In the News...

Monday, June 14, 2010
Section: A, Page A1,A2

By Matthew Baker
NewsTribune Reporter

The 2010 World Cup began Friday to the delight of soccer fans around the world and even in the Illinois Valley, where the game has been gaining in popularity in recent years.

"Everybody's looking forward to opening day and that first match. It's going to be exhilarating," said Princeton High School girls soccer coach Ed Young in the days leading up to Friday's opening match in South Africa.

Whether you call it a soccer, football or futbol competition, the World Cup offers nearly a month of exciting game play and cultural exchange as 32 national teams compete to be the best in the world.

"There's going to be so many amazing games and it's all the best players in the world," Young said.

While local fans will be watching the footwork of Landon Donovan, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and many other international stars on their television screens, one young man will be taking in the World Cup atmosphere first-hand.

Although his parents are back home in Peru, Adam Aleksy and wife Jessica have recently settled into World Cup host country South Africa while volunteering with the Peace Corps.

"Since we got off the plane, World Cup fever has been palpable," Aleksy said in an e-mail message.

During their early days in the country, Peace Corps volunteers were regularly greeted by locals "shouting to us 'Welcome to South Africa! Twenty-Ten! Welcome to South Africa!'"

The greetings reflect the residents' enthusiasm for the event and their acceptance of commercials urging them to act as "good hosts," according to Aleksy.

"You see, for most of South Africa, soccer is life. In the poorest villages, kids find a way to make some sort of soccer ball in order to play. They play all the time," he said.

World Cup "fever" in South Africa goes beyond the soccer pitch, or field, according to Aleksy.

The South African people take part in "Football Fridays," during which all are encouraged to wear their South Africa team kits, or uniforms, as part of their regular clothing.

"Their colors are green and gold, and though you see these colors a lot most days, towns are a sea of them on Fridays. It is truly awesome to see," he said.

The World Cup spirit has also spread into their Peace Corps work. Currently Aleksy is working with a group called Soccer Cinema, which tours rural communities screening soccer-related films while also providing information on social issues and HIV/AIDS programs.

Tickets to watch the U.S. team play sold out quickly, but Aleksy managed to get tickets to see Australia play Serbia and Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) face off against North Korea.

He's looking forward to seeing the Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba, "Africa's greatest player," playing in the first World Cup to take place in Africa.

"That should be particularly amazing," Aleksy said.