SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: WORLD CUP 2010: Organisers worried that early exit for South Africa could keep supporters away from fan parks

Record ID: 452199

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: WORLD CUP 2010: Organisers worried that early exit for South Africa could keep supporters away from fan parks
  • Date: 19th June 2010
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) FAN PARK VENDOR, WILLIAM SAYING: "Fever, fever we feel it. No cold, it's a winter tournament, they understand about football." EXTERIOR OF FIFA OFFICIAL FAN SHOP INTERIOR OF THE FIFA OFFICIAL FAN SHOP (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANAGER FIFA OFFICIAL SHOP, VANETIA SAYING: "The fan park has only been busy when Bafana Bafana was playing, that was on the 11th and on Wednesday the 16th, and when Bafana is not playing, the park is totally empty." MORE OF INTERIOR OF FIFA OFFICIAL FAN SHOP (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANAGER FIFA OFFICIAL SHOP, VANETIA SAYING: "Well obviously, if there's no fans in the park then there is no sales so from that point of view sales are not going very well." FANS EATING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND SUPPORTER, ANDY SAYING: "The beer is cheap, the food is cheap, the food is nice, we've got massive TV with football on, I don't really think you can beat that." ENGLISH FANS EATING
  • Embargoed: 4th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA2MUHYU2GL0XD3SBNXYHT30X51
  • Story Text: It is a far cry from the park that had a full 20,000 capacity during the World Cup opening match between South Africa and Mexico on June 11 where even some fans climbed trees to get a glimpse of the game.
    Now the FIFA Innesfree Fan Park, a public viewig area in the affluent business district of Sandton outside Johannesburg, is literally deserted. More worrying, however, is that this is a familiar sight in all FIFA Fan Parks around the country.
    Fan parks were designed by FIFA for South Africans and football lovers who were unable to buy tickets to watch the matches at stadiums. But as a winter chill grips South Africa, more and more people are opting to watch the matches in the comfort of pubs or at home.
    One vendor at the park however says real football lovers understand the weather conditions.
    "Fever, fever we feel it. No cold, it's a winter tournament, they understand about football," said William, a vendor at Innesfree Park.
    The manager at one of the shops set up to cater for soccer fans at the park however said the park only gets packed to capacity when the host nation's team is playing.
    "The fan has only been busy when Bafana Bafana was playing, that was on the 11th and on Wednesday the 16th, and when Bafana is not playing the park is totally empty," said Venetia, the manager.
    With the reduced attendance, the vendors are beginning to feel the effect as sales of their merchandise go down, especially on the days when Bafana is not playing.
    With the national team's lacklustre performances in their first two matches - a draw against Mexico in the opening match and a disappointing loss of 3-0 against Uruguay, the team is almost certain to be making an early exit from the tournament which could make business in the fan parks even worse.
    "Well obviously if there's no fans in the park then there is no sales so from that point of view sales are not going very well," she added.
    But there are some fans who are enjoying the experience at Innesfree Park despite the weather conditions.
    "The beer is cheap, the food is cheap, the food is nice, we've got massive TV with football on, I don't really think you can beat that," said Andy, an English football supporter, enjoying food and drink.
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