From Lady to Ladette: my world cup transformation!

Being a typical girly girl, football features about as prominently in my thoughts, as self – respect in the mind of a big brother contestant – I’m barely aware of its existence! Clothes, shoes and bags enjoy pride of place in my thoughts and in fact, I’ve had many an argument with male friends, trying to persuade them that my love of shoes is far more rational than their love of football. My main point in these arguments was that shoes serve a practical purpose, they form an essential part of any well chosen outfit; whereas football is just an opportunity for drunken middle aged men to gather round a TV and delude themselves into thinking they would perform better if given the chance.

But, in light of my involvement in the current world cup fever, I think I’m beginning to view football in a different light. It actually began in the last world cup. I went to watch the Ghana v USA match at EKUBANZ a Ghanaian restaurant and bar; and was surprised at how much fun I had, despite being surrounded by the fore mentioned middle aged men. The atmosphere was immense, and for those 90 minutes strangers were completely united in feelings of hope, worry, and eventually elation. I enjoyed it so much that I actually craved the chance to watch the matches in a similar setting, for it is only in a pub with Ghanaian people that prayers are said every time the match takes a turn for the worse, only here can you see a man old enough to be your father throw himself on the floor with joy, and only in such surroundings do I feel completely uninhibited screaming at a TV in a room full of people I’ve never actually met.

So I hate to admit it, but it seems my friends did have a point. Football has an incredible way of uniting people and in no other tournament is this more evident than in the world cup. People from all nations come together to celebrate this sport and it’s a celebration that I do not want to miss, which is why when Ghana play Germany I will be there with my Ghana t-shirt, flag and whistle screaming and shouting like a true football hooligan. But when its over I’ll be back to my usual self, buying shoes will return to the top of my list of priorities, but for now, football fever has grabbed me and I must confess I’m enjoying it!