Archive for the 'South Africa' Category

World Cup 2010: England vs. USA had a fabulous first half.

First of all, England were the ones to score the first goal, showing the fact that they are the stronger team.

Steven Gerrard was the one to score first and everybody thought that the game would be a total demonstration of strength for Fabio Capello’s boys.

Still, USA showed that they’re not just a sparring partner. Robbie Green made a huge mistake and got the ball into his goal. This got the USA on level terms, making it an amazing first half result for them. The goal scorer is Dempsey, but Green played quite a part.

It was an amazing first half, that will lead to believe that the second half will be even better. Wayne Rooney hasn’t played his part in the game yet, so you should definitely watch the second half. There is a lot in store.

World Cup 2010:  South Africa vs. Mexico was a great game, in which an enthusiastic Bafana team managed to get a point against Mexico.

South Africa played some impressive football today, in a game in which they were considered the underdogs, as they played a team from a country that has much more football tradition than the African nation, Mexico.

The first half seemed to go according to plan for Javier Aguirre’s team. Mexico played better football and managed to get close to the South African goal quite a few times. This is actually shown by the possession figure. They had 58 percent possession throughout the game.

On the other hand, this didn’t matter too much, as South Africa, on the wings of a fantastic audience, managed to score first. A long pass for Tshabala and a clinical finish ended in the home country leading in the 55th minute.

Rafa Marquez managed to get the equalizer for Mexico. The FC Barcelona defender scored in the 79th minute and, even if South Africa struck the post once, the game ended in a draw. Mexico also had a goal annulled for an offside position.

A good start for Bafana at World Cup 2010.

World Cup 2010: At World Cup in South Africa, it seems that the United States will have the biggest number of fans, surprisingly enough.

American fans have bought 130,000 of the 2,8 million tickets for the World Cup in South Africa, according to FIFA and the South African organizing committee. This is the biggest amount of tickets bought by another country than South Africa for World Cup 2010.

It would seem that soccer, or football, as it is called in Europe, is starting to be an important sport for Americans.

The United States fans’ number at the World Cup in South Africa will surpass, for the first time in history, more traditional groups of fans’, like the ones supporting Brazil, Germany or England.

The interesting thing is that there are a lot of fans that are coming to South Africa to see the event itself, not necessarily to support their country’s team. Also, many of them could be coming to the World Cup to support their country of origin’s team – Mexico, Honduras, as well as many other countries, especially from Latin America.

Let’s see if their team manages to get a good result against Wayne Rooney’s England.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC) would like to welcome Germany, Ghana, New Zealand, Algeria and Slovenia who landed in South Africa ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

Today’s arrivals brings the total number of 2010 FIFA World Cup teams in South Africa to 24, including South Africa as the home team.

“It is with pleasure that we welcome the five teams that arrived today to South Africa. With the majority of the participants now in the country we are one step closer to kickoff on 11 June,” said Chief Executive Officer of the OC, Dr Danny Jordaan.

Germany

“It was a great welcome (when we arrived), it shows the joy and the excitement with which the South Africans are waiting for the World Cup. And, it shows that they will do anything for their guests from around the world,” said German coach Joachim Low.

Germany will open their campaign in Durban against Australia on 13 June. They will then travel to Nelson Mandela Bay/ Port Elizabeth to face Serbia on 18 June, ending the opening round of matches against Ghana at Johannesburg’s Soccer City Stadium on 23 June.

Ghana

Ghana will kick off their FIFA World Cup™ in Tshwane/ Pretoria against Serbia on 13 June before making the journey to Rustenburg to face Australia on 19 June. They will then play Germany at Johannesburg’s Soccer City Stadium on 23 June.

New Zealand

New Zealand will open their tournament against Slovakia at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg on 15 June. They will then travel to Nelspruit to face world champions, Italy on 20 June, ending their opening round games in Polokwane, playing Paraguay on 24 June.

Algeria

Algeria will play their opening game in Polokwane against Slovenia on 13 June. From there, they travel to Cape Town’s Green Point Stadium to face England on 18 June. Algeria will then to face the USA in Tshwane/ Pretoria in their final group match on 23 June.

