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The conclusion of the 2010 World Cup was always going to be a bitter-sweet moment for South Africans, as pride in their successful hosting of the tournament combined with a feeling of sorrow as world football’s biggest party finally left town.
But more than a decade on, there is a successful sense of accomplishment, looking back on a tournament that broke new barriers.
It was a first for Africa, hosting a major international sporting event, and despite the cold weather proved a triumph, even though Bafana Bafana failed to make it past the World Cup group stage.
The spirited nature of their performances surpassed the expectations of many fans and they did engender a massive whirl of unexpected nationalistic fervour, coming in the tournament on a run of unbeaten performances and proving unlucky not to beat Mexico in the opening game, when Katlego Mphela hit the crossbar at the end of the contest.
But a 0-3 defeat to Uruguay, their heaviest ever home loss up to then, ended their hopes after only two matches and even though there was the fillip of a win over a demoralised France, their chance of progress were always slim.
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It was on the opening night of the World Cup that Siphiwe Tshabalala made his mark.
Ten minutes into the second half at a packed Soccer City, the dreadlocked winger set off down the left hand side of the attack and unleashed a rasping shot that marked the opening goal of the tournament.
It was a goal cheered to the rafters and one that ultimately won him a place at the FIFA Gala at the end of the year as one of the candidates of the best goal of 2010.
“My life changed a lot after that goal, certainly the highlight of my career. And then at the end of the year, it is huge for any player to be included among the best goals of the year, being nominated at the highest level and being under one roof with the world’s biggest stars. I was very, very happy to be part of that.”
The World Cup legacy today is of stadium infrastructure and an army of people involved in the game who were trained by FIFA and worked at the 2010 tournament for the Organising Committee.
A total of 25 000 volunteers also took part and much of the success of the World Cup came because of their positive demeanour and competence
One of the great selling points of hosting, and indeed paying for, a tournament of the size of the World Cup is the long-term benefit for tourism that comes from the intense spotlight on the event. South Africa saw a major boon in tourism as a result of the World Cup and continues to bask in its success.
It proved an antidote to Afropessimism and proof of the capability of the country.