Today in Trust member Kate Thompson’s South Africa diary, we reach the Algerian game
Day 10: Friday, 18 June 2010
I had booked an appointment with a chiropractor based in Camps Bay and it lasted an hour. He worked out what was wrong and did some manipulation, which has eased it a bit but I need another one or two appointments before I leave Cape Town in eight days time.
After an early lunch I caught the 13.15 shuttle bus into the centre and – having made sure I had no water with me! – went to the Fans Fest area to see the Serbia v Germany game; to everyone’s surprise Germany lost and even missed a penalty.
I then made my way to the Cape Quarter, a fairly new and smart development and rang James, the son of a friend who I’d made contact with before I left. He met me at the V & A Waterfront and I joined him and his friends at a very noisy pub/restaurant. One of his friends and his family have lived in Cape Town since 2004. Everyone was very friendly and James was anxious to know that I had got back safely to my hotel. One of the reps had given me the name and number of a taxi driver and I was able to arrange a rendezvous with him for after the game. I then joined the crowds heading for the stadium…..
The security check was a long way from the turnstiles this time but once inside there were lots of bars, ice-cream sellers, etc – and a shop which I hit! I had tried to buy some World Cup souvenirs at the Fans Fest but their stock was very low and they were waiting for more. I had more luck at the ground and got a nice top for my sister and T-shirts for my great-niece and great-nephew.
The Green Point Stadium in Cape Town is much nicer than Rustenburg and, although I was much higher up, it was a great view. I managed to find a small space for my flag and then settled down for the game. Once again there was no coffee on sale, just beer and soft drinks.
England 0 Algeria 0
The least said about the game the better: England were awful, no urgency, no commitment, no anything. I’m afraid I joined in the booing at the end but how else are we to show our displeasure? We have all spent a small fortune coming here and the least the players can do is to give their all.
Rooney was anonymous – so much for the wunderkind – and I saw on the news the next day that he had criticised us for booing. Words fail me! It looks very much as if we will not even progress from the group stage which is a disgrace. I wish I hadn’t renewed my England fan club membership, they don’t deserve my loyalty and they certainly don’t deserve my money!
I found the hotel where Phillip, the taxi driver was waiting for me and was back at my hotel in pretty good time, all things considered. One of the other guests had told me that the Italian restaurant round the corner was putting something on for the England fans staying at this hotel, but there was no one there I recognised. Perhaps I was too early. Anyway, by this time it was 11.30 so I decided to go to bed – how boring and provincial of me!
Day 11: Saturday, 19 June 2010
I caught the 9.45 shuttle and went straight to the tourist office to book for the walking tour at 1.00. I was told that the morning one hadn’t left, so I was able to join that; there were only three of us and one of them was the guide’s daughter! It was excellent, lasting nearly four hours, and I was able to tick off quite a few items from my ‘things to see’ list. There are some nice Art Deco buildings, which I wouldn’t have spotted otherwise.
After this finished at 2.30 I went to have a late lunch at a restaurant recommended by the guide; I thought it was African but I think it was Turkish, as there was a man smoking a hookah pipe! (if that’s how you spell it). I caught the 3.45 shuttle back and, like the journey in, was the only passenger! Mum rang while I was on the bus, just for a chat; I daren’t think what it will cost her.
I watched the Netherlands v Japan game at the restaurant and the Australia v Ghana one in my room. I then bought some more airtime and was finally able to send part one of this diary and I see Rooney has apologised for his outburst – so he should!
Incidentally, I have been very surprised at the make-up of the group here. They are much younger than I expected and, apart from a couple of men who I guess are in their 70s, I must be the oldest. And I am certainly the only single woman. One of the young women said to me at the England game that she was really impressed that I had come on my own – she didn’t add ‘at your advanced age’ but she might have been thinking it! As it happens, nearly everyone else is only here for the group stages and that has cost them a mere £7,000 or so!
Part seven of Kate’s diary will appear tomorrow