VARIOUS: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - World Cup fever grips African continent for the very first World Cup to be held on African soil

Record ID: 453516

  • Title: VARIOUS: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - World Cup fever grips African continent for the very first World Cup to be held on African soil
  • Date: 14th June 2010
  • Summary: MAN WITH FOOTBALL JERSEY AND TWO BALLS GIRLS DRESSED IN YELLOW T-SHIRT READING ''AFRICA UNITED '' AND WEARING IVORY COAST FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (French) ANGE SERY, ABIDJAN RESIDENT SAYING: "The ceremony was truly a grand ceremony in the African colours, which proves that all Africa is united behind South Africa so that this first World tournament can succeed on African soil.
  • Embargoed: 29th June 2010 13:00
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  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA4DPH1H2PBWDCU3THMTEHNJURP
  • Story Text: World Cup fever has taken over the African continent as the very first World Cup to be held in African soil takes place in South Africa.
    After a spectacular opening of the World Cup ceremony on Friday (June 11), the whole African continent is buzzing with the event as Africans across the continent tune in to watch the games.
    Although Africa does not have a pan-African team representing the region, fans got together where they could to watch the football spectacular.
    In Kenya's popular pubs in the the capital Nairobi, Kenyans, as well other Africans were on hand to watch the opening game, of host country South Africa playing against Mexico.
    "The energy that is put behind the African teams that are playing it is so much, it is tremendous; everybody is for them; it doesn't matter whether you are South Africa, whether you are Ghana - you are Africa," said football fan Munene Nyagah.
    "The atmosphere I think is the best we have seen so far, I think Africa stands to gain a lot from this World Cup and is a chance to show the world that actually Africa has come off-age and we can do it," said another fan, Stella Ondimu.
    In Somalia, a country that usually makes headlines for its political and social turmoil, and is often referred to as a failed state, has been torn by civil war for nearly two decades.
    But during the tournament, residents of Mogadishu in the capital are not left out. Although public cinemas have been banned under Islamic rule, football fans still find ways to watch the matches.
    "I am very happy for the World Cup because it's the first time that Africa hosts the World Cup, so we are well prepared for watching the World Cup in our homes because there no more cinemas in Mogadishu in which we can watch the World Cup," said one Mogadishu resident Abdiazuz Mohamed.
    "We can't afford to watch the World Cup in local cinemas with a lot of people because of the security you know, islamist have already banned cinemas so we are not able to watch the World Cup with a large number of people," said resident Isse Hassan.
    In West Africa, fans can barely contain their happiness.
    In Ivory Coast, whose team is set to play their opening game on June 15 against Portugal, seeing the tournament being hosted on the continent is a dream come true for many.
    "We never believed that we could host the World Cup, that we could organise it in Africa, but God helped us, he gave us a long life, and we witnessed it, and we can tell our children that this happened in 2010. We are very proud that we were capable of organising it and witnessing it," said Abidjan resident Djakaridja Camara.
    "The ceremony was truly a grand ceremony with African colours, which proves that Africa is united behind South Africa, so that this first World tournament can succeed on African soil. Truly it was a very proud moment to see South Africa capable of doing great things like this," said football fan Ange Sery.
    In a slum of Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, a local organisation has built up big screen to enable many of the residents to watch the tournament. Screens are also planned in 10 of the Madagascar's largest cities so that people in some of the remote areas of the country can also enjoy the tournament.
    Sudanese fans were also in the spirit as they got together to watch the games.
    Ibn Omer Izzeldin, a Khartoum resident says the tournament has brought people closer as they gather to watch the cup in large numbers .
    "When people are gathered in a public place as this, regardless of their differences, people are very close in spirit."
    For others. they are just amazed that South Africa pulled off a great opening ceremony.
    "I am very proud that the World Cup is in Africa and I as an African, I hope the Cup goes to an African country," said Abdelmoniem Hassan Bashir.
    Many Africans also hope that the World Cup also looks like fulfilling a wider hope, that a successful tournament will overturn stereotypes of disaster, famine and war and boost the continent as a fast-growing destination for major future investment, while other Africans share the view that the tournament can change the continent's image forever.
    Sophisticated investors have already spotted Africa's potential. Half of the 10 fastest-growing countries will be in Africa next year according to the International Monetary Fund.
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