By Timothy Collings
MORULENG, South Africa (Reuters) - A remote, bare and sparsely populated village in north-west South Africa was transformed into a horn-blaring focus for World Cup football fans on Monday.
Under a low setting sun in the first half, and emerging floodlights in the second, England, one of the pre-tournament favorites for the 2010 finals, were given a rousing welcome as they ventured out onto the field at the Moruleng Stadium to face the local Platinum Stars team.
The green turf laid at the center of the open, modern and steel-constructed stadium, paid for from the proceeds of the nearby platinum mines, appeared in excellent condition and also in stark contrast to the dark red soil and unending savannah that stretched as far as the naked eye could see.
On approach to the stadium, most of the roadside verges had been recently cut, flags waved and dozens of villagers stood to wave. From the back seat of a car in the convoy behind, it was clear to see also the remains of dead animals, the bloated carcass of a goat on the side of the road and a long dead snake.
Supporters, many from nearby villages, were given free tickets and mixed happily outside the ground.
PHOTO WITH RIO
Among them was Ashton Tosh, 22, who had travelled up from Magaliesberg, to support the Stars because her boyfriend Bradley Grobler, also 22, was playing center-forward and hoping to score a goal.
As she stood among the excited horn-blaring crowd outside, she received a text message from Grobler. In it, he told her, he had just taken his photograph taken with Rio Ferdinand, the former England captain who he had expected to play against until he had been ruled out of the tournament by injury.
"He is so excited by that, I'm not sure he can play!" she laughed. "He is so much looking forward to this that all he hopes is he can play well and score a goal."
Half an hour before the start, under a high sun, the temperature was 26 degrees Celsius, but it fell rapidly as the game went on, much to England's evident comfort.
This pleased many in a crowd that filled less than a quarter of the stadium.
Amanda Sinclair, originally from Manchester, was among them with her husband Richard, the founder of the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Club in South Africa. "We've never been here before and didn't even know this place existed before," she said.
They had driven over from Pretoria as also had Mhle Nxumalo, 45, and his son Lihle, 11, and nephew Robin, 11. "For us, it is so fantastic to come here I cannot believe it," he said.
"We hope the Stars do well," said Lihle. "But I am afraid they have a very weak defense."
As the vuvuzelas wailed, England added two second-half goals through Wayne Rooney, who was also cautioned for a typical boisterous comment to the referee, and Joe Cole in the second half and the Stars, for all their energy and dexterity on the ball, were exposed for their naivety just as Lihle Nxumalo had predicted. (Editing by Nigel Hunt)
