 | “Heavy hangs the head that wears the crown.” Old William Shakespeare’s words from King Henry IV probably ring true for Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira as he returned with his squad from their training camp in Germany and almost immediately called for South Africans to manage their expectations. “Be realistic,” he said. ...read more |
Heavy Expectations
Monday, May 3rd, 2010 by Dave Durbach
The Toilet
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010 by Max Sleaze, images by Jurie Senekal
 | The Cape Town stadium has been compared to the Amsterdam and Allianz Arenas, the Emirates and even the Birds Nest in Beijing, which may either hint at some kind of architectural thought monopoly or just some cunning business savvy from the international construction trade. ...read more |
Expensive Shit
Tuesday, March 30th, 2010 by Dave Durbach
 | One can only imagine the brains trust at Control Room, FIFA’s official events coordinator, in their boardroom in Beverly Hills… “Right, FIFA wants us to throw a big music concert to open the soccer World Cup. Who’s gonna be there?” “Well, what music do people like down there?” “Who cares? Let’s just take three of most bankable, ubiquitous stars in the world: the Black Eyed Peas, John Legend, and Beyonce.” “No, no, Beyonce’s busy.” “OK then we’ll take Alicia Keys. ...read more |
The Little Kings
Monday, March 29th, 2010 by Samora Chapman additional reporting by Luke Mason
 | Last week Durban hosted the first ever Street Child World Cup. The initiative united street children from around the world in celebration of their love of football. But it also served a greater purpose; to give the children a platform to be heard, enabling them to establish their rights and to inform and drive policy on how to deal with street kids ...read more |
One Small Mutuality
Wednesday, March 24th, 2010 by Brandon Edmonds, illustration by Jason Bronkhorst
 | This ought to topple another hundred trees in the forest of mystery that surrounds me (as I like to tell myself in weaker, vainglorious moments): I lived with an older woman throughout my twenties. Pretty hot huh? The cine-literate amongst you are seeing a startled 60s era Dustin Hoffman, framed between the skinny parted thighs of Anne Bancroft – here’s to you, Mrs. Robinson! Except her name was Myra, and she was my grandmother. ...read more |
The Street World Cup
Friday, March 5th, 2010 by Andy Davis
 | One World Cup you may not have heard of is kicking off in Durban next week. It doesn’t feature any professional athletes, no big names, brand endorsements, bling bling and multi-million dollar salaries. In fact hardly any one even knows about this World Cup, primarily because the participants are all street kids. ...read more |
Rugga Culture Clash
Monday, February 22nd, 2010 by Samora Chapman
 | On Friday arvy the Durban sea creatures flooded the ABSA stadium for a battle between demi-god beasts; the Sharks and the Cheetahs. I felt like a small fish in a social-shark tank, 30 000 strong. I entered the stadium amongst the patter of feet scuttling all over the massive concrete auditorium, like little creatures boarding a giant spaceship. Electric air. Red-faced men filled their goblets with golden chwala. ...read more |
Get on your Bike
Friday, February 5th, 2010 by Sean O'Toole
 | On the last Friday of every month, a bunch of luddites – we like to call ourselves cyclists – meet in Cape Town for an early morning cycle through town. Nothing special. Either you meet at the Baxter Theatre, where the ride originates, or pick up with the peloton at the Convention Centre. From there, well, I’ll get to that in a bit. ...read more |
Africa’s Number 1
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 by Andy Davis
 | In case you hadn’t noticed, the World Cup is happening, Didier Drogba’s face is painted on the Johannesburg skyline in lights, beaming out to us the message that the football gods are coming. A nightly reminder on Jozi’s face. Africa’s greatest football star. The dark continent’s leading light. Destroyer of Premiership dreams, humbler of defenders everywhere. Africa’s number one goal digger. ...read more |
The Beard
Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 by Brandon Edmonds
 | We drew. The Basil D trophy is where it should be. Strauss is ‘jaded’ and has foregone the captaincy, Smith made a stump mic fart, Trott & Pietersen seemed ambivalent being ‘home’, and the work-horse Ntini has finally been shown the thanks-but-you’re-done door. It was a good summer Test series, without ever being a great one. ...read more |
