Ke Nako! Ke Nako! (It’s time!)

South Africa is vibrating with colour, sound and anticipation!  Only 1 day to go before the start of the FIFA Soccer World Cup.  VIVA! (Non-South Africans, this is an expression of good luck here!)

Flags of all 32 participating countries are all over the country, flying and unfurling in the African wind. They are being pasted, painted and displayed everywhere and anywhere possible.

Being part of the excitement during this time makes me feel extremely proud of the road we have travelled and what we have achieved as a nation in the last 16 years.

I stand amazed at the spirit with which people are embracing the World Cup experience and how they are moving out of their comfort zones in doing so.  Seeing conservative and traditionally non-soccer people blowing the ‘Vuvuzela’ (trumpet like instrument which makes a loud noise) and wearing the ‘Makarapa’ (extremely decorated hard hat) are just some of the jewels of this World Cup for South Africa.

ArcelorMittal South Africa did its part to include personnel in the whole experience by running a competition where employees could win tickets to some of the games.

715.1 million people from all over the world watched the 2006 World Cup final. FIFA predicts the number to be even higher this time. And knowing that they will watch soccer games played in stadiums partially built with ArcelorMittal steel, is one of the proudest feelings any employee of this company can have.

Author: Hendie Grobbelaar, Communication Consultant, ArcelorMittal South Africa, Vanderbijlpark Works