Slovenia

Slovenia’s tournament will begin in Polokwane’s Peter Mokaba Stadium against Algeria on 13 June. They will then travel to the city of Johannesburg to play USA at Ellis Park Stadium on 18 June. Slovenia will then travel from Johannesburg to Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth to face England in their final group match on 23 June.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC) would like to welcome Greece, Japan, Netherlands, Portugal, Chile and New Zealand who arrived in the country for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

“It is a great pleasure to be able to welcome the six teams that arrived in South Africa today. With the football stars now arriving in the country, we are really starting to feel the excitement. The World Cup has well and truly landed,” said Chief Executive Officer of the OC, Dr Danny Jordaan.

Portugal

“We had a great trip, got some good rest and couldn’t have asked for a better weather. Now, two years after having started our hard work, here we are as one of the 32 nations playing in the greatest tournament of all.”

“We want to enjoy this World Cup as much as we can and now we have all of our attention focused on Ivory Coast. Our players are ready to ‘eat grass’ in order to succeed,” said Portugal’s coach, Carlos Queiroz.

Portugal play their opening game against Cote d’Ivoire in Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth on 15 June. They then switch to Cape Town to play against Korea DPR on 21 June, ending their group matches in Durban to take on the Brazil on 25 June.

Greece

Greece will open their tournament against Korea Republic in Nelson Mandela Bay/ Port Elizabeth on 12 June before travelling to Mangaung/Bloemfontein to face the Super Eagles of Nigeria on 17 June. From there they will then make the trip to Polokwane to play Argentina in the final group match on 22 June.

Japan

Japan will play their first game against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in Mangaung/ Bloemfontein on14 June before making the journey to Durban to play Netherlands on 19 June. They will then move from Durban to Rustenburg to play their last group match against Denmark on 24 June.

Netherlands

Netherlands will play their opening fixture against Denmark at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg on 14 June. From there, they travel to Durban to face Japan on 19 June, then moving to Cape Town to face Cameroon on 24 June.

Chile

Chile begin the tournament in Nelspruit against Honduras on 16 June, moving to Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth to take on Switzerland 21 June. Chile will move to Tshwane/Pretoria to take on Spain in their final group game on 25 June.

New Zealand

New Zealand will open their tournament against Slovakia at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg on 15 June. They will then travel to Nelspruit to face Italy on 20 June. They will then travel to Polokwane to play Paraguay in their final group match on 24 June.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC) would like to welcome the national team of England, who arrived in the country on 3 June for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

“It is a great privilege to be able to welcome England to our shores. England are one of the teams with a great FIFA World Cup tradition, with fanatical support wherever they play and at the World Cup in particular. Tickets for England matches have proved to be very popular and the Three Lions’ participation in the tournament is sure to add a great deal to the character of the event,” said Chief Executive Officer of the OC, Dr Danny Jordaan.

“I’m very pleased to be here and my team is happy to finally be in South Africa. I hope this World Cup in South Africa is good for this country and of course for England. We now have to concentrate on the tournament and prepare well for the event,” said England coach, Fabio Capello, on his arrival at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport this morning.

England will open their World Cup campaign at Rustenburg’s Royal Bafokeng Stadium against the United States on 12 June, before making the trip to Cape Town to face Algeria on 18 June. Their final Group Match will be against Slovenia in Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth on 23 June.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC) would like to welcome Korea DPR who arrived in the country this morning (1 June) for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

“I would like to welcome Korea DPR to South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and we wish them well for their second World Cup appearance. Their first one in 1966 certainly proved to be an exciting one when they managed to beat Italy 1-0, getting to the last eight of the tournament,” said OC Chief Executive Officer, Dr Danny Jordaan.

“It is great for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to come to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and we have a great desire for success in the tournament,” said Korea DPR coach, Kim Jong Hun.

Fans Can Watch All 64 Live Matches from ESPN on AT&T Mobile TV and MobiTV U-verse TV Launches ESPN World Cup Multi-Language Multiview App

AT&T customers will get to score a hat trick for the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM). AT&T is bringing fans more ways than any other provider to follow the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) with live and on demand coverage across the TV, online and mobile devices.

A proud partner of the U.S. Men’s National Team, AT&T* today announced its multi-screen delivery of ESPN coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) and exclusive U.S. Men’s National Team content on AT&T U-verse TV, at AT&T U-verse Online and on AT&T mobile phones. AT&T also announced the launch of the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) app that lets you watch up to four ESPN channels featuring soccer matches and content on your U-verse TV screen at one time, including the ability to choose from six different languages.

