Soccer Fan Blog

Diversity is a key feature of South Africa, where 11 languages are recognised as official, where community leaders include rabbis and chieftains, rugby players and returned exiles, where traditional healers ply their trade around the corner from stockbrokers and where housing ranges from mud huts to palatial homes with swimming pools.
The diverse communities, however, have not had much representation for long.
Overview
Overview
Facts
Leaders
Media
Until 1994 South Africa was ruled by a white minority government which was so determined to hang onto power that it took activists most of the last century before they succeeded in their fight to get rid of apartheid and extend democracy to the rest of the population.
AT-A-GLANCE

Politics: The ANC scored its fourth election victory in April 2009.
Economy: One of continent’s biggest economies. Poverty widespread, high crime rate associated with high unemployment. Economy moved into recession in May 2009.
International: Plays a leading role in diplomatic and anti-poverty initiatives in Africa. Emerged from international isolation in 1994 at the end of the apartheid era.
Timeline
The white government which came to power in 1948 enforced a separation of races with its policy called apartheid. It dictated that black and white communities should live in separate areas, travel in different buses and stand in their own queues.
The government introduced grand social engineering schemes such as the forced resettlement of hundreds of thousands of people. It poisoned and bombed opponents and encouraged trouble in neighbouring countries.
The apartheid government eventually negotiated itself out of power, and the new leadership encouraged reconciliation. But the cost of the years of conflict will be paid for a long time yet, not least in terms of lawlessness, social disruption and lost education.
South Africa faces major problems, but having held four successful national elections as well as local polls since the end of white rule, a democratic culture appears to be taking hold, allowing people at least some say in the search for solutions.
Very much Africa’s superpower, South Africa has the continent’s biggest economy, though this went into recession in May 2009 following a sharp slowdown in the mining and manufacturing sectors.
Many South Africans remain poor and unemployment is high – a factor blamed for a wave of violent attacks against migrant workers from other African countries in 2008 and protests by township residents over poor living conditions in July 2009.
Land redistribution is an ongoing issue. Most farmland is still white-owned. Having so far acquired land on a “willing buyer, willing seller” basis, officials have signalled that large-scale expropriations are on the cards. The government aims to transfer 30% of farmland to black South Africans by 2014.
South Africa has the second-highest number of HIV/Aids patients in the world. Around one in seven of its citizens is infected with HIV. Free anti-retroviral drugs are available under a state-funded scheme.

Facts
Overview
Facts
Leaders
Media
Full name: Republic of South Africa
Population: 48.8 million (UN, 2008)
Capitals: Pretoria (executive capital); Cape Town (legislative capital); Bloemfontein (judicial capital)
Largest city: Johannesburg
Area: 1.22 million sq km (470,693 sq miles)
Major languages: 11 official languages including English, Afrikaans, Sesotho, Setswana, Xhosa and Zulu
Major religion: Christianity, Islam, indigenous beliefs
Life expectancy: 49 years (men), 50 years (women)
Monetary unit: 1 Rand = 100 cents
Main exports: Gold, diamonds, metals and minerals, cars, machinery
GNI per capita: US $5,760 (World Bank, 2007)
Internet domain: .za
International dialling code: +27

Leaders
Overview
Facts
Leaders
Media
President:
Jacob Zuma
The leader of the ANC, Jacob Zuma, was officially chosen as the country’s president by the newly-elected parliament in May 2009.

Jacob Zuma trod a rocky road to the presidency
Born to a Zulu family in 1942, Mr Zuma has spent his entire adult life since 1959 in the service of the ANC. He joined its armed wing Umkhonto we Sizwe in 1962 and was arrested the following year. He spent ten years in prison for conspiracy to overthrow the apartheid-era government.
After his release he left South Africa and was a leading figure in the ANC abroad until he returned home in 1990 to take part in the talks that brought apartheid to an end.
