This past week, we had a brief brush with glory when we stood within touching distance of the solid gold World Cup trophy (or, more accurately, within touching distance of the well-watched case holding the trophy).
As soccer fans know, the 2010 World Cup will be held in South Africa this coming June and July.
This is the first time the tournament has been held on this continent of soccer (or football) fans, and the excitement is almost palpable.
Even here on Zanzibar, far in so many ways from the upcoming event, people are excited. Qualifying games for the Cup have drawn huge audiences at TVs in Stone Town squares where fans watch games together, and everyone has their favorite teams. Sadly, Tanzania will not be among the teams playing in the Cup.
But Zanzibar had a taste of the World Cup fever when the actual trophy made a stop at Forodhani Gardens this past week, as part of the trophy’s 89-city, 86-country, 134,017 kilometer tour in preparation for the event. Curious about the posters and billboards that had sprung up virtually overnight here, we were among the many who showed up at the event.
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