January 25, 2009

AJAX, Biltong, and Doughnuts?

On our last official night in Cape Town, South Africa a large group of us went to a local soccer game. Yes, here in Africa it is "soccer". Some of the local Brits would challenge it, but I have been told soccer is fine.

It really was a good time. Everyone had these signs made of newspaper to support the home team called the AJAX (the J is pronounced as Ya). They read "Ajax jou lekker ding!" It was in Affrikans which is the South African style Dutch. It said AJAX...It's a good thing!! My friends found one that had been discarded and brought it back so we could fit in, as much as possible anyway.

So the crowds were large, the stadium is under construction, but still in use (it was getting a facelift for the 2010 World Cup) and the game was on with the fans raging with support by means of abnoxious and loud horns all around. The Ajax, who were undefeated at home lost to the Morokko Swallows...tragic.

But wait!!! The best part of the whole game was the fact that there were no beer and hotdog vendors. South Africans at their soccer fanatical best like to take in a match munching on biltong which is beef jerky, and hot chocolate and doughnuts. What a fabulous experience. The hot chocolate was distributed by a guy wearing an insulated back pack cooler with a hose. His tag said "Hot Choc".

I wa saddened along with many that the Ajax ( an Amsterdam farm team) did not emerge victorious. I am not sure if the referee was watching the same game I was.

No comments: