With the Soccer World Cup coming to the African continent for the first time, South Africa is going to get soccer fans at home and abroad moving and grooving to the Diski Dance!
Tag: world cup soccer
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Learn the Diski Dance for South Africa World Cup
This dance was inspired by the way that soccer is played in Africa taking bits and pieces from street soccer that kids play and incorporating some interesting, uniquely African dance styles. Diski dancing is something that everyone is encouraged to learn before heading to South Africa for the World Cup and various adverts are being played internationally on TV networks including CNN, BBC, Skysport, and Eurosport so that everyone can learn the moves. If you learn it well enough you should think about jobs in dance when you return home! The passionate spirit of the entire Africa continent will exude with Diski dancing and it is expected that Diski dancing will be done during the opening ceremony, at matches, at the fan parks, and even in the streets. The rhythm of the African people is something that visitors will not forget any time soon, and as the advert slogan says, "Come and feel it!" Where there is dancing, one has to have music, and one of the iconic South African instruments representing soccer is the vuvuzela. This trumpet like instrument is one of the unique items that South African soccer fans want to share with the rest of the world. You can get them just about anywhere – at the stadiums, from shops and convenient stores, service stations, and of course from the local street vendors. The vuvuzela is also called a lepatata and is about a meter in length, usually made from plastic. The origin of these instruments is disputed, but it is believed that it stems from African heritage where kudu horns were blown to call tribes to meet. Other folklore attached to it is that the noise kills the enemies, which is why they are blown frantically at the end of a game. In 2007 Capetonian, Adam Carnegie started making vuvuzelas out of kelp. He never dreamed that one day his environmentally friendly idea would be such a big hit. It is being supported by the Western Cape provincial government and will be promoted as an economical and environmental World Cup legacy. The vuvuzelas are made from dried kelp collected off the many beaches around the Cape and painted in bright colors. The initiative headed by Carnegie from the Kelp Environmental Learning Project (KELP) has grown dramatically in the last few months, and by the time the World Cup starts, they are hoping that every soccer fan will have one. Find more about 2010 World Cup merchandise in our other post. Along with the vuvuzelas, another item to be worn is a miner's style of helmet called a makarapa. These are normally outlandish and colorful to add to the festivities of the match days. This item was first used in 1979 introduced by Alfred Baloyi after he saw soccer fan get hit on the head with a bottle thrown from the stands above. He painted it and designed it to honor his favorite team, the Kaiser Chiefs and soon everyone wanted their own special helmets. Soon these embellished helmets became amazing works of art with designs that stand up and include horns, bells, bicycle hooters, plastic, and more.Some are even made to be 3 feet tall. Today, you can spot the legendary Baloyi in the crowd with his handmade judge's gown, after he was nicknamed "The Magistrate" due to his "sentencing" of the helmets to his style and design ideas. Another thing you will need to know when you attend the soccer World Cup matches in South Africa, is what laduma (pronounced laa-doo-mah!) means. This you will hear is shouted by fans whenever a goal is scored, and literally translated from Zulu laduma means "it thunders". This saying was first used in soccer matches years ago and has always been a part of the local South African soccer scene. There are even TV shows, companies, songs, and websites named Laduma to honor this truly South African soccer reference. With just these few cultural aspects that South African soccer has adopted, the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup is set to be the most unique World Cup in history and is promising fans an exciting event to be remembered forever. As the popular media campaign states, it will be "Once in a lifetime." -
World Cup 2010 Journey to Free State Stadium in the Heart of South Africa
The FIFA Soccer World Cup 2010 is drawing ever nearer and in the center of all the hustle and bustle, lies Free State Stadium, in Bloemfontein (City of Roses).
With a capacity for 48 000 fans, and hosting 5 first round and 1 second round match, the spacious sporting arena, might be the perfect choice if you want to enjoy the peaceful surroundings whilst you enjoy the World Cup. It is only a few minutes from the FIFA team hotels, and provides plenty of parking. The stadium upgrades include a second tier in the main grandstand, new floodlights, a new electronic score board, new turnstiles, and a state of the art sound system added.
The matches that are going to be hosted in this stadium are the following:
Monday 14, June 2010 - Japan vs Cameroon
Thursday 17, June 2010 - Greece vs Nigeria
Sunday 20, June 2010 - Slovakia vs Paraguay
Tuesday 22, June 2010 - France vs South Africa
Friday 25, June 2010 - Switzerland vs HondurasTo get to Bloemfontein, which is considered to be the academic, industrial and business orientated hub of South Africa, you will have to land at Bloemfontein airport, after changing over at Cape Town International, King Shaka International (Durban) or OR Tambo International (Johannesburg). You can take a taxi or hire a car to get to your accommodation location. There is plenty of accommodation in Bloemfontein including self catering options, guest houses, bed and breakfasts, hotel, and country lodges. Some of the best ones include, Monte Christo Country Lodge, Kleine Eden Guest House, Calypso Lodge, Urban Hotel, and the Southern Sun.
