The odds didn't look good for Bafana Bafana (the name given to the South African team, which means “The boys, the boys”). Even though France had been playing badly this tournament, popular opinion was that South Africa was going to loose, and could loose badly.
Reliable sunshine
22 June 2010
Bafana Bafana supporters make some noise.
© Benedicte Kurzen / Greenpeace
Either way, the solar powered viewing area was going to be ready. All that the power system needs is sunshine, and even in the winter that's in plentiful supply here in South Africa.
A mini-bus and two cars full of staff and volunteers made the two hour journey into rural Africa from the Greenpeace office in Johannesburg. By 1:15pm, we were joined by dozens of Jericho volunteers. After a quick briefing from logistics coordinator Tshepo, we started setting up.
The solar powered cookers were put on display, and along with a table showing off other solar technology. Banners were hung to the fence. An inside team arrange the chairs, checked the equipment and tidied up the hall. An outside team got the gate area ready. Their job would be to search everyone coming in for weapons, and check tickets. Entry is free, but restricted to 600 people.
Playing a friendly
After set up, we all had lunch together. For past games, Greenpeace had provided the food. For today, the locals had decided it was their turn. They cooked up a typical dish called “meat and samp”, which is boiled corn and beef and was actually very tasty.
Thus fortified, we split in two teams - local volunteers vs the Greenpeace crew - and took to the football pitch behind the school. Claudia, our Campaigns Director, served as referee.
The game was as hard played as any World Cup match (though perhaps a bit less expertly). Both sides felt they had a certain honor to uphold. The local volunteers gained the upper hand several times (some of them playing barefoot), and got some good shots in. None the less, they couldn't get past Marcelo, the goal keeper in town all the way from Argentina. In theory, Marcelo is helping the Africa office develop their mobile activism strategy - applying lessons learned in other Greenpeace offices - but the local volunteers could be forgiven if they thought we'd flown him in mainly as a ringer.
At the end of the game the score was left nil/nil. Hand shaking all round while we wondered if Bafana Bafana would manage as well. Many doubted it.
The big game starts
Initially, turnout was low. Less than a third of the seats were full at kickoff. The spectators had, however, come well equipped with vuvuzela, other noise makers and enthusiasm. The sound in the hall was deafening.
Then, 20 minutes into the match, something amazing happened. Bafana Bafana scored! A brilliant header by Bongani Khumalo put South Africa in the lead. The entire audience was on their feet screaming. A few minutes later, a second goal! This one by Katlego Mphela off a pass from Masilela. Suddenly, anything seemed possible.
People kept streaming into the hall. Having heard about the change in fortunes, they wanted to see the game for themselves.
At half time, a grinning Nkopane (the climate change issue expert in charge of the Solar World Cup project) commented, “At first I was worried people would not come. That they lost hope. Now we're two goals up. It's just good for the spirit.”
Of course, one person who missed seeing those goals, was Nkopane himself. He was in his usual spot at the front gate - making sure everything was working smoothly.
Second half
Night has fallen during the first half, and now it's time for the second. Not a problem for the solar powered viewing area. A bank of 36 batteries provides enough power for seven hours of football viewing.
And in the second half, our energy technology continues to function smoothly. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for South Africa's defense. France gets a goal in.
By now the room is almost full. At times, it is a vuvuzela concert. At all times it is just LOUD. If volume could win a football match, then the fans in Jericho alone would have carried the day. Instead, it's left to the South African team. France has improved their game markedly since the first half, and both sides now seem evenly matched.
In the end, Bafana Bafana carries the day with a two to one victory. Of course, the joy of winning is tempered by the knowledge that this is their last game of the tournament. As the well known South African photographer Alf Kumalo (who joined us in Jericho for the match) put it, “Our only consolation is that it is a win”.
Consolation or celebration
After the game, the crowed moved across the street from the solar viewing center for a party. Music, shouting and continued vuvuzela trumpeting testified that the people of Jericho felt they had something worth making noise about.
And no wonder. Their team has gone out of the tournament in style. In Jericho, they'll be watching plenty more games, thanks to solar power. And their community centre has a reliable source of electricity for years to come. What will they do with it? We can only imagine the possibilities. Maybe watch Bafana Bafana stun the world with a World Cup victory in four years time.
Anything is possible.