Mozambique had a mixed World Cup vibe hours before kick-off in South Africa on Friday.
Some cars bore the colours of the South African flag as they drove around the capital Maputo, while some people wore yellow and green Bafana Bafana jerseys.
South Africans Angie and Johan Roos regretted having left Mzansi on holiday to escape the soccer craze.
“Last year we were a bit dubious about the World Cup,” said Angie. “That’s why we booked a holiday here. Now it’s quite sad.”
The couple sported matching Bafana jerseys and South African flags while their two-year-old daughter wore her South African apparel proudly, as they visited a restaurant in the city.
Mozambican Ivan Laranjeira (26) although excited about the matches, was less impressed with the event’s organisation.
“I feel the cup isn’t African and isn’t for Africa,” he said.
‘If we see that the music of the World Cup is sung by Shakira, where is the African marketing?
‘Shakira is just one white girl. I don’t see a relation between Shakira and Africa.”
However, he said Mozambicans love their football.
“The great majority of people are soccer fans.”
Welkom-born Fernando Janeiro (39) agreed.
“Local support of soccer is huge. The border was closed when so many people went through to watch Portugal play against Mozambique,” he said, while taking a sip of his beer in South African bar Shtappens outside Maputo.
But World Cup fever in the country was low, he conceded.
“It’s really quiet. The real vibe is in supporting your team if it takes part.”
No official Fifa fan parks were built in Mozambique, but the government had set up centres in townships where locals could watch the games, said World Cup technical committee spokesperson Nuno Fortes.
Local media however accused the government of doing too little too late to prepare for the games. A new national stadium and a new wing at Maputo’s airport were both due to be finished before the World Cup to attract visitors, but construction was far behind schedule.
“Something failed, because we as Mozambique — the government — had this whole strategy put together for getting benefits from the World Cup,” said Laranjeira.
“That strategy all of a sudden seems not to work.”
Others still felt part of the tournament.
“I am proud of being African, especially because there is a great victory in the realisation of the cup,” said Aurelio Mahanjane (24) outside his house in Mafalala township.
“Being in Africa, I support South Africa. If you want to put things in terms of who’s the strongest, it’s Brazil,” he said. – AFP