rugby games at King’s Park. It is a perfectly functional stadium with some tradition to it. But it cannot hold a candle to Durban’s glittering new gem.
Incidentally, the nearest bus pickup zone to the stadium for the games is at Suncoast casino. Well, I knew a bus would be a long time in coming and that there would be thousands of people trying to pile in to too few buses. So I decided, as a sociological and journalistic exercise, mind you, to investigate. The dealers were bedecked in Suncoast soccer jerseys. The tables had new World Cup themed felt. And I had a very lucky night of blackjack.
