Can I Kick It??? Yes You Can

futeball fever is running rampant here in south africa (or soccer for you americans). of course south africans are pumped up about getting the world cup in 2010. but again true to south african nature, most south africans are not exactly how things are going to turn out when the world cup does arrive. crime is obviously a problem here in south africa, and not just petty crime, so that is going to have to be addressed. so as one of the locals here told me, the rest of the world is not going to know what hit them when they get here. he suggest that they put electric fencing to keep the fans in on the grounds, because otherwise south africans will try and steal the grass, the balls, the white lines off the field, and the kits right off the players.

anyways, maybe someone can fill me in on what the world cup coverage is like in the us, but here we get everygame, and two channels dedicated to 24 hour soccer coverage, which i love being that i grew up on soccer thanks to my dad and my brother. but i was shocked to learn that many of my fellow students from america here had never watched a soccer game and some never even knew all the rules. we have been getting together to watch the games featuring most of the african nations and those with the united states, and the interesting thing was that most of the americans were rooting for ghana when they took on the united states. i think that had something about being in africa, and that publically cheering for america against an african team, is probably not a good idea.

but i have to say that the best thing about the coverage here is the commentary, even the americans love it, because the british and african guys that cover the matches are ruthless and tell it like it is. for example, when the united states were headed into the final game against ghana, the main commentator asked the assistant how the americans should prepare for the game. he responded in totally seriousness, that they should prepare by packing their bags, and booking their flights home for the next day, because their world cup is done. priceless.