If Germany’s hosting of the 2006 FIFA World Cup is anything to go by then South Africa can certainly expect a massive increase in interest in local football as a result of the upcoming World Cup.
The German Bundesliga saw an increase of 35 per cent in season tickets sold after their World Cup, with France showing a similar increase after the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
Matches already held at several of South Africa’s new World Cup stadiums indicate that South Africa can expect the same. Green Point stadium sold all 20,000 available tickets in its opening match between Cape Town clubs Ajax and Santos, which was one of the highest turnouts for a Cape Town derby. Durban also recently held a derby clash between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates which saw a total of 50,000 tickets sold.
Mark Kulp, a well known fan of Cape Based professional team, Ajax Cape Town said, “The excitement and the buzz has certainly jumped to another level. The energy is everywhere. I was even watching my son at an athletics meet recently, and the stadium was filled with the sounds of vuvuzelas. The World Cup is creating a carnival atmosphere around town, and the spirit is irresistible.”
This spirit was most apparent in Cape Town earlier in the month when a crippling heat wave didn’t deter thousands of fans from supporting the Vasco da Gama football team at the humble Parow Park grounds. Fighting for top spot in the National First Division league and promotion to the Premier Soccer League (PSL) for the first time in their 20-year history, Vasco had as many as 10,000 spectators – an exceptional figure for that league – crammed into the stadium to cheer on their team.
“The World Cup is affecting everyone I know. Even my family, who aren’t involved in football are taking interest in my career. There are so many more fans as well. Capetonians, who generally watch European soccer, are suddenly taking note of local games, and its absolutely awesome” said Marvin Lee Bean, defender for Vasco da Gama.
It’s plain to see that the tournament is not only bringing more fans to the grounds on game day, but it’s inspiring the players to aim higher and push harder. Furthermore, through increased awareness of the game, big business has reciprocated.
Brett Evans, Captain of Ajax Cape Town, said that there has been an extra drive and effort by business to be part of the World Cup team. “ As far as the leagues go, everyone wants to win in our host year. The energy has been incredibly high, and as a result, sponsors have been pumping more funds into the league.
“I hope the energy will continue after the World Cup. We have lots of people to develop, and progress to make before we can succeed and compete in the 2014 World Cup. Having said that, the level of the local game has been much higher over these lead-up years, and this year in particular – it’s the highest it’s ever been.”
The fever is even spreading down to a social level, where evening games after work are arguably as passionate as relegation battles and national call-ups. In Johannesburg, where torrential rain has pelted the city for the last two months despite it being the middle of summer, the social leagues simply seem to burn brighter.
“This year's intake of new candidate attorneys are undoubtedly more interested in signing up for the games. In the past we’ve have struggled to fill our social team, and this year we are struggling with the fact that we have too much interest, and some guys don't get a game,” said Greg Palmer, a candidate attorney at a top Johannesburg law firm, and organiser of the companies social team.
Football enthusiast Gavin Emes agrees. “As someone who spends his life watching and playing football, it [The World Cup] has created a sense of camaraderie amongst all the guys I play football with on a weekly basis. We spend our time emailing each other football links, comparing the matches we have managed to secure tickets to and talking up which team will ultimately triumph over the rest of the world.”
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