World Cup Fever

The 2010 Soccer World Cup was the most spoken about topic in South Africa and had the world watching in anticipation. This soccer-fever certainly didn’t breeze past Swaziland or Bulembu. Most of the Bulembu community embraced the South African (Bafana Bafana) team as their own and showered them with support throughout the Cup.

Norman Tzabedzeor better known as Norman-the-storeman and the majority of Swazis are as passionate about soccer, as Americans are with their football and Canadians with their hockey. Not only does he coach what we believe is the next generation of Swazi soccer players at the Bulembu Academy, but he also makes sure that there is a community room available so people can watch and follow soccer matches.

Before the World Cup started, Dennis Neville,Director of Education and HR recognized the potential soccer had in bringing unity to the community of Bulembu and made provisions to amalgamate the World Cup opening day with a community soccer day. “We have been speaking for a while now about what we can do as a town to bring all the staff together, bless them, to encourage them, so just the timing of it worked out perfectly.

Members from the community arrived at the soccer fields in jovial anticipation for the opening match between South African and Mexico and the chance to watch community matches.. Each department from Bulembu Ministries had organized a representative soccer team. While the crowds were enjoying their hotdog and coke, which was provided free of charge by Bulembu ministries, the first two teams prepared to show off their fancy footwork.  As the teams started playing, the crowds of children, teachers, parents and workers gathered around eagerly, several blowing the famous plastic ‘vuvuzela’ in support of their players. The community soccer day was a great success and there is no doubt there will be more events like this happening in the future. It was the start of a great experience for the community to be part of the World Cup. Still today, you can hear the vuvuzela blown throughout town at local soccer matches for the Academy and between community teams. It is a great reminder to the positive impact the Cup had on South Africa and on the community of Bulembu.