Bafana Bafana

On our last night in Cape Town we had the chance to go see a soccer match between to local squads, Amazulu versus Ajax Cape Town.  The ABSA Premiership league match was held in just down the street from our ship at the beautiful Cape Town Stadium, a venue build for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

I’ve always wanted to go and see a soccer game during the World Cup.  The electric atmosphere from the fans and the high skill level of the players combine for an amazing performance.  This game was somewhat of a let down on both fronts but still a good time.  The game ended in a 0-0 tie and there really weren’t many scoring chances.  Although the high gusts of wind wiping through the stadium could have had some effect on the quality of play.

I was impressed with how much noise was generated by the sparse crowd.  The cheering and the legendary vuvuzela horns filled the stands and made for a fun night.  At only 20 Rand (around $2 US) I couldn’t pass up buying a souvenir horn to take home and freak out my neighbors.  The prices at the stadium overall were very cheap compared to an American sporting event.  The ticket was around $8 for a lower bowl seat and a pint of Castle beer was just $2. 

It was a cool experience and I imagined just how crazy it must have been during those World Cup games.  Maybe one day I’ll have the chance to see a high-quality soccer matchup but in the meantime I always enjoy seeing a local sporting event and soaking in the culture that is on display there.   

Bafana Bafana