Mr Zuma was prominent in promoting the ANC among Zulus who had voted for the Inkatha Freedom Party in the first free elections in 1994, and was consistently elected to senior ANC posts. In 1999, he became the deputy president of South Africa under President Thabo Mbeki.
Mr Zuma’s standing in the country fell rapidly after he was named in an arms-smuggling case, and President Mbeki dismissed him from the deputy presidency in 2005. Prosecutors then brought corruption charges against him, and shortly afterwards he was charged with rape.
He was acquitted of the rape charge the following year, and his support on the populist left of the party ensured that he was able to defeat President Mbeki in elections for the ANC leadership in December 2007.
Mr Zuma looked set to become president of South Africa after the 2009 parliamentary elections, but the corruption allegations persisted. It was not until April 2009 – weeks before the parliamentary polls – that state prosecutors finally threw out the charges on the grounds that there had been political interference.
The opposition said this was a technicality and that Mr Zuma ought to answer the charges in court. Nonetheless, he led the ANC to a convincing election victory and was duly inaugurated on 9 May.

Media
Overview
Facts
Leaders
Media
South Africa is the continent’s major media player, and its many broadcasters and publications reflect the diversity of the population.
Established state-run and commercial TV networks broadcast nationally, and hundreds of thousands of viewers subscribe to satellite and cable pay-TV services.
Deregulation in 1996 led to a proliferation of radio stations. Listeners in Johannesburg alone can choose from among some 40 radio services, from the national broadcasts of the state-owned South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) to community stations targeting local neighbourhoods or ethnic groups.
The constitution provides for freedom of the press, and this is generally respected. Laws, regulation and political control of media content are considered to be moderate and there is little evidence of repressive measures against journalists.
Newspapers and magazines publish reports and comment critical of the government and the state-owned SABC is far more independent now than during the apartheid era.
The press
The Star - Johannesburg-based daily, city’s oldest newspaper
The Sowetan – Johannesburg-based tabloid
Daily Sun – mass-circulation tabloid
Beeld – largest Afrikaans daily
Mail & Guardian – weekly, operates Mail & Guardian online
Business Day – daily
Financial Mail - business weekly
Sunday Times/The Times – South Africa’s oldest Sunday newspaper; publishes subscription-only daily
Television
SABC – state broadcaster, operates three national TV networks, two pay-TV channels
e.tv – free-to-air commercial network
M-Net – pay-TV, pan-African audience
Radio
SABC – state broadcaster with 20 regional and national services in 11 languages, including: national English-language network SAfm; contemporary music station 5 FM; national Afrikaans station Radio Sonder Grense; national Zulu station Ukhozi FM; Sesotho station Lesedi FM
Channel Africa – SABC’s external radio service, targeted at the African continent
YFM – popular Johannesburg commercial R&B, soul and hip-hop station
702 Talk Radio - Johannesburg commercial news and talk station
News agency
South African Press Association (SAPA)

Brad Morgan
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Football – or soccer, as we call it – is the most widely played sport in South Africa, with its traditional support base in the black community. For many South Africans the country’s proudest sporting moment came when we won the African Nations Cup on home turf in 1996.
Soccer is intensely followed, and the quality of the local game keeps improving – as demonstrated by the increasing number of South African players-in-exile among the glamorous European clubs.
Local teams, organised in a national league plus a plethora of knock-out cups, are followed with passion by paint-daubed, costumed, whistling and cheering fans. Mercifully, the country has been spared the spectre of football hooliganism.
There’s probably no quicker way to “break the ice” with the South African man on the street than to demonstrate some knowledge of local soccer. To help you improve your conversational skills, here’s a crash course on the country’s most important teams and competitions.
Bafana Bafana
Banyana Banyana
Glamour clubs
Premier Soccer League
Knockout competitions
First Division
BAFANA BAFANA
One of the first gifts that democracy brought South Africa was its first truly representative national soccer team.
In 1992, the united South African team came into being, playing Cameroon in its first match in Durban on 9 July. It was a triumphant occasion for the side that came to be known as Bafana Bafana – “The Boys” – as they edged the West African powerhouse by a goal to nil.
