snowgoose

When tickets to the World Cup went on sale, Shaun and I decided that we didn’t need to attend any games. We said we’d already had our taste of footie at the Confederations Cup Semi Final and that it would be better on TV anyway.

Then the day that everyone had been waiting for for the last 6 years came around and predictably, we suddenly deeply regretted not getting our lazy asses into gear and getting tickets. By then, of course, all the worthwhile tickets were either sold out or way beyond our means. So we watched from fan parks, from home and even from Hooters but it never really covered the fact that we weren’t going to be able to tell our grandchildren we went to a game. And that annoyed the crap outta me.

Then last week I got an email from the incomparable Mongezi Mtati, he wanted to know if I’d like to go to a game as a guest of the International Marketing Council of South Africa. Holy Crapnuts, would I?!?! He then proceeded to make sure I owed him for life by announcing that we were not just going to any game and we did not just have any tickets, we were going to watch Africa’s last hope, The Black Stars from Ghana take on the *insert expletive here* from Uruguay at Soccer city…. and we had BOX TICKETS!!

The game was everything I could possibly have imagined and so much more. From the VIP parking right next to the stadium (we drove through no less than 8 security checkpoints and they waved us through every time like we were frikken dignitaries) to the gourmet food, wine and complimentary blankets in the suite, the stadium staff and our hosts (we’ll call them the IMC from now on shall we? that other name is a bit long) made sure we had the best experience possible.

And even though Ghana didn’t win I had the night of my life. The buzz of 84 000 vuvuzela’s is a sound that I will never ever forget. They only fell silent when that *insert even worse expletive here* Suarez kicked Uruguay into the semi-finals. They stayed silent when the Ghanian hero Asamoah Gyan fell to his knees and couldn’t get up, but they rang out once more, accompanied by the clapping, cheering and chanting of the crowd as we gave the Black Stars our appreciation, love and support the best way we know how, by drowning out the South American cheats’ celebrations.

As I stood there with tears streaming down my face I was prouder to be South African than I’ve ever been in my life.

Proud, and so very grateful to be able to say “I was there”

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Tags: 2010, blogging, I was there, Mongezi, Shaun Custers, World Cup