I was in South Africa as long as the English team was. South Africa is a country of great contrasts. Each day was like a different holiday.

As well as the football, I went by cable car to the top of Table Mountain, played football in a township, night clubbed in Cape Town, wine tasted in the Cape Winelands, I went on safari, visited Robben Island and generally played the tourist.

I met lots of great people and made loads of new friends.

bafana bafana

I’ve uploaded some of my photos from South Africa. They capture the many different aspects of this trip.

The most moving day (apart from watching England get stuffed by Germany) was the trip to Robben Island. Here Nelson Mandela spent a good part of his life as a prisoner for resistance to apartheid. Now it is a museum.

We were taken a tour of the prison by en ex-political prisoner. This man was only a couple of years older than me. We would have been at University at the same time. Whilst he was organizing against apartheid on his campus, we were doing similar things in London.

great view

He spent three years in Robben Island for his ‘crimes’, I went down the pub afterwards. How different our lives have been. It makes me realise just how easy things have been for me.

South Africa has come a long way since the end of apartheid. But it still has many problems to face. The FIFA World Cup 2010 has changed the image of South Africa for me. I expect it is similar for the many that ignored the scare mongering and followed their teams.

I suspect it will have changed South Africa as well.

thank you south africa

England won 3-1. A good result, but they missed the Chelsea players who were being rested. This made it difficult to see how the team is progressing. The World cup is only two weeks away now.

During the match, I took part in a record making event. With the exception of the Mexican part of the stadium, every seat in Wembley had a free t-shirt draped on it before the game. These were either red or white.

When everyone put them on, it made two huge England flags. With 80,000 people taking part this was a record. It must have cost at least £100,000.

the record

Almost Ready to Go

I’m getting ready to go to South Africa. Every day I do another job that brings the tournament that much closer. This week I have:

• Bought travel insurance
• Ordered travel money
• Bought an adaptor to fit South African power outlets
• Bored everyone I know with how soon I will be going away

We have been planning this since England qualified last October. This time in two weeks I will be in Cape Town watching the opening game. I am finding it hard to concentrate on anything.

I went to The Offside Bar in Islington with Garry last night. Another London England Fan meet.

It was great to mix with other people who are going to South Africa this summer. I know no one locally who is. Comparing itineraries is fun.

We were talking to someone who knows Cape Town well. He told us there is a great night club near to our hotel by the beach. It looks like we have found our temporary home for the trip.

Each meeting has a theme. This one focused on personal security in South Africa. There was a panel comprising of the FA, the police, the Foreign Office and some others. It was interesting.

All the speakers had the same message:

Yes, crime is a problem in South Africa, but there will be lots of extra police on duty for the World Cup. Be sensible, as you would in any city such as London, and you should be OK.

There was a consensus that possible problems had been exaggerated by the British press.

Normally before the World Cup the British press are busy exaggerating the possibility of trouble from England fans. This time they print scare stories about trouble FOR England fans.

That’s progress of sorts. But they have to peddle fear and loathing of someone, it sells newspapers.

As for some of the comments about SA President Jacob Zuma on his recent visited to the UK. What was the point?

You have to wonder if there is an agenda.

I went to watch the draw for the 2010 World Cup final in South Africa. It was a great evening organised by London England Fans. They normally have a Christmas party in the Offside Bar.

Garry Napper was there. He’d come up from the south coast for the day. I met Gary in Japan in 2002 and have been going to England games with him since. We have an apartment booked in Cape Town for the 2010 tournament.

Springbok

There was South African Gum-boot dancing and South African Food. I had to try the Springbok. It was different and tasty.

The event featured on Sky Sports News and the national press.

The draw looks good for England. We kick off on June 12 against the USA. Then on June the 18th England face Algeria. The final game of the group will be England v Slovenia on Wednesday 23 June.

I am happy with the draw. The match against Algeria is in Cape Town near where where I’m staying. England face Slovenia in Port Elizabeth. Which I’m told is an hour’s drive from Cape Town.

Only the game against the USA will be difficult to get to. It’ll be in Rustenburg on the second day of the tournament.

There’s still lots to sort out.