However, the win concealed the negative effect that apartheid-enforced isolation had had on local soccer. This lack of international experience showed as South Africa lost four matches in a row – to Cameroon, Zambia, Nigeria and Zambia – in failing to qualify for the 1994 African Nations Cup.
African champions
When South Africa hosted the 1996 African Nations Cup, however, South Africa proved they belonged in the finals by defeating Tunisia 2-0 in the final. It was during the team’s run to the title that its nickname, “Bafana Bafana”, became known around the world.
Nelson Mandela leads the celebrations as Neil Tovey lifts the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations.
Shortly after being crowned African champions, Bafana Bafana took on world champions Brazil in Johannesburg. Buoyed by a fearless home crowd, the South Africans went two goals up before the Brazilians fought back to win the match 3-2.
Two World Cups
Bafana Bafana reached another milestone in 1997 when they qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time. In France the following year, South Africa lost to the hosts – who went on to win the Jules Rimet Trophy – before drawing with Denmark and Saudi Arabia.
In the same year, Bafana Bafana appeared in their second African Nations Cup, making it through to the final where they lost 2-0 to Egypt.
In 1999, Bafana Bafana beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 on aggregate to lift the Afro-Asian Trophy. The side also recorded its first win over European opposition, beating Sweden in Pretoria by a goal to nil.
In 2000, Bafana Bafana reached the semi-finals of the African Nations Cup, where they were beaten by Nigeria. The South Africans went on to finish third, defeating Tunisia on penalties after playing to a 2-2 draw.
It was at the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan, however, that Bafana Bafana showed their true potential. While they failed to progress beyond the first round, their five goals scored in one win, one draw and a thrilling 3-2 loss against Spain showed the world that South Africa belonged on football’s biggest stage.
Big drop-off
South Africa lost to fired-up hosts Mali in the quarterfinals of the 2002 African Nations Cup.
In 2003, however, there was a big drop-off in Bafana Bafana’s performances, and they failed to progress beyond the first round of the 2004 African Nations Cup after losing four-nil to Nigeria.
The slide continued in 2005, and South Africa’s national team hit an all-time low when they were eliminated in the first round of the 2006 African Nations Cup after being beaten in all three group matches and failing to score a goal.
Big-name coach
Having won the right to host the 2010 Fifa World Cup, the South African Football Association went after a big-name coach to ensure that the country’s team, guaranteed a place in the event, does not disappoint its fans.
Carlos Alberto Parreira, Brazil’s 1994 World Cup winning coach, was tasked with getting the national team back on track.
Parreira achieved his first goal when South Africa qualified for the 2008 African Nations Cup in Ghana. Once more, the team bowed out after the first round of the continental championship, but there were some promising signs after their disastrous campaign in Egypt in 2006.
South Africa’s group was the most tightly contested in the tournament, with four of the six matches ending in draws; so it was that one loss for Bafana Bafana was enough to see them eliminated.
After Bafana Bafana’s best result under Parreira, a stylish 3-0 defeat of Paraguay in Pretoria in March, the Brazilian abruptly resigned in April 2008, returning home to support his wife, who had undergone surgery for cancer.
Joel Santana
His replacement was another Brazilian, recommended by Parreira: Joel Santana. A man with an excellent record in Brazilian club football, Santana lacks international experience, but his new-look Bafana squad are showing signs of real promise.
They were desperately unlucky to lose 1-0 to Nigeria in their final qualifying match for the 2010 African Cup of Nations, played in September 2008. That result means that, for the first since 1996, South Africa will not contest the African Nations Cup in 2010.
Since then, however, Bafana have secured four friendly international victories against Cameroon, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea and Malawi.
The 3-2 win over Cameroon in November 2008 was South Africa’s best of the year, not only because of the Indomitable Lions’ high ranking (14th in the world, 1st in Africa), but also because of the style of football played by Santana’s charges.
