Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Ostrich Orange

We're into the quarter finals now and some of the fans are leaving Durban as we have only one game left here.. the semi-final on the 7th July... it is going to be Netherlands and Argentina or Brasil and Spain??? Vote for the winner on the top right of the Blog in my poll.

Here's a South African ostrich with a Netherlands flavour.. pretty cool.. picture by our guest Jenny at the fan park in Durban with an orange leopard-print outfit also in the photo.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Netherlands (2) Slovakia (1)


Guests Georgina and Roee (left, from Melbourne) celebrate with Jenny and Edwin (right, from the Netherlands) and Llewellyn (guesthouse co-owner, 2nd from right) after the teams victory last night against Slovakia. This takes Netherlands through to the quarter-final where they meet Brasil (3) who also notched up a win against Chile (0) in the later game.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Durban Orange again


Durban is awash with colour again today as the OranjeFans return to give Netherlands their support in the round 16 clash with Slovakia. It also looks like Durban locals are supporting Netherlands and orange is the popular colour of the day. In the photos are (3rd from top) our Guests Darren, Janelle, Gareth, and Jenny, and Ishmar, whilst in the other photos I managed to catch some of the fans on their way to the Stadium. You can spot me in the top and 2nd photo with the Netherlands flag I painted on my cheek.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Netherlands vs Slovakia Mon 28 Jun


Netherlands and Slovakia have qualified for the Round of 16 game in Durban on Monday 28th June. This is wonderful news as it means we will have the big orange football team fans back in Durban. And I am getting out my bright orange gear to join the fans on the beachfront. Welcome back to Jenny (left) from the United States and now living in the Netherlands with her Dutch husband Edwin (right) who have been travelling the country in support of the Netherlands team and will be joining us at the Guesthouse for some more football mania.

Well done also to Slovakia who have played some excellent games to come through the first round with some top teams, such as world champs Italy and England, being sent home earlier than anyone expected.

  

Brasil (0) Portugal (0)


Stunning architecture and vibrant colours were our impressions of the new Durban Stadium on our first visit for the Brasil (0) vs Portugal (0) Game on Friday. In the pics Dave and Llewellyn pose with fans and in front of the Stadium with it's impressive arch and cable car that can take visitors to the top (although this facility is closed during the World Cup). A disappointing goal-less game however as spectators rather did the Mexican wave. Even the Pope was there... is he a Brasil supporter? lol

Guests gear up for the Brasil vs Portugal clash


The guesthouse was awash this weekend with Red and Yellow, the principal colours of Portugal and Brasil and the Stadium was incredible with the vibrant colours, buzz of the vuvuzelas and outrageous outfits. Guests Eddie (Notingham), Gabriel (Toronto) show their support for Brasil with Dave (also in yellow), Shibu and his son Shane presented Dave with a gift from India, and at the Stadium Nelson (Perth) with Llewellyn (guesthouse co-owner) show the colours of Portugal. This was the first time I had been inside the Stadium since it's opening recently.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Getting ready for the Brasil vs Portugal game


In the photos are Dave and Llewellyn in front of the Stadium, Dave giving the vuvuzela a blast and fans at the beachfront in the glorious warm winter's day with Llewellyn before the game. 

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

South Africa (2) France (1)

Ok so South Africa is now out of the World Cup, going out in a blaze of glory with a victory over France last night, but with insufficient goal differences to make it through to the next round. France, Nigeria and Greece also join South Africa in an exit from the World Cip as we get closer to the Round 16 next phase of the tournament.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

South Korea (2) vs Nigeria (2) Tues 22 June


Meet Park Chu Young, South Korea's star player for the Fifa World Cup squad in South Africa. We hope to see him in action in Durban for the game against Nigeria which kicks off at 4pm today.
You can read more about the South Korean team on the World Cup blog by clicking on the link here.

Players in action for the Nigerian team include Adeleye, Ike Uche, Ajilore & Lukman for their World Cup team in South Africa.

Monday, June 21, 2010

A little bit of America and Ireland in Durban

Sally and Norman are our guests, originally from Minneapolis, but who have moved to New Orleans recently. Norman is the big football fan and has seen some of the World Cup action here in Durban. Norman has Irish origins so was pleased to recognise the Durban City Hall, modelled on the Belfast City Hall. I served as Deputy Mayor of Durban 1994/95 so my office in the rooftops of the City Hall and interest in the architecture took me also to Belfast to see the other Durban structure. The couple is also seen from our Guesthouse rooftop with the Stadium in the background.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Father's Day dinner



Fathers' Day dinner with the brats.. Mark and Kate-Lynn and showing off my presents.. including the Stadium/RSA clock made by my daughter.

Fathers' Day in South Africa





Sun 20th June - it's Fathers' Day in South Africa and what a joy it is to be surrounded by such awesome kids. Thank you African savages for making the day so special. And the weatherman treated all dads and World Cup visitors to another stunning, sunny, 27c day in Durban  for the beach and beachfront as we bid goodbye to our Netherlands and Japenese visitors and welcome the Nigerian and South Korean fans for the next game here on Tuesday.

In the photos with their dad Llewellyn are Lauren, Calvin and Caitlin, and in the pics around uShaka Marine World and South Beach are Kate-Lynn with me, Dave... eating ice cream and buying caps and bands for the World Cup.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Inside the Stadium



This awesome photo inside Durban's World Cup Moses Mabhida Stadium was taken by our guest Guido at the Spain vs Switzerland game. The impressive arch over the Stadium makes a stunning architectural addition to Durban's skyline and a cable car takes one to the viewing deck on top. Guido also captured Manolo who was in town to encourage the Spanish fans (Guido is right in the photo next to Manolo.

Netherlands (1) Japan (0)




The victory for Netherlands in Durban certainly did not disappoint the fans who were celebrating even before the start of the game. The Mayor of Durban, Obed Mlaba,  addressed the fans saying we have "much to learn from you" and will aim to organise our Bafana South African fans better next time. The OranjeFans even brought  their own double-decker bus to Durban and fans were also seen decked out in orange karate-gear for the game against Japan.



Durban is Orange




Durban turned orange today with the Netherlands vs Japan game which kicked off in glorious sunny weather at 23c (mid-winter in Durban).

In the photos are our guests having breakfast and then leaving for the beachfront (Jenny, Arnaud, Lara and Edwin) where the OranjeFans were gathering. The outfits were awesome and the folk were signing and dancing "Durban is vir ons 'Ole'!" The score is Netherlands (1) Japan (0) as I write and the Netherlands are looking good to win the game.