From 500 Days Away Down to 2
Andy McCaslin is an avid US National team fan and has followed the team all over the world. He’s been coaching soccer for 14 years at levels from U-6 to college. Originally from Indiana, he moved to Winona to take over as assistant men’s and women’s coach at Saint Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota.
Andy will be checking in with IMS periodically as he brings us his own personal experiences while at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
The anticipation has been intense. The build up for many months.
I remember when I saw a countdown at 500 days to the start of World Cup 2010 and being beyond excited. I thought it was close then. Today it’s less than 50 hours away and I’m making my trek to Johannesburg.
The only way I can describe this route is a long. I started the three full days of travel yesterday by train making my way from Winona, MN on the Empire Builder, headed toward Chicago where I would be meeting my brother and father. From there we’re headed to Houston meeting the oldest brother to fly to Dubai on to Johannesburg. Yikes. All of us have traveled for US games in the past, but this is by far the longest journey to follow our Yanks. And it’s also the most unpredictable trip to date.
Many things make this World Cup that way. For starters, it’s on the African continent. A place that seems so far away, so exotic, now thrust into the spotlight becoming the Mecca of the soccer world for the next month. The world will have its eyes on a country that until a few years ago didn’t even have equal human rights.
Hosting in South Africa poses many questions and logistical issues for both FIFA and South Africa. Big and small questions ranging from assertion of global stature to the flight patterns of a new and seemingly unstoppable ball (I’ve hit the ball on a few occasion and it definitely moves, but in my opinion, it’s just a way to divert players and teams from the hard questions they may not want to answer in a presser to something pretty ridiculous and a non-factor).
Will the South Africans be ready to host the largest event in the world?
Everything here is looking positive. FIFA has reiterated that it’s pleased with the state of the stadia. It seems for now that this is going well for the Bafana Bafana. People may have to find ways of getting to games that they didn’t have to sort out in Germany in ’06, but we’re working with different this tournament, not better or worse.
Is the cost too high?
I’ve been saving since Germany’s Cup for this. Prices are still outrageous. The effect has been felt though in South Africa. Hotels weren’t full, tickets weren’t sold and fans weren’t coming due to some of the gouging. FIFA urged airlines and hotels to be more accommodating. The result is still mixed with more reasonable accommodations and most all of the tickets being sold, albeit primarily vuvuzela-toting locals. FIFA is quite proud to have their stadiums filled to the brim.
Will this help catapult South Africa to the world’s stage showing power and sustainability?
It definitely can’t hurt having an event as large as the World Cup on your soil. Still a huge gap in class and many people still fighting for equality. Economically, hosting the tournament could turn out crippling with empty stadiums that were built by mammoth amounts of monies that could have been used in other public works projects.
Will its fans be safe in the unpredictable and notoriously dangerous cities?
This is probably the biggest wildcard out there. Personally a victim of a mugging while abroad, I’m always on guard, but it’s still one of the most unpredictable events you can imagine because it can literally happen at any time. The police and criminals of South Africa can look at the fan’s safety in two different ways; the first is to protect the foreigners coming in and give them everything they need to have a safe journey to a beautiful place by putting stop to violence on its visitors, or they can let it be the scary place with an absurdly high murder and crime rate. The first sounds much better to me.
Will the fans even see the best teams after the recent epidemic of injury and players’ loss of form?
At this point, probably most of them. The injury bug has been rampant and clubs will be missing out on their leaders and journeymen.
Will the vuvuzelas overpower screaming fans?
Absolutely!
The US also has questions entering this tournament as well. After making it through CONCACAF on top of the hexagonal for the 2nd qualifying cycle in a row, the US has established itself as the new benchmark in our area of the globe. It’s time to start putting our mark on these major tournaments. Sure, a great showing at the Confederations Cup was nice, but it wasn’t the World Cup. Are we ready or even capable enough to do that as a country? Will it make an impact back home with MLS? Can soccer end up in the headlines more? Who will be “our guy”? Do we even have that guy? Will our backs be able to handle the onslaught from Rooney and the rest of his English teammates? What will the US fan contingent look like after buying the bulk share of foreign purchased tickets? The anticipation is almost too much, but it’s almost here.
My dad and I traveled to Germany for the ’06 version and he’s certain that Germany won’t be outdone. Germany did well in the promotion of the game. Getting around was more than easy. We always felt safe. The people were incredible and passionate and the stadia were world class. In my dad’s eyes, nothing can come close in comparison. I can’t blame him. We had an amazing time but I am, though, certain that this will be an amazing event with its own history, its own passion, its own legacy of great games, memories, disappointments and a country full of incredible, proud people ready to show the world their traditions and to leave a lasting impression on the world’s game.
Time will tell how successful this Cup will be. Throughout the next few weeks I’ll be taking the temperature of the locals and see how the game is impacting them on their home soil. I’ll try to find out why soccer is important to them and how it is woven into their fabric. I’m searching for the human side to this event.
From 500 days away down to less than two. I’m ready to get on the ground and see where this adventure takes us. RSA, here we come.
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