T HE FRENZIED atmosphere was elec-trifying.

In a raucous cacophony, over84,000 African voices were complementedby the deafening blares from thousands ofvuvuzelas.

Ghana, Africa’s last remaining repre-sentatives were on the verge of a historic

place in the semi-finals.And among the supporters screaming

their hearts out that day were a group ofSingaporeans.

Stockbroker Alex Chue, 29, and his girl-friend, 27-year-old sales executive Li Shi-hui, had secured their World Cup ticketsback in April 2009.

It was a sojourn over a year in theplanning.

But they almost never made it.

FATERISING fears over the security in SouthAfrica had spooked them to the extent thatthey even contemplated not going.

But the opportunity was one too greatto pass up.

Little known to them, two of Alex’s olduniversity buddies, Li Zhengxi, an accountmanager, and Chiew Zhiping, who works

in the finance industry, both 29, had alsosecured tickets to the exact same match.

And it was through Facebook that, bychance, their paths crossed once again.

It would turn out to be an experiencethey would all never forget.

ELECTRICFOR the past month, the likes of Chijmes,Clarke Quay and even the neighbourhoodcoffeeshops have been swept by WorldCup fever.

But the football-mad hysteria engulfingthis quartet the moment they toucheddown in Johannesburg was on a complete-ly different level.

Said Chue: “Every single shop, whetherthey were selling electronics, souvenirs,clothes or even toiletries, was adornedwith football-related paraphernalia.

“We see country flags, vuvuzelas, jer-

seys and mascots everywhere we go.”

AFRICA RISINGAMONG the group, Zhengxi has been fortu-nate enough to visit the likes of Liverpool’slegendary Anfield and Arsenal’s EmiratesStadium.

But absolutely nothing could have pre-pared them for the sensationally-chargedambience at the Soccer City Stadium inJohannesburg.

“They had the support of the entireAfrican continent. You could see Ghanaianflags waving at every corner, almost every-one was behind them,” said Alex.

And everything seemed to be going toplan when Ghana were awarded a penaltyin the last minute of extra-time.

“The whole stadium went berserk,” headded.

But Asamoah Gyan smashed the result-

ing spot-kick against the crossbar, and theBlack Stars subsequently crashed out cruel-ly in the penalty shoot-out.

In a matter of minutes, the rapturousexcitement of a continent had dissipatedinto tears of heartbreak.

THE HUMAN SPIRITGHANA might have lost. But off-the-pitch,everyone was a winner.

The genuine warmth and hospitalityoffered by the locals had left a deep impres-sion.

And in their own small way, so did ourfellow Singaporeans, through a tremen-dous gesture of generosity just before thematch.

Two passionate Zimbabwean fans hadendured a long journey by road to getthere, despite not having any tickets.

“Please, would you sell us your sparetickets cheaply? We won’t ever again getthe chance to watch a World Cup matchlive, as we will never be able to afford anair ticket,” they pleaded in desperation.

The fact that it was an African team, onAfrican soil, playing for their tournamentlives had made their plight all the morepoignant.

Moved, our Singaporeans sold them thespare tickets which they had planned tosell anyway, at a huge discount.

And they became new friends with thedesperate Zimbabweans.

Truly a global language, the World Cuphas brought millions of people fromaround the world together.

BRAZIL NEXT?BACK in Singapore, the quartet admit thatthey are still having the post-holiday bluesfrom their extraordinary experiences.

“It was absolutely amazing. Watchingfootball on TV will never be the sameagain,” remarked Shihui.

Little wonder then, that they have al-ready marked their calendars for a journeyto Brazil in four years.

KENNETH CHEWspeaks to a group ofSingaporean fans whotravelled over 8,600kmto experience theWorld Cup in person

Singaporeans inSouthAfrica

Review

FOUR AMONG 84,000: From left, Singaporeans Chiew Zhiping, Li Zhengxi, Alex Chue and Li Shihui in the Soccer City Stadium just before kick-off. PICTURES COURTESY OF LI ZHENGXI

CALM BEFORE MATCH: Alex Chue and Li Shihui in an empty Soccer City Stadiumbefore the match, it would soon be filled to its maximum 84,000 capacity.

HAPPY IN BLUE: Li Zhengxi with a couple of Uruguayan fans, the victors that night.

ONCE INALIFETIME

AUSSIERULES:Li ZhengxiturnsSocceroofor a day.

DONEDEAL:Li Zhengxiand LiShihuioutside thestadium,with theZimbabwe-an fansthey soldtheir sparetickets to.

56 18 July 2010 ● THE NEW PAPER ON SUNDAY THE NEW PAPER ON SUNDAY ● 18 July 2010 57