21 June 2010
Their outfits were bright, mesmerising and went perfectly with their sunny disposition … the Dutch fans invaded Durban on the weekend, both to support their team in a 2010 Fifa World Cup™ match and to soak up the the wonderful weather and atmosphere that the city has to offer.
Durban Mayor Obed Mlaba on Saturday welcomed over 1 000 Dutch fans who had gathered to have a party before watching their team beat Japan at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in a group E clash.
Great city, wonderful weather
Rotterdam resident Kin Sneijder said: “Durban is a great city. The weather is wonderful, there is good beer, and the girls are very pretty.”
Should the Dutch side make the knock-out stages of the tournament, they could play in Durban, and this would make their fans quite happy – the warm weather being the cherry on top.
Mary Knopp watched her team sail to victory at the Fifa Fan Park and enjoyed the atmosphere. “It’s so wonderful; no one here gets violent about the soccer like back home. I am having such a great time, just dancing and singing,” said Knopp.
The young Almere student is in South Africa to do volunteer work in Amanzimtoti at Operation Bobbi Bear, an organisation which deals with children and women abuse issues.
Knopp, after falling in love with South Africa, has also become an avid Bafana Bafana fan. “This is my first day at the Fan centre. I will be back to support Bafana Bafana,” she said.
Like most women, Knopp is impressed with the looks department of the Dutch team. In fact she is happier talking about Rafael van der Vaart than predicting where Holland will finish off in the tournament.
Having ‘a ball’
Veerle Leiden, who is also in the country to volunteer her services, is in awe of the beauty the province offers, and has been having a ball since the World Cup started.
“The people, nature … everything here is so beautiful. I am glad the World Cup is here. It is doing a lot of good to unite and bring the country together,” said Leiden.
Leiden is confident that her team will go quite far in this competition because they “have a strong team filled with talent”.
The Netherlands became the first team to book their place in the Round of 16 after their 1-nil victory over Japan and Denmark’s defeat of Cameroon on Saturday.
Source: BuaNews
