USA vs. England: Royal Bafokeng Stadium

Saturday: After Augie finally arrived from his extended layover in Ghana, we drove from Jo’Burg to Rustenburg for the match between England and the U.S. at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium. The stadium is situated in the middle of a local neighborhood which makes for some amazing contrast. Low small buildings of the town across the street from the towering stadium and green grass. We hung out taking photographs of locals, and fans: had a few beers at Minty’s Tuck Shop and then unexpectedly scored some tickets for the game. Face price.

It was our first time inside a World Cup stadium, and the experience was very surreal– gotta remember to make some sound recordings at the next match. The row behind us was a lineup of English Soccer Fans, perfectly stereotypical: everything was “Effing Wanker” this, and “Shite” that. They hollered at everything; the US team, us, their own team, the buzzing vuvuzelas, but especially the terribly lucky American goal.

We parked our car on a side street, a bit away from the stadium. The man who owned the house adjacent came over, worried us a little. He was too kind, though, and invited us to park our car inside his yard under his watch. Safe and sound. We exchanged him a fujiroid Zak took of him in front of his house.

Leaving Rustenburg turned out to be a bit easier than expected. We jumped onto the highway around 11PM and sped along, passing old local vehicles and being passed by a Bentley. We drove from Rustenberg to Ian’s parents farm, just outside of Vaalwater, in the Waterberg of SA. I think we took the long way, although it was amazing. Not much for land to see, but the milky way is the brightest I’ve ever seen and there was all sorts of wildlife. An Aardvark wandered off the road, we saw Springhare, Caracal (lynx), and an African Porcupine. We almost hit a Reedbuck jumping out of the bush.