World Cup Chronicles: All the Reds

This day, being one of the best days of my life, is very easy to recall upon. I remember the morning when we got paint from Krista, i remember the fan park when we asked a cop to film our pre game enthusiasm. I remember the walk to the stadium along the beach, and I remember lovin it! Ill back up to explain why and how this all happened. While we were still in Zambia, Collins talked with Debbie-Ann our Durban contact. We ask if, it wasn’t too much trouble if she could get us tickets to a game. Hoping for the best, We feared the worst. You see Debbie-Ann was the most wonderful lady. But it didn’t appear as though she knew or cared much for soccer. So when she came through for us, and handed us the 7 tickets the day we arrived in Durban, it was a big deal. And when we read the tickets, i remember my jaw dropping as we read – Premier Box Tickets. Debbie-Ann didn’t even understand what she had done, and more just laughed at our reactions as we excitedly tried to explain to her what she had gotten us. You see as a local she was able to purchase tickets that we, as non-residents, could not. We really felt to give God the credit on this one, cause he’s the one that provided. Big Time.

So this brings us to game day. The past week was the week that we lived at the kingdom kids camp, and Krista was able to hook us up with some fabric paint, aka body paint. We got to the fan park about 2 hours before game time. And there, we painted. I was ambitious, but determined to cover as many square inches of my body in paint as possible. So, the first key to that, wear as little clothing as possible. We painted alot of Korean flags, made some more headbands, and we painted my favourite player – Park Ji Sung’s jersey on me. We made this video at the height of our excitement right before we started walking to the game.

Entering the stadium was another amazing thing. Josh and I had been the week before but for the rest of our entire team, it was their first time, and we were all there together.

Finding our seats. Another highpoint. We followed the signs until we were stopped by security asking to see our tickets. Wierd, that’s never happened before. Turns out beyond that point was only for premier ticket holders, so once they had handed us our yellow wrist bands, we walked straight in. Found a black door. With our ticket section, opened it and explored our box. This is what we saw. Free drinks. Free snacks. An indoor lounge to watch the game, and our first class, spacious seats, just outside. we took a picture with our bartender.

The stage for a great game was now set, all was no riding on the football. Nigeria scored first. Heartbreak. Josh cheering for them didn’t help the matters, but quickly after Korea evened it up. And then in the second half a goal by the man himself Park Ji Sung scored the go ahead goal. It was a nail biter. So many chances, great football and in the 80 somthing minute, Nigeria scored again. No it was intense. If Nigeria won, they advance, If Korea Drew or Won, they move on. Late 80 something^th minute Nigeria had another chance but missed the net. The game ended like that. 2 – 2. A great game with lots of good goals. The game was over, but the fun wasn’t. All the Korean fans were celebrating in the section where they unrolled the big flag. So of course, we went down there to celebrate. I took a few picture with them, still cheering and singing, and then, this Korean dude stopped me, looked me up and down, and then said, ‘woooooooowww.’ He took the shirt off his back, and handed it to me. I waved it in the air, not understanding what he wanted me to do, so he took it back, and put it around my neck. This guy literally gave me the shirt off his back. Then we joined in helping them carry out the massive flag. About 100 koreans, raf, Collins, josh and I carried this rolled up flag around and out of the stadium. Then we left, straight to bed cause it was late by the time we got back, and that day we got a bunch of new memories, and a new favourite shirt.