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Video by Kristen Swilley

PRETORIA, South Africa – United States Ambassador Donald Gips stressed that AIDS was the central issue in relations between South Africa and the United States Wednesday morning.

Speaking to members of the FAMU-Shantou World Cup reporting team, Gips discussed the variety of ways in which the U.S. is working to improve its relations with South Africa while hosting a pre-match pep rally at the U.S. Embassy. Gips greeted guests with a speech, donning a festive hat and blowing a vuvuzela to show his team spirit.

The event was a significant change of pace for Gips. The 50 year-old has been working to improve relations between America and South Africa since President Obama nominated him on June 4, 2009. He took a moment to explain some of the different ways the two nations are working together.

“We’ve been working to strengthen the relationship with South Africa with everything from the HIV/AIDS epidemic here to education to trying to reduce crime in the country as well as working with them on global issues such as climate change and stability in Africa,” Gips said.

The hardest part of his job has been grasping all of the different cultures present in the “Rainbow Nation.” In a country with 11 official languages and widespread ethnic diversity, this is no easy task.

“Once I have learned all that, it makes it much easier to build those relationships and get the relationship going.”

Gips may have caught a break, though. Regardless of race or creed, all South Africans are currently excited about one thing: the World Cup.

“One of the things the World Cup has helped to inspire is more and more cooperation between our two countries,” Gips remarked.

In preparation for the World Cup, South African police underwent training with the United States Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) program. According to the embassy’s official website, the program was founded in 1983 to train foreign police “to detect, deter, counter, and investigate terrorist activities,” and has assisted law enforcers from 154 different countries. Trainees studied a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives course to ensure that South Africa would remain safe and secure throughout the tournament.

Gips was also eager to see how the World Cup will attract foreign investors to South Africa. Having received an MBA from the Yale school of management, Gips is no stranger to the nature of economics. He complimented South Africa’s intricate banking system.

“It’s a great place to base your operations,” Gips said. He believes businessmen could use South Africa as a stepping stone to reach other nearby nations.

Nevertheless, Gips is putting the issue of AIDS first during his time in the Rainbow Nation:. When it comes to relations between the United States and South Africa, the most important piece of the puzzle is controlling the spread of the deadly disease.
“Our top priority is HIV/AIDS.”

Gips described a three-point plan that focused on providing care to current patients, preventing new cases of infection, and making sure that the program is sustainable. The United States has committed over $600 million to the project. It may be too early to tell if what the future holds for South Africa, but Gips remains positive.
“It’s a very complicated complex picture,” he said, “but it’s one that’s making real progress.”

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Video by Wandoo Makurdi

JOHANNESBURG ─ Ghana is the continent’s shining black star since it became the first African team to move into stage two of the World Cup tournament.

Although Ghana’s Black Stars took a back seat to Germany Wednesday night, they managed to remain one of the two eligible teams from Group D to advance to the tournament’s second round.

Led primarily by forward Asamoah Gyan, Ghana played well in the first half, having a few close attempts on goal blocked by the German goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer.

Both teams played with resistance for the first half going into halftime with a 0-0 score.

German midfielder Mesut Özil broke the scoreless match in the 59th minute scoring the sole goal of the game.

The goal gave Germany a lead in Group D and put Ghana, whose final place in the group standings was dependent on the Serbia-Australia result, on edge.

Midfielder Andre Ayew had the Black Stars’ closest attempt at tying the game when he skimmed the top of the goal in the 66th minute.

The game ended after three minutes of additional time, and uncertain Ghanaian fans looked for the result of the Serbia-Australia match in Nelspruit.

The result flashed across the stadium’s large screens and Ghana’s supporters hugged and screamed in excitement. They knew Australia winning with a 2-1 score would not be enough for either team to bump the Black Stars from placing second in the group.

Ghana native Martin Ampahdeng, said Ghana’s players are eager to advance in the tournament on behalf of all of Africa.

“The players are keeping all of Africa in mind; it’s not about them,” Ampahdeng said about Ghana’s selfless persistence.

Ampahdeng, who lives in Pretoria, expects Ghana to win against the United States in the knockout stage and at least progress to the quarterfinals.

