The message is out---Buy your World Cup tickets!
This is the message sent out to all after  Friday's draw for the 2010 World Cup finals.
The vice-president of the South African Football Association (SAFA) has asked for support from  South Africans for BAFANA BAFANA..They have been  into a difficult group with France, Uruguay and Mexico.  Please lets support them
Of course these matches will create much interest with the locals but also with the supporters of the French and Uruguan and Mexican teams."
On another note, the international supporters should also use this oportunity to visit the sights and wonders offered in this beautiful region -called Sothern Africa..
Who would have thought you could take a quick trip to see the Magnificent Vicfalls for 2 days and 1 night...the flights are daily from Johannesburg and the Magnificent Falls are a sight to behold. Imagine standing in the rainforest , with the magnificent Falls as a backdrop?
Or falling asleep to the distant sound of the Falls , the sound of lion roaring in the distance and and a night sky so clear that you could reach out and touch the stars** All this could be experienced with a stay at Vicfalls Hotel or one of the many other establishments in Vicfalls.
So its a chance for the Stars to see the stars.
Speak to you soon again...regards Bea

Now that there is the Hyundai Best Young Player award at SA 2010-----The big question is ---Who will be chosen as  the Best Young Player award ...this was introduced by FIFA for Germany 2006, and it was the host nation's Lukas Podolski who became the first recipient of this award..

Who will succeed Lukas Podolski and get the prestigious -- Hyundai Best Young Player award at South Africa 2010?

Possible  Argentinas forward Sergio Aguero, or Ghana’s Dominic Adiyiah, two players who have won the adidas Golden Ball awards at FIFA U-20 World Cups...what do you think?

Time will only tell

Now back to all those coming to Durban in June 2010-- ---The newly-built Durban Stadium,Moses Mabhida Stadium- boasts a cable car which goes to a viewing platform -106m above the pitch..the view over the city and ocean is spectacular.--definately worth visiting while watching the German-Australia match in June 2010

Of course you would have to visit the highlights in Durban..visit many of the restuarants

and do day trips up and down the coastline either before or after the match

You simply cannot  visit Kwa zulu Natal without a full day tour to Shakaland--experience the pulsating rhythm of Africa.Re-live the excitement and romance of the days of Shaka king of the Zulu; listen to the Sangomas speak to the spirits, see spear making, tribal dancing and a beer making ceremony

 Leave this city with your mind spinning---memories of the mesmorising Zulu dance, the majestic Drakensburg mountains, the sandy beaches and roaring blue sea ....all happy happy memories**

Yes I know I tend to go on but what can you do when beauty surrounds you and you want

others to appreciate it****

Till next Time

Bea

Chile and Switzerland in Port Elizabeth

Well all you enthusiasts for the Chile and Switzerland match on 21 June in Port Elizabeth. Lets hope you are raring to go to support your team 


The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, set on the shores of the North End Lake is the first football dedicated stadium in the city. The  stadium, one of the newly-built stadiums for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, was completed one year before the start of the World Cup. Considering the rest of the new stadiums took far longer to complete this is a real feather in the cap for this city.


It will host a total of eight FIFA World Cup matches including the match for third place, and a quarter-final. Prior to the construction of this venue, all 

international football matches were played at the Eastern Province rugby 
stadium, the EPRU Stadium.

Another interesting fact is that the players will be playing on Natural Grass with only the outer surrounding area to be artificial turf. Its first major test was the coveted Soweto Derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs - a game that attracts capacity crowds in South Africa. 

Switzerland plays Chile .. a strange combination of Latin, Hispanic and central European. Is Switzerland the odd man out?

Chile finished second in the qualifying group, just a point behind Brazil.

With the Swiss team having worked hard to make the South African 2010 World Cup,you never know with the new team of youngsters what may happen.

The players to watch  are Suazo,Fernadez and Sanchez of Chile.

Will Hitzfeld of Switzerland choose from the team that won the Fifa U-17 World Cup in Nigeria last year? Who knows - this may be Switzerland's time.

The location of this venue,belovedly known as the Windy City, allows for much sightseeing as well. Situated in the Eastern Cape at the start of the Garden route, this much loved and travelled area offers a large variety of things to do for the visitor...beautiful beaches,fine swimming and watersports, and a short inland drive takes you to the malaria free game reserve, namely the Addo Elephant Park. It is a 50min drive from Port Elizabeth and offers day, night and sunset game drives and excellent elephant sightings.

