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Richard Nkosi
“I’m no longer feeling it, but I’m touching and living it”. That’s how Pro Gwebu summed up his first World Cup match experience at Mbombela Stadium during the closing match.
Gwebu was among the fans that had the privilege to be at the stadium to watch the city hosting their final match of the tournament. The match featured The Elephants of Ivory Coast against Korea DPR. The Elephants, which was led by their highly rated striker Didier Drogba, who ply his trade with Chelsea in England, ended their campaign on a high note when they rattled the net three times with no reply from Korea. Their goal-scorers were Yaya Taoure, Koffi Romaric and Solomon Kalou. The win though was not good enough to see the African giants through to the final round of 16. They came to the game to try and overturn a goal-difference deficit of nine and hope that group leaders Brazil beat Portugal. However, even if they overturned the goal difference deficit, it would not have made a difference in the end as the Portuguese drew with Brazil to finish a point ahead of the Elephants.
After the game Mpumalanga life, especially in Nelspruit returned to normal as the job of hosting the world’s biggest sporting extravaganza came to and end.
The people of Mpumalanga enjoyed their World Cup experience. If there was one disappointment, it was that Mpumalanga was not given a knock out match to host.
Gwebu said despite the Elephants being knocked out of the tournament they exited with their heads held high.“They played well throughout the tournament and I think they were unfortunate to be eliminated,” he said.“I have been to stadiums to watch South African teams playing against each other on several times, but today’s experience is unbeatable. Seeing the likes of Drogba, Toure, Emanuel Eboue and Kader Keita with my own eyes, and not on television, was awesome”.
Another Barbertonian, Maras “Kortman” Nkosi said the Rainbow Nation came out in full force across the province to support the games. “It was great, not like anything I had ever seen before. Seeing the players in flesh was worth the trips,” he said.
Nkosi was privilege to watch three games. He watched Chile vs Honduras, Italy vs New Zealand and Ivory Coast vs Korea DPR. “I hope as South Africans we will continue to support other sporting codes as we did with the World Cup,” he said.
Israel Dhlamini, Barberton City Stars director, said: “We must build forth on the foundation as a nation. The World Cup has come and gone but it will leave behind a lasting legacy. We can look back and be proud of the road infrastructures and the stadium we benefited from in Mpumalanga,” he said.
The party is over, the flags have been lowered and even the vuvuzelas have fallen silent. One wonders when Nelspruit will get a chance to host another sporting extravaganza such as this. Maras “Kortman” Nkosi blowing his Vuvuzela at Mbombela Stadium  Umjindi Municipality spokesman Sam Jele and Richard Nkosi
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