Beaver
Road World Cup Blog!
Neil Custis is a
sports journalist for the Sun Newspaper and father to Zak and Anya
at Beaver Road School. He will be at the World Cup for the next
month and be providing the school website with a daily blog about
his experiences....
Wednesday 30
June 2010
The sun is
shining on what will be my last day in South Africa.
I had hoped to be here until July 11 to watch England lift their
first World Cup in 44 years, but we all know what happened there.
I think Zak will be picking his children up from school before we
get close to winning this again.
I will leave with great memories of the people here all of whom have
been so friendly and so eager to show South Africa in a good light.
Capetown is also a beautiful City.
But it is clear much still has to be done to get people out of tin
shack townships and into proper housing.
It seems unbelievable that a country which can host such a lavish
occasion as a World Cup still has people living in such conditions.
Now I'm leaving I can't wait to be standing at the school gates to
pick up Zak and Anya who I have missed so much over these last three
weeks.
Neil
Tuesday 29
June 2010
It's dark and
chucking it down with rain in Capetown this morning, which pretty
much sums up the mood of myself and all England fans.
No it wasn't a bad dream it really did happen.
I was playing football with my friend's son and his mate in their
garden yesterday and every time they let a goal in they laughed and
said 'I'm Robert Green'.
Yes we really have become a joke.
I sat with former England boss Graham Taylor on the flight from
Bloemfontein to Cape Town yesterday and it was very interesting to
get his insight.
He agreed with me that too often it is the manager that has to take
all the criticism while all the players can scamper off back to
their privileged lives unscathed.
It was also nice that Taylor was happy to talk to someone from a
newspaper who depicted him as turnip and accept that was then and
this is now.
Anyway I'm preparing for what should be a cracking game tonight as
Spain take on Portugal.
Then I will be returning to sunny Didsbury, when it will probably
starting raining.
Neil
Sunday 27
June 2010
This is probably
the worst I have felt watching England play.
In the past we could at least say it was the lottery of the penalty
shoot-out or that we went down fighting.
This was just pitiful.
Since my first World Cup in France '98 I have seen us getting worse
with every tournament.
The England fans I spoke to seemed beyond angry, just fed up.
It costs a lot of money to come out here and witness this and once
again the faithful came in their tens of thousands. For what?
Sadly there is nothing to suggest we can improve from this point.
The nucleus of this team is now too old and there is not enough
talent coming through to replace them.
The days of us being a major force in football finished here in
Bloemfontein.
If it had been the Germany team of 1974 you could have accepted it.
But as one colleague quipped, that team could probably still beat us
now.
Neil
Friday 25
June 2010
The excitement
is building ahead of Sunday's clash with Germany and all over South
Africa England fans are desperately trying to find ways of getting
to Bloemfontein.
They'll be sleeping on the streets by the sounds of it.
I've managed to get a place in a game reserve five miles away from
the stadium.
Waking up to a view of tigers and elephants before covering a
football match is not something I tend to experience in Didsbury.
Jurgen Klinsmann was at last night's game between Holland and
Cameroon and the English press got a chance for a quick word with
the former German player and coach.
He described England's team as 'outstanding' and believes that it
will now play with more confidence having stumbled through the group
stages.
He did, however, believe the stress will take hold if it comes to
penalties.
I have now witnessed England being knocked out on penalties at
France '98, Euro 2004, and at the last World Cup.
I really don't think I can take it again.
You sit there gripped with tension convincing yourself that if you
sit a certain way or say the right thing England will win. Of course
you are powerless but it doesn't half take it out of you.
Anyway let's all try and relax for 48 hours.
Neil
Thursday 24
June 2010
I am currently
in Bloemfontein where England will play Germany on Sunday.
I don't think this small town is quite prepared for what is coming
with the invasion of tens of thousands of fans.
To paint a picture this town is about the size of Stockport but with
less hotels and guest houses.
The ground is not as big as Eastlands holding about 40,000
spectators.
How the fans will get around is another problem.
I had to get a lift off a police car the other day.
How they will get here will be a big problem too with most flights
already full
But they will get here somehow because they always do.
Despite the reputation England fans have there have been no problems
so far and they are probably THE most devoted supporters in world
football.
I am returning to Capetown for Holland's game tonight and will
return here on Saturday in good time for what promises to be an
incredible occasion.
