Its Time for Africa

Its almost fours years now, since that historic night when we had witnessed Zizus infamous head butt into the "swearing" Metarazzi.What followed broke many a avid soccer fan's heart,Zidane being shown the ticket to an early shower courtesy, the referee's red. Thus ending his glorious illustrious career in the one of the most shameful notes possible ,ominous signs they proved with last kick of the match thudding into the back of the net and azzuris (italy) announcing themselves on the world stage with the world cup crown,eluding Zizu's swansong world cup dreams.

The summer of 2010 is here,and now its "time for africa" to get a taste of football's mega extravaganza.As if the presence of the footballing giants were not good enough , adding to the carnival would be the african tango with their much imitated african dance ,their eccentric singing and the vuvuzelas playing at all times.

In the words of Danny Jordaan and i quote "I compare this moment to Mandela's release, for which we waited 27 years. For our right to vote we waited from 1948," he said. "But Fifa was formed in 1904, so it has been a long wait for Africa's World Cup. But we did not wait alone. The whole of Africa was waiting with us." one can easily sense how much it means to the poverty stricken much deprived Africa, a continent which in many ways than one ways epitomises the dark sides of the contemporary age.For them all those years of expectation seems to have crystallised in the coming of the world cup.

WORLD CUP ,a stage where the heavyweights meet the much fancied,where the dazzlers face off against the grinders,where the perennial favourites are pitted against the dark horses,where one mistake can plunge a nation

into agony and where one moment of brilliance can send the crowd into delirium , a stage where the men are

separated from the boys,its an orchestra where flambuoyant dribbles meet thevicious tackles,where the inch perfect cross tries to ace up against the immaculate man marking,where the balls flightto glory is thwarted by the goalie's incredible reach.Even as I ink these words ,the world cup kicks of in a few hours time with the bafana bafanas from the host nation South Africa facing off against the much improved Mexicans.Experts and pundits

have already started putting the money where the mouth is on the "favourites" and the "underdogs",let me sign off by saying whoever be the champions ,this World Cup like all others is goin to leave behind a legacy ,a legacy that when you marry raw talent to sheer professionalism,hunger and dedication there is not much that you cant achieve.