Pouring rain and icy temperatures failed to dampen the spirits of nearly 63 000 spectators who packed into Cape Town Stadium to see Italy take on Paraguay in the Group F match on Monday night.

Paraguay dominated the first half, and scored the first goal in the Cape Town Stadium during this World Cup, but an initially lacklustre Italy rebounded in the second half, scoring a goal to the elation of the mostly Italian supporters in the stadium.

FIFA Fan Fest, Grand Parade

The weather didn’t deter fans at the FIFA Fan Fest™ today either…
Most of the visitors interviewed said that they found the weather very similar to what they experience in their own countries (in the summer!), and having travelled so far to watch their favourite teams, they were not going to let a ‘spot of rain’ put them off.

Not that they needed to, though…
Fortunately, the rain held off long enough for the afternoon matches to be held in relative dryness, and the steaming cups of coffee and half-litre mugs of cider most people had looked like they went some way to warm them up!



Those who watched the Japan vs Cameroon and Italy vs Paraguay match enjoyed performances by BLK Sonshine, a local Afropop group that blends melodic and percussive acoustic guitars with hip hop, jazz and folk influences. Their soulful music, including songs such as ‘Born in a taxi’, and ‘Bahlalefi’, got fans moving and shaking. They were followed by CODA, a popular South African band that combines classical electric strings and Afro-jazz to create a uniquely local style. Their soccer song ‘Blow your vuvuzela’ - fast becoming the official anthem of the World Cup - was particularly popular. 

Tuesday: Cape Town-based bands Tucan Tucan and Moreira Project will play their unique brand of music before the 16:00 game on Tuesday. Tucan Tucan is best known for combining latino rhythms such as salsa, samba and bossa nova with African elements such as those used in Kwasa Kwasa, Marrabenta and Ju Ju. The band’s lyrics are in Spanish, Portuguese, English and African languages (including Sesotho, Xhosa, Zulu, Ronga and Shangaan). Circus Wing will be the late night act.


The Fan Walk

Restaurants lining the 2,4 Fan Walk did a roaring trade today as fans popped in on their way to the stadium. Once warmed up, refueled and in the know about the other games being played – thanks to the indoor televisions in the various restaurants – they continued on their way. Many restaurant staff were dressed from head to toe in Bafana Bafana regalia, proving that soccer fever is contagious. The service was world class – most waiters and waitrons are brimming with pride for their country and Cape Town, and seem to thoroughly enjoy meeting the many foreigners in the city.


Oliver Tambo Fan Jol, Khayelitsha

Meanwhile, the sunshine yellow mural that welcomes fans to the OR Tambo Fan Jol made up for the weather today. The bright mural is of Oliver Tambo, painted by the artist Falko from Mitchells Plain. Follow the mural through the doors and you’ll be greeted by a floor-to-ceiling photograph of Cape Town, flags from the 32 participating countries, gigantic projections of a vuvuzela flanked by golden statuettes of the World Cup trophy, and a wraparound silhouette of fans reaching for the South African flag on the walls.

The artwork at the Fan Jols was created by artists who’ve undergone VANSA's mentorship programme as part of the City of Cape Town's funding of artists' skills enhancement - and all the artists are from historically disadvantaged backgrounds.

The décor certainly adds to the festive atmosphere, so be sure to pay the jol a visit – especially now that it’s school holidays.

Tuesday: The OR Fan Jol will open again on Wednesday 16 June 2010. For a full entertainment programme click here.


Swartklip Sports Complex Fan Jol, Mitchells Plain

Enjoying the games on the big screen today were these two young fans armed with vuvuzelas and refreshments. Bundled up against the cold, they were kept warm and safe indoors at the Swartsklip Sports Complex, which accommodates 850 fans.

The Fan Jols are a great place for children to enjoy during the school holidays, and entrance is free, on a first-come first-served basis.