I understand football was suspended yesterday at Beaver Road so
everyone could watch us win.
Lets just hope Didsbury has a party on Sunday too.
Neil
Wednesday
23 June 2010
There are
thousands of volunteers out here paid just ten pounds a day. I met
one yesterday who gave me a lift to the Free State Stadium who said
he had left his wife and new born baby for a month just to help out
and make sure the first African World Cup runs smoothly.
There is immense pride here at having the tournament and a real
concern that everybody sees the good in South Africa.
The people are so friendly. Last night I was a bit stranded after
finishing my work following South Africa's great victory over
France.
So I waved down a police car and simply asked for a lift to my
hotel.
They were more than happy to help and I chatted to all three
officers about the tournament.
While there was great disappointment about going out the tournament
there was also huge pride at South Africa's victory over France.
Right now I'm stranded in fogbound Bloemfontein airport as the hours
tick down to England's big game.
Surely they'll win, won't they.
Neil
Tuesday 22 June 2010
I'm in sunny Bloemfontein to cover what should be
France and host nation South Africa's final acts in this tournament.
Thank goodness for the French. Their behaviour and performances are
making the English look like disciplined world beaters.
Internal bust-ups, a foul mouthed rant at the manager that resulted
in Nicolas Anelka being booted out and then refusing to train.
What a disgrace and what a terrible example to children who idolise
these stars.
We are expecting many of the big names to be left out for their
match today.
The Vuvuzelas have been blowing since early this morning as the
Bafana Bafana fans hope for a miracle to get them through.
If they don't they will become the first host nation to fail to
progress beyond the group stage in a World Cup and a lot of colour
will be lost from the tournament.
Neil
Monday 21
June 2010
Revolution is in
the air everywhere you look out here in South Africa.
The French have quickly become the joke of the World Cup after the
players refused to train yesterday after Nicolas Anelka was sent
home.
I'm off up to Blomfontein today to follow them as they prepare for
what could be their final match in this tournament when they take on
host country South Africa tomorrow.
French captain Patrice Evra has always been one of the most polite,
articulate and professional people I have had the pleasure to talk
to in my role covering Manchester United.
To see him at the centre of this storm and having a raging row with
the team's fitness coach is quite odd.
The bizarre thing is they could still go through if they beat South
Africa by a few goals and Uruguay and Mexico don't draw.
As for England, John Terry's press conference yesterday had the
whiff of someone getting his own back for being stripped of the
captaincy.
Believe me the atmosphere in the England camp is far from settled to
as they prepare for their final make or break game.
If it's as bad as the last one Beaver Road might have a clamour from
the kids for more rugby.
Neil
Sunday 20
June 2010
Portugal are in
Capetown and I got the chance to ask former Manchester United star
Cristiano Ronaldo if he was missing Manchester and might come back.
Unfortunately for all Reds fans he replied: "Yes I miss Manchester.
But no I don't think I'll be coming back"
Cristiano was a class act in a press conference in the Stadium here
in Capetown.
The Potuguese Press officer was going to stop the English press
contingent from getting a question in but Ronaldo insisted on it as
he recognised us from his days in Manchester.
Ronaldo came to the defence of Wayne Rooney yesterday suggesting he
was having to do too much on his own.
Rooney simply does not look the same player out here.
The frustration is beginning to boil inside the player and don't be
surprised if it spills over, as it did in the last World Cup, if
things go wrong against Slovenia.
Neil
Saturday 19 June
2010
Just as the
World Cup party gets up and running with some exciting games along
comes England.
I went to all their games in the last World Cup and they were bad,
this was worse.
Thousands have spent thousands to come here and afterwards they were
furious with what they saw.
Wayne Rooney complained about the fans booing but they had every
right after this awful display.
To think the atmosphere had been brilliant in and around the stadium
before the game but it quickly died away.
Now they need to win in their final group game.
Don't bet on it, I might be back taking the kids to Beaver Road
every morning sooner than I thought.
Neil
Friday 18
June 2010
Went to
Bloemfotein yesterday to cover Greece beating Nigeria in what was
one of the first really exciting games of the tournament.
Myself and a colleague then went to a nearby hotel to watch the
French lose to Mexico.
How can a team with so much talent play so badly!
