This year marks a milestone for the world footballing community. The 2010 World Cup will be held in South Africa! This is the first time this huge and amazing event has graced the shores of Africa. THIS IS BIG! African nations are rearing to show the world what they can produce on the pitch, but also that an African country can hold such a major event with success and style! I for one have the highest of confidence that this World Cup will live long, long, loonnggg in the memory of football history. I am so excited for this, as football is probably my largest passion with permaculture coming in a close second.
Football is in many ways a life of its own. I know people look at sports and can say it is kind of silly, and I agree with them except for football. Football, being the largest supported, watched, and played sport in the world, has something that other sports don’t have. Football has power. In the darker times players have been killed for bad performances, countries have gone to war over a match, namely Honduras and El Salvador, and their have been scandals and cheats. But more than these dark times there has been peace, enjoyment, life, and passion. Football has literally reopened peace talks between nations. In 2008 Armenia and Turkey used the beautiful game to reopen treaty talks. This led to recreating a relationship between the two nations!! The United States alone has had a few key matches that brought it close to political enemies or rivals. Cuba and United States faced each other for the first time since 1947 during World Cup Qualifying. The infamous Iran vs US game in 1998 brought media attention to the fact that these two countries faced each other without incident. In fact, before the match the players presented gifts to each other in signs of, at least, a shared humanity.
Is football, or sports, our answer for world peace? No. But it can help. This is why football is special. It sits highly so many people’s hearts and souls that it has the power to move them. This is why I think it so amazing that the tournament graces South Africa this summer. A country that has struggled for its own peace and equality is now holding one of the largest tournaments in our day (only matched by the Olympics). Then they also chose K’naan’s “Wavin’ Flag” as the main song of the tournament. I have already shared this with you, but I would like share this new version with you!
That song is going to single handily make this summer’s World Cup one of the most memorable. That song screams of humanity and peace. That is what football is really about for me. It is a living organism that has the power to change, awaken, and adapt the world around us. It is one of the few tournaments the world comes together to celebrate, and I believe it does more so during the World Cup than during the Olympics. So the upcoming months are BIG! They are exciting! And I cannot wait to share them all with you. I will certainly be keeping updates about the tournament here, and share any other amazing things I can with you regarding football and the South Africa 2010 World Cup!
By the way, K’naan isn’t totally alone. Akon has written a song that is being featured in a Pepsi commercial. I’d like to share that too!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1hMSL7vyD0
And just for kicks here is the official video, which is also beautifully done! It is really super, super cool!
Football is not only a game. It is a passion and an art. It is called “Joga Bonito” for a good reason. So go check it out if you aren’t a follower. Go to youtube and check out “street football” or “best world cup moments.” You will feel the passion. SuperForest just got hooked! So be on the look out for my next World Cup Update. So SuperFoersters I ask that today you:
Talk with your feet, play with your heart
Much love to you all,
Mathew
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