HARARE - The World Cup football finals; the most watched sporting event at the moment will end today after a month of goals, injuries, tears and even a biting incident.
Yes, this is a World Cup with a difference, a dramatic tournament that has witnessed hundreds of goals and more fans shedding tears as their favourite teams crashed out.
It was also a Luis Suarez tournament as the Uruguay star’s bite on an opponent earned him a four-month ban from the world soccer governing body, Fifa.
Suarez’s bizarre bite was news all over the world as it was captured in detail through photographs, affording the paparazzi much sought after drama that usually comes with the international soccer showcase.
World soccer giants that included Spain and Brazil recorded unforgettable losses by their opponents in humiliating fashion.
Spain lost by an antagonising 5-1 scoreline at the hands of the Netherlands while the Brazilians, the Samba Boys were the worst hit, succumbing to a 7-1 defeat inflicted by the marauding Germans — indeed some unexpected carnage.
There were several other teams like the United States, Chile and Nigeria who lost by narrow margins, to the disappointment of their millions of supporters back home.
Nigeria did Africa proud and like brave boys, they fought and displayed some fantastic football that has won them praise all over the world.
But African nations were quite an embarrassment as they failed to adequately finance their national soccer teams as witnessed by some of them who threatened to boycott training and matches if they were not paid their allowances.
The bonus wrangles have been the same old story for African national teams at the World Cup tournament, hence their teams continuously struggle to reach the quarterfinal stages of the World Cup.
The semifinals and the finals have been out of reach for African teams ever since the world soccer tournament began decades ago.
But that is why they call it the beautiful game and today the whole world would be glued to the World Cup final match pitting Germany and Argentina. While one of them has to take the 5kg golden trophy home, I sense more tears flowing today!
Today, however, the battle lines seem to be between Europe (Germany) and the Americas (Argentina) as the continents fight for supremacy over the most popular sport in the world.
In Zimbabwe and indeed elsewhere in the whole world, everything else would definitely be on hold as people watch the appetising soccer final. In nightclubs, hotels, resorts, hospitals, camps and homes, everyone will be “in Brazil” for the final.
And cars have been broken into during past finals as people shut themselves indoors glued to their sets, what with this wintry weather!
The current tournament has however, seen the ugly hand of terrorists as they threw bombs in packed clubs while soccer loving fans were watching the game on televisions.
Back in Zimbabwe, I am sure there will be a lot of wives, mothers and sisters who would be very happy that finally the World Cup craze is over and that “normal” television programming can be restored in homes.
For a month, lifestyles in the homes had changed as papa was up until after mid-night watching soccer, thus barring everyone else from watching their favourite soaps and entertainment channels. And for others, there will also be no excuses for papa to stay out too late on the pretext of watching football with the boys!
As for the local Germany and Argentina soccer fans, I wish you the best and I urge you not to bet too much money because as aforementioned, this tournament has produced too many goals, and so much tears!