From the beginning (June 11) to the end (July 11) of the FIFA 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa, the world came together in a fantasy of football (soccer), friendliness, goodwill,  sportsmanship and love for our adversaries. It also scrutinised (South) Africa and made its judgement: It's time for Africa.

From Shakira's wonderful opening ceremony performance, both on the stage and off (her charity work now projecting her to the status of a world champion of human rights) to the closing ceremony, South Africa 2010 proved to be a resounding success in terms of organization, in terms of efficiency.

Naturally, because anyone who knows anything, also knows that FIFA sends an army of officials right from the application process, this army growing by the minute until the end of the process. However, South Africa was up to it and proved that the media reports flying around the Net and the controlled press were no more than attempts to perpetuate the idea that Africa is a dark place with dark people who are prone to gloom and doom stories.