Zuid-Afrika again at the World Championships: music and dance in the background

 Zuid-Afrika returns to the World Championships this year for the first time since 2010. Mickey van der Hart, a Dutch goalkeeper who plays in this country, points to the unique atmosphere created by fans and players. "There will be singing, dancing and emotions," he says. However, expectations are not as high as they were sixteen years ago when Zuid-Afrika hosted the tournament. Van der Hart notes that the football culture in Zuid-Afrika is significantly different from that in the Netherlands. "Everyone at my club dances and sings all the time," he says in an interview with VI PRO. "Even the opponents come out of the locker room with songs on their lips, it's really amazing." During his first training session, Van der Hart had to dance in a circle of clapping players as a form of initiation. "I think they've known ever since then not to do that to me again," he jokes, recalling his clumsy moves. The World Cup is already a hot topic in Zuid-Afrika, which will begin its participation on June 11 with a match against hosts Mexico. "The last time they played here in Cape Town, the city was packed and the rest of life came to a standstill for a while," says the goalkeeper. Still, expectations are lower than in 2010. "They don't expect much," admits Van der Hart. "Most players play domestically and the level of international competition can be a challenge for them."