“We’ll go to at least the quarterfinals, at least,” Ampahdeng stressed.

Ghana will play the Americans on Saturday at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.

Landon Donovan warming up before Wednesday's game (Photograph by Aaron Lancaster)

JOHANNESBURG ─ Elation, shock and disbelief swelled throughout the Loftus Versfeld Stadium as, with mere minutes left in the final Group C match of the FIFA World Cup, U.S. striker Jozy Altidore’s blocked low shot was transformed into a goal by Landon Donovan, advancing the American team to the next round.

Stars and Stripes waved with an almost manic ferocity as fans in Pretoria leapt into each other’s arms and punched the air, like the unrestrained American team’s celebration on the field. In an apparent fit of desperation and frustration, Algerian captain Anther Yahia was ejected from the game with his second yellow card in the dying embers of the match.

It was a game where nothing was going into the net, as the U.S. surged through the game with 22 attempted shots and less than half on goal. Algerian goalkeeper Rais M’Bolhi remained inflexible, blocking shot after attempted shot throughout the game.

“There was pressure on both sides,” Tim Howard, the American goalkeeper, said to fifa.com. “The second half didn’t seem like a football match at all. Everyone was running and fighting as hard as they could to get the goal. In a game like this it’s always good to get the first goal, because caution had already been thrown well and truly to the wind.”

Howard himself stood in rare form, securing 11 saves during the match. The Desert Foxes have not scored in recent years; their most recent goal came against Northern Ireland when Djamel Zidane scored in the 59th minute of the game, tying the score 1-1.

Donovan’s goal was his fourth in his overall World Cup appearances, giving him a tie as leading U.S. scorer in the FIFA World Cup, a title he shares with Bert Patenaude, a former U.S. soccer player and member of the United States Soccer Hall of Fame.

“I don’t know how the ball even came to me, to tell you the truth,” Donovan told reporters. “It all happened so quickly, which was just as well because I didn’t have time to think at all. Make no mistake, it’s the biggest moment of my career.”

By Clarece Polke and Wandoo Makurdi

JOHANNESBURG ─ They came out to give their fans a memorable match. Although the South Africans did not qualify for the next round in the World Cup, they dominated France with a 2-1 victory, their first win over that opponent.

For a moment, it seemed like the match had all the makings of a Cinderella story for South Africa: A French team sidetracked by controversies within its camp, taking the field against the home country, desperately in need of a multiple-goal win. Twenty minutes into the match, defender Bongani Khumalo lifted his country’s spirits with a header from striker Siphiwe Tshabalala.

When France’s Yoann Gourcuff was handed a red card in the 26th minute, Bafana Bafana – as the South African team is known – started to create more scoring chances. One of the many chances South Africa had throughout the match was converted by striker Katlego Mphela in the 37th minute. Steven Pienaar also found the back of the net for his country’s third goal, but referee Oscar Ruíz disallowed the goal.

South Africa’s run came to an end when Florent Malouda scored France’s only goal of the tournament in the 70th minute; eliminating South Africa on goal difference.
Instead of exiting with disappointed faces, undeterred Bafana Bafana fans remained in the park to continue celebrating their role as World Cup hosts. Here are some fan reactions after the match.

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By Aaron Lancaster and Kristen Swilley

JOHANNESBURG ─ Grady McGahan’s passport must be exhausted from the constant stamping. The 28-year-old New Yorker is on a 257-day journey around the globe after deciding he’s reached the ideal time in his life to travel internationally.

“I decided the best investment I could make with my money was in me so I could see the world when I was still young and had the ability to do it,” McGahan said. He quit his job as a film producer in April and has spent the first three months of his journey in South America making his way through Chile, Bolivia, Venezuela, Peru, Argentina and Uruguay. A short stop in Brazil prepared him for the World Cup fever he would experience in South Africa, but this isn’t his first time feeling the spirit of the Rainbow Nation.

“When I found out that the World Cup was happening in South Africa, a country that I know and love and wanted to go back to, that was a big part of  how I was planning my trip,” said McGahan.

Eight years ago McGahan found himself exposed to a radically different culture as a student at the University of Cape Town, where he studied African languages and religions. Now he is revisiting the country with a greater appreciation for the people of South Africa and a new global perspective.

