By Nangamso Mabindla
8 February 2007

BIG time football returned in style to Buffalo City when our local boys trounced the visiting Scandinavians last night.

South African Premier League team Bloemfontein Celtics beat Swedish Premier League side Gefle IF by three goals to nil at the Absa Stadium in East London on Wednesday, 7 February.

Goal-scorers Soul Mmethi, Sundowns recruit Regan Noble and substitute Moses Spandeel sealed the game for Amasokolara, bring back memories for many soccer fans of the days before Bush Bucks' relegation.

Bush Bucks is the Eastern Cape's only professional soccer club, and since their relegation the province's soccer lovers have been hungry for some action. And they turned up in droves to watch this week's game.

Not only did it give local fans something to shout about, however; it also served as a chance for the city to market itself for the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup. In addition, it enabled Buffalo City to strengthen its twinning arrangement with the Swedish City of Gävle, home of Gefle IF.

Buffalo City 2010 program manager Vuyo Zambodla said the game was a success for the city. "This game was not only designed to market the city for 2010, it also marketed the partnership between the two cities. Now our people will be more aware of the Buffalo City–Gävle partnership."

The Gefle IF visit also lifted the spirits of local fans. "Let us remember that a lot of things went wrong for soccer here. Bush Bucks were relegated; the city wasn't chosen as a host for the world cup - these issues made local fans despondent," he said. "However, this game showed that Buffalo City is still a soccer destination."

Looking ahead, Zambodla said he was satisfied with how things had turned out and hoped that the Swedes would come back next year. "Overall I'm happy and we will speak with our Swedish friends and look at possibilities for them or another team to come for a pre-season training camp here."

Buffalo City was not only looking at lobbying the Swedish national team to base itself in East London during the world cup; it had connections with other European countries like the Netherlands, Germany and Italy. "We do not want to put all our eggs in one basket. We would like to try to see if we can't convince one of these countries to base themselves here in 2010."

Zambodla thanked the Swedish side for their visit and their professionalism. "They are a very professional outfit, technically supportive and they really co-operated with us. And I was happy that they agreed to hold coaching clinics for children in Mdantsane."