Vuvuzelas fall silent as S Africa faces exit
Source: Agencies |
June 18, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
IT'S crucial that South African fans show enthusiasm for other teams if, as now seems likely, the home squad fails to advance to the second round, World Cup organizing chief Danny Jordaan said yesterday.
Jordaan, the CEO of the local organizing committee, called South Africa's 0-3 defeat to Uruguay on Wednesday a crushing disappointment for the host nation's zealous fans. "As people walked home, for the first time the vuvuzelas were silent," he said.
South Africa still has a slim chance to advance with a victory over France next week, depending on how other teams in its group fare. But the chances are high it will become the first host nation to fail to reach the knockout phase of a World Cup.
"It will be a disaster for us, the home country, to go out in the first round," midfielder Steven Pienaar said.
"What's important is the extent to which fans embrace the tournament beyond Bafana Bafana," Jordaan said, using the home team's popular nickname.
The government echoed the plea. "This is not the time to pull back, regardless of the disappointment we may feel after Bafana Bafana's loss," said government spokesperson Themba Maseko.
Pienaar insisted the nation would not lose interest.
"It won't change the World Cup," he said. "People are having fun."
By the time Uruguay scored its third goal in injury time, however, Loftus Versfeld stadium was half empty.
The fans had given up on their team after Uruguay striker Diego Forlan had fired a penalty into the roof of the net in the 80th minute to go with his stunning 25-meter strike in the 24th.
The South Africans fought hard but could not match the Uruguayans for organization and skill and the cold truth was that they have a lot to do to become a force in world football.
"Uruguay played with great patience, which we didn't have at the same level," said South Africa's Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira.
"I'm most disappointed with conceding the third goal when the game was almost over. It was unnecessary. Now we have a morale obligation to fight to the very end against France, we can't put our heads down."
But the hosts also rounded on Swiss referee Massimo Busacca for a controversial second half penalty while keeper Itumeleng Khune, sent off for a 76th minute tackle on Luis Suarez, apologized for conceding the spot kick and his subsequent dismissal.
Midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi, whose caution means he is out of the next match against France, said the penalty decision and red card for Khune had been harsh. "I thought we were going to bounce back but then we got a penalty and a red card against us. The referee was not fair," he said.
Khune said he had apologized to his teammates.
"It wasn't deliberate but I think I owe them an apology," he said. "I must apologize to the people too because they have been there for us and for something to happen like that, wasn't nice."
Forlan was the maestro of the night, reinforcing his reputation among the world's top strikers.
"Forlan is a striker who makes a difference, we've known him for many years back in Brazil," Parreira said. "He's a player who if you don't keep an eye on him he will damage you ... If they had not scored the first goal I think the match would have been very different," the Brazilian said.
Jordaan, the CEO of the local organizing committee, called South Africa's 0-3 defeat to Uruguay on Wednesday a crushing disappointment for the host nation's zealous fans. "As people walked home, for the first time the vuvuzelas were silent," he said.
South Africa still has a slim chance to advance with a victory over France next week, depending on how other teams in its group fare. But the chances are high it will become the first host nation to fail to reach the knockout phase of a World Cup.
"It will be a disaster for us, the home country, to go out in the first round," midfielder Steven Pienaar said.
"What's important is the extent to which fans embrace the tournament beyond Bafana Bafana," Jordaan said, using the home team's popular nickname.
The government echoed the plea. "This is not the time to pull back, regardless of the disappointment we may feel after Bafana Bafana's loss," said government spokesperson Themba Maseko.
Pienaar insisted the nation would not lose interest.
"It won't change the World Cup," he said. "People are having fun."
By the time Uruguay scored its third goal in injury time, however, Loftus Versfeld stadium was half empty.
The fans had given up on their team after Uruguay striker Diego Forlan had fired a penalty into the roof of the net in the 80th minute to go with his stunning 25-meter strike in the 24th.
The South Africans fought hard but could not match the Uruguayans for organization and skill and the cold truth was that they have a lot to do to become a force in world football.
"Uruguay played with great patience, which we didn't have at the same level," said South Africa's Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira.
"I'm most disappointed with conceding the third goal when the game was almost over. It was unnecessary. Now we have a morale obligation to fight to the very end against France, we can't put our heads down."
But the hosts also rounded on Swiss referee Massimo Busacca for a controversial second half penalty while keeper Itumeleng Khune, sent off for a 76th minute tackle on Luis Suarez, apologized for conceding the spot kick and his subsequent dismissal.
Midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi, whose caution means he is out of the next match against France, said the penalty decision and red card for Khune had been harsh. "I thought we were going to bounce back but then we got a penalty and a red card against us. The referee was not fair," he said.
Khune said he had apologized to his teammates.
"It wasn't deliberate but I think I owe them an apology," he said. "I must apologize to the people too because they have been there for us and for something to happen like that, wasn't nice."
Forlan was the maestro of the night, reinforcing his reputation among the world's top strikers.
"Forlan is a striker who makes a difference, we've known him for many years back in Brazil," Parreira said. "He's a player who if you don't keep an eye on him he will damage you ... If they had not scored the first goal I think the match would have been very different," the Brazilian said.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
