There is life outside of the football stadia in South Africa. One that is exciting and very fulfilling for those involved. Outside of the football games, South Africa 2010 has been an unforgettable experience for several African football legends. Those that are in South Africa seem to have unanimity on that. Even I can readily admit, even as I do not fit in completely because of the generational gap between several of the players and myself, that it has been absolutely great fun, to say the least. The matches are heating up and becoming more exciting and more unpredictable. The stadia are magnificent edifices with the one in Durban being easily one of the most modern and most beautiful in the world.  The television facilities and coverage have also been fantastic. No previous World Cup event, since I started being a part of the four-yearly fiesta, has been quite like this one – very intimate and homely.

For the unprecedented number of international former footballers that are here life outside the football matches have been a blast. The two major television networks in South Africa, SABC and Supersports, in competing for television audiences in Africa, have invited many famous international footballers, including several African superstars, as expert analysts during the football matches. This must be the highest assembly of such a group in World Cup history. This is a demonstration of the recognition of the integrity and competency of football players to understand the technical intricacies of the game, and a great way to make them relevant after their playing careers are over. They are paying the footballers (and some that have turned coaches) some good money for this service. The good news is that all the invited ex-international footballers take the assignment very seriously and are working hard to justify it. They actually describe their assignment here as their work. It is the first time that such a number and array of footballers, most of them from Africa, would serve as television match analysts.

Outside of ‘work’ however, it has also given them a rare opportunity to meet again in the corridor of life-after-football to share their individual stories, cultivate ideas and have plenty of fun doing so. I did not seek to be a part of the ‘team’ of analysts  in order to concentrate and see through my primary assignment as a member of the Presidential Task Force. But then I have supported some of my friends in the BBC whilst here, as well as made a brief appearance for OSMI and BON during Nigeria’s last match against South Korea on behalf of the 1-Goal Education For All project.

I must confess that but for the pain of Nigeria playing and losing the way they did, South Africa 2010 has been great fun for former African footballers including myself.

At different times during the championship we have congregated at either of two lounges at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Sandton to drink and dance through the night. There have been Dwight York, formerly of Manchester United FC , George Weah, Edgar Davids, Christian Carenbu, Stephen Keshi, Samson Siasia, Jay Jay Okocha, and several other South African players.

Last Wednesday was the birthday of one of France’s most celebrated football players, one who was lucky to have been dropped on the eve of the World Cup, and who is now very relieved not to have been a member of the disgraced French team at the World Cup. Patrick Viera was one year older and a huge party was organised for him by patrons of the Radisson Hotel 12th floor Lounge on Thursday night to mark it! By the time you are reading this we would have danced the night away in celebration of one of the greatest exponents of defensive midfield play in the world when he was at his best. Since he left Arsenal he has not been the same.

I met him briefly Wednesday night and got an invitation to attend his Thursday party. Of course he did not know who I was. I did not expect him to know. My antecedents in African football are now distant history and no one appreciates that better than me now. As I go around with the footballers of this generation and the immediate past, except for some Nigerians who still recognise me through my dwindling media exposure even in Nigeria, I am now but a receding shadow amongst the youths of today all over Africa! Thats the reality of life. I do not envy the limelight the new generation enjoy as I have also had my time in the sun several decades ago, and I am now only grateful for the small recognitions here and there.

I was to do some work with Patrick Mboma last tuesday on behalf of the 1 Goal Education for All project here and then go watch the Ghana/Germany match together, but I declined the invitation to catch up with this column. I would have met with him. Jay Jay has been a great guide here ensuring that I get my due recognitions everywhere here.

Its been a great festival of football and African footballers.