The biggest show that I will probably experience in my lifetime, the 2010 FIFA World Cup is about to start in neighbouring South Africa and I can’t wait to go. I have been fortunate enough to receive media accreditation from FIFA and will be based in Cape Town where I will cover the Group matches and three matches during the knockout stages before going to Johannesburg to attend the final.
I already had a sneak preview of the atmosphere that can be expected when I attended the friendly international between Namibia and South Africa at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on March 3. On that occasion about 50 000 fans attended the match and the atmosphere was absolutely awesome with a cacophony of vuvuzelas, and constant Mexican waves contributing to the festive occasion.
So imagine what it will be like when South Africa takes on Mexico in front of 90 000 fans at Soccer City on June 11. Or when Ghana takes on Germany in Johannesburg on June 23, or when Cameroon play the Netherlands in Cape Town the following day.
It’s going to be out of this world and I will keep you posted on our website with daily updates, articles, photos and interviews to bring home this ‘once in a lifetime’ experience.
In the June issue of Namibia Sport magazine we take a look at some of the favourites to win the World Cup, the star players and some of the shock omissions when the squads were announced in May.
On the local front we have also had plenty of excitement with African Stars winning the MTC Premiership for the second year in a row when they drew their final game 1-1 against Hotspurs on May 22.
Orlando Pirates also had a chance to win the league, but were thrashed 5-1 by Black Africa in their final match and in the end finished two points behind Stars in second place. It was once again a great campaign by the Samba Boys who only lost two matches and conceded 13 goals throughout the season.
Hopefully they will now be able to compete against Africa’s best clubs in the Champions League next season, although it’s a costly exercise and sponsors will have to come on board.
There’s a lot of boxing in this month’s issue as we bring you reports on two events – the Triple WBO African Title Fight Bonanza promoted by Nestor Tobias and a Telecom Boxing Bonanza promoted by Kinda Nangolo of Kinda Promotions.
At the former event Ali Nuumbembe lost his WBO African welterweight title when he was knocked out by Jerry Nekhubvi of South Africa, but Paulus “The Rock” Ambunda gave a devastating display to retain his WBO African bantamweight title with a third round knockout of Tendani Munayi of South Africa. Ambunda is now unbeaten after 11 pro fights and is increasingly starting to look like a serious world title contender.
Namibia’s flyweight champion Smokey Joe Hilongwa also remained unbeaten after beating South Africa’s Ranxa Vuyisile at the Telecom Boxing Bonanza and he, too, has a bright future, provided he can get more fights.
Namibia’s WBA lightweight world champion, Paulus “The Hitman” Moses, was meanwhile hard at work preparing for his second title defence against Miguel Acosta of Venezuela in Windhoek on May 29. It will be the second time that Tobias manages to stage a world title in Windhoek – a remarkable feat and indicative of how far boxing has come over the last few years.
In this issue we also report on our top cyclists, Dan Craven and Erik Hoffmann, who are in great form in Europe; the annual MTC Cricket Awards, where Louis Klazinga won the Player of the Year award, and Namibia Sport’s own ‘awards’, when we celebrated our 100th edition in style in May.
Having come to the end of the 2009/2010 MTC premiership it is now once again time to choose the MTC Player of the Season, so remember to enter our competition and stand a prize of winning a great prize sponsored by MTC.
Well, that’s all for now, but remember to join us at www.namibiasport.com.na for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, starting on June 11.
Helge Schutz