AFTER the success that was the 2010 World Cup Draw in Cape Town on
Friday there shouldn’t be any doubting Thomases left.
Africa’s time has come and South Africa has proved to all that this
continent is capable of hosting any of the world’s biggest events.
Friday was an historic moment for us as Africans as we welcomed the
best of the world to the first-ever World Cup Draw on African soil. And if there
are any people out there who still doubt our capabilities to make things happen,
let’s use the next few months before the tournament to win them over. There
shouldn’t be many of them.
All the 32 teams to play in the soccer extravaganza are already
experiencing African hospitality. They’ve been booked into some of our
world-class facilities around the country and will enjoy the warmth of a nation
that has made Africa proud.
But while we celebrate the success of the draw and look ahead to
what without doubt will be one of the best World Cups –if not the best – we must
keep our promise to the rest of the continent to make this a truly African
World Cup. We must make sure that our brothers and sisters across the entire
continent feel part of the pulse and that they enjoy the benefits of supporting
South Africa as the host country.
It is sad that aside from Bafana Bafana, who qualify as hosts, no
other team from southern Africa has made it to the only World Cup to be hosted
in Africa in our lifetime. But we hope that countries like Mozambique, Zimbabwe,
Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland and others can also tap into the
opportunities this tournament brings and that together we will stand tall and
host the world.
We also hope that in the next few months the remaining issues of
transport, accommodation and security are cleared well before kick-off so that
we can all concentrate on the beautiful games and wait for our favourite teams
to showcase their talent.
Since it is an African World Cup we are confident that our teams –
Bafana Bafana, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Nigeria and Algeria – will make the
continent proud as they meet the world’s best in the likes of Lionel Messi,
Kaka, Ronaldo, Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Thierry Henry.
Africa has had its fair share of grief – civil wars, coups,
disease and dictatorships. Let us, even if for only this once, use this
occasion to celebrate being African, heal our wounds and show the world that
Africa is open for business.
We have proved with other tournaments such as the Africa Cup of
Nations, the Rugby World Cup, the Indian Premier League, the Confederations Cup
and the 2010 World Cup Draw that Africa is ready. Now is the time for us to sit
back and blow our own vuvuzelas.
Afrika, ke nako ya rona. It’s our time. Let the games
begin.