Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. South African Football Fans say World Cup Party is Just Beginning South Africa knocked out of tournament despite victory over France, but local fans vow to continue being excellent hosts Darren Taylor | Johannesburg, South Africa 23 June 2010 South Africans continue to fill bars and fan parks across their country today to watch World Cup matches, despite their teamsâ emotional exit from the tournament yesterday. South Africaâs national team â known as Bafana Bafana â beat highly rated France 2â1. But the victory wasnât by a big enough margin to ensure South Africaâs progression to the next round, and it will go down in history as the first host team ever to be knocked out of the competition in its first round. Nevertheless, South African fans are positive, describing the victory over the French Cockerels as one of the greatest ever African performances at the World Cup. D. Taylor South African fans celebrate the games with makarapas - colorful hats made from everyday materials âWe have beaten one of the top teams in the world. Not many teams in the world can say they beat France in an important World Cup game,â says Elphira Sikoe. âI am very, very happy about what happened ⦠It made me more proudly South African. That was brilliant, I must say.â An equally proud Bheki Mnguni told VOA, â[Bafana] played very well, and the French team was playing at their best.â A still-smiling Collen Pelepa described the win as âa thrilling moment, to beat such a great European team. But the problem in the end was we needed too many goals to get to the next round, so we fell short.â From shame to joy These feelings are in stark contrast to the embarrassment South Africans felt last week after their team was crushed 3â0 by Uruguay. âI cried; I literally cried ⦠I was like so disappointed,â Sikoe recalls. And South Africans remain baffled as to how their team could perform so well against France, which includes some of the best players in the world like striker Thierry Henry, and then completely melt down against Uruguay â which on paper is a far weaker team than the Cockerels. AP Part of the cast for the opening ceremony of the 2010 World Cup Soccer parades to Soccer City stadium for a dress rehearsal in Johannesburg. âI think because of Bafanaâs good result against Mexico [a 1â1 draw in the tournamentâs opening match], the boys were a bit [too] relaxed [against Uruguay],â says Sikoe. âKnowing that it was their last game [against France], that really, really pressured them to do us proud. Because they wanted to hold that trophy; they wanted to go to the next [round],â says Patricia Mncube. South Africans not embarrassed South Africans refuse to be humiliated by the fact that their teamâs the first in World Cup history to fall at the first hurdle. âNot at all!â shouts Sikoe. âThose teams which have to play [on in the tournament], we will still support them.â âEven if we are the first host country to lose [at such an early stage], I donât think we must be embarrassed. We must be proud, because we really, really stood [our] ground,â says Mncube emphatically. âWe mustnât be embarrassed; we are very proud because we are the first country to host the World Cup, in Africa,â Nomvula Hleza says. France's Djibril Cisse reacts following the World Cup group A soccer match between France and South Africa in Bloemfontein, 22 Jun 2010 AP France's Djibril Cisse reacts following the World Cup group A soccer match between France and South Africa in Bloemfontein, 22 Jun 2010 Mnguni adds, âItâs not an African cup, itâs the World Cup. Having the World Cup in South Africa, it is [still] profit for all of us. So itâs up to all Africans to support the tournamentâs remaining teams, even if those teams are not from Africa.â âWe are still the World Cup host country and the first ever African host. We are doing a fantastic job and proving all our critics wrong who thought we could not do it. Why should we be bothered by some meaningless statistic,â Sikoe asks. Pelepa says South Africans have âno need to feel ashamedâ at leaving the World Cup without glory. âAfter all, Cameroon and Nigeria, who are rated much higher than South Africa, are also going home. I think all this shows that Africa still has much to learn about World Cup football. Our time is not yet here,â he states. Sammy Mazwai says the feeling in his heart is one of âvictory over the oddsâ rather than âhumiliating defeat.â âWe should celebrate victory over all the people who said foreign fans would be murdered here, and who said we could not build nice stadiums. South Africa is a winner because we have proved that Africa is a place or warmth and beauty,â he says, wiping a tear from his eye. South Africans to support other teams now South Africans say theyâll now support their second choice teams for World Cup triumph, with much backing for Argentina and Brazil. AP South African fans show their enthusiasm by blaring vuvuzela trumpets Sikoe says Brazil will take the trophy, while Mncube insists itâll be Argentina because she âlovesâ Argentine manager and former World Player of the Year Diego Maradona. âHeâs a naughty boy, but charming as well!â she laughs. Pelepaâs money is also on Argentina. âI just think they have too much firepower for the rest of the teams â especially [in the form of Lionel] Messi â he is the greatest player in the world right now, a magician,â he says. But Hleza comments, âThereâs no way any other teams are going to beat Brazil. The Brazilians have too much pedigree.â The party continues At previous tournaments, when other host countries have been knocked out of the World Cup, thereâs been a significant waning of interest in the football in the host nation. But South Africans say this wonât happen in their country. âAs you can see on the streets of Johannesburg today, people are still wearing their football shirts, even their Bafana Bafana shirts. And we will continue to do so even until the last ball is kicked,â says Mncube. South African fans say they will continue partying with all the foreign football supporters still in their country. Iscar Blanco, VOA âOf course,â screams Pelepa. âBecause this is our African moment and we still have to do it [party] here in Africa!â Sikoe says sheâll continue going to fan parks, despite the fact that sheâll no longer be able to watch her beloved Bafana Bafana there. âI have been to a fan park here in Johannesburg to watch Spain, and I partied with Spanish fans â¦It was beautiful. I mean it wasnât Bafana Bafana playing but I went there and it was magnificent, I must say,â she maintains. Finally, Sikoe adds, âIf the world thinks thereâs been a party so far in South Africa, theyâre wrong. Just watch us go now, now that the pressure is off us and we can really let our hair down!â .