The World Cup is well on its way in South Africa, and like many of you, I’m enjoying the game via online streaming in the wee hours of the morning (Go Argentina!). For those of you who are lucky enough to be sitting in South African stadiums to watch the games – go to hell. Not only are you amongst a horde of football hooligans, but you’re probably stuffing your face with South African stadium food.
Now I’m sure we can all agree that sporting events held at stadiums worldwide offer some of the unhealthiest foods of all time: nachos, hot dogs, burgers, fries, and candy. But honestly, who cares when you’ve got a hot dog in one hand and a beer in another, the nostalgia of watching a game while enjoying stadium food is priceless. So I’d like to pose a question, what does a horde of football (pardon me, soccer) hooligans feast on? And what if you moved this horde to South Africa?
Unfortunately due to FIFA regulations, spectators are not allowed to bring food or alcohol into South African stadiums during the World Cup. As an interesting side note, you are limited to bringing a 1-meter long vuvuzela, an instrument often described as sounding like elephant diarrhea (I WANT ONE!). It’s a shame that food vendors operating right outside aren’t able to provide the essential service of feeding crazed football fans. Temporarily evicted during the games, you can still find disgruntled food vendors providing stadium food from nearby tents. So if you can somehow sneak them in, you’d be enjoying a dish of pap, rice, idombolo (dumplings) accompanied with enticing braaiing (barbequing) meats such as braais chicken and beef. Those confined within the war cries of the stadium can still enjoy a variety of foods, though limited to boerewors rolls (sausage-like rolls), biltong (dried strips of meat, like jerky), hot dogs, pies (bobotie?!), and chocolates/sweets just to name a few. As a friend from South Africa put it, these are but a few of the many delicious things that are offered.
South African stadium food doesn’t aptly represent the rainbow cuisine I’ve written about before, not surprisingly, as food is probably the last thing on a spectator’s mind when they’re yelling at the top of their voice. However, it does bring to perspective the cultural differences we have all around the world when we watch sporting events. A hot dog in one hand or a boerewors roll in the other, we’re all just a bunch of hooligans joined together in the glory of the games.
For another article which highlights South African cuisine, visit here.
Related posts:
It’s kind of unfortunate that the food vendors outside have been temporary evicted. It really takes away from the culture… That’s just like evicting hot dog vendors outside baseball stadiums.