World Cup 2010
South Africa gets a chance to make a fresh start
Soccer is the most popular sport in many developing countries. This is also true in South Africa. There, children play it on rough streets without shoes of nets. They dream of playing on European soccer teams and becoming rich and famous. For a long time, however, their homeland was not even allowed to take part in the FIFA World Cup, the world’s biggest soccer event. It was no recognized as a member of the international community because of its infamous policy called apartheid.
Apartheid was a system that segregated racial groups by law. Blacks were forced to live in separate areas and only whites were allowed to own land and vote. Nelson Mandela and many others worked hard to stop it, and the policy was abolished in 1994. Since then, other countries have gradually begun to accept South Africa. Now it has been given the chance to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup ― the first time an African country has ever hosted the event.
Still, many difficulties remain. In recent years the country has had unemployment of 20%, compared to 5% in Japan. The murder rate in South Africa is 30 times higher than that of Japan. These problems have led people to believe that South Africa is a dangerous country. The World Cup gives South Africa a good opportunity to clean up its image. If the event is successful, the country can show a new face to the world.
In 2010, all eyes will be on the pitches in South Africa. The world’s biggest stars, such as England’s Wayne Rooney and Argentina’s Lionel Messi, will play there. And the chance to play for South Africa at the World Cup is a dream for Benni McCarthy, who grew up in one of the its poorest areas. The World Cup is one of the most intense competitions in all of sports. For South Africa, however, it may lead to new growth and a better life for its people. Let’s hope the country takes advantage of this amazing opportunity.
