Cape Town Stadium kicked off its first 2010 FIFA World Cup™ match yesterday, and it was a resounding success! 350 000 people in the city centre had the party of a lifetime, and momentary peace and tranquillity returned today as fans watched the battles between Korea and Greece, Argentina and Nigeria, as well as England and USA that were played in stadiums up-country.

Rain and cold is predicted for Monday’s second World Cup match at Cape Town Stadium when Italy plays Paraguay at 20h30, so please wrap up warmly and bring a waterproof jacket as umbrellas are banned inside the stadium.

FIFA Fan Fest:
The FIFA Fan Fest at the Grand Parade was in full swing today, as it will be for every day of the tournament. While many fans watched the games on the big screens and grooved to Oliver Mtukudzi and Miss H there was another fiercely fought live soccer match taking place alongside them…

It was Mini Soccer Mania and the action was intense! Parents and supporters could barely keep up with the pace as tomorrow’s soccer stars raced around the pitch with just as much enthusiasm, passion and energy as Bafana Bafana! Do yourself a favour a go and watch these young tykes – their energy and skill is astonishing and it’s a highly enjoyable spectacle.

The highlight for tomorrow Sunday, 13 June 2010 is the popular SA band Goldfish. They’ll perform between 18h00 and 20h30 so be sure to catch them live.


The FANtastic Vibe:
How’s your soccer lingo coming along? These are the words peppering conversations wherever you go in Cape Town…

Laduma (la-doo-mah)
The shout for when a goal is scored. From the Zulu for ‘it thunders’.

Sharp
Double it up to ‘sharp-sharp’ to mean on the ball, to express that you are well or simply to show your enthusiasm for something.

Eish! (aysh)
To express surprise or disappointment. “Eish! That goalie is sharp-sharp!”

Jol (jawl)
A party. “Let’s go to the Fan Jol at OR Tambo Centre.”

Ayoba (a-your-bah)
To expresses delight, excitement, agreement, approval or as a greeting or term of goodbye.
Yebo (year-boh)
Yes or hello.

Gees (gha-ears)
The fun, the excitement, the spirit, the vibe!

Waka waka
This Time for Africa, or someone who talks a lot!

Mzansi (m-zun-zee)
A popular word for South Africa.

Voice of the People:
Commuters have hailed the City’s new public transport system, the MyCiTi bus service, as reliable and efficient.

Gareth Leyman, 60, said, “It’s amazing. It’s organised, not only the transport but also the event. It’s very necessary that the City continue to run the service even after the World Cup.”

Nick Bremer, 41, said the bus service was excellent. “We are at last getting the same level of service as Europe, and the City should just keep it going. And with such reliable transport we can bring other big events to the country, maybe the Olympics or an expanded Jazz festival.”

Brad Steel departed from Century City and took a train to the central city, then connected with MyCiTi to the stadium. “It’s fantastic. It’s efficient. It’s well done. It’s first world,” said Steel.

The City’s Director of Communications and 2010 spokesperson, Pieter Cronje reported that more than 11 000 thousand spectators had used the MyCiTi shuttle to get to the stadium yesterday.