Seed: Students for Education Empowerment and Development

With the South African World Cup now over, there’s less football/soccer on TV but there’s certainly no less in the streets. Football is everywhere, and it’s unlike the sport I know in Canada. Here, kids play it on the dirt roads and in the dusty fields. They play it with whatever “ball” they can find, usually a collection of plastic bags tied together with string. Goal posts are shoes or bottles or sticks or plastic jugs. It’s quite fitting that an African country finally got the chance to host the tournament since it’s obviously a much-loved, much-played sport here. And maybe it’s because I’m not in South Africa but nearby, it seems like the tournament is really about the whole of Africa, like the commercials that are supporting “Team Africa United.” While people’s hopes of having an African nation take home the Cup didn’t work out, I’m pretty sure that at least the Ghanaian Black Stars got themselves a few more fans!

I am also hoping that the host country, and maybe even the host continent, will benefit from the games in longer-lasting ways. It does seem silly to spend so much money on a sporting event that lasts one month instead of investing the money into social development, infrastructure, public housing, or whatever else the country might desperately need. But, having gone to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver this past February, I’m quite sure that the pride from hosting such an international sporting event could develop into other things.

African journalists and leaders are calling the games a success. The editor of Uganda’s Monitor, Charles Onyango-Obbo, wrote: “Long after the winner has collected the prize and glory, I am sure those with a sense of history will thank South Africa for the honour it has done us all.” Former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan said: “The Cup really puts the spotlight on South Africa, which has a chance to shine.”

When people think of “Africa” they usually think corruption, HIV/AIDS, children with flies around their eyes…all negative. South Africa and the whole continent have been in the attention of the media for the past month and a lot of that has been positive—which is a pleasant change. Now, maybe people will think about the success of the games, how safe people were (even in Johannesburg!), how much fun everyone had—and, well, probably think of the buzzing vuvuzelas, too. It’s time for a little positivity for this continent!

Who knows what will happen next (South Africa has its eyes on hosting the Olympics…), but I think that the pride South Africans now have in a job well done—and it has been a job well done—will take the country and continent far.

Melanie Ferguson
Overseas Intern – Zambia