Free State Stadium is located right next door to Kingspark Zoological Gardens, as well as Springbok Park and just a few blocks away are Huguenot Theater, Du Plessis Theater, the National Museum, The Anglo Boer War Museum, Boyden Observatory, where the third largest optical telescope in the country is housed, and the Loch Logan Center just to name a few attractions. There are also lots of hiking trails and 4x4 trails once you get out of the city center and into the savannah grasslands. There are also a huge collection of nature reserves in and around Bloemfontein including Rustfontein Dam Nature Reserve, Soetdoring Nature Reserve, and Kalkfontein Dam Nature Reserve. If you want to enjoy some bird watching you can book at Reinheim Caravan Park, and Wen-Do-Lin Traveller's Rest, on the Modder River.
If you are passionate about more than just soccer, you should take some time to hit a round or two at Bloemfontein Golf Course or Schoeman Park Golf Course. [caption id="attachment_3545" align="alignright" width="275" caption="Be There - Free State Stadium"]
[/caption]After a day out, you should look at exploring the vibrant nightlife of Bloemfontein. For great dining establishments you should go to Catch 22 Seafood Restaurant, The Butchers Grill, Primi Piatti for some excellent pizza. For more pub style food and a sports bar vibe you should check out Bush Pub and King Edward Pub. For a bit of everything, and then some, plan a trip to the Moulin Rouge inspired Windmill Casino and Entertainment Centre.If you want to enjoy the soccer matches, but your wife or girlfriend would rather not, then treat her to a spa treatment at one of the tranquil health resorts and spas like African Stone Day Spa location about 7.4 miles outside of Bloemfontein. Other things to do include going shopping at one of the many malls in the city, going ten pin bowling, enjoying a visit to the Bloemfontein Zoo, or browsing through one of the many art galleries.
There are so many opportunities in Bloemfontein when you attend the World Cup, so take time to plan your trip so that you can make the most of your time there.
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World Cup Tours Along the East Coast of South Africa
Travelling down the East Coast of South Africa you will come to fabulous cities including Durban, East London, and Port Elizabeth making touring during the 2010 Fifa World Cup a fun filled experience.
Starting in Durban, the newly built Moses Mabhida Stadium has the capacity for 70,000 soccer fans and consists of an indoor arena, sport institute, sporting museum, and a new transmodal transportation station. Durban is an exciting and multi-cultural city with plenty to offer tourists. You can enjoy the city life along the coast and visit UShaka Marine World, as well as the Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom. Durban World Cup accommodation options include guest houses, hotels, and various other self catering or B and B accommodation in the nearby towns and suburbs. Morningside is one of the best locations in Durban offering Upton Hall hotel, and also the Riverside Hotel and Spa in Durban North. Whilst in this area it is the perfect opportunity to visit the Valley of A Thousand Hills where the Zululand Phezulu Open Air Cultural Center is located, and the famous Umhlanga Rocks for a relaxed weekend. For the best family and sports bar dining options and clubs you should visit Havana Grill, Yossis Café, Club 54, Moyo, Fusion World Food Café, Hemingway’s, and Olive and Oil. Other attractions include visiting Mini Town, checking out the Beer Route, going to the Botanical Garden, riding on a Rickshaw, Croc Park. Moving south you will come to the so called Windy City of Port Elizabeth or PE. The new stadium called Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is able to hold 44 thousand people with the ability for 4000 temporary seats during the World Cup. The roof was specially designed to withstand the high winds of the area and the entire stadium complex cost 2.1 Billion Rands (approximately $284 million). It is conveniently located close to the major road links and accommodation which makes this perfect for the players and visitors alike. For some excellent accommodation you can look at suburbs like Summerstrand where you will find Bayside Guest House, Beacon Lodge, or The Beach Hotel. Favorite sports bars and restaurants in the area include Riverside Sports Bar, The Blinking Owl, Nosh, Raasoie The Kitchen of India, The Coachman, and of course Squires Legendary Grills. Some "musts" on your visit to PE include going bungee jumping off the Bloukrantz Bridge, and the NuKaKamma Canoe Trail where you can see tons of birdlife and wildlife as you paddle to the overnight camp in Cannonville. [caption id="attachment_3545" align="alignright" width="275" caption="South Africa World Cup Trip"][/caption]
With these and other fantastic places along the East Coast of the country you will be able to enjoy a week long or even longer vacation in this area alone. On your way from Durban to Port Elizabeth, you will come to the quite city of East London. Here you can also enjoy some relaxing shopping and dining experiences, and after a long day you can go to Kaisers beach for sundowners, which is a popular pastime.