“The 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) from South Africa is one of the most anticipated sporting events in history, and AT&T customers will have more ways to watch all the action on the screens they use most,” said Dan York, president of content, AT&T. “AT&T customers will have 64 live ESPN games available live on all three screens: the TV, PC and mobile device. We’ll have up to two channels of live matches available on mobile, U-verse TV customers will be able to interact with and follow their favorite teams with our innovative 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) app, and live coverage of all matches and exclusive bonus content is available for AT&T High Speed Internet customers.”

AT&T’s multi-screen delivery of ESPN coverage lets you watch all of the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) matches and more on the screen of your choice, including:

Mobile
– Live coverage of all 64 matches on AT&T Mobile TV and MobiTV via the ESPN Mobile TV channel and a second channel that will be added to accommodate the airing of overlapping matches. AT&T is the only wireless carrier to offer all 64 matches from ESPN. To subscribe to AT&T Mobile TV or MobiTV, customers can text ATT to 3421. New subscribers to both services receive the first seven days free.
– Replays of select matches will be available through AT&T Mobile TV and MobiTV.
– Full game analysis, player and team profiles and game highlights via AT&T Mobile Video.
– Additionally, with AT&T’s National Goal of the Week program, fans can text** GOAL to 22442 to view the best goals of the week and vote for their favorites.

AT&T U-verse TV
– An innovative 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) app with ESPN which includes a Multiview that lets you watch up to four ESPN channels at one time and also brings athlete bios, groupings and the latest team standings straight from South Africa to your U-verse TV screen. The Multiview includes ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes channels, and additional channels with the ESPN game coverage delivered in Arabic, German, Japanese, Korean and Portuguese — allowing fans to choose Multiview World Cup coverage from six different languages. You can choose which of the channels appears as the main picture with audio. The app is available to every U-verse TV customer at no extra charge on channel 618 and 1618.
– On demand content including replays of each match, 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) Draw show, ESPN Press Pass news segments, highlights of all the ESPN matches, video features of athletes and teams competing in South Africa, and historic games from previous World Cup matches.
– Complete live coverage available on ESPN (619 and 1619), ESPN2 (620 and 1620), ESPN Deportes (621 and 1621) and your local ABC affiliate.

Online
– Complete live coverage available to AT&T High Speed Internet customers that log-in at ESPN3.com.
– Access to a daily video featuring previews and analysis of various teams and athletes competing at the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) at att.net/wc, prior to the tournament. Once the tournament begins, you can access daily videos featuring match previews, match recaps, including games and players to watch.

Additional Exclusive Content

In addition to ESPN’s coverage, AT&T customers will have exclusive access to content featuring the U.S. Men’s National Team’s “Road to South Africa” available online at AT&T FanZone, through the U-verse TV On Demand library and on mobile phones through AT&T Mobile Video.

AT&T will also have live, on demand and interactive content available in Spanish.

ESPN coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) is the latest example of AT&T delivering compelling and converged content across screens at the center of consumers’ lives: the TV, PC and mobile phone. AT&T has a unique set of integrated services and networks that make it easy for an audience of millions to enjoy and follow their favorite programming across devices. For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit www.att.com.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

**Standard data and messaging rates apply.

The song will be performed at the FIFA World Cup(TM) Final by Shakira and South African artist Freshlyground on July 11, 2010.

FIFA and Sony Music Entertainment announced that Waka Waka (This Time For Africa), written and co-produced by global superstar Shakira, has been chosen as the Official Song of the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) in South Africa. The song will be performed by Shakira together with South African artist Freshlyground at the Closing Ceremony before the FIFA World Cup(TM) Final on July 11 in Johannesburg Soccer City Stadium. All proceeds from the song will benefit FIFA’s Official Campaign of the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) “20 Centers for 2010.”

The song combines Afro-Colombian instrumentation and rhythms with a rousing Soca beat and Southern African guitar. The chorus borrows from a favorite Cameroonian marching chant made popular by the group Golden Voices.

“The Official Song is as much awaited by the fans as the Mascot or the Logo. It is part of the identity of the world’s most exciting sport’s event. This song is the personification of the African rhythm and identity and sets the pace for this unique event. I am looking forward to hear the song throughout the tournament and watch it performed by Shakira and Freshlyground at the Final,” said Joseph S. Blatter, FIFA President.

