In only a few hours, the time has finally come: World Cup, World Cup, World Cup! Personally, I have been excited ever since I passed my mid-studies oral exam. Me as a soccer freak, there is nothing better and more exciting than the World Cup. (Aside from the fact of my favorite German Bundesliga team Eintracht Frankfurt becoming German Champions, but I think that will take a while.) The first World Cup party for the game Germany vs Australia on Sunday is planned and organized, the vuvuzelas and flags are ready to be used.

Yes, plural: flags. Because I am not only rooting for Germany, but also for USA, Portugal and South Africa. For USA, because I am an American. For Portugal, because I have been there several times and one of my good friends lives there. For South Africa, because I actually always (except if it is Brazil or Italy) sympathize with the hosting country. But this time, it is a little more than usual.

Because the World Cup in South Africa is something special. It is the first World Cup ever to be held on the African continent. And this fact alone is trend-setting in my opinion. South Africa has developed throughout the last year. Since the end of apartheid things are looking up. Especially Nelson Mandela had a big part in this development and also played a key role in the discussion of getting the World Cup to South Africa. (Supposedly, Mandela will be attending the opening ceremony today!) The country is ecstatic, excited and thrilled; the vuvuzelas are all over and people are dancing until they cannot anymore.

A World Cup supports South Africa in its development. Indeed, a lot of money was spent, which (in some opinions) may could have been used for townships or poorer areas rather than building soccer stadiums. But I disagree. Through the games, promotion and enthusiasm, which a World Cup implicates, South Africa will receive financial, social and economical support. Especially in the times of Social Media, where information and impressions are shared all over the world in a high frequency and in with just a few clicks. And in the long run, South Africa will have a huge benefit from all this. No country that hosted a World Cup was the same afterwards.

I am hoping for a wonderful, colorful and hopefully for Germany, USA, Portugal and especially South Africa, successful World Cup – Ke Nako: Celebrate Africa’s Humanity!