Soccer Tactics

June 11, Friday is a date that will stay in all Africans and also the many soccer fans worldwide as the day Africa comes to be the venue for the FIFA World Cup. For eighty years now the FIFA World Cup host countries have been in either Europe or the Americas. Just how is the location for a FIFA World Cup decided?Currently, the policy for selection is that any country can bid to be the venue for the World Cup guaranteed that their continent hasn’t hosted it in the past two years making Africa a good candidate. South Africa had a narrow loss against Germany in the 2006 bidding with 12 votes to 11 as the final tally. For the 2010 World Cup however, all countries that bid were African the top three being South Africa, Morocco and Egypt. South Africa won by four points to Morocco resulting in this unforgettable event. The reasons mentioned are all technical, but you might ask if the country has the ability to host such a huge event? If you’d ask me, I’d say they surely are, here are my reasons:

* I love their team- it’s a fact, the definitely deserve to hold the cup. Wouldn’t holding the Cup in a country who’s team isn’t even that good be a total let down? Look back at the countries that held the Cup-1950 (Brazil), 1978 (Argentina), and 1990 (Italy), some of the best teams in the world. Adding South Africa to the list would make sense.

* You should see the stadiums- as part of their preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, South Africa has constructed four brand new mind-blowing stadiums.One has a detractable glass roof, another with spectacular lighting, then there’s the ‘zebra’ inspired stadium located nearby the many game parks, and finally one that resembles the South African flag. Who could want more?

* Good weather- South Africa is well known for it’s good weather-aside from the wildlife. The World Football Tournament coincides with South Africa’s winter time. South Africa’s winter temperature at midday is warmer than most countries daily summer temperature so no need to worry that your favorite players will get frozen. The average temperature will be around 20 degrees Celsius at 12pm noon.Lower temperatures are known to be better for athlete’s bodies.Good weather equals higher tempo.

* The continent alone- soccer is no doubt in every African’s heart and Africa is known to be the place where civilization begun. So what better place to have countries from the four corners of the earth meet? More so since South Africa has used soccer as a means of unity and force against apartheid in  the Mandela era. Having Soweto be the venue for the finals will add meaning and make the even even more memorable for the reason that Soweto has been the heart of South African soccer.

The whole world should be happy that an event of this magnitude is being held in Africa for the first time and no matter how many issues regarding safety have popped up in the past four years, I think the 2010 FIFA World Cup deserve to be held in South Africa.

The world keenly anticipates the start of the 2010 Soccer World Cup. South Africa has emerges as the host for the 2010 world cup after a lot of debate, bidding and voting.. The Soccer wall calender for 2010 has a lot install with the initial battle between South Africa and Mexico.Many forecast that it would end up being possible for the final world cup winners football game to have an African nation involved however this is yet to be seen. For those who won’t have the privilege of following the tournament, you might be wondering on what kind of stadiums the  football all stars will be performing their soccer tricks. Actually South Africa took the opportunity to host the Cup very seriously and for the past four years  have been busy constructing the fantastic stadiums. The following are a few for all ‘soccerholics’:

*Moses Mabhida Stadium- formally the Kings Park Soccer Stadium that is now a beautiful teflon-coated stadium with a glass fiber roof.Opened on November 2009.

Capacity: 70,000 Location: Durban Design: looks like the South African flag from an ariel view.The legs of the arch join which signifies the uniting of the formally devided country.This arch has a staggering height of 347 ft at the  highest point. The roof glows when under light.
* Green Point Stadium- was demolished in 2007 and reconstructed for the FIFA World Cup in 2009.Scheduled to host six first-round matches, one second-round, one quarter-final and one semifinal match.

Capacity:70,000 Location: Cape Town  Design:has sound proof material and is situated very near the ocean and has beautiful mountains in the background. Roofing is a unique retractable glass roofing of about 4,500 tons.

* Mbombela Stadium- a  Siwala world meaning “many people together in a small space.” Capacity: 40,000 Location:Nelspruit  Design:  has giraffe looking roof designs and seats that resemble the stripes of a giraffe. * Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium-scheduled to host five first round matches, one second round, one quarter final and the third place playoff. Name taken from the municipality name not the x-president Nelson Mandela.

Capacity: 50 000  Location:Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth  Design:a very beautiful looking stadium. Also named ‘the sunflower’ because of it’s unique structures.

* Soccer City Stadium- The largest stadium in Africa. Will hold the first and last matches of the Cup.

Capacity:94,500 Location: Johannesburg  Design:gets its design from an African Pot or calabash.

With all these stadiums, this year is surely to be a Cup to remember. Doesn’t it just makes you want to book the next flight straight to the heart of Africa?