It’s that kind of form that Bafana Bafana will have to take with them into the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup and 2010 Fifa World Cup, if they are to measure up to the high expectations of their fans.
BANYANA BANYANA
South Africa’s senior women’s team, Banyana Banyana – “The Girls” – have traditionally been the strongest team in southern Africa and one of the best in Africa.
There is, however, one hurdle that Banyana have yet to overcome: Nigeria. Had it not been for the West African powerhouse, South Africa’s women would have laid claim to the number one ranking in Africa a number of times in recent years.
Banyana Banyana were crowned Cosafa (Confederation of Southern African Football Associations) champions in 2002 and 2006. In continental competition, the team finished runner-up to Nigeria at the CAF African Women’s Championship in 2000, and second at the All Africa Games in 2003 and 2007.
GLAMOUR CLUBS
Kaizer Chiefs
South Africa’s favourite soccer club never seems to play an away match. “The Amakhozi” often draw more supporters at away games than their opposition.
Founded in 1970 by Kaizer Motaung – who made his name in the United States when the American league was drawing such superstars as Pele, Johan Cruyff and Franz Beckenbauer – Kaizer Chiefs are one of South Africa’s most successful teams.
Twice the winners of South Africa’s Premier Soccer League since its launch in 1997, Chiefs secured their first African title in 2002 when they won the Cup Winners Cup – renamed after Nelson Mandela – by defeating Inter Luanda of Angola in the final.
Orlando Pirates
Formed in 1937, Orlando Pirates has a support base extending across the country’s borders.
Two-time winners of SA’s Premier Soccer League since its launch in 1997, “The Buccaneers” are the only South African team so far to have won Africa’s premier club competition, the Champions League, a feat they achieved in 1995.
Like Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates seldom are disadvantaged when they play away from home, with fanatical supporters spread throughout South Africa.
The fierce traditional rivalry between Pirates and Chiefs makes for one of the biggest derby matches in the world. In November 2007, on the day preceding the 2010 Fifa World Cup draw in Durban, the Chiefs-Pirates derby was broadcast throughout Africa and 43 European countries, a first for South African football.
Mamelodi Sundowns
While Chiefs and Pirates have long battled for the title of South Africa’s most popular club, a third outfit has emerged as a challenger for the position: Mamelodi Sundowns.
Backed by mining magnate Patrice Motsepe, a billionaire, “The Brazilians” have the finances to ensure a squad with depth and quality. The club is often compared to England’s Chelsea, which rose to prominence partly through the backing of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
Sundowns have been the most successful team since the formation of the Premier Soccer League in 1997, winning the title on five occasions.
PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE
South Africa’s top soccer league, featuring the country’s best 16 clubs, came into being in 1997.
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has helped raise the standard of club football in South Africa, providing the sport with better media coverage and much-improved revenue through strong sponsorship deals. It has also provided a platform for local players to make their mark and catch the eye of overseas clubs.
Sponsorship boom
In June 2007, the PSL pulled off an astounding coup when it signed a R1.6-billion broadcast deal with SuperSport International.
In August 2007, corporate heavyweights South African Breweries (SAB) and Absa Bank announced a joint sponsorship of more than R500-million over the next five years for South African football. SAB is behind Bafana Bafana, while Absa sponsors the PSL’s Premier Division.
In February 2008, Nedbank announced that it would be putting up R20-million in prize money for the Nedbank Cup knockout competition as part of a five-year, R400-million sponsorship of the local game.
And in August 2008, cellular giant MTN committed the same amount – R400-million over five years – to the local game, while taking over the title sponsorship of the Top 8 knockout tournament.
These deals combined have made South Africa’s Premier Soccer League the seventh biggest earner of sponsorship revenue among football leagues worldwide.
Ups and downs
Manning Rangers, coached by Gordon Igesund, stunned all and sundry by winning the inaugural PSL title ahead of a number of more fancied opponents in 1997. Then, from 1998 to 2000, Mamelodi Sundowns pulled off a hat-trick of titles.
