As I’m typing this I’m listening LIVE to 567.co.za (Cape Talk) with Soli Philander who is broadcasting live from the Cape Town Fan Fest at the Grand Parade.
Yesterday people were complaining that Johannesburg has a BIGGER 2010 vibe, but today, the Mother City is right UP THERE!
Tonight Cape Town will be celebrating the arrival of the 2010 Football World Cup with the mother-of-all-parties featuring artists such as the internationally acclaimed R Kelly.
Soli Philander posted the following pictures LIVE from the Parade:
(Cheers for the Pics Soli!)
Cape Talk’s Soli Philander with 2010 mascot Zakumi (The FanMily on FaceBook)
With one day to go before the big official Opening Ceremony of the 2010 World Cup as well as the first-ever World Cup game on African soil (South Africa vs. Mexico), the Soccer City stadium seems to be the picture of serenity, if these pictures are anything to go by (the pictures were taken this morning, Thursday June 10):
If you’re not attending the South African Consulate’s 2010 Opening Ceremony function at the Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC) tomorrow evening, remember that you can join the SA Association at Wooloomooloo in Wyndham Road (Lan Kwai Fong). The Aussie-themed restaurant/bar will also screen the first game between Bafana Bafana and Mexico after the Opening Ceremony.
See you there!
Pictures, Cheers to Kia Motors SA on FaceBook, Kia Motors is an Official Sponsor of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa
The 2010 FIFA World Cup is but mere days away but alas, Howzit-HongKong.com can confirm that we will miss out on Afrika’s grandest gathering.
That said, we will continue to do what we do best, get YOU to go and experience the warmth and love that only our homeland can give.
HongKongers LOVE football, however you have to experience the heart and soul of the sport; that there is more to the game than just to win or lose a fistfull of dollars at your nearest HK Jockey Club outlet.
Go to Afrika in June 2010. You will find it there.
Every great event needs a good soundtrack. Come June 2010, when we sit in front of our tv screen here in Hong Kong, sipping our Nederburg Twenty10 Cabernet Sauvignon to balance out the sweetness of our favourite char siu bao, all the time watching the world visiting South Africa, this will be our soundtrack to the 2010 FIFA World Cup!
Welcome to my home and…
Feel Afrika.
Mike Jansen
“We came, We saw, We tried!” Cheers Akon for the Video: Oh Africa
Nederburg’s Twenty10 range is available at your nearest Park ‘n Shop.
South African readers, please click on the banner below to support Howzit! (only a click needed)
The Springboks will play all four of the ‘Home Unions’in November as part of their end-of-year tour. SARU made the announcement today (Friday, January 29, 2010) following confirmation of the fixture programme by the International Rugby Board (IRB).
The Springboks start the tour against Ireland in Dublin on November 6, having accepted an invitation to provide the opposition for hosts Ireland when they officially open the new Aviva Stadium (the redeveloped Lansdowne Road).
The Springboks then play Wales, Scotland and England on the following Saturdays. The tour is planned to end with a fixture against the Barbarians at a venue to be confirmed.
Meanwhile the venue of the Springboks’ season-opening Test against France on June 12 remains undecided. SARU are hoping to meet the local organising committee of the FIFA 2010 World Cup to arrive at a final decision on the availability of the Newlands Stadium in Cape Town.
Springbok end-of-year tour fixtures:
Saturday, November 6, Ireland v South Africa (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)
Saturday, November 13, Wales v South Africa (Millennium Stadium, Cardiff)
Saturday, November 20, Scotland v South Africa (Murrayfield, Edinburgh)
Saturday, November 27, England v South Africa (Twickenham, London)
Saturday, December 4, Barbarians v South Africa (TBC)
Stay close to Howzit-HongKong.com to hear where we in Hong Kong will follow the Springboks on their end-of-year tour… right here in the SAR!
While there’s a bit of a break in the IRB Sevens Series schedule (the Series resumes in New Zealand in the first week of February 2010) I thought I’d refresh your collective memories about our experiences during the 2009 Hong Kong Sevens. For those of you who were parked on the South Stand, this is for you:
The 2010 edition of the Mother of all Sevens: the Hong Kong Sevens returns to the Hong Kong Stadium in Causeway Bay between 26-28 March 2010.
A sokkie is a social dance with a partner popular with some Afrikaners. It is also referred to in Afrikaans as “langarm”, a term used to describe the style of dance at a sokkie. (Wikipedia)
I attended only 2 Sokkies in my lifetime. The first time was many moons ago during Stellenbosch University’s traditional ”Venster Versiering” week (Window Dressing Up). I was a high school senior at the time and my buddies and I thought it was cool to visit the university and see how the other half lives. Sokkies were held in the Neelsie Student Centre in those day.
The second occassion was a couple of years ago in Taipei during the South Africa Day celebrations, hosted by the Consul-General Piet Meyer and his lovely wife. I had recounted to some folks at the last Imbizo in WanChai how much fun this event (in Taipei) was! Remember I cannot dance sokkie-sokkie… but we all enjoyed the occasion. The reason for this I think, was because those of us who have families were allowed to bring everyone to the event. There was some fantastic South African food (yes, regte boerewors, bobotie, etc.!) great company, lekke dancing and the whole family was there to enjoy the occasion.
Well, to make what could be a looong story short, we are planning to organise a Hong Kong Sokkie in the near future. If you’re interested, mail or call me and we’ll put your name on the list.
Remember, I told you I cannot sokkie-sokkie. But fear not, if you’re keen to learn, somebody will show you the ropes. If, like me, you just want to experience another part of our diverse South African culture, this will be the place!
Let’s take from there. More details will follow soon. In the meantime, here’s a teaser:
The South African Association in Hong Kong (SAAHK) will once again be hosting the Springbok Sevens Team just before the start of the 2009 edition of the Hong Kong Sevens. More information to follow soon.
