SSR Vol5 FIFA- WC-SA

SSR Magazine

South Africa Football Association (SAFA) organized a parade for its Bafana Bafana team. It was at a time when the world governing body (FIFA) was under tremendous pressure from critics, who felt that South Africa was not ready to host and the stadiums would have had empty seats due to feedback of slow tickets sales from within the country. FIFA resolved the challenges of online ticket sales to the locals without internet access, by making over the counter sales of match tickets more accessible. Ticket sales picked up and the marketing of the tournament became more positive The Bafana Bafana parade was also an effort to trump up support for the country’s team and promote the tournament to the international media as well. If the critics had doubts, the Bafana team parade was the first of many assurances, that FIFA World Cup South Africa was alive and kicking. But as is usually the case, what was satisfactory for some, was not enough for the few negative thinkers. T here was an incredible hype for South Africa’s national team parade. Thousands of Bafana fans flock to the streets, dressed in their national colors, waving flags and blowing their Vuvuzela trumpets. It was the day that every variety of Vuvuzela trumpets were on display and on its way to becoming the official sound of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Page 10

ssrmagazine.com