“I am honored that Waka Waka (This Time For Africa) was chosen to be part of the excitement and the legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup,” said Shakira. “The FIFA World Cup is a miracle of global excitement, connecting every country, race, religion and condition around a single passion. It represents an event that has the power to unite and integrate, and that’s what this song is about.”

Shakira continued, “African music is so inspiring and is poised to take its place on the global pop culture stage. I was proud to be able to work with one of South Africa’s most acclaimed groups, Freshlyground.” The song was co-produced by Shakira’s frequent collaborator, John Hill.

“We are thrilled to have collaborated with Shakira on Waka Waka (This Time For Africa), especially as we feel that the song captures the spirit and energy of the African World Cup,” said Zolani Mahola of Freshlyground. “We are certain the song will inspire people around the world to celebrate the gathering of nations at the place where it all started. Here in Africa!”

The song will be launched on April 28, 2010 and made available for download through digital retail outlets the week of May 11. It also will be included on “Listen Up! The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Album(TM)” to be released the week of May 31 by Sony Music Entertainment. A Spanish language version of the track, Waka Waka (Esto es Africa), will be made available in certain markets. Proceeds from the album will benefit FIFA’s “20 Centers for 2010″ initiative, whose aim is to achieve positive social change through football by building twenty Football for Hope centers for public health, education and football across Africa, and other African charities.

Another education focused campaign co-founded by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan and co-chaired by FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter is 1GOAL, a campaign that is championing global education. 1GOAL recently named Shakira an ambassador, adding her voice to the campaign’s call that the lasting legacy of this year’s FIFA World Cup be that every child can exercise their right to an education. Supported by some of the biggest names in the global football community and its governing body FIFA, Shakira will be campaigning with 1GOAL to ensure world leaders provide the funding to make universal access to education a reality for the 72 million children currently unable to go to school.

“Through ’20 Centers for 2010′ and 1GOAL, FIFA and its partners have committed to creating a lasting legacy of education for all – an issue that has been close to my heart for many years,” says Shakira.

In addition to her performance at the final match, Shakira will be one of the headline performers at the official FIFA World Cup(TM) Kick-off Celebration Concert on June 10, broadcast from Orlando Stadium in Soweto/Johannesburg South Africa.

The video for Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) will be available in mid-May in standard definition as well as in 3D.

The Football for Hope Festival, which will take place in the Alexandra township in Johannesburg from 4 to 10 July 2010, reached an important milestone with the official site inauguration. Among the many guests attending the site inauguration were Johannesburg’s member of the mayoral committee for community development, Bafana Sithole, 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa CEO Dr Danny Jordaan and streetfootballworld Managing Director Jürgen Griesbeck.

“For the first time, the social dimension of the game will be celebrated as an official element of the FIFA World Cup,” said FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, who could not be present at the inauguration due to other commitments, in a message. “We hope that the eyes of the world will be on Alexandra and we will create new heroes for this community.”

“More than most, South Africans understand the importance of social development and the power of sport to influence positive social change, so the Football for Hope Festival is a key initiative for us. The world’s best footballers will be in South Africa for the FIFA World Cup, but we believe the equally deserving footballers and incredible stories from around the world also warrant global recognition and we encourage people to come and attend the festival in Alexandra,” said Dr Jordaan.

“From the minefields of Cambodia to the slums of Nairobi, football can bring hope to the lives of young people,” said Jurgen Griesbeck. “This festival will be a celebration of the people who dedicate their lives to helping others in their community using the game we all love.”

Thirty-two teams of boys and girls from disadvantaged communities worldwide will gather in Johannesburg for a festival of education, culture and football during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. The young people are selected for their contribution to building a better future in their communities.

The names of the boys and girls who will be representing Alexandra were announced at the inauguration of the site of the Football for Hope Festival today. The ceremony also included a star appearance from 2010 FIFA World Cup™ mascot Zakumi, and an “All Stars” football match featuring, amongst others, African football celebrities such as Brian Baloyi and Alfred Maimane Phiri.

The Football for Hope Festival is an official event of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and is organised by FIFA, streetfootballworld, the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa and the City of Johannesburg.