In 2001, Igesund moved to Orlando Pirates and helped “The Buccaneers” secure the title. The following season he repeated the trick with Cape Town-based Santos.
Pirates won the league for the second time in 2003, followed by arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs in 2004 and 2005.
In 2006, Igesund was appointed manager of Sundowns and was quickly spinning his magic once more, winning a fifth title for “The Brazilians” and becoming the first coach to win the championship with four different clubs.
That didn’t prevent Igesund from getting the sack in February 2008, however, following a poor run of results. When it comes to passionate fans, high stakes and heated debates, South Africa’s Premier Soccer League is up there with the best of them!
In May 2008, SuperSport’s support of the game, through both television broadcasting and sponsorship, was rewarded when SuperSport United captured the PSL title for the first time.Premier Soccer League champions:
2008/09: SuperSport United
2007/08: SuperSport United
2006/07: Mamelodi Sundowns
2005/06: Mamelodi Sundowns
2004/05: Kaizer Chiefs
2003/04: Kaizer Chiefs
2002/03: Orlando Pirates
2001/02: Santos
2000/01: Orlando Pirates
1999/00: Mamelodi Sundowns
1998/99: Mamelodi Sundowns
1997/98: Mamelodi Sundowns
1996/97: Manning Rangers
KNOCKOUT COMPETITIONS
A number of knockout competitions are played alongside the league fixtures in South African soccer.
Nedbank Cup
A knockout competition modelled on England’s famous FA Cup, giving lower league teams the chance to do battle with premier league clubs, has been in existence since 1978, under various names: the Mainstay Cup (1978-1987), Bobsave Superbowl (1988-2002), Absa Cup (2003-07) and, from 2008, the Nedbank Cup.
With a total prize purse of R19.3-million, including R6-million for the winners, R2.5-million for the runners-up and R1-million for the losing semi-finalists, the Nedbank Cup is the most lucrative domestic soccer competition in Africa.Cup champions:
2009: Moroka Swallows
2008: Mamelodi Sundowns
2007: Ajax Cape Town
2006: Kaizer Chiefs
2005: SuperSport United
2004: Moroka Swallows
2003: Santos
2002: not played
2001: Santos
2000: Kaizer Chiefs
1999: SuperSport United
1998: Mamelodi Sundowns
1997: not played
1996: Orlando Pirates
1995: Cape Town Spurs
1994: Vaal Professionals
1993: Witbank Aces
1992: Kaizer Chiefs
1991: Moroka Swallows
1990: Jomo Cosmos
1989: Moroka Swallows
1988: Orlando Pirates
1987: Kaizer Chiefs
1986: Sundowns
1985: Bloemfontein Celtic
1984: Kaizer Chiefs
1983: Moroka Swallows
1982: Kaizer Chiefs
1981: Kaizer Chiefs
1980: Orlando Pirates
1979: Kaizer Chiefs
1978: Wits University
MTN 8
The MTN 8 – formerly the Top 8 and Supa 8 – is contested at the beginning of each Premier Soccer League season by the top eight finishers of the previous season.
Now known as the MTN 8 Knockout, after cellular operator MTN took over the title sponsorship, the tournament boasts a R8-million winner-takes-all prize – while guaranteeing each team R800 000 simply for participating.Top 8 champions:
2008: Kaizer Chiefs
2007: Mamelodi Sundowns
2006: Kaizer Chiefs
2005: Bloemfontein Celtic
2004: SuperSport United
2003: Jomo Cosmos
2002: Santos
2001: Kaizer Chiefs
2000: Orlando Pirates
1996: Orlando Pirates
1995: Wits University
1994: Kaizer Chiefs
1993: Orlando Pirates
1992: Kaizer Chiefs
1991: Kaizer Chiefs
1990: Mamelodi Sundowns
1989: Kaizer Chiefs
1988: Mamelodi Sundowns
1987: Kaizer Chiefs
1986: Arcadia
1985: Kaizer Chiefs
1984: Wits University
1983: Orlando Pirates
1982: Kaizer Chiefs
1981: Kaizer Chiefs
1980: Witbank Black Aces
1979: Moroka Swallows
1978: Orlando Pirates
1977: Kaizer Chiefs
1976: Kaizer Chiefs
1975: Moroka Swallows
1974: Kaizer Chiefs
1973: Orlando Pirates
1972: Orlando Pirates
Telkom Knockout
The Telkom Knockout competition, which features all 16 Premier Soccer League teams on a knockout basis, is African football’s second most lucrative domestic competition after the Nedbank Cup.
