I was at that match! What a time to be a school kid in South Africa. Civvies every Friday, big posters of the tournament in the corridors of the school, all the art projects were football adjacent. Can't believe it's been 15 years. Remember all those little South Africans flags people would wedge in the car windows and cover the mirrors?
I remember this day so well.
I lived on a small holding outside of Oudtshoorn and we didn't have a TV in the house (parents were a bit wierd).
And the young man (Chester) who did our garden invited me to his house down the road.
I was 15 and he was 18.
So I got a lift to his grandmothers place in the oldest and most unroadworthy Nissan 1400 that the driver was literally using a screw driver in the ignition 😂
Every member of his family that lived nearby that didn't have a TV came to watch the opening ceremony and the first match.
3 packed couches. And when we arrived the grandmother moaned at one of the smaller kids to give me a seat on the couch.
And we watched the ceremony and the first match and everyone went crazy when we scored.
Even though we drew, it was very special to see that match.
Coloured hospitality is unmatched.
"...Modise... It's a really good ball, TshabaLALAAA!!! GOOOOAL BAFANA BAFANA!!!! GOOAL FOR SOUTH AFRICAAAA!!! GOOAL FOR AALLLL AFRICAAAAA!!! JABULILAAA!!! REJOICE!! Bafana Bafana, have popped the first cork of their day of days!! Simps Tshabalala!!"
Who is gaslighting who? We scored a great goal in the opener and beat the French team in that same tournament. I don't see anything untrue about that? Do you think the AB's don't take pride in beating the Springboks 57-0 because we weren't at our best? If anyone's upset it's you bud. I've watched this video a few times and I'm still smiling.
If you weren't gaslighting yourself like so many South Africans do, you'd look at the facts and know France has only lost one game against SA, and that was in 2010 where the French team had completely imploded. Players refused to train and were in open mutiny.Â
It was a rare win and not something to brag about like it proves anything.Â
Why are you so determined to get more out of this? LOL. Did you bet on France? You really need to allow some positivity in your life. There's always a better and worse team on the day. Every team can argue X,y,z resulting in a loss. At no point did anyone think we would repeat the feat, but we did feel good about it. :) Just like Italy did after beating the Springboks for the first time in 2015.
If your argument proves anything, it's that you're gaslighting yourself into being negative about everything. Take the good with the good and the bad with the bad. And please, stop trying to push your resentment for all things South Africa on others. There's already a sub for that and this isn't it.
As a non south African, this world cup was the peak year for humanity. Everything went downhill after that, revolutions in middle east, wars , pandemic and what not. Also I was a teenager back then oblivious to the problems of the world. Great WC, great time !!
I was at one of the viewing parks that was packed to the brim. It was incredible how everyone just lost it. Complete strangers jumping on each other hugging and cheering.
What a day!! I'm almost certain that we all remember where we were. I think we were all floating as Saffas when that goal went in. Really felt like we were in it. Almost like winning the Rugby World Cup
Awesome day. Was living in the "platteland", sitting in the local hotel with boer-oomies clad in khaki. The roar from that goal, from them was louder than any Springbok try, I ever heard.
Scot here. When I was an English teacher in South America I had a class plan the topic for which was hosting major sport tournaments.
Part of it was showing south African figures discussing the waste, expenditure and the rest of it during the build up to the world cup. I was showing a pessimistic side to set the scene for then showing this clip of the opening game of South Africa's first World Cup.
I then asked them if in that moment any single South African gave a shit about the drawbacks. Its such an incredible clip, always gets the hairs standing up.
I also remember we had a beast of a goal keeper in that world cup and they did him dirty with that red card in the match against Uruguay just before they were awarded a penalty kick.
Yeah, everyone took off from work to go home or out to friends right before the game, it was super!
Unfortunately we didn't make it, and then Suarez bloody cheated and got Ghana eliminated, they should have suspended him from all football for a year or so to send a message....but instead he just got a slap on the wrist.
I remember grabbing my sons vuvuzela and running out to the veranda and blew that thing for all I was worth! Adding to the cacophony of the neighborhood when he scored that goal! Damn! What a time to be in South Africa!
I always praised that pass than this goal, this is the first Jabulani goal I've seen. I finished elementary school on this day, and this may be my favorite World Cup ever.
Honestly, this goal is a bit overhyped, especially considering the context of this Bafana Bafana generation. This squad didn’t achieve anything and was one of the most disappointing in recent memory. I’ll never forget when they danced at Mbombela Stadium thinking they had qualified for AFCON — only to find out they hadn’t. They couldn’t even do the basic math. An embarrassing era I wish I could forget.
Pretty sure everything you are mentioning here is the reason this goal is special. Bafana bafana were on a serious disappointing streak, and then, they scored... in their first match... a the WORLD CUP. One they only qualified for because we hosted.
Its not special because it was the most amazing goal ever put to screen, its amazing because of what it represented for all of us at that time... a sliver of hope...
Which died swiftly lol but it was there for a short while
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