World Cup 2010 – FOOTBALL IS COMING HOME

Mature Students of the Game

I spent the morning with some serious senior folk in Cape Town. Baxter Auditorium at the University of Cape Town was packed to the rafters for a lecture on FIFA and the legacy of the World Cup, delivered by Lauren Platzky. I had ventured on campus expecting to find a small woolly collective of football connoisseurs. What I found instead were hundreds upon hundreds of Cape Town’s seniors getting their football ON!!!

Lauren Platzky was eloquent and most informative. Platzky, an Urban Planner by training, holds a quasi official role in the coordination of the tournament between FIFA and the various branches of government in Cape Town and on the Western Cape.

I grabbed a moment with Lauren Platzky after the lecture. I could have “interviewed” her. She covered a lot of material. and there would have been much to discuss. This World Cup and its legacy remain a work in progress, but there’s a time and place for everything. This was the time to be real and offer respect for the efforts of people like Platzky who have worked to make this tournament a reality. I preferred to say “Thank You.” Eikosi, Lauren!

Then I found the local seniors were interested in the fact that I was interested in them. There followed some engaging and lively discussion with folks in the foyer. Watch out for Rosemarie, and Avril and Morris coming to a YouTube near you soon!

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Silver Underestimates Slovakia

Nate Silver is a box score genius. Nate Silver can call states, counties and wards like no other. But can Nate predict the winner of the World Cup?

nate-silver

Some of our global readers may find Nate Silver’s statistical offerings on “soccer” other worldly. Who is this four eyed American running the numbers on our game, I hear some of you dismissively spit. But can it be true one can only understand football if one starts drinking about eleven in the morning in a backstreet pub or bar in the vicinity of some corrugated contraption called a football ground. There has to be a middle ground. Nate Silver deserves the utmost respect. But you know among the remnants of ale, chips, pies and gravy that your guts can tell you something Nate’s numbers cannot.

Nate has promised to delve into football realm for some time. His arrival is most welcome. FIFA has improved its ranking system. FIFA’s seeds were the deserving form teams (though Silver has a minor objection preferring Portugal over Italy.) Still, Silver’s Soccer Power Index is the Snow Leopard of upgrades. It is on paper at least, the best ranking of international football.

But can the running of fun football statistics really predict winners with such scientific certitude. How can it, for example, adjust for the emergence of a Uruguayan midfield prodigy, the determination African Disapora players from random places like Honduras to perform at that higher level, or the late call up of that left back capable of both the beautiful football and the most horrendous crimes ever witnessed on a football field, where one No.3’s mis-kick can find the back of the net or break Beckham’s leg in three places, not to mention all the other shenanigans?

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