ZIWAPHI • VOL 4 NO 11 • 21 - 27 May 2010
KWAMHLANGA
When it became clear that his local municipality would not have a public viewing area during the Fifa World Cup, Ben Masango decided to build his own.
Masango (29), who lives in Tweefontein G village near KwaMhlanga in Mpumalanga, has constructed an eye-catching hut in the shape of a soccer ball that is festooned with slogans such as “Jo’bulani” (in reference to the Jabulani soccer ball created by Adidas for the World Cup), “Feel it, it is here” and “Mpumalanga, a pioneering spirit”. _It is the only sign of World Cup spirit in this rural village, which falls under the Thembisile Hani local municipality.
Masango said the aim of the hut was to show local support for the soccer event because the municipality had done nothing to ensure that residents would be able to experience the historical event.
“My idea was to express our soccer spirit in this rural village because we are the forgotten people in the province. Our local municipality does not have public viewing areas, so I decided to turn my home into one to share the World Cup spirit with my fellow villagers. The hut will also remain after the event to remind us of the kickoff,” he said.
It took Masango three months - from February to April - to complete the hut at a cost of about R7 000. _”I approached the municipality several times for support in building the hut, but without success,” he said.
“I’ve called it Ekhuthu Place (A home for everyone) because it’ll have a big screen at the back where people can come to watch the games.” _The interior of the hut has been decorated with traditional Ndebele artefacts such as weaved mats and fire pots, as well as the expected vuvuzelas and makarapas (soccer helmets).
Masango is proud of his idea to serve his community during the World Cup.
“Even if the municipality ignores us, nothing will stop us from saying ‘Feel it, it is here!’ ” he said.
Municipality spokesman Themba Mtsweni refused to comment.
Man builds PVA for fellow villagers