Sports

Read from The Straits Times (Spore) Tue, July 2, 2002

"A costly affair - but the rewards make it all worthwhile"

World Cup 2002

The first day was 31st May 2002, located at Seoul Stadium, Japan.  There were a group of countrymen from Senegal, dressed in traditional outfits, drumming and dancing as they walked along the stadium.  Most spectators looked at them with sympathy, thinking that they were forced to support a losing team.  but when it was just 10 minutes to the full time whistle, many of the skeptics could only give an applause to the Senegal supporters.  Their team had shocked France 1- 0. 

All over the Nagai Stadium, Osaka, Senegal played Turkey in the quarter finals.  this time, Japanese fans wore yellow uniforms in support of their newly adopted team.  In the Croatia versus Italy match, Japanese fans had also taken their adopted team.  IT is the truly Asian hospitality to foreigners at the ground level bloomed into such a riot of colors that resulted the success of this event.  There is a cumulative audience of 42 billion throughout the month.

One of World Cup 2002's favourite team was the South Korean team that performed with full spirit.  The team was headed by Guus Hiddink, a Dutchman, who now joins PSV Eindhoven.  They played well, as it was proudly flanked by the best football crowd in this World Cup competition.  The supporters dressed in red, and cheered their home team from the football stadium to the streets.  The team beat Poland, then won the quarter final over Spain.

Apart from the awakening of South Korea, we have a heart-warming resurrection of Ronaldo of Brazil.

See the World Cup in Germany in 2006.

updated 3 July 2002