Sorry for the delay between the two posts, crazy busy doing all sorts of things and battling a cold still, but here it is!
So for the past week I was able to do a few interviews in Soweto again and in Newtown, near the Johannesburg CBD and Newtown Fan Park.
I interviewed a couple of different restaurants who are TEP clients and both of them are doing very well, even if they do not want to give me proper turnover numbers. The Restaurant in Newtown is located right next to the FIFA fan park so a very high traffic area and quite fortunate for him. I also returned to Vilakazi Street and visited the famous Sakhumzi’s restaurant, right next door to Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu’s house.
I also visited a different type of fan park for the Netherlands–Uruguay semifinal. It was a “private” fan park, one which you needed a ticket in order to enter. It was on the campus of a local private school and the demographics certainly indicated as much. The park was open to anyone, but the crowd definitely trended heavily to the affluent and was majority white. There was a concert before the match by a popular local rock band called the Parlotones. In my opinion nothing special because the sound was somewhat cookie cutter, but provided a good atmosphere. Chris, Bongi, and I went with Chris’ sister and her family. She’s married to a Dutchman and he obviously was quite pleased to make it through to the Finals. The next night for the Germany–Spain match, Bongs had some of his friends over and we watched at the house. Nicci and Luke were in Sun City for the week, so it was an all guy household.
Besides working, typing up some of my notes and doing more interviews, I also was searching, hoping, wishing for a ticket to the final. Unfortunately my local connection’s sms (which I’m still not sure he sent) never reached me while I was in Cape Town so I did not know that the last batch of finals tickets were going to be released. My connection knew 6 hours ahead of the official announcement but because I didn’t know, I was not able to go to the front of the line. In fact, I only found out after all the tickets to the final sold out!!! I was stuck. Now the blood suckers and extortionists emerged, asking absolutely ridiculous prices for the final. Even one of Ntokozo’s friends wanted R4000 (almost $600) for a ticket behind the goal in the nosebleeds/heavens/waaaay up there. I was not sure what I could do. I thought my best chance was to go outside the stadium with some money and try to find someone who needed to get rid of an extra ticket. That plan had some major holes considering that FIFA technically does not allow resale like that, and I received an email from the US consulate general notifying me of the various road closures and road blocks where police were supposedly going to ask you to produce a ticket. However, Sunday morning came and I was still planning my route of attack, but then an orange clad savior came through.
Ron and Eric, Chris’ brother-in-law and brother-in-law’s brother, came through with an excellent ticket at very very close to face value. Thanks to Nick, Ron’s son and Bongi’s cousin, he convinced his dad and uncle to sell the ticket to me rather than to some well-heeled Oranje who would pay 2 or 3x face. After consultation with my financial advisor (Thanks Mom & Dad!!) and my own finances, I realized I had enough saved up to afford the ticket, with or without help. So I bit. I was not disappointed in the least. I paid, but I paid for an absolutely excellent ticket. 12 rows from the field on the halfway line, 5 rows in front of the Dutch WAGs, right in the middle of the corporate section. Everyone else around us had hospitality badges and wristbands.
As you can see, given my hosts’ nationality, I threw my support to the dutch side. Nick’s dad is originally from Holland and his uncle still lives there. His uncle flew back to South Africa with his daughter for the final–he had already been to 11 games in the two weeks he visited during the group stages.
Anyway I took a whole loads of photos of the closing ceremonies, the pregame, and the match. The will be posted on facebook very soon.
The game itself was not awesome because of the quality of the soccer, in fact it was a very dirty choppy and diving filled match, but the atmosphere was once in a lifetime and unforgettable. In fact, as much as the match was amazing, getting to see former President Nelson Mandela was probably worth the price of the ticket itself. Right after the conclusion of the closing ceremonies, I was heading up the stairs for the bathroom when over the PA system came Madiba’s introduction. I pivoted on the spot and ran right back down the stairs to my row. He was all bundled up but he was smiling and waving. I’m sure if he had his way he would have stayed to present the trophy, but his family concerned for his health were only willing to relent to let him visit the stadium. I heard FIFA placed a lot of pressure on the Mandela family for Madiba to visit the match, but I would like to think he wanted to be there anyway.
Unfortunately, because my Eric, Ron, and family were my ride, I did not get to see the trophy presentation, the two of them were too angry to sit through it. I can understand the feeling but am still a little disappointed that I missed it. However, the view of the fireworks from outside the stadium was probably better than from within so that was nice. I’ll post the video to youtube sometime soon.
Anyway I will have one more post before I leave South Africa, just busy trying to do some more interviews and pick up some gifts before I head home Thursday. Only a few days left.