S. Africa’s day in sun kicks off just right

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This article was published 12/06/2010 (5959 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — How fitting that a soccer player from Soweto with the singsong name Siphiwe Tshabalala would score the first goal for host South Africa on a spectacular left-footed blast, launching the 84,490 Soccer City fans, the nation of 49 million and much of the continent into delirium.

This was the day they had been awaiting for six years, the day they would prove to skeptics that despite its troubles, Africa could, indeed, deliver the world’s biggest sporting event.

Not even the equalizing goal by Mexico later in the game would quell the celebration or the deafening blast of vuvuzelas in the brand-new, five-tier stadium.

South Africans woke up ready to sing and dance Friday, the din of plastic horns in the streets by sun-up.

An hour-long opening ceremony celebrating Afro music and dance kept the party mood going.

The day began on a sombre note with news that human rights icon Nelson Mandela’s 13-year-old great-granddaughter, Zenani, was killed in a rollover car accident Thursday night on her way home from the World Cup opening concert.

Mandela had been scheduled to attend Friday’s festivities, but stayed away to grieve with his family.

The South African team, nicknamed Bafana Bafana (The Boys, The Boys), danced and sang in the stadium tunnel before warm-ups. They were singing a song that means Our Time Has Come. When they emerged on the field and saw the adoring sea of yellow, some of the players began sobbing. One player, Sibaya MacBeth, was so overcome he had to be consoled by coaches.

“When we left the hotel, the streets were filled with people in yellow. They gave us so much, and it was our turn to give back to them. I’m so glad we could give them a goal to celebrate,” midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi said.

The home team danced and high-stepped through warm-ups, looking a lot like the Brazilians in their bright yellow and green uniforms, their Brazilian coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira, in the wings. Then they all circled around veteran Steven Pienaar and rubbed his head. It’s for good luck, they later explained.

Though South Africa entered the match on a 12-game win streak, it is ranked No. 83 in the world and was a heavy underdog against the 17th-ranked Mexicans. Mexico dominated the first half with nifty footwork and pace, but couldn’t convert a goal and it was scoreless at halftime.

Then, in the 55th minute, the slight 5-foot-7 Tshabalala (Shabba, for short) raced down the field on a counterattack, got his left instep under the ball, and cranked it with a perfect trajectory. The ball whizzed past the reach of Mexican goalkeeper Oscar Perez and into the upper right corner of the net.

“That goal changed the game,” Mexican coach Javier Aguirre said.

— The Miami Herald

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