South Africa's rugby fans join the football party (Feature)

By Eduardo Garcia Barassi Jun 12, 2010, 11:53 GMT

Kimberley, South Africa - They are blonde-haired, blue-eyed and pale-skinned and they have oval-shaped hearts, but South Africa's rugby fans are also putting on the yellow shirt of the country's Bafana Bafana football team.

In the very British Halfway House bar where the beer flows and there are usually more tries than goals, around 300 recently converted football fans congregated on Friday to watch the country's first World Cup match.

'This the World Cup and I am supporting my country more than supporting football' said Eric, a former prop who is still getting used to the rules of South Africa's other national sport.

'I needed Bloemfontein radio station to explain the rules to me, especially the one about the off-side,' he revealed.

There are still some minutes to go before the start of the first match but already the atmosphere is building.

'This is just like a Springboks match!' says Johnny, another converted fan.

The screen shows 'Doctor' Khumalo ready to begin his commentary. 'Who is that?' Johnny asks about one of South Africa's most famous players.

'We grew up with rugby,' he explains. 'But for younger people it is now easier to get into football. In the past it has always been a sport for the black population.'

The game starts and everyone is glued to the screen. A couple of vuvuzelas can be heard in the bar along with shouts of 'Bafana Bafana' whenever South Africa go on the attack.

One fan wearing a Uruguay shirt explains to everybody else why Mexico have had a goal ruled out.

'We are playing well' says another who looks like he might have played as a 'hooker'.

When Siphiwe Tshabalala scores there are high fives all around and the celebrations go on until Rafael Marquez equalises for Mexico.

'We need to win the game,' says Michelle who can barely be heard as the volume levels go up towards the end of the game. 'We can qualify from this group'.

But the winning goal never comes.

'A draw is okay, Mexico are a strong team,' adds Michelle as the final whistle is blown and the rugby world once again applauds its football counterpart - one sporting nation united for the World Cup.