Fifa volunteer experience — part 4

A grouped of 800+ volunteers cheered as the passionate expression behind the words sunk in.

“Of all the host cities for the Fifa 2009 Confederations Cup and 2010 World Cup, Rustenburg is the only one with its stadium located right at the heart of a typical SA semi-rural settlement, in Phokeng village,” said Nketu Matima, Rustenburg 2010 coordinator, during his speech on the first day of the 3-day volunteer training programme.

It must be said that this provides for a unique visitor experience and how Rustenburg makes its mark will soon be tested between June 14 to 28 as the world witnesses the first ever Fifa Confederations Cup tournament to be played on African soil.

To the uninitiated (and soon to be initiated), a typical SA rural settlement is about as close you can get to experiencing the legacy of apartheid and its structural outlook. It is inexplicable how people who live under such “not ideal” conditions continue to buzz with some amount of unparalleled hope. Rustenburg will provide much more than football — an exhibition on the courage of human spirit.

Since the construction of Royal Bafokeng Stadium — wholly owned by the Bafokeng community — Phokeng has become a hive of activity. The two upcoming Fifa events must be exactly what the “the king and his people” ordered.

That said, such opportunities still come with challenges of their own. For example, if you were a visitor from somewhere in Tzakitzakistan (just a euphemism for “somewhere unknown”) asking for directions to the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, you would likely hear something like: “Go past Lefaragatlhe and just before you get to Boshoek you’ll come across Phokeng and there you’ll find the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.”

OK, let’s say you are from Egypt and tend to not pronounce vowels when you speak — as per Onke Mjo, the Local Organising Committee volunteer programme manager — saying the words Lefaragatlhe, Boshoek and Phokeng would sound like “Lfrgtlh, Bshk and Phkngh”.

Fortunately, you do not have to worry very much about getting lost because we — all volunteers — were told to expect such “creative” pronunciations. Worst-case scenario, the “language services” volunteers — our masters of linguistics — will be at hand in every airport and accredited accommodation venue.

But then again, you’ll soon learn that South Africans don’t just give directions. According to former president Thabo Mbeki they take you by the hand and say “Come, I’ll take you there”.