There’s been quite a bit a talk about Cape Town not being in the mood for the World Cup. Sure, we sometimes take a bit longer than other parts of the country to get going. But don’t just count the number of flags on cars or lamp-posts. Rather, walk around the Central City, and visit other parts of Cape Town, and you’ll soon see the gees (spirit) that’s building up. My prediction – if we have halfway reasonable weather next Thursday evening (June 10), on the eve of the tournament, we’ll see a record crowd of Capetonians in Adderley Street for the switch-on of the lights and the party of the year.
Trader stand - Adderley Street
Mural - Longmarket Street
Informal trader - St George's Mall
St George's Mall
Lower Parliament Street
Lower Parliament Street
Small business - Longmarket Street
Cape Town Tourism offices, Burg Street
Cape Town Tourism has been busy visiting other parts of the city and sent me these wonderful set of photos:
Football for Hope Centre, Khayelitsha (Photo courtesy Cape Town Tourism)
Photo courtesy Cape Town Tourism
Photo courtesy Cape Town Tourism
Photo courtesy Cape Town Tourism
Only in Cape Town - Vuvuzelas being made from from dried kelp (Photo courtesy Cape Town Tourism)
Photo courtesy Cape Town Tourism
Photo courtesy Cape Town Tourism
Photo courtesy Cape Town Tourism
Its not Capetonians who are not passionate or lack gees. But with 8 days to go, one enters the CBD from the N1 with absolutely no flag or sign or billboard that suggests a World Cup tournament is on our doorstep.
40 day to go flags still surrounds Athlone and Bellville stadia.
Perhaps its still on its way but there seem to be no real plan when it comes to City branding apart from those wheel or vuvuzelas by sponsors.
Table Mountain countdown clock? Projections? Laser show…something!
I think the lack of interest in soccer in general runs a bit deeper…
Over the past 10 years, what has SAFA (South African Football Association) really done for soccer in the Cape? Not much.
To my mind, the SAFA has a financial interest in keeping soccer predominantly in the north and as such, we in the Cape have suffered the consequences.
Case in point, Bafana’s warm-up game against Bulgaria. It was scheduled to be played in Cape Town and then for no apparent reason (which I am aware of) it was moved to Jozi.
When we had the international under-20 mini tournament here not too long ago, there was massive interest and some games were sold out.
I’ve got my tickets and I can’t wait… too bad SAFA has stifled the gees for soccer in Cape Town for so long that we’re only now waking up to the biggest sporting event in the world being on our doorstep.
Viva Bafana Viva!!!!
I agree that a lot of the big stuff is not there on the highways and billboards, especially when compared to Johannesburg. I was trying to show that, despite the lack of a formal advertised presence, there is a lot going on at a grassroots level, i.e. informal traders, small businesses, at least in the Central City area.
Agreed that on the grassroots level the gees is picking up. I just wish that we got more of the warm up games and other big soccer events over the last couple of years to build mass enthusiasm for the game.
Nice article by the way, the pics are great
In term of soccer, the demand for tickets has been outstanding in Cape Town. There is no lack of a “love for football”, especially not international football. Cape Town has sold out first after each phase, with demand high enough to have probably supported a second match venue in CT as well.
The City of Cape Town hired top branding and marketing experts from the private sector, but if we can’t get the basics like a few flags on a major road, then have they really done any good?
Our parties will rival any other cities in the world, with our Central City essentially a “World Cup Park”, but until then, I’ll keep staring at the “40 days to go” flags near my office.
Dear Andrew,
thank you for walking with us the other day. It was a real eye-opener for me. Be proud what you and the Cape Town Partnership achieved for Cape Town!!!
Susanne