VOA标准英语2010年-Football Fans Across Africa Back Ghana

Ghana's Samuel Inkoom, right, and Anthony Annan participate in a drill during a Ghana national soccer team training session in Mogwase, South Africa, 28 Jun 2010

Excitement is building as Ghana prepares to face Uruguay in the quarterfinal of the football World Cup Friday in South Africa.  Fans in many African nations are rooting for the Black Stars.

It seems that all of Africa celebrated¹ Ghana's qualification for the quarter finals of the World Cup.  And many are hoping the Black Stars will beat Uruguay on Friday to become the first African team to qualify for a World Cup semi-final.

A school teacher in Blantyre, Malawi, James Manda, says Ghana succeeded because it played better than the five other African teams that qualified² for the Cup.

"Ghana impressed me the most," said Manda.  "They could defend as a unit, play as a unit.  That is why they could qualify better."

Fellow Blantyre resident Iswell Chinkwezule said the victory was even more special because the World Cup is being held for the first time in Africa.

"Having it on the African soil, it is something that is only once in a generation," said Chinkwezule.

 

Zambian architect Mwamba Mulenga, like most Africans watched the match at a café not far from his home in Lusaka.  He praised South Africa's organization of such a major event.

"Personally, really I did not expect South Africa to pull it off well," said Mulenga.  "But they did because when you look at the infrastructure³, the infrastructure is excellent.  It was a good job."

Miles Zulu, who works for a media station in the Zambian capital, agrees.

"It has made us proud and I think it is a good opportunity for the Africans," noted⁴ Zulu.  "It has been successful so far and no complaints have been heard about South Africa hosting the World Cup and everybody has been praising this, including the FIFA president."

Blantyre homemaker Chisomo Chibwana hopes the tournament, which cost billions of dollars in preparations, will encourage the development of infrastructure elsewhere on the continent.

"When you talk of hotels being built, issues of infrastructure, it is bringing us such a hope that our leaders are being opened in their eyes that we surely need to do this," said Chibawana.

The new World Cup ball, called the Jabulani, has caused controversy⁵.  Some players and coaches say they do not like it because its seamless design makes it unpredictable when kicked.

But Lusaka resident Failot Thambo disagrees, saying the ball has improved the game.

"It is different from the previous balls because when a player kicks it, it is revolving⁶ according to how the player has done the job," said Thambo.  "It is very fantastic."

The most controversial accessory of this World Cup by far has been the vuvuzela, the monotonal plastic horn that in a full stadium sounds like a hive of angry bees.

Some players and television announcers have complained the horns drown out the game and want them banned.  But many fans have embraced them.

A Zimbabwean lawyer living in Harare, Mandla Jama Sibanda, believes the vuvuzela is here to stay.

"That is an African product that has taken the soccer fraternity by storm," explained Sibanda.  "I am told it has taken Southeast Asia by storm, China by storm, Europe, and all over the world.  We are proud of vuvuzela.  Some people are saying it will be banned.  We say you cannot ban an exquisite⁷ product like vuvuzela."

A boutique-owner in Harare, Rachel Chikwewo, says overall Africa's first football World Cup is a source of gratification for the entire continent.

"South Africa has done us proud and I think everyone who is watching the World Cup can agree with me that the way they are handling their end is way, way beyond what expected," said Chikwewo.

She is a bit cautious about the prospects⁸ of a second World Cup on the continent.

"I would want to see that happen, but given the situation with most countries in Africa, the infrastructure, the economy, they would need more than four years [to prepare]," she added.  "But we cannot rule it out."

Hilary Malwa, who works for an insurance company in Lusaka, is more confident saying he believes the tournament has opened the door for other major sporting events on the continent.

"It is a great thing because the Olympics can come to Africa and other major tournaments can come to Africa as well," said Malwa.

Many fans believe Brazil is the most likely team to hoist⁹ the World Cup trophy¹⁰ for an unprecedented¹¹ sixth time.  But others say with the backing of an entire continent, Ghana could also win.
 

1 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

2 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

3 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

6 revolving   

adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想

参考例句：

• The theatre has a revolving stage. 剧院有一个旋转舞台。
• The company became a revolving-door workplace. 这家公司成了工作的中转站。

7 exquisite   

adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的

参考例句：

• I was admiring the exquisite workmanship in the mosaic.我当时正在欣赏镶嵌画的精致做工。
• I still remember the exquisite pleasure I experienced in Bali.我依然记得在巴厘岛所经历的那种剧烈的快感。

8 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

9 hoist   

n.升高，起重机，推动；v.升起，升高，举起

参考例句：

• By using a hoist the movers were able to sling the piano to the third floor.搬运工人用吊车才把钢琴吊到3楼。
• Hoist the Chinese flag on the flagpole,please!请在旗杆上升起中国国旗！

10 trophy   

n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品

参考例句：

• The cup is a cherished trophy of the company.那只奖杯是该公司很珍惜的奖品。
• He hung the lion's head as a trophy.他把那狮子头挂起来作为狩猎纪念品。

11 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。