Being a nice day, we decided to try and catch the Italy-Slovakia match at Innesfree Park Fan Fest...with luck, Marc was wearing his knee brace providing us a valid argument for using the Handicap/VIP parking lot (which incidentally, was still a good 10 minute "healthy" walk to the fest). I was surprised to find that many of the vendors were located outside the view of the big screen, making them much less accessible to possible customers than I'm sure they'd have liked. It might be worth noting here that the temperatures during the day, in the sun, were quite comfortable, but once the sun set, it was uncomfortably cold (30-40s). Unfortunately, I hadn't planned on being out all day, and didn't have appropriate layers. It was worth it, however, to see the defending world champions collapse to the Slovakians, and landing dead last in their group.
[Innesfree Park Fan Fest...hopping crowd!]
June 25: Another late start as I was starting to feel sick and of course we needed to re-charge before the oncoming Round of 16 match v Ghana. Molly and I walked to another mall nearby our Hyde Park guest house. After getting some meds, we had a nice lunch where we were noted as having "funny accents" by the restaurant manager. It was then that I swallowed my pride and entered the craft market and bought 2 vuvuzelas, yes, special gift requests, and trust me, I wasn't proud it.
We walked to Melrose Arch in an attempt to find some souvenir t-shirts, but rather ended up in a wine bar (me with my rock shandy, which was NOT OJ & lemonade that I was used to, but instead ginger ale, soda and bitters, a rather yummy concoction for my ailing condition). It was here that we met some, self-proclaimed, very influential black businessmen. They were quite interesting to speak with, some from Joburg, others Nigeria. Molly and I tried, unsuccessfully, to sweet talk the one guy who claimed to have Argentina-Mexico tickets. He obviously didn't succumb to our American charm.
[Local ad]
That night I was still sick, so I passed on a local club experience. Just as well, I didn't have the proper clothes (namely clean ones) for the outing anyhow.
June 26: Today is the big day...USA vs Ghana! The rematch from 2006! Our new friend, Derrik, collected Molly and me about 9am and we were on our way to visit Sun City before the match. We discovered we needed to pay a day fee to enter the "Lost City", so we passed and sat down for lunch instead, where Derrik won enough money on his smoke break to pick up the tab. Thanks, Derrik! After which we all three tried our luck in the casino...to no success, but no great loss either.
[SunCity sign; pre-entrance to Lost City, at least we got to experience the earthquake on the bridge; Smoking Casino where Derrik got lucky!]
Pre-match was hosted by Lucky's...located within a blocked off part of town, which to get to required sweet-talking the gracious police officer. This was also a butcher, where you could purchase your meat, and cook it on the braai (Afrikaans for barbecue/roast). This pre-party was host to more non-Americans than the previous parties, not to say they were Ghanians, more that they were South Africans, other Africans not still in the World Cup, and/or bitter English supporters that weren't able to sell or trade their tickets. Nevertheless, and despite the obnoxious vuvuzelas and lack of vodka, it was a fun party. I even ran into Jeff, (aka Captain America) a guy I played with in an indoor tourney in NYC just before leaving for SA! Small World!
[pre-game rally at Lucky's hosts a braai; supporters were very mixed, not as strong a US following as in previous matches; me with Captain America (Jeff)]
The game atmosphere was no where near the US support we'd experienced previously. There were many more vuvuzelas (Americans don't really like them, but Africans can't live without them). It was painful to see the US give up yet another early goal. After pulling one back, and sending the game to OT, we thought we still had a chance. Why weren't they playing with the heart they played in the last 2 matches, is a mystery...perhaps just exhausted. OT proved to be Ghana's opportunity to take the lead, that the US finally gave in to. It was a sad day, but oh how proud of the US team I was after fighting so hard to make it that far. There's always Brazil! :)
[Me with Amy Gura; National Anthem; Huddle]
June 27: Bit of a sad day, let down from the match the night before. Molly treated herself and me to a super sweet and decadent hotel room right in the heart of Melrose Arch. We met Derrik later that day to watch Germany eliminate the English with little effort. Perhaps the English have a point about the no-goal, but if the US can overcome poor refereeing calls, so should the English be able to rebound. It seemed that they just gave up.
We grabbed a bite to eat in a pizzeria, where we were aurally harassed by some Brazilians with a vuvuzela and chanting throughout the meal. Glad to have left, and turned in early while watching Argentina stuff Mexico, the final score to be discovered in the morning as we were so exhausted.
June 28: D(eparture)-day...I got some more meds as my cold was getting worse, then we headed to the airport where I got a last minute gift for mum, and the adventure is over. But is it, as I board the plane, I meet Thom Meredith (whom I worked with at the WUSA), and he informed me that the US players are on the plane. What luck, and what an amazing close to my amazing experience! I got to meet Gooch, Jozy, Beasely, Findley, Dempsey, Coach Bob Bradley and son Michael. How lucky could I be?! Best WC trip ever!
[Gooch & Findley]
[Michael & Bob Bradley; Beasley & Jozy]
That is awesome!! Flying with Team USA!!! What a fantastic end to an amazing journey.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading about your experience. It was nice to run into you at Lucky's. I'll see you at the Rojas Cup and in Brazil 2014.
ReplyDelete-Capt. America aka Jeff Alexander