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Cape Town

Posted on Saturday, October 24, 2009 by Mbak Maya

Cape Town is a diverse city and is regarded as the melting point for various different cultures in Southern Africa. One would be hard pressed to find a reason not to fall in love with one of South Africa's most iconic city, Cape Town. It has one of the most idyllic settings - nestled between the ocean and breath-taking mountains. The iconic Table Mountain rises 1,086 above the city and has served as a mariner's landmark. On a clear day, the flat-topped mountain is visible 200km out to sea.

The "Mother city", as Cape Town is known in South Africa, has an abundance of contrasting activities from lounging on the Atlantic seaboard's popular beaches to exploring the vividly painted area of the Bo-Kaap. Hout Bay is a hub for fishing, especially tuna and crayfish, and the historical naval base at Simon's Town has a fascinating past.

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Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth

by Mbak Maya

Named after one of the world's renowned statesman and South African icon, Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth is one of the most sought-after destinations in South Africa. It will host the third and fourth place play-off.
Known as ‘the Friendly City', Nelson Mandela Bay/ Port Elizabeth is surrounded by immaculate beaches and is one of South Africa's port cities .It is located in the Eastern Cape Province, which has been home to some of the country's most iconic figures including Mandela, former president Thabo Mbeki, Steve Biko, Chris Hani, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo and other heroes of the struggle against apartheid.

The city's buildings are a physical timeline of the architectural changes dating as far back as the 19th century. The Opera House is a good example of Victorian architecture and is still in use and the city also has the richest collection of Art Nouveau buildings in South Africa. Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth is an exceptionally busy port city and is regarded as the motor industry capital of South Africa.
The city is a good place from which to discover the enchantments of the Eastern Cape. Five Biomes converge in the province, making it a must for eco-tourism and an opportunity to enjoy South Africa's diverse geography and the city is a mere 30 minute drive from five-star game lodges.
The sunshine coast, with its rugged unspoiled beaches and Hogsback, which is rumored to be the inspiration for the Lord of the Rings books, are all within a few hours drive from the city.

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Johannesburg

by Mbak Maya

Johannesburg or the City of Gold, as the city is known in South Africa, is the business hub of South Africa, contributing a substantial part of the country's GDP approximately 12%. The City is home to two of the country's most popular football teams and historical arch-rivals, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. Johannesburg is also known as the economic engine of Southern Africa and the trendsetter of South Africa. It is a melting pot laced with all the flavours of African cultures and beyond

Despite the hustle and bustle of the big city, Jo'burg is unexpectedly green and orientated towards outdoor living. It has a wealth of trees creating an 'urban forest', and many of the trees are located in the 2328 parks.


Cultural wealth is also in abundance, with a host of interesting museums including the Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill and the living memory of the South Western Townships, which include the world acclaimed Soweto. The Mai Mai Market is the oldest market in Johannesburg and is a great place to discover traditional remedies. But more than that, Johannesburg has become a truly African city, melding disparate people from across the continent with the descendents of the original Tswana and Ndebele inhabitants and the European, Indian and Chinese settlers.

Today descendents of immigrants from around the world call themselves Joburgers and they are added to daily by a continual stream of migrants, keen to have some of the city's shine rub off on them.

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South Africa appoint Parreira coach

Posted on Friday, October 23, 2009 by Mbak Maya

South Africa appoint Parreira coach. World Cup hosts South Africa appointed Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira as coach for a second time Friday, national football association president Kirsten Nematandani said.

Parreira returns to a post he relinquished in April last year when his wife became seriously ill in Rio de Janeiro, and he was succeeded by compatriot Joel Santana.
International novice Santana, 60, lost his first match in charge away to Nigeria, struggled to improve the team, and was fired after suffering eight losses in nine matches.
Parreira, 66, guided Brazil to the 1994 World Cup title when they defeated Italy after a penalty shootout in the United States, but fared less well three years ago with the South Americans making a quarter-finals exit to France.

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Zakumi

by Mbak Maya

Zakumi (born June 16, 1994) is the Official Mascot for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He is a leopard with green hair, presented September 22, 2008. His name comes from "ZA", the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code for South Africa, and "kumi", a word that means ten in various African languages.


Zakumi's birthdate coincides with a day known and celebrated as Youth Day in South Africa and their second group match. The year 1994 marks the birth of democracy in South Africa, meaning that he joins the ranks of South Africa's born-free generation. He will turn 16 in 2010.

The green and yellow (gold) colours of the character match the colours used in South African sport uniforms and can also be seen in the South Africa national football team's kit.

Andries Odendaal, from Cape Town, created the original character design. His costume is provided by Rainbow Productions, based in London, United Kingdom.

The official motto of Zakumi is: "Zakumi's game is Fair Play," which was seen in the digital advertisement boards during the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and will also appear in next year's FIFA World Cup.

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