Shine, South Africa, shine

Shine, South Africa, shine

Day two of the World Cup and a I've just read a whiney story about USA fans complaining about a "lack of respect" in the English media coverage ahead of Saturday's match between the two countries in Rustenburg.

Said one fan: "I do think there is a lack of respect, yes. People don't know about American soccer and we are not a traditional soccer nation, but that is changing all the time."
 
The Americans need to take a leaf out of South Africa's playbook: in the face of criticism, complaint and distinctly negative media coverage - particularly in Europe and the UK - just get on with it and prove them wrong.

South Africa is hosting the World Cup contrary to the expectations of many who said it couldn't be done, it wouldn't be done, even that it shouldn't be done in a country that desperately needs money spent on its vast majority of poverty-stricken citizens. What good to the poor are colossal football stadia, roads and high-speed rail links from Johannesburg's airport to its richest suburb?

It's only just begun, and things could go awry yet.

In fact, it's almost inevitable things will go wrong in an event of this size over a whole month, spread across a huge country.

But I'm willing to bet it will be remembered by the world as a great success overall after July 11. And by most South Africans, rich and poor.

It will be South Africa's success above all. It already is.

Yes, it is legitimate to question the African National Congress (ANC) government's inability in 16 years since the end of apartheid to provide the most basic needs for so many millions of people, set against its ability to find $6 billion worth of investment in infrastructure for the World Cup.

But remember, the ANC inherited a near-bankrupt state in 1994, and 80-years-worth of deliberately entrenched inequality.

Gargantuan challenges

The challenges were gargantuan then and so they remain, even for Africa's richest economy.

What the World Cup gives South Africa is an opportunity to recast its image in the eyes of the world, shining alongside the beautiful game while simultaneously inspiring pride and greatness among its people - white, black and so-called coloured.

At half time in the South Africa v Mexico opening match on Friday, one young woman at a fan park in Soweto told me, "I am so proud to be South African right now. There are no words really to describe it properly. They said we couldn't do it and just look at this."

Another, in near hysterics, screamed, "There's an air of jubilee (sic), it doesn't matter if we win or not. It matters that we're here."

South Africa looked on course to beat Mexico after a brilliantly struck Siphiwe Tshabalala goal, before the South Americans equalised.

Whatever happens to their beloved Bafana Bafana team, South Africans are already winners.

Think of a child. Among the most precious qualities a parent can bestow are confidence, self-belief, determination.

Just 20 years ago this country languished under an international sports boycott because of its apartheid policies.

Today it's a teenage democracy hosting the greatest sporting show on Earth.

South Africa is aglow with pride and self-confidence. The child is growing up.