World Cup 2010: the local bloggers to watch

Here's just a few suggestions for football loving blog readers. What these bloggers lack in majestic panoramic views of Table Mountain (as per the BBC's pricey Cape Town studio), they're already making up for in local insight, diverse coverage and plenty of personal opinion, seemingly unfettered by editorial sanction. (image © Diskioff)

Diskioff
In the words of Diskioff's Proffessor Khumalo, this blog is, "a place to read all about soccer news from the fans around the country. People share their diski (township slang for soccer) opinions with the world and speak their mind freely and without fear. Freedom of expression is priceless, feared by many dictators around the globe".

World Cup coverage
Diskioff will be blogging about fans and uploading videos from every possible location, including the games themselves, fans' homes, sports bars and shebeen (once or still illicit bars/clubs) to their own YouTube channel.

6000 Miles
Written by 36 year old '6k' (a male British expat), '6000 miles' refers to the approximate distance from the UK to South Africa. Having lived in Cape Town for six years, he says, "Life in South Africa takes a little getting used to, but I think I’m getting there now. Yes – it took a while. I hail from Sheffield, deep in the Republic of South Yorkshire and thus, I tend not to hold back with my opinions. I say what I like and I like what I say – on politics, sport, music, life - anything really."

World Cup coverage
At 6000 Miles you can expect to see diverse coverage of the tournament, basically whatever interests him, including fans, media coverage, games (he's going to several of them) and organisation.

Fred Hatman
A blogger and journalist, Fred sits on his sunny 'Blogorandah' (veranda) at Hatman Mansions in the village of Stanford in the Western Cape (two hours’ drive from Cape Town) and dreams up “SA-positive” things to write about The Beloved Country. Contented Fred said, "I love South Africa. I love Stanford. I love blogging. I love my new life!"

World Cup coverage
Fred plans to blog about the World Cup almost every day. In his words, "As is my usual approach, I'll leave the match reporting to the football reporters and pick up on the issues, personalities and dramas around the World Cup and give them the usual humorous twist, dressed with more than a drizzle of satire and irreverence. All cooked up in an "SA-positive" style... showing off my amazing country at its very best!"

Cape Town Travel
Not so quirky, but promising wide coverage.

Mike Metelerkamp, eMarketing Coordinator for Cape Town Tourism said,
"We’re the official destination marketing organisation for the City of Cape Town and will be the best source of information for the Cape Town and the World Cup."

He continued, “Cape Town Tourism has dedicated blogging teams to provide the world and those in South Africa with the latest news around what’s hot in Cape Town, what’s happening at the World Cup and feedback from the fans.”

They also run the I Love Cape Town Facebook fan page which has in excess of 60,000 fans.

World Cup coverage
Teams of bloggers taking photos, capturing video and reporting the results of each game will be stationed to Fan Parks, Fan Walks, games and must-see tourist hot spots across Cape Town and all other host cities.


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