“Being back here is like coming back to a second home. As the world gets smaller, nations become more dependent on each other. In our generation the people who have some understanding of how our world relates are going to be a very important,” said McGahan, who has taken efforts to immerse himself in local culture throughout his travels. Instead of staying in four-star hotels and taking shuttles to the matches, he lives in Soweto and walks to the fan parks.

McGahan will continue his journey through Britain, India, Egypt and China before returning to the United States for Christmas. He said he considers this trip an investment in his future.

“This is more important than investing in the stock market or a house,” said McGahan. “It’s understanding people from other countries and where they’re coming from. I love being here. I love being anywhere.”

To follow Grady’s journey visit his blog Around the World in GR80 Days

Photograph by Rachel Gadson

JOHANNESBURG — Italy fans were in for a surprise as they crowded the Johannesburg Italian Club Sunday afternoon. “It’s the most active that we’ve ever seen it,” said club Vice President Alberto Vitolo as he surveyed the scene. Founded in the early 1900s by Dr. Ugo Giunchi, the 700 or so member club, in suburban Bedfordview, is being used as a fan zone during the FIFA 2010 World Cup. But given the club’s roots, the crowds are much bigger when the defending world champions take the field.

On Sunday afternoon, hundreds of men, women and children came with their faces painted in the red, white and green of the Italian flag. Many wore blue Italia team jerseys or blue and white Italia scarves, hats and jackets. Inside the clubhouse, three projectors played the match on tall screens while supporters dined on lasagna and sipped red wine. Most expected Italy to cruise to a comfortable win, but Vitolo had his doubts.

“Italy certainly should be a better team … but … you never know,” he said.
His words would prove true, as New Zealand stunned the world and tied Italy 1-1 after taking the lead when forward Shane Smeltz scored in the 7th minute. In a bizarre sequence of events, a free kick by midfielder Simon Elliott bounced off Italian captain Fabio Cannavaro and into the path of Smeltz, who tapped it home. The lapse in the usually tight Italian defense drew shocked screams from the Italy supporters.

Less than 10 minutes later, Italy squandered a chance to equalize during a corner kick. Cannavaro passed the ball to a perfectly positioned Giorgio Chiellini, who shot wide right from a few yards out. The Italians nearly equalized in the 27th minute when midfielder Riccardo Montolivo’s shot beat goalkeeper Mark Paston and ricocheted off the left post.

Two minutes later, the crowd at the Italian Club roared to life when the referee awarded the Azzurri a penalty after New Zealand defender Tommy Smith pulled down Daniele De Rossi in the box. The Italian fans stomped the floorboards as forward Vincenzo Iaquinta stepped up and scored the penalty. At halftime, Vitolo and his fellow Italian fans were breathing easier, but they were not prepared to write off the All Whites, as the New Zealand team is called.

“They’ve got nothing to lose,” Vitolo remarked, “and they’re playing like it.” Italian coach Marcello Lippi seemed to agree. At halftime he introduced two substitutes, Antonio Di Natale and Mauro Cameronesi, to rejuvenate the offense.

During the second half, the ball rarely left New Zealand’s end of the field. The Italians stepped up their attack as they tried to secure the win and three points, which would tie group leader Paraguay. But stout New Zealand defending and poor Italian finishing conspired to send the game to a draw. Nevertheless the Italians had their share of nervous moments. Near the end, New Zealand substitute Chris Wood turned his defender and shot just wide. By the final whistle, the energy had evaporated from the viewing room. The optimistic shouts had been reduced to subdued murmurs.

Vitolo was visibly displeased over the results. He second-guessed the coach’s tactics and wished Lippi had introduced Di Natale and Cameronesi earlier.
Still, Vitolo held out hope that his team could still proceed to the next round. “We can still do it,” he said. “I hope we do it.”

Vice President Alberto Vitolo

Odds of an African World Cup victory now hinge on the performance of five teams after Cameroon was eliminated in the first round. The highest ranked African team missed its last opportunity to advance past the group stage after giving up an early lead and losing 1-2 to Denmark.

