Category Archives: South Africa

From Brooklyn to Omaha to Johannesburg: Reflecting on Heartbreak and Missed Opportunities

My heart broke in Omaha, Nebraska. I’ve dreamed of going to the Final Four for as long as I can remember. As all kids do, I dreamed of being the star player. I imagined leading my team through the tournament and hitting the buzzer-beating shot in the national championship game. I visualized confetti streaming down… Read More »

GOL INIESTA SUDÁFICA 2010

En este post hablaré del gol de Andrés Iniesta en la final de la Copa del Mundo 2010 celebrada en Sudáfrica. El gol que hizo campeona a España por primera vez en su historia. España llegaba a ese mundial como una de las favoritas tras haber ganado la Eurocopa de 2008. Fue un torneo muy… Read More »

A Moth for Mali

The Western-most tip of Africa seemed like as good a place as any to watch the Mali vs. South Africa quarter-final in the African Cup of Nations. On Saturday, I was at the Pointe des Almadies in Dakar, a tourist stop and hang-out with a beach carpeted with black stones and hand-holding couples. On offer… Read More »

World Cup Debriefing Featuring Achille Mbembe

The video for the World Cup Debriefing we held here at Duke a few weeks ago is now available here. Achille’s reflections on the meaning of the event for South Africa (the second presentation) are excellent. I’d welcome your thoughts and reactions!

World Cup Memories

Wayne Norman has posted a nice collection of quotes looking back at the 2010 World Cup and it’s impact here at his blog, This Sporting Life — and I’m not just saying that because he quotes me… If anyone has seen other interesting reflections on the event please share them!

This Time for South Africa

Marcus Gilroy-Ware, who I went to several games with in South Africa, has produced this interesting short video about South African perspectives on the recent World Cup, featuring Achille Mbembe and Sarah Nutall (Visiting Professors at Duke this coming fall) among others. I also published a set of final reflections on the World Cup, with… Read More »

Finale

Two days after the World Cup final, the whole event seems slightly surreal. I’m returning from South Africa today, having survived on my last day here a gauntlet of baboons and a march up a gorgeous mountain, after arriving on the 26th of June just in time to see Ghana beat the U.S. I’ve had… Read More »