Frozen but happy!
Local fans supporting Spain, you can't tell the difference!
To get to the Soccer City stadium is not easy even when it is not hosting World Cup final. Yesterday the biggest fans started to arrive at dawn. Many of them clutched cardboard signs, indicating what they are ready to trade for a ticket to the final – one man from England even offered his son, who was lingering nearby, nervously.
I came a few hours before the closing of entrance, and already a quarter of the stadium was full.
“You can miss many things in life, but not the World Cup final,” says Roberto, a fan who came from Spain. Roberto said that he made the spontaneous decision to come to Africa – he bought tickets on Thursday morning, and Friday he landed in Johannesburg. When I asked if it was difficult to buy a ticket at that late hour, he blushes and says, “Actually it was gift from my father… I am very nervous (for Spain)!,” he added
His Dutch counterpart had similar sentiments: Peter from Arnhem said, “I have butterflies in my stomach! But I want the Cup!”
Most fans in the Soccer City stadium decided to wear red or orange shirts even if they didn’t hail from either Spain or Netherlands. In general, people interested in soccer — and teenage girls — were supporting Spain, and the rest: Netherlands. Orange shirts were in the majority in the stadium, and the orange feeling was magnified by orange seats and the security wardens’ uniforms.
After a short but colorful closing ceremony, organizers introduced Nelson Mandela. All people in the stadium stood up and started to chant his name. It was the first time during this tournament that any chanting was louder than vuvuzelas.
Mandela, in his 90s, came on the pitch in an electric car wrapped in blankets. But everyone could see his youthful smile; he seemed to be really happy.
And onto the game, which bored many fans — But not the Dutch, who were warming up by running for beers by the dozens here in Soccer City. Spanish fans looked tense – and didn’t wake up once until after Andrés Iniesta’s goal. Until then, I didn’t realize there were so many Spanish flags in the stadium!
After the game, almost all fans stayed in their seats. Next to me, a 60-year-old man in an orange hat was crying, he couldn’t speak — other Oranjes just shook their heads in disbelief.
On the other hand … Spaniards were dancing and singing “Viva España.” I interrupted a young Spanish couple who were kissing (of course).
“It will be the best moment of our lives,” they said.
Roberto lost his voice shouting at the referees, but still can whisper: “Our nation waited so long. I waited all my life. Maybe it will never happen again.”
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