The five remaining African teams are South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, Ghana and Ivory Coast. South Africa’s chances of advancing on its own turf are slim, especially since it no longer controls its own destiny. A 3-0 loss to Uruguay has put the team at a serious disadvantage. In order to remain in the competition South Africa needs to dominate France with a 3-0 victory and hope that Mexico loses to Uruguay and concedes at least two goals.
Despite losing its first two matches, Nigeria still has a chance of advancing to the next round. If favorite Argentina wins its next match against Greece and Nigeria manages to beat South Korea, the team can secure a spot in the next round.

Algeria’s chances also remain fairly open. If the team can pull off a win against the United States, it could advance, unless Slovenia defeats England. Ghana was the first African team to qualify for the Cup and is currently first in its group standings. The Black Stars only need a tie against Germany to qualify for the second round, but if they lose they have to hope that Serbia doesn’t beat Australia.

Ivory Coast carries the flame of African victory for many football fans, but it faces difficult opposition in its next two matches. The team has to either beat or tie the top-ranked Brazilians and defeat last place North Korea to advance. The Elephants may still have a chance to secure a victory for Africa however. Their scoring star Didier Drogba is likely to start against Brazil after seeing only limited action against Portugal because of a recent injury.

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JOHANNESBURG — Following a 36-hour flight to Cape Town, another 11-hour drive to Port Elizabeth and a final 13-hour bus ride, Betsy Stalter finally arrived in Johannesburg just two days before her first live World Cup match, Ivory Coast versus Brazil. A lifelong soccer fan, the 28-year-old music teacher from Indianola, Iowa, was happy she could afford to attend the first World Cup on African soil.

“I was living in Nigeria for four months, so I’ve wanted to travel to another country in Africa to see what it was like,” Stalter said. “I’m definitely interested in South Africa for reasons other than the World Cup. It has a mystique with the wildlife and the politics and history; it’s a very rich country.”

Stalter’s excitement dimmed as she watched the U.S. national team’s lackluster performance from a fan zone in Sandton. “Our defense was really slouchy, like they weren’t even trying,” Stalter said as she angrily gestured toward the large screen. “I felt the same way about our last game; we just got lucky.”

Haitian-American fan Arnaud LaForestrie agreed, but he was more positive after the game ended. “I think so far, so good,” said the 29-year-old from New York City. “They unfortunately conceded a few goals that they shouldn’t have. But a 2-2 tie for me, in my heart, is still a win for them.”

Stalter and LaForestrie shared more than just discontent with the U.S. team’s defense: both were excited to experience their first World Cup in Africa. “I think it’s great for Africa,” LaForestrie said. “It’s going to unify people a lot more and show people that Africa can hold their own World Cup and help other people learn about what Africa has to offer.”

The continent holds a mystique for Ft. Washington, Md., resident Najuma Sissoko, whose husband is from Ivory Coast. She came to South Africa despite the fears expressed by friends and family members.

“I have had a lot of times in the past with people asking ‘why would you want to go to Africa,’ ” Sissoko said. “Well that’s where you’re from, so you have to come and visit Africa. This is my once in a lifetime chance to come here and see the World Cup and see South Africa as well.”

While Sissoko had never been to a soccer game before this trip, she traveled with her husband to what she considers to be a historic event and a particularly important experience for African-Americans.

Sissoko felt that safety concerns, in addition to lack of interest, contributed to the lack of black Americans following the World Cup. However, she is optimistic that advertising for the Cup may generate more interest before the 2014 Cup in Brazil.

“I’ve had a great time since I’ve been here; the people have been very welcoming,” Sissoko said. “I think a lot of people were scared off from coming here, but, they missed out, because South Africa did a great job in welcoming us. We haven’t had any issues, any problems, since we’ve been here.”

JOHANNESBURG – The United States flirted with defeat and victory before ultimately tying Slovenia, 2-2, meaning it absolutely must beat Algeria to advance. The Americans were down early after Slovenia scored two goals before halftime, but a second-half goal by forward Landon Donovan triggered a comeback. If not for an unfavorable call late in the second half, America could have come away with a win.

