June 23rd 2010 was the greatest day of my life. We originally bought tickets based on the proposed itinerary of the trip. After the draw, we realized that would not be seeing the USA, so we applied for, and got, two more tickets- the third group stage game, and the round of 16 with the winner of our group. We assumed that we would be in a good spot for USA Algeria. But with two draws, we were in a must win position. We got up at 7 AM, suited up, and headed to Pretoria. The game was at 4PM.
We were planning on meeting up with the
American Outlaws. They march to the stadium from a nearby bar for every single USA game and had arranged a trip for all of the group stage games. We knew the place was called Hombaze and that it was near Loftus Versfield stadium, but we did not know that it was across the street from the US Embassy. They were having a barbecue for the embassy and the teams parents and other bigwigs. As they would get off of the buses or step outside they would see a TON of Americans singing and chanting and cheering for them. Sunil Gulati, president of USSF came over, as well as several embassy workers.
We arrived at 10:30 and the restaurant realized that they were in for it. You can see the USA flag flying in the picture. It was an England flag, but we took it down and put up one of our own.
There was a steady influx of Americans for the next 4 hours at one of the best parties I have ever been to. State flags and costumes like crazy.
June 23rd 2010 was the greatest day of my life. We originally bought tickets based on the proposed itinerary of the trip. After the draw, we realized that would not be seeing the USA, so we applied for, and got, two more tickets- the third group stage game, and the round of 16 with the winner of our group. We assumed that we would be in a good spot for USA Algeria. But with two draws, we were in a must win position. We got up at 7 AM, suited up, and headed to Pretoria. The game was at 4PM.
We were planning on meeting up with the American Outlaws. They march to the stadium from a nearby bar for every single USA game and had arranged a trip for all of the group stage games. We knew the place was called Hombaze and that it was near Loftus Versfield stadium, but we did not know that it was across the street from the US Embassy. They were having a barbecue for the embassy and the teams parents and other bigwigs. As they would get off of the buses or step outside they would see a TON of Americans singing and chanting and cheering for them. Sunil Gulati, president of USSF came over, as well as several embassy workers.
We arrived at 10:30 and the restaurant realized that they were in for it. You can see the USA flag flying in the picture. It was an England flag, but we took it down and put up one of our own.
There was a steady influx of Americans for the next 4 hours at one of the best parties I have ever been to. State flags and costumes like crazy.
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