There is also the luxurious Shamwari Game reserve offering the Big Five with 
luxury accommodation.

A MUST for the steam enthusiast is a trip on the APPLE EXPRESS STEAM train that runs from Port Elizabeth via the van Stadens Bridge to Thornhill village on this narrow gauge line.

Experience the game and visit the area that offers so much to both local and International travellers. A very good location to visit - good food, friendly people, excellent football and leave behind many new friends.

      Yours in this exciting 2010 WORLD SOCCER TIME

The World Cup stadium in South Africa

Top tourist destination

Cape Town hosted its first football match on Saturday 23 Jan. The fans 
used the new park and ride system -i.e buses from the Cape Town City 
centre to the stadium to watch the match.

The Green Point stadium 

This stadium will host several matches,the quarter final 
on 3 July and the  semifinal, on 6 July  during the highly publisized  
World Cup to be played for the first time on African soil.

English fans as well as the South African fans will be anxious to 
see if their favourite player David Beckham plays when England plays 
Algeria on 18 June at this stadium.

Of course while football will be the main criteria for the avid 
fans visiting Cape Town, don't forget what Capetown can offer 
visitors. From the heights of the majestic Table mountain, to the
merging of the 2 oceans at Cape Point, from the blue seas known for their 
swimming and surfing to the Vineyards of the Winelands. Explore the 
history of the Castle to the present history of our political past on 
Robben Island.

Why not take a bus --and do a Hop-on Hop-off tour aboard an open 
top double decker bus and learn about Cape Town history, view the important museums, beaches and back to the Waterfront.

World Cup 2010 England vs. Algeria will be a thrilling game to watch specially with the appearance of Beckham. Getting back to David BECKHAM---if the 34year old   can take part it will be amazing-as we all know how he loved playing for England--but it will be up to the manager to decide if he will be part of the squad.

Who knows...we may still get to see this legend.

2010 WORLD CUP SOCCER IN ZIMBABWE

Wow - can this be true?
On a fact finding mission, Paul Leisegang and Doris Kevial of the Brazil technical team are looking exclusively at Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Zimbabwe could well get the go ahead as South Africa (believe it or not) was too cold for the Brazilians in June.

Being the hot Latin lovers they are, during the Confed Cup they had to don gloves and warm clothes to keep warm - which kinda hampered the movements of these very skillful footballers.

KINGS and LEGENDS
Brazil have won the World Cup an unprecedented 5 times. What an experience - seeing the likes of the legendary King Pele - and the latest legends such as Ronaldo. You can bet they will be in the Quarter
Finals here in Southern Africa

HARARE VERSUS VICTORIA FALLS
Harare has the stadium - Victoria Falls does not but what a fun filled time they will have.
It's that simple. Which would you choose?

Let's presume Harare gets the nod. Where will the players and their support teams be staying ?
The fans will also want to be close to their heroes - rubbing shoulders with international stars.

INTERNATIONAL CUISINE
one of the best places I have ever dined at must be Imba Matombo - Even if Mr Paul Leisegang and Mrs Doris Kevial decide the team will stay elsewhere fact why not consider staying there. Unbelievable wining and dining - and this small hotel also has a gym and swimming pool and is surrounded by golf courses

DID YOU KNOW?
Harare still has international class golf courses - in fact its got about 8 and Imba is just a stones throw.
Gecko Gardens (a sister lodge) will also give you a culinary experience not to be missed.

Second - Rainbow Towers. Big enough to accommodate a football field let alone the crowds - modern, affordable - good restaurants - lots of gym equipment as well as tennis courts and pools.
Huge media centre and conference centre and closer to the stadium

Other choices - Crowne Plaza or Meikles.  To be honest though - Meikles after a recent boardroom squabble is probably now a 3 star hotel.  However both these hotels are within walking distance of Rainbow Towers.

FERGIE'S PREDICTIONS
that Sir Alec Ferguson I'm talking about and well he does know a thing or two about soccer.
His favourites are Brazil.

What do you think ?

NEXT WEEK'S BLOG ................. there's more to Harare than golf courses -
Victoria Falls is Africa's adventure capital - find out more.

Until next time .................
The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.