Slovenia struck first in the 13th minute, when midfielder Valter Birsa received the ball outside the penalty area and guided his shot past goalie Tim Howard. The U.S. team struggled to respond quickly. The Americans got a chance in the 35th minute after Slovenian defender Bostjan Cesar earned a yellow card for fouling forward Jozy Altidore. The resulting free kick by Francisco Torres threatened to arc into the net before goalkeeper Samir Handanovic punched the ball out of bounds. Five minutes later Donovan seemed sure to tap in a cross from forward Clint Dempsey when defender Miso Brecko pushed the ball out of reach with a last minute tackle.

Instead, it was the Slovenians who scored before the half, when forward Zlatan Ljubijankic launched a shot from inside the penalty area to make the score 2-0. Undeterred, the Americans would return to the field firing on all cylinders. In the 48th minute Donovan took the ball in from the right wing and boomed an almost horizontal shot into the net. This provided a shot in the arm for the U.S. offense, which began attacking with renewed vigor. The defense also stepped up, with Jay DeMerit and Oguchi Onyewu fending off Slovenia’s counterattacks, but the Americans desperately needed an equalizing goal.

It came in the 82nd minute, as midfielder Michael Bradley raced into the penalty area to flick in a headed pass from Altidore. With a win suddenly within reach, the U.S. rushed to score again, getting a big break just four minutes later. After Altidore was fouled outside the penalty box, Donovan’s free kick sailed toward midfielder Maurice Edu, who hammered the ball home. Unfortunately, referee Koman Coulibaly called a foul in the penalty area, negating the goal. Although both sides traded attacks, the match ended in a stalemate.

After Algeria’s scoreless tie with England Friday night, Slovenia now sits at the top of Group C with four points after one win and one tie. The United States is tied with for second with England, each team with two points, but the Americans hold a tiebreaker over the English because they have scored more goalss. Algeria sits at the bottom of the group with one point after tying England. America will play its final match of the group stage without forward Robbie Findley, who received his second yellow card of the tournament in the 40th minute.

From left: Nonhlanhla Jiyane, Djibril Diallo and Dennis Cruywagen

JOHANNESBURG — The United Nations and FIFA are joining forces in the fight against HIV/AIDS with a “red card” campaign.

The project is designed to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV by the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Captains of 23 of the 32 World Cup teams already have signed the appeal, Djibril Diallo, senior adviser to the executive director of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, said during a Thursday briefing for journalism students from Florida A& M University and Shantou University. The campaign was launched Saturday and borrows from soccer the red card image that represents a referee throwing a player out of a game.

“Give the red card to HIV/AIDS to keep babies from being infected,” Diallo said.
South Africa, host of the FIFA 2010 World Cup, provides an ideal platform for AIDS awareness, Diallo said. The country has been severely impacted by the epidemic with an average of 1,500 new cases emerging every day. In the time it takes to watch a 90-minute soccer match, 80 children will be born with the virus that causes the disease. “You cannot talk about education, you cannot talk about health, and you cannot talk about democracy if you have a generation affected by HIV,” Diallo said. “Our goal is to work towards an AIDS-free generation.”

He said the objective is to eliminate the global epidemic so it does not damage future generations. Two important tools are prevention and educating today’s youth about the dangers of unprotected sex, said Diallo, who was joined at the briefing by Nonhlanhla Jiyane, a UNAIDS consultant for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. She said today’s youth should exercise caution and be held accountable for their futures. “As the youth, we need to be responsible and stand up for ourselves,” she added. “You need to reevaluate your values and where you want to go. By doing that, at least you have the power to say no and contribute in your life as you are going ahead.”

One of the biggest obstacles facing South Africa in the fight against AIDS is the lack of activism from political leadership in the past, said Dennis Cruywagen, director of communications for the office of the president of the South African Football Association. President Nelson Mandela didn’t recognize the scope of the AIDS threat, while his successor, Thabo Mbeki, was known for denying that HIV caused AIDS, said Cruywagen, who also participated in the briefing. Worse still, he said, was the role of the apartheid regime in spreading the disease.

“If you read the records of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission you will read that the apartheid government sent infected individuals into black communities to spread the HIV/AIDS virus,” said Cruywagen. “The onslaught against black people didn’t start in 1990; it started well before that. South Africa hasn’t gotten past its history yet.” For more information about the Red Card campaign, visit UNAIDS.org

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