The World Cup: It's Not Over Until I Say So

Judith Flumenbaum is a big NYC hipster. She gets free passes to exclusive clubs in Cape Town, her computer is the size of a calculator, she has her own personal chef named Grace Carpenter, and she never has to do her homework because, well, she is that cool. Judy is also the first to know about hot, new events. So, when news broke that Cape Town World Cup officials were seeking to rekindle the magic of last month, Judy was the first to know. As a result, we got tickets to the opening games of the South African PSL (Premier Soccer League) at Greenpoint Stadium (a World Cup host stadium). Last night, with vuvuzelas in hand, and nosebleed tickets in out pockets we headed downtown along with anyone who's anyone in the Mother City.

From the moment we stepped of the bus downtown and began the fan walk to the stadium, we could hear the steady buzz of the vuvuzela blasting from within the massive white arena. The first match featured a beautiful header to put local Vasco de Gama FC in the lead over perennial contender Orlando Pirates ( Johannesburg, not Florida). But, the pirates used a bicycle-kick-goal and an easy tap-in to win 2-1. In the second match of the double header, local favorite Ajax Cape Town cruised to a 2-0 win over Bloemfontein Celtic, who had an awesome fan section, but no chance at topping Ajax.

The World Cup spirit was alive and well once again for Friday Night Football, a Cape Town Tradition before apartheid. This double-header was the first friday-nighter since before apartheid, so it was an emotional night for the locals who filled the stadium to capacity and never stopped blowing their vuvuzelas... neither did we, my lips are still chapped! One of the best nights of my life.