The competition was first held in 1992 and has existed under a number of different names, including the Coca-Cola Cup and the Rothmans Cup.
Telkom became the new sponsors in 2006, and in 2007 paid out R14.2-million in prize money, including R4.25-million to the winners.Cup champions:
2008: Ajax Cape Town
2007: Kaizer Chiefs
2006: Silver Stars
2005: Jomo Cosmos
2004: Kaizer Chiefs
2003: Kaizer Chiefs
2002: Jomo Cosmos
2001: Kaizer Chiefs
2000: Ajax Cape Town
1999: Sundowns
1998: Kaizer Chiefs
1997: Kaizer Chiefs
1996: Umtata Bucks
1995: Wits University
1994: Qwa Qwa Stars
1993: Umtata Bucks
1992: Amazulu
FIRST DIVISION
Below the Premier Soccer League, South African football’s First Division is divided into two – the Inland Stream and the Coastal Stream – with each stream made up of eight clubs.
At the end of each season, the winners of the two streams meet in a final, with a place in the Premier Soccer League at stake (replacing the team that finished last in the PSL). The second-placed team, however, still has a shot at making it into the PSL.
That club takes on the two second-placed finishers from the First Division, as well as the team that finished second-last in the PSL, in a mini-tournament, with the winner earning a place in the top league.

Now that would be a tragedy. And yet, it seems quite likely.
The New York Times’ Rob Hughes writes about the tremendous pressure on both Messi and Ronaldo to win their next two games. Messi’s Argentina play Brazil (as Shourin has so carefully noted here) followed by Paraguay. Ronaldo’s Portugal have to play Denmark followed immediately by Hungary.
The prospects of both teams missing the World Cup seem rather high. And in my book, it’s a coaching issue on both fronts.
After Portugal lost Scolari things went steadily downhill.
And Argentina? What a tragedy it will be if Argentina don’t make it. And not for lack of talent.
Will Maradona end his coaching career in disgrace? Tune in tomorrow to find out.

Veteran Argentina midfielder Juan Sebastien Veron claims under-fire team manager Diego Maradona is struggling to put together an efficient team of 11 players despite having a dearth of quality at his disposal.
Two-time champions Argentina last week slipped to fifth in the South American World Cup qualifying standings, a place below the automatic qualification slots, after conceding four defeats in their last five games.
While Maradona, who is still considered a football God in his native country, is spending this week in Italy at a spa resort, Argentine football chiefs have been holding crisis talks.
Veron meanwhile admitted in an interview with La Red radio station he was concerned about Argentina’s qualifying chances, and claimed that Maradona has picked players who are not on the kind of form needed to play for the ‘Albiceleste’.
“We’ve got great players but the coach (Maradona) hasn’t really unearthed his best team yet,” said Veron, a former Manchester United player who is now captain of Estudiantes in Argentina’s top division.
The last time Argentina, World Cup champions in 1978 and 1986, failed to make the finals was in 1970. After recent defeats to Brazil (1-3) and Paraguay (0-1), Veron believes they are in a precarious position.
“Anything could happen,” said the 34-year-old when asked whether Argentina were in danger of not qualifying.
“The fact is that there are players in the team who are not in their very best form.”
