It is here!

After waiting for approximately 9 years, sitting through a "f@#% load" of traffic, the World cup is finally here. South Africans have a golden opportunity to witness and host the grandest stage of them all. This comes after various painstaking bids of acquiring the World Cup. I remember watching Fifa Prez, Mr Sep Blatter pulling Germany's name during the 2006 bid. Boy were South Africans pissed, especially at one particular New Zealander from the committee who refused to vote. What was his name again? Anywho the point is that we got the World Cup, the question is... will we get to keep it? For most soccer enthusiasts, the answer is no, for good reason as well. Bafana Bafana has had a string of coaches from varying backgrounds trying to teach them how to play football. Carlos Alberto Parreira, who resigned initially in 2008 came back after his replacement couldn't communicate with his players... and vice versa. After 10 wins and a loss in the last 3 months, Bafana Bafana are ready to take on the world. Lets hope they do us proud! Jacob Zuma: "My hands are itching to give this (the world cup trophy) to that man." (Aaron Mokoena).

Top 10 Music videos from the 80's

You may have gathered that the Islander is a budding sports journalist and comic book connoisseur. Apart from that, I have a fetish for old school music. So I thought I would share my top 10 1980s music videos with you kind folks. Enjoy!!!

10. "Safety Dance" - Men without hats (1983)

9. "Need you tonight" - INXS (1987)

8."What a feeling" - Irene Cara (1983)

7. "Take on me" A-Ha (1985)

6. "I wanna dance with somebody" - Whitney Houston (1987)

5. "Relax, Don't do it" - Frankie goes to Hollywood (1983)

4. "Wild boys" - Duran Duran (1984)

3. "Billie Jean" - Michael Jackson (1983)

2. "Never gonna give you up" - Rick Astley (1987)

1. "Thriller" - Michael Jackson (1983)

Bafana Bafana - The road to the World Cup nearing the end

After many weeks of speculation and mass number of fat jokes from the most notable press from South Africa, Bafana Bafana's 23 man squad was finally revealed. Benni Mcarthy's removal from the world cup squad caused nothing more than a mild stir amongst the public. Perhaps, we have finally decided to look towards the future and no longer accommodate a fallen star into our newly acquired constellation. Then again, having spoken to the men on the street, they feel otherwise. Some of these esteemed citizens feel that experience is the real trick or rather essential to winning any championship, especially the football world cup. With Benni being a former UEFA Champion with Portuguese side, FC Porto well and league champions of several other European outfits, perhaps we are lacking a crucial piece on our chess board. As for the rest of the team, they seem to be going forward! In the last 10 games, Bafana Bafana have only lost 1 game, that being a final score of 2-1 to club side Santos. Below is a breakdown of the last 10 fixtures: With 5-0 drumming of Central American team, Guatemala, Bafana Bafana are looking great. The real test will be Denmark later this week. Denmark are known second rounders and have made the quarterfinals in France 98. They are certainly a force to be reckoned with! The final 23 man squad is below: Goal Keepers Itumeleng Khune Shu-Aib Walters Moeneeb Josephs Defense Aaron Mokoena (CAP) Matthew Booth Siboniso Gaxa Bongani Khumalo Anele Ngcongca Siyabonga Sangweni Tshepo Masilela Lucas Bongane Thwala Midfield Tsholofelo (Teko) Modise Reneilwe Letsholonyane Siphiwe Tshabalala Lance Davids Thanduyise Khuboni Steven Pienaar Macbeth Sibaya Kagiso Dikgacoi Strikers Bernard Parker

Siyabonga Nomvete Surprise Moriri Katlego Mphela

On behalf of the Islander republic, I would like to wish our boys in Gold and Green the best of luck for the 2010 Soccer world cup. Come on boys, do us proud!!!

