JOHANNESBURG
As Brazil gears up for a spectacular opening of the 2014 FIFA World Cup on Thursday, South African soccer fans are lamenting the absence of their national squad and reminiscing about the cup's 2010 edition, which they hosted.
"During the 2010 World Cup, South Africans were excited," Johannesburg resident Desmond Tabo told Anadolu Agency. "We filled stadiums."
Like all South African football fans, Tabo is disappointed that the national squad – fondly called "Bafana Bafana" – will not be playing at this year's edition in Brazil.
"I will be supporting Ghana since Bafana Bafana will not be playing," he said unenthusiastically.
Sayid Fura, who worked as a FIFA volunteer during the 2010 World Cup, wished he could be in Brazil to watch the tournament.
"I will be supporting Ghana and Portugal," he told AA.
"I hope Brazil will have a wonderful welcome for the visitors. The last World Cup, which was held here in South Africa in 2010, was fantastic," said Fura.
The 20th World Cup in Brazil will run from June 12 to July 13, with the participation of 32 teams from five continents.
The one-month quadrennial tournament is expected to kick off with a lavish ceremony and a Brazil-Croatia opener held at Sao Paulo's Corinthians Stadium.
The world's most widely viewed sporting event will feature a total of 64 matches to be hosted by 12 cities across Brazil.
Africa is being represented at the event by Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Cameroon and Algeria.
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Andrew Boyley, a school student, says he will support Spain in this year's World Cup.
Street vendors are already selling t-shirts bearing the names of the big teams playing in Brazil.
"We hope to make good business during the days that Ghana and Brazil will be playing," one Johannesburg street vendor told AA.
Cafes and entertainment venues have already set up big television screens on which fans can watch the games.
"For us to have many customers, we have to show all the games on screen – or else no one will come," Martins John, the owner of a pub in Johannesburg's Central Business District, told AA.
Some South African soccer fans said they would watch the matches at sports betting venues, where they planned to bet money on their favored teams.
"For now, I will be supporting Brazil and Ghana," one fan told AA, refusing to give his name.
Host nation Brazil will head up Group A, along with Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon.
African powerhouse Ghana, meanwhile, will have a rough ride in Group G, where it will face Germany, Portugal and the U.S.
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