Veron highlighted Barcelona’s highly-regarded striker Lionel Messi, but defended the player by saying: “At Barcelona they play a game of short, quick passes which is different to the way Argentina play. Here, everyone expects Lio (Messi) to dribble through five players and then score a goal. But he can’t do everything himself.”
Maradona on Monday missed a meeting involving Argentina general manager Carlos Bilardo and Julio Grondona, president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and vice-president of world governing body FIFA.
According to Argentine press reports, Grondona intended to ask Maradona to delegate more responsibility to Bilardo, who was the coach of Argentina in 1986 when Maradona captained the side to World Cup glory in Mexico.
Argentina host already-eliminated Peru on October 10 before travelling to neighbours Uruguay, who trail them by a single point, four days later.
Failure to finish among the top four would force Argentina into a two-leg play-off to secure their ticket for the finals in South Africa next summer.

A World Cup 2010 draw that places England’s team on the pitch at Loftus Versfeld stadium will get top marks from Pretoria restaurant and bar manager Andre Malan.
“That’s would be our first prize — I think everyone says they would definitely want them at their stadium. They’ve got the largest following of supporters,” the manager of the sport haunt Eastwoods Tavern told AFP.
Malan speaks from experience. His establishment, a stone’s throw from Loftus, fed and watered 6,000 rugby fans on match day when the touring British and Irish Lions tour took on the Springboks in June.
“It’s important to have teams like England and Holland to be part of this spectacular because they’ve the largest following of football supporters in the world. You want the big teams playing,” he said.
England’s walloping of Croatia 5-1 — putting Fabio Capello’s team in the running to relive a sole 1966 championship glory at Africa’s first World Cup — saw immediate media reports of a rush for flights to South Africa.
Failure to qualify would have been a dent to the event, said Mark Williams, South African tourism director for the United Kingdom and United States, whose fans have snapped the most match tickets after local sales.
“When the Lions tour came to South Africa, there were close to 40,000 Brits or English that came out to South Africa and spent a billion rand (135 million dollars, 92 million euros),” he told AFP.
“So from a football perspective, hopefully it will be a bit more and hopefully they will spend a bit more.”
The World Cup is expected to boost the South African economy by 55.7 billion rands, generate 415,400 jobs and draw 19.3 billion rand into the government’s tax coffers, research house Grant Thornton predicts.
And more than 480,000 football tourists are tipped to spend R8.5 billion during the month-long championship in June.
The recession is unlikely to stop fans from making the long-haul flight, Williams said. “I don’t think it will have too much of an impact. The World Cup comes along once in four years and people will follow.”
The English players will also arrive to an adoring audience. The English Premiership is the most-televised foreign league in South Africa with fans lapping up regular visits by top teams, such as Manchester City this year.
“Probably, they will bring more supporters than any other country from abroad. We want them there because they bring the fans,” said former England goalkeeper Gary Bailey.
“Also, a lot of South Africans follow English football and enjoy the English footballers. It has an aura about it. It has just become over a period of time, the most exciting football to watch.”
While England’s fans have a reputation for unruliness, FIFA’s local organising committee has warned that well-known hooligans will be barred with the help of Interpol.
Rowdy fans have also been cautioned. South Africa will have 41,000 police officers dedicated to the 10 World Cup host cities with 700 officers stationed at each stadium.
“We are ready for them — anybody who misbehaves will be locked up,” said spokesman Rich Mkhondo.
Some 80,000 English fans travelled to Germany for the 2006 World Cup, but Mkhondo hopes for more, saying there is enough accommodation available.
“England is a powerhouse. The fact that they are coming makes the World Cup even more attractive,” he said about the team. “We’re looking forward to welcoming them.”
For Malan at his Pretoria pub, which enjoyed brisk Confederations Cup trade in June, the World Cup will be a huge event no matter how the draw places teams. But he hopes that England will play on his doorstep.
“It’s a fantastic atmosphere. These guys when they come out, they come in large numbers,” he told AFP. “Obviously beer is high on the priority list for them. They eat a lot and drink a lot.”