Getting behind your Team and Country!

Bafana Bafana supporters

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has assured the world that we are ready, he said "I am proud - and South Africa can be proud - that everything is 100% ready for the World Cup," - cited: FIFA.com

FIFA gave us the opportunity to host the biggest sporting event in the world.  Democracy has offered local players the opportunity to showcase their talents.  Bafana Bafana has proved to the world that they are ready for the World Cup but what are we doing as fans to show that we are behind our team and country?

The 2010 Local Organising Committee (LOC), the International Marketing Council of South Africa (IMC) and South African Tourism came up with tips to help you to be a great 2010 host.

1. Be informed
You must know about the teams, the venues, the dates and the host cities. Visit the 2010 FIFA World Cup website.

2. Support your country
Soccer or idiski is the most popular sport played in South Africa, with its long-established support of black population. Bran Morgan says "There's probably no quicker way to "break the ice" with the South African man on the street than to demonstrate some knowledge of local soccer". Cited: SA info, 2009.

If you don't speak the local soccer language or if you are not interested in soccer then there's no point of going to the ghetto (township) because you won't mix with amajita (the guys).

In order to get properly involved in a soccer dialogue in South Africa, you must know the game and the techniques.  You should understand the lingo, and the players' backgrounds and their nicknames.  To help you improve on your soccer dialogue, click here for some information on Bafana Bafana and our local leading clubs.

3. Learn to sing the national anthem, click here

4. Fly the national flag. To read more info about our national flag, click here.
 
5. Support Bafana Bafana
Find out more about Bafana Bafana: For a quick history, click here.
 
6. Learn to blow a Vuvuzela
The Vuvuzela is a plastic instrument, a metre long, brightly colored and sounds something like an elephant trumpeting. It's the trumpet of South African football fans, and it has come to symbolise the sport in the country. For more information about the Vuvuzela, click here:
 
7. Get yourself a makarapa. Makarapa is a customized and decorated miners' helmet unique to SA soccer fans. To read more about Makarapa, click here.

8. Wear a Zakumi badge. Zakumi is a fluffy young leopard with green dreadlocks and a big smile, he's energetic, enthusiastic, sociable, self-confident and ambitious - and he loves football.  Don't you love him?  If you do click here:

9. Learn to do the diski dance!
We are ready to get the world jiving to an African rhythm for 2010. To get your moves ready, see our article on how to diski.

10. Go to a game!
Buy a ticket, if its too late, go to a Fan Park. If you cannot go to the stadium, go to your friends or to your nearest social club. Watch the match on Television accompanied by pap 'n vleis braai. If you do any of these things, then you can count yourself a Bafana Bafana fan!
 
11. Do the right thing

  • Get to the stadium at least an hour before opening time.
  • Check your ticket, know your number, and sit in your chosen seat.
  • Keep out of access stairways and emergency exits at all times.
  • Stay out of restricted areas within the stadium.
  • Co-operate during security inspections and body checks.
  • Co-operate if asked to move to other seats for security reasons.
  • Smoke only in selected areas.
  • Don't bring bottles or alcohol into the stadium. Cited: South Afric.info, 2010.

For more information, click on the links below:

Page updated: 2 June 2010

by Zanele Matshotyana