The East Coast of South Africa has plenty to offer and travelling to the North or the South, you will be sure to have a splendid time whilst you also catch the specific World Cup matches that you have planned. One of the best ideas if you want to tour is to hire a car for the family so that you can explore at your own pace. Make sure that you plan your itinerary to include some special places like Mpongo Private Game Reserve, or the Addo Elephant Park, as well as Lake St Lucia. You can also go on a tour of the settlements and townships in each of these cities and take home small mementos including wire artwork, special shack paintings, sculptures and beadwork made by the locals.
When you book your flights to visit South Africa, the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu Natal Provinces provide some of the most exciting attractions and interesting cultural sights in the country. You can enjoy the busy city life, the peaceful coastline, the quite towns, and refreshing inland areas that make South Africa a very special place to visit. With the World Cup fast approaching you should look at the match schedule to see when your favorite teams are playing at the Nelson Mandela or Moses Mabhida stadiums and plan your tour accordingly.
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Where to Stay in South Africa During the World Cup
Soccer Fever in South Africa – Getting the Most Out of your Stay
The FNB Soccer City awaits the millions of expected visitors that will ascend on Johannesburg to attend the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa.
Table Mountain in Cape Town Come June 11th, visitors from all over the world will be ready to watch the kick-off as history is made. If you are hoping to be part of that history, you will want to find out more about where you can stay in Johannesburg as well as what you can do to make the most of your time there.
Johannesburg is the City of Gold, or Egoli, and this means that is alive with the culture and vibrancy that you can expect from a large city. Arriving at OR Tambo Airport, you will be able to catch a private taxi or hire a car through Avis or Budget Car Hire to your hotel or B&B accommodation, from where you can sight see and get to the stadium to watch the opening ceremony and opening match between South Africa and Mexico. On the same day you can also be in beautiful Cape Town ready to attend the Group A match between Uruguay and France at Green Point Stadium.
Both Johannesburg (Joburg) and Cape Town (the Mother City) have some of the best Soccer World Cup accommodation options and sight-seeing opportunities to offer tourists. With Johannesburg being a typical big city, you can expect to find the best and most affordable accommodation closer to the suburbs.
Even schools are being transformed into backpacking accommodation for the duration of the World Cup, as schools are going to be on a 4 week break. Stylish accommodation for your family can be found in up market Sandton, Fourways, and Randburg among other suburbs. One of the top accommodation choices, not yet fully booked, is the Ellis Park Amani Apartments. These are stunning apartments in The Splice Riviera, a pretty leafy area in close proximity to Killarney, Sandton, and Rosebank. Here you can visit any of the main shopping malls including prestigious Sandton City, Hyde Park, Illovo, and Killarney Mall. The newly finished Gautrain will provide quick and easy transport to all the best tourist attractions and to the stadiums, with Ellis Park Stadium being only 10 minutes away. You can book a Soweto Tour, visit the Nelson Mandela Museum, as well as the Hector Pietersen Memorial. You can also visit the famous Gold Reef City Amusement park and go down into the actual gold mines. Some of the best places to eat at in Johannesburg include Mimmos, The Melville Grill, Moyo, and The Loft among others. In Cape Town, accommodation options range from prestigious hotels on the Atlantic Seaboard, to self catering units in the South Peninsula. Plenty of affordable options still exist and one of the best places to look for World Cup accommodation is Cape Sky Realtors, as they offer budget and luxury accommodation all over the Cape. Another idea is to book into the Table Bay Hotel, or one of the many other City Bowl accommodation options. In Cape Town, you cannot simply come for the soccer. You also have to make time to go on tours to the various wine regions of South Africa including Stellenbosch, Constantia, Paarl, and Franschhoek. You can also go up Table Mountain, wander through the V&A Waterfront, go on a ferry to Robben Island, and visit Cape Point Nature Reserve. In Cape Town, there are plenty of exciting restaurants that you should try including the Sushi Bar in Green Point near the stadium called Go Mama Go, as well as places like News Café, Green Dolphin, Quay Four, and Long Street Café. A little further South in the eclectic village of Kalk Bay, you can experience interesting dining and stunning cocktails at Cape to Cuba, Polana, or the busy Brass Bell. The most popular restaurants that you can find just about anywhere in Jo’burg and Cape Town are the Ocean Basket, and Spur, which is a great place for the kids. The best thing to do when you get to your destination is to ask your hotel or B&B for a list of all the possible attraction, shopping and dining options nearby, and ask them to make reservations for you if you have some specific places in mind. Otherwise, great websites to use are Restaurants.co.za and Booking.com.