Fred de Jong: Time for talk is over - let's play

I was woken by the trumpet of a vuvuzela at 5.45 this morning. It is now 10pm and the distinct plastic horns are still in full blast outside my hotel window. Today was Vuvuzela Day in support of the South African team, Bafana Bafana, and I can testify from the ringing in my ears that the local community has given the day their full backing.

Over the past week it has been fascinating to watch the excitement and tension build as this morning's opening match approached. Johannesburg has come alive as many thousands of supporters have converged on the city.

In the Nelson Mandela Square behind the hotel spontaneous chanting breaks out every few minutes as supporters from all corners of the globe make their presence heard.

They have brought the colour and diversity that I remember so well from Germany four years ago. It now feels like a real World Cup.

As the atmosphere around the city has intensified so has the tension among the locals about the chances of the Bafana Bafana.

Every host nation in the history of the World Cup has qualified for the second round but the general feeling here is that South Africa may be the unfortunate nation to break that run. When discussing the chances of the South African team the responses fall into two categories. Bravado makes some overly positive, believing they can go all the way in the tournament. The more typical reaction is one of cautious optimism, more in hope than with real conviction.

Like that of the driver who took me to my hotel: "Let me tell you after the opening game against Mexico or even after the Uruguay match. We are all praying for success."

It will not be through lack of support that Bafana Bafana come up short.

Initiatives like Vuvuzela Day and Football Friday have been running for six months. Every Friday people dress in the yellow of the host's playing strip to show their support. This even extends to all sides of Parliament chambers which makes for a very colourful and united display.

Maybe Black Friday is something for NZ to consider next year before the Rugby World Cup.

During the opening match earlier this morning, I was fulfilling my duties as the Fifa match commissioner.

The match commissioner's role is to be Fifa's official representative at the game. This did feel somewhat strange given the presence of the Fifa president, the majority of the Fifa executive committee and three delegates from all 208 member associations of Fifa.

The match commissioner is also an independent set of eyes in case of any incidents either inside or outside the stadium. If any incidents do occur it is the match commissioner and the Fifa general co-ordinator who decide what action to take and then report back to Fifa.

So finally, after six years of preparation, South Africa 2010 is under way and the soccer has taken over from the talk. Now, where did I put my vuvuzela?

Fred de Jong is a former All White