Wiggins Hall erupted with2010 FIFA World Cup soccer fever when more than 300 fans chanted songs and blew vuvuzelas behind Bafana Bafana. If not green or yellow Bafana Bafana jersey, it was definitely Scrutinize t/shirts when Bafana took on Mexico during the opening match on 11 June 2010. With the powerful Scrutinize animerts and the inspiring Brothers For Life adverts carefully inserted into screening of the Bafana Bafana vs Mexico match the hall turned into Moses Mabhida stadium with all the vibrant and vuvuzelicious environment. Cato Manor has seen and tasted 2010 FIFA world cup. Young people, youth and old people never missed a chance to watch Bafana Bafana opening match in the big screen set by John Hopkins Health Education South Africa. Mexico could not threaten South Africans to stand firm behind their national team. Wiggin’s hall was blown away by powerful sounds of vuvuzela’s and the spirit of victory within everyone.

When the game started there was anxiety about whether Bafana Bafana would manage to defeat Mexico, however, people never stopped believing in their national team. There were times when everyone was kept standing and moving around, when Tshabalala, Pienaar, Teko and the team were twisting and turning Mexico like it only had eight players in the field. Tshabalala gave everyone a reason to smile with his goal that lifted the roof of the hall, and reminded Mexicans to take cover and defend. This goal invigorated faith in the South African team, and made everyone proud to be South African. People consistently celebrated the game hoping for a win, even after Mexico leveled the score.

This excitement never ended even after the game. All streets in Cato Manor were yellow, green, and decorated by black and gold scrutinize t/shirts. Should you want to know what Scrutinize is, and what it means, Cato Manor is the right place to find out. People celebrated the day as if we have won the world cup, but they only had itching hands waiting to hold the cup like the President of South Africa. The support spirit witnessed in Cato Manor could truly win the world cup for Bafana Bafana.

The success of this day was was due to a good partnership that exists amongst DramAidE, Youth Empowerment Program, Footballers for Life and Durban Municipality.

By Sphetho Mkhize