Blue weekend

In the old days (10 years or so ago) the real excitement on a weekend in Gaborone was to go to the airport, take a cup of bush tea in the cafe, and watch the world come and go. Things have changed now since a couple of years back when two big shopping malls came to town. And this weekend the city was positively screaming with life - all in the name of football! Blue flags were everywhere - on cars, on buildings, being waved and being worn. They were even wrapping babies in them!

Now, the more football savvy reader may be wondering how so much excitement could be generated by a team that has, at best, been ranked outside the world's top 100 football playing nations and, at worst, been ranked well outside the top 100. But, every team must have its day and Saturday saw the Zebras with a 2-0 win over Madagascar - cause enough for celebration. And, this being a COSAFA mini-tournament, when Swaziland narrowly lost their own Saturday match, Zebras found themselves faced with the prospect of a match that could give them the unbelievable chance of a semi-final place! But, against Bafana Bafana there seemed little chance. History was made around tea-time on Sunday. Having held the South Africans to a nil-nil draw at full time the Zebras hit home in the penalty shoot-out to finish 6-5. The place errupted. Car horns blasted, small children stood on walls and cheered as an impromtu cavalcade toured the streets and there was much singing and revelling... Monday morning only a few brave souls were up with the sun!

A truly extraordinary 'blue' weekend all round and one that does not bode well for 2010