Starbucks headed to South Africa

Yes ladies, gents and extreme coffee addicts. The infamous coffee franchise, Starbucks is headed to SA just in time for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. You may have noticed this brand on various movies, sitcoms and featurettes with the central character often wielding a cup of Starbucks coffee highlighted by the brown branded jacket (to prevent burning). Starbucks rules the roost when it comes to a decent cup of coffee, especially if you want a french roasted latte! However, at the Starbucks in 7th Avenue Manhattan, I noticed a few things that can be problematic for the South African initiative:

• There was literally no place to sit
• Out of the minimal number of tables, only a few were spotless
• Considerable lack of hot food, primarily packaged, possibly for the "on the go" worker
• Condiments such as napkins, sweeteners were not made available

These may be critical factors to the success of the infamous Coffee franchise. So how would they adapt to SA conditions? No doubt, as an active Marketer, I know that the South African market is one of the toughest environments to break into especially with a whole array of competitors waiting in line to take you down.! Here's what they will need to do in order to survive in South Africa. Post world cup strategy: The Starbucks braintrust needs to realise that by having it in a couple hotels in South Africa isn't gonna do them any good in the long run. Yes, the positive is that they will generate mass sales considering that rest of the World is visiting SA for the World Cup for one month. But what happens when they leave? Will hotel dwellers be just as tempted to go to Starbucks post world cup? Also is the hotel a destination venue. A good example of a destination hotel venue is the Southern Sun in Newlands, Cape Town. This particular hotel has a successful Indian restaurant known as "Bihari's". Also, parents have a tendency of taking their children to get autographs signed by the visiting Proteas and Springboks. However, although successful the potential of taking it a level further at a hotel is very slim. Starbucks needs to go to places which exemplify "Pop Culture". The malls in SA, such as Canal Walk, Gateway and Menlyn Park is a great start. They should consider a sit down style Starbucks cafe's in the bigger malls. Alternatively the smaller variety in the least frequented malls. Another suggestion is that they consider branching out in various universities throughout the country e.g. UCT, Stellenbosch, Rhodes, Wits e.t.c Why you ask? Well for starters, there is a brand familiarity with the current generation at SA universities with various film orientated media encompassing a Starbucks item e.g. Maid of honour featured Patrick Dempsey being the inventor of the Starbucks coffee jacket. At the moment, Starbucks will be available in select Southern Sun Hotels and Tsogo Sun Casinos in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban Campaigns: Viral campaign via YouTube or a mailer will do wonders for them. Could feature them emerging in SA. For instance, "breaking the reigns campaign!" Advert could feature a woman going to a bland coffee shop in noi background after she notices the starbucks packaging in a bin she pulls the chains from her legs leading to the dull coffee shop and head for the Starbucks. An alternative reality game could be an idea! Call it "Drown conformity" by shifting a couple blocks in a pathway u can ensure the city is filled with delightful coffee of some sort. Final thoughts: I am relieved that a decent coffee franchise hits SA. Not many franchises in SA possess a diverse menu and often fail to reignite interest from the consumer public. Also, Starbucks made add that element of funk, most SA coffee franchises have been lacking!

Awesome Soccer World Cup Calendar

I normally make use of a hard copy version of any world cup calendar and place it on the most frequently visited region of my house... the Fridge. Another one of my awesome colleagues sent a digital version of the world cup calendar, and its comprehensive! The guys responsible? Marca.com, a Spanish Sports website have developed an awesome circular calendar depicting each round of the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup. Check it out here!

Theo Walcott out of the England Squad!

In the last couple weeks there was speculation at to who will don the "three lions" jersey. Needless to say, a couple eyebrows raised at the surprise omission of Theo Walcott. For those of you that are still in the dark, Walcott generated quite a bit of controversy as well as fanfare over his suprise inclusion into Sven Goran Erikkson's 2006 England World Cup team. What caused the publicity? Perhaps the fact that he was 17 years old!!! Traditionally most World Cup teams would opt for experience in which case he didn't have it then... but surely has it now! Granted, theArsenal winger didn't really have a great season on both an international and premier league scale. However, he is best remembered for his hat-trick vs Croatia. Clearly that was not good enough for new England boss Fabio Capello, who funnily enough met with the FA board to discuss his contract earlier this week. Who knows how England will fare this year... but one things for sure, they are not winning the whole shabang! Below is a complete Squad of the England team:

Goalkeepers: Robert Green (West Ham United), Joe Hart (Manchester City), David James (Portsmouth).

Defenders: Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham United), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa).

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur), James Milner (Aston Villa), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City)

Forwards: Peter Crouch (Tottenham Hotspur), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)