The first World Cup in Africa begins today (June 11, 2010) and as expected global audiences from across continents irrespective of nationalities or political divide will be for a brief period of one month united in the sheer joy and excitement of watching this ‘beautiful game’. Undoubtedly the FIFA Soccer World Cup is the world’s most popular sporting event and as the 32 teams competes for success and glory, one will only hope that FIFA 2010 will benefit not just the game of football or Africa but also bring amity among nations and make the world a better place to live in. In the euphoria of the somewhat maddening event, we should also not forget the problems facing mankind whether it is poverty and hunger, conflict and violence, AIDS, corruption or the violation of basic human rights. Much has also been written about how the world cup will give spotlight to the big challenges on the continent of Africa. Therefore it is also an opportunity for Africans to be inspired, to emulate others where it has failed and in the process stand up to the mounting challenges that face Africa and its people.
More importantly it is also a time for Africa’s leaders to wake up to the reality of their own failure to lead in the rightful path and how years of corruption and misrule has made Africa and its people utterly miserable and poor. Violent power struggles, anarchy, lawlessness and the crumbling State structure is largely the outcome of the complete failure of the political leadership. And despite independence and democracy there is continuing insecurity and epidemic poverty because of corruption and misrule. The timing for holding the Cup in Africa could not have come at a more appropriate time as this year marks the 50th anniversary of independence for 17 of the continent’s 53 nations. All Africans especially its leaders must introspect and see where things have gone wrong. Fifty years is a pretty long time to get things right but this has not happened in the case of Africa and its myriad of problems. The opportunity of fifty years may be gone forever but all is not lost if only Africa learns from its past failures. If it does not, then the next fifty years will also go to the dustbin of history and by that time it may be too late.
One may argue as to what the FIFA World Cup has in relation to Africa’s resurgence. Or that the event’s host is South Africa’s and therefore what has Africa as a continent or race got to achieve or be inspired about? Well for one South Africa at least represents a ray of hope among Africans. The inspiring struggle and leadership of Nelson Mandela, the end to apartheid and the transition to a democratic ‘rainbow nation’ State where blacks and whites can live together in amity, the peaceful democratic transition of power and the end result stability and progress should inspire Africa to join the path of peace and development. And all this positives have contributed to South Africa joining the illustrious list of countries to host such an event as the FIFA World Cup. The rest of Africa must need to strengthen constitutional and democratic institutions besides educating people on respecting the rule of law and becoming good citizens. What Africa needs is political stability, good governance and peaceful development. South Africa may not be the perfect model of a State but it has earned its rightful place in the global comity of nations. Hosting the FIFA World Cup is proof of this. Africa as a continent must therefore be inspired to change for the better. And as host nation representing not just itself but all of Africa, the rainbow nation state of South Africa must lead the way.