Tuesday: The Swartklip Fan Jol will open again on Wednesday 16 June 2010. For the highlights of each day click here.


Vygieskraal Stadium Fan Jol, Athlone

Stealing the show in the nippy weather today was Nazma and her famous hot doughnuts. Five utterly delicious piping-hot doughnuts for only R10 brought smiles to fans’ faces. They’re cooked on the spot and as Nazma will tell you, ‘It takes time but if you want a PERFECT doughnut you must be patient!’ While they were bubbling away she shared her secret recipe with us:

4 cups of sifted flour
1 packet of dry yeast
2 tablespoons of sugar
A pinch of salt

Mix these dry ingredients and then two beaten eggs and a splash of vanilla essence.

Take one cup of boiling water and melt a quarter of a block of butter into it and make it lukewarm in temperature by adding a little cold milk.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry and then using your hand gently knead the mixture.

Roll it out into a sausage shape, cut into doughnut sized slices and fry till golden brown in hot oil. Dust with coconut and you’ll have the tastiest doughnuts in the world!

Tuesday: The Vygieskraal Fan Jol will open again on Tuesday 16 June 2010. For the highlights of each day click here.


Bellville Velodrome Fan Jol, Bellville



Approximately 200 brave souls attended the Bellville Velodrome Fan Jol today despite the biting cold. Cape Town’s littlest citizens enjoyed the children’s entertainment, which included five-a-side soccer, ‘Soccer Mania’ dance and a magic group, face painting and graffiti artists.

Live performances included The Hawston Steelpan Band (a 10-strong band originating from Hawston on the West Coast), and Afro Brazilian band, Napalma. Wednesday: The Bellville Velodrome Fan Jol will be open from 11:00 until 23:00 on Wednesday 16 June. Fans can look forward to watching all the games on giant screens, children’s entertainment as well as performances by The Plastics, Avondale Drummies, Natsi’ingqayi and local heroes Goldfish.


What our visitors had to say…

During the run-up to the World Cup, international media portrayed South Africa negatively, and warned visitors that if they were not extra careful during the tournament they might end up in danger. But soccer fan Martin Mlyneck, a citizen of Czech Republic is ‘surprised’ to feel ‘pretty safe’ despite reading those negative stories about South Africa.

‘When I read newspapers in Europe, it was about how many people had been victims of violence in South Africa, and how dangerous it is there. But now that I’m here I feel safe. There is a big difference from what we read back home,’ said Mlyneck, who has been in the country since Wednesday. The 42-year-old, who has already enjoyed South African seafood, said that South Africa ‘is a beautiful piece of the world, and people are friendly.’

He said that while here during the World Cup, he intends to visit Cape Point, and the winelands, and after the tournament he plans to buy a Bafana Bafana jersey and an infamous vuvuzela to remind him of SA back home.

A German citizen, Christoph Atsselmann, has been in the country for a week. He said that back in Europe ‘they tell us a lot of bad things about South Africa.

Atsselmann said although he had visited a number of places in Cape Town, ‘we haven’t seen anything bad yet.’ Asked how he found Cape Town, he said it was great, wonderful and that people ‘are nice.’

‘We are staying away from the parts of town that people have warned us about,’ said Atsselmann.

He said that during week in which he has been in the country he has already enjoyed typical African food, including Springbok and Ostrich.

He said that he would take a vuvuzela back home, to remind him of the great time he had in South Africa.

Nicolas Darouzat, from France, has also been enjoying Springbok meat, saying that it is very tender. Also on his shopping list is a vuvuzela, a Bafana Bafana jersey and cigarettes, as they are cheaper in SA, he said.

During his short stay he intends to visit the Cape townships, do a spot of shark diving, and take a safari.

Thibaut Etzel, 25, also from France, said that he found South Africa beautiful, especially Cape Town, as it had the sea and mountain in the city.

‘I’m taking care of myself here,’ he said, adding that he’ll take local wine and paintings back home with him.