Loftus Versfeld was engulfed in a sea of yellow, blue and maroon on Wednesday night as South Africa's PSL champions Mamelodi Sundowns took on their most renowned opponents yet - European giants Barcelona.
The final score of 2-1 in favour of the visitors didn't matter - it was a win on the night for soccer and for our city.
There were no stampedes or logistical glitches. Instead the fans were treated to an exhibition match that could be used as a benchmark for how things should - and can - be done in the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
The allocated ticketing system worked perfectly as the thousands of soccer fans from Gauteng descended on Loftus from as early as 5pm for the 8pm kick-off.
'The crowd wasn't unruly'
Soccer fan Anton Benecke of Pretoria said: "I think it is brilliant to have these big European teams coming out here.
"The crowd wasn't unruly - and that's a good thing for us."
But more than anything, Wednesday night was an affirmation that South Africans - black, white, Indian, coloured, whatever - love soccer, more especially the presence of players such as Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho, Cameroonian international Samuel Eto'o, French international Lilian Thuram and Portuguese international Deco.
"This is a nice exhibition of football. It is nice to see foreign stars in South Africa," said Ricardo Ferro of Johannesburg.
"It is great that Barcelona are here," said Kester da Gama of Pretoria.
"This is brilliant for the country and good preparation for the World Cup," said Faheen and Shafi Mohammed of Johannesburg.
It was a match in which South Africa shed its traditionally black-dominated soccer crowds to encompass Nelson Mandela's vision for the country.
Sundowns fan Qondeni Makhanya of Mamelodi said: "We need more European teams to come here. It is important that Sundowns plays the best teams in the world if we want to conquer Africa.
"We must continue to rub shoulders with the best if we want to be the best. Also, white people mustn't come only when there are European teams. They must support local football."
This article was originally published on page 1 of
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The final score of 2-1 in favour of the visitors didn't matter - it was a win on the night for soccer and for our city.
There were no stampedes or logistical glitches. Instead the fans were treated to an exhibition match that could be used as a benchmark for how things should - and can - be done in the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
The allocated ticketing system worked perfectly as the thousands of soccer fans from Gauteng descended on Loftus from as early as 5pm for the 8pm kick-off.
'The crowd wasn't unruly'
Soccer fan Anton Benecke of Pretoria said: "I think it is brilliant to have these big European teams coming out here.
"The crowd wasn't unruly - and that's a good thing for us."
But more than anything, Wednesday night was an affirmation that South Africans - black, white, Indian, coloured, whatever - love soccer, more especially the presence of players such as Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho, Cameroonian international Samuel Eto'o, French international Lilian Thuram and Portuguese international Deco.
"This is a nice exhibition of football. It is nice to see foreign stars in South Africa," said Ricardo Ferro of Johannesburg.
"It is great that Barcelona are here," said Kester da Gama of Pretoria.
"This is brilliant for the country and good preparation for the World Cup," said Faheen and Shafi Mohammed of Johannesburg.
It was a match in which South Africa shed its traditionally black-dominated soccer crowds to encompass Nelson Mandela's vision for the country.
Sundowns fan Qondeni Makhanya of Mamelodi said: "We need more European teams to come here. It is important that Sundowns plays the best teams in the world if we want to conquer Africa.
"We must continue to rub shoulders with the best if we want to be the best. Also, white people mustn't come only when there are European teams. They must support local football."
This article was originally published on page 1 of
Discuss Add this link to... Bury
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