I returned to Capetown this morning on a flight and had to do a
double-take as I got on board with Prince Harry sat in the front row
as he travels to attend tonight's England game in Cape Town.
The flight in on a clear day like today reveals the most beautiful
but barren landscape for most of the journey but also an aerial view
or the corrugated iron townships the nearer you get to Capetown. A
world away from the beautiful stadiums.
So it's England v Algeria tonight, surely nothing will go wrong,
will it?
Neil
Thursday 17 June
2010
The South
African team is called Bafana Bafana out here which means 'The Boys.
The Boys' and their defeat to Uruguay last night has temporarily
sucked the atmosphere out the country. The locals are trying to
blame the referee for sending off the goalkeeper but it was the
right decision and they were totally outplayed. They now need a
minor miracle to get through which is shame given the expectation in
this country for their team doing well.
I have made the 70 minute flight to Bloemfontein to cover Greece v
Nigeria a game both sides need to win so I am hoping for the first
cracking World Cup game because there have been precious few so far.
The flight gives you a great view of the beauty of this country and
also the vast expanses of barren land.
The people are so friendly and so happy to have this tournament you
feel welcome everywhere you go.
Yet the stark reality of life for still too many people here came in
the journey to Capetown airport where you pass a township with
thousands of corrugated iron shacks which double up as peoples
homes. It's a truly sad sight.
Neil
Wednesday 16
June 2010
The result
between Brazil and North Korea last night proves once more that the
supposed minnows of World Football are not prepared to lie down
anymore.
The greatest proof of this was eight years ago when a well organised
South Korea side made it all the way to the semi-finals.
What both South and North Korea did in the lead up to these two
major tournaments was suspend their leagues and take all the players
away to a training camp for three months.
While this of course would be impossible in England it just shows
what can be done given time together and England managers have too
little of it.
Anyway the sun has returned to a previously freezing Capetown and
the England fans are starting to arrive ahead of Friday's meeting
with Algeria here at The Green Point Stadium.
But don't strain your ears for chants of Eng-er-land as the
Vuvuzelas are drowning out everything.
Neil
Monday 14
June 2010
The World Cup is
well up and running and beautiful Capetown is buzzing with
excitement.
The vuvuzelas, those horns you can hear on TV, are being blown
everywhere.
Not just in the grounds but in restaurants, bars and the middle of
the street in the middle of the night.
Fans from all different nations are congregating in this City and
now we await the England fans' arrival from Wednesday onwards for
the game here against Algeria on Friday.
They can expect a warm welcome with many South Africans fans of the
English Premier League.
Everyone here is just hoping the good vibe in this City is not
ruined.
Anyway today it is cold and rainy reminding me of home in Didsbury.
Tonight I'm off to Capetown's wonderful World Cup Stadium to watch
champions Italy kick their tournament off against Paraguay.
Neil
Friday 11
June 2010
Capetown
I wish we could
have a winter like this in England.
Capetown is supposed to be in the middle of theirs yet it is T
shirts and shorts for many people today as the excitement hits fever
pitch on day one.
Capetown is buzzing with seemingly everyone blowing a horn called
vuvuzelas which you will no doubt have heard already on the TV.
The result is a constant humming noise through the city centre and
the beautiful harbour.
Somebody also decided to blow one outside the house I'm staying in
at 6.30 this morning ending my sleep.
World Cup fever has certainly gripped this nation although not
seemingly our taxi driver who asked me if Manchester United and
Chelsea were competing!
Neil
Tuesday 08
June 2010
Hi Kids.
This is my fourth World Cup and promises to be every bit as exciting
as the other three I have attended in France, Japan and South Korea,
and Germany.
The Sun has a team of seven sports reporters at the World Cup and I
will be based in Capetown doing all the games there plus two group
matches in Bloemfontein.
Through this blog I will try and relay the colour and excitement of
the most viewed event in the world.
While we all hope England win, the event always benefits from the
host country going as far as possible so fingers crossed for South
Africa too.
Eight years ago I followed South Korea all the way to the
semi-finals in their home World Cup and have never witnessed emotion
like it.
I am writing this just before setting off from Stockport Train
Station to Euston then across to Heathrow for a ten hour flight at
9pm this evening.
I will talk to you again tomorrow from Capetown.
Neil
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