South Africans woke up with huge hangover today. The party was huge, lasted for a month and hundreds of thousands people came form all over the world. Everyone had good time but now it is time for South Africans to farewell guests and start to clean the house.
Africans proved to all doomsayers that they were wrong. World Cup was organized on professional level, games took place, crime rate nose down, and not many fans will leave South Africa disappointed. Economically World Cup was almost breaking even which is fantastic result when we think about global crisis, and far distance from South Africa to the rest of the world. And last but not least all invested money in infrastructure and security will stay here. Another priceless asset is the image of South Africa and marketing the country had for last month. So, why people are sad here?
“I will miss these games everyday, checking results but the most all those fans. All of them so nice, friendly and leave so much money” told me Wendy waitress in local coffee. “It is so sad around without that buzz”, she adds.
Wendy is right most of fans rushed to the airports early in the morning, the rest cure hangover or like me flu caught on freezing stadiums.
In pharmacy queue I meet Loraine, educated black lady, who partly lives in reach Houton area partly in London. “I couldn’t miss this party, so I came especially from London, had to quit my job” she smiles. “It was nice all of this, especially that many people here for the first time in their life could feel this country can be nice, and safe – you know normal!” – Loraine stress. “But I am not sure if all of that will stay here after the World Cup”.
After living 6 years in the monument shadow of the World Cup South Africa have to learn to live as “normal” country. Today’s newspapers published cartoons with Zakumi, World Cup cheetah mascot waiting for the job with other unskilled workers on the street corner.
South Africa, the party is over, time to get back to job.
Debate