It's NOT a defection - World Cup Soccer 2010 support on the day! How do you decide!?

I've had this conversation with many of my friends, "so who will you be supporting in today's match!?" Of course there must be some grace in allowing one to support a team other than your OWN team for other matches.  Am I right?  Perhaps it is no so much that you want your 'daily team' to win their fixture as much as you may not want them to loose! Ha ha! I'll support Bafana Bafana to the end (although I do have a penchant towards teams from the Southern Hemisphere, and then within the Southern Hemisphere for teams from Latin America (and of course Africa!))

Well, today I'll be supporting Brazil as they face up against North Korea. The reason is simple  - I have good friends in Brazil (among them is @Olgalvaro Bastos).

So, how do you work out which team you will support on the day (if your own team is not playing)? I'd love to hear some intricate, or not so intricate, theories of support! In conclusion let me say Viva the Vuvuzela! God bless South Africa, Africa and her football teams! And may Cape Town's security guards return to their jobs of keeping people safe during the world cup!

Oh, and if you're looking for actual results, fixtures, and some useful information on the soccer teams, the groups and other world cup news please see this post.

The Catholic Church is maneuvering to save the Soul of Italian footbal

I remember a song that used to irritate the heck out of me when I was younger - I think it was by Sir Cliff (Richard that is), which had a lyric "Why should the devil have all the good music?" Anybody remember that one? I simply didn't like it because it was Cliff Richard - however, the message is a good one! Why should we give over everything that is fun, enjoyable, and entertaining, to the corrupt, money making, ruthless elements of society? Surely God enjoys a good game of football, or a well choreographed concert, or a well written song or novel, as much as we do?

Well, here's another interesting story from the Mail & Guardian. The Catholic Bishops in a certain area of Italy have offered a €1,6-million a year sponsorship deal to a soccer league in order to encourage it to get 'good and wholesome' again. At first I thought, heck there are much better things to do with that much money! And of course there are!

But, if your members are no longer coming to your Cathedrals, why not find a way to add the value, blessing, joy, and love of the Gospel to their lives where they are! They'll be at the soccer match, where will the Church be - well the Catholic Church in Italy will be right there with them!

What do you think? I would LOVE to see my favourite team, Kaizer Chiefs from Soweto (not to be confused with Kaiser Chiefs ,from Leeds in England, - whom I also happen to love, especially the song "everything is average now days), get some good wholesome values out there as an example to the fans!

We have a young man in our denomination, Fikile Khumalo, who is passionate about using sport to reach people. I wonder what a difference the South African Church could make if we got organised around sharing the Gospel, and making a real difference in the lives of people, at the 2010 World Cup? I'm there with you Fikile!

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