The 2010 FIFA World Cup Started 5 Years Ago. South Africa Remembers the Good Times. · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Soccer fans holding vuvuzelas watching the opening game of the World Cup. Photo by Marcello Casal Jr. Published by Agência Brasil under Creative Commons.
Five years ago on June 11, the 19th FIFA World Cup began in South Africa. It was the first time the tournament had ever taken place on African soil. Using the hashtag #2010Memories, South Africans on Twitter remembered the day Vuvuzelas took over the soccer world.
Vha Musanda shared a photo of the moment that sent South Africa into tears. It was the first goal of the tournament by South African striker Tshabalala in the match against Mexico, which ended 1-1:
The moment that brought tears to SA'ns. We were United. S/O to my government for that dispora donation #2010memories pic.twitter.com/muGzcdQSLv
— Vha Musanda (@freedom_ride) June 11, 2015
The YouTube video below shows Shakira singing Waka Waka, the song for 2010 World Cup during the opening ceremony:
While everyone was crazy about the tournament, Khulekani Mathe remembers that he was crazy about something else:
This day in 2010 I was in India. When everyone was going crazy about the opening match I was going crazy with nowhere to watch #2010memories
— Khulekani.Mathe (@knmathe) June 11, 2015
Twitter user King Billy never felt so safe in the streets of Johannesburg, which is considered one of the most violent cities in the world:
I had never felt so safe in the streets of Johannesburg that month in my WHOLE LIFE #2010memories and it felt so great to be alive!
— King Billy⭐ (@itsmissbilly_) June 11, 2015
Vuma Augustus said he'd never seen people so united in all his life:
#2010memories@encanews I've never seen people so united in my life,missing the vibes #2010 siyabangena
— Vuma Augustus (@vuma5) June 11, 2015
Few South Africans appear to be overly distraught by the allegations that the country paid a $10-million bribe to win its World Cup bid.
Twitter user Yang and Reckless said the scandal doesn't bother him:
#2010memories #IwasThere to witness a beautiful country united. Bribe or no bride the 2010 World Cup Legacy lives on pic.twitter.com/UH7g2t9z1B
— Yang and Reckless (@CosteMayang) June 11, 2015
Other people online are event more indifferent:
#2010memories#FIFAscandal WTF***k who cares there was a bribe or not..we got beautiful stadiums..tourists ar still coming so wht
— Lucky 1Xap sentence. (@LuckylLucky) June 11, 2015
Other countries, says Nkateko Baloi, are jealous of South Africa's success in 2010t:
@UvekaR why must we dwell on the past when the other countries r jealous of how awesome the world cup was #2010memories
— ★₦ĸαƫΣк̲̣̣̥o̲̣̥♡̬̩̃̊ (@NkatekoBaloi) June 11, 2015
According to Kabwe Songolo, the conduct of the South African government and FIFA shouldn't detract from the fun of the sporting event itself:
#2010memories@EconFreedomZA @MbuyiseniNdlozi The conduct of RSA and FIFA officials mst nt be confused with World Cup Event. Delink them pls!
— Kabwe Songolo (@KabweSongolo) June 11, 2015
Some Internet users addressed US federal investigators, who are responsible for the recent high-profile arrests in Switzerland.
But one things the FBI cannot take away from #SouthAfrica is the pride and #2010memories!
— King Billy⭐ (@itsmissbilly_) June 11, 2015
However, Charlie Langa's memories are not as positive as many South Africans on Twitter:
The legacy of Corruption. Bribery, Racketeering, Money Laundering, Tax evasion.The list is too long=783. #2010memories.
— Charlie Langa (@CharlieLanga) June 11, 2015
While Tom Moultrie wonders how much innocence South Africans have lost since the World Cup:
#2010memories all over my social media today. How much innocence have we lost in the last 1826 days?
— Tom Moultrie (@tomtom_m) June 11, 2015