Fans from all over the world have converged on South Africa for the Confederations Cup Final.
As
night fell on Johannesburg Sunday, Ellis Park filled in anticipation of
the closing ceremony for the 2009 Confederations Cup and the final
match.
Fans came from around the world to attend the
Confederations Cup, hoping to see their team in the final. In the end,
the United States and Brazil made it to the championship match, but
that did not stop fans of all nationalities from adopting one of the
finalists as their own.
Yousef Moolla is a South African who came to the final match to support Brazil.
"I just love the way they play football, it was a beautiful game and they played beautiful football," he said.
His
friend Hassan Patel says they are South Africans first and support the
national team above others. In the Confederations Cup third place
match on Sunday afternoon, Spain edged hosts South Africa, 3-2, in
extra time.
Patel says they hope that next year their own
Bafana Bafana, which took fourth place in the Confederations Cup, will
make it even further in what will be the first African World Cup.
"That is our home country. Of course, we love them," Patel said.
The
fans were treated to an entertaining match, as the Americans took a 2-0
first half lead before the Brazilians stormed back with three second
half goals to take the title.
With the Confederations Cup
complete, it is time to look ahead to next year. American Lola Apple,
who works in Johannesburg, says she is confident that things will go
well for South Africa as hosts next year.
"I think they are
doing a really good job," Apple said. "There were a lot of moments
when people were thinking that it really wasn't going to be as
organized. And I think they are doing a really good job."
FIFA football will return to South Africa next year with the World Cup to begin next June.
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