Bloemfontein - The National Museum's soccer showpiece is attracting numerous visitors, both local and international, as every visitor is taken by the rich culture and history of soccer in the Free State and South Africa.
The museum, founded in 1877, is one of the tourist attraction sites that tourists are flocking to in the city. This cultural history and art museum has created an atmosphere that allows people to enjoy exhibitions and gather educational information about the displays.
Upon arrival, inside the museum, one is welcomed by the display of National Symbols - varying from the National Flag, National Coat of Arms and National Tree, the Real Yellowwood (Podocarpus latifolius). The displays are also paired with its information. The South African Anthem's lyrics and song is available to those who want to listen.
The development of soccer, which is right along the National Symbols' display, has seen people lose themselves in amazement as to how rich a country South Africa and the province are in terms of soccer history.
"Soccer the beautiful game" display backdates soccer history to the 19th century when the British settlers brought the game to the country. Some of the information displayed reveals the first documented soccer match in the country happening in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth in 1862, while the first recognised soccer club, Pietermaritzburg Country, was formed in 1879.
According to information on displays, it is apparent that soccer started in 1889 in the Free State. The exhibition also covers information about local soccer teams such as the well-known Bloemfontein Celtic which was founded in 1969 after a Scottish soccer team Glassglow Celtic.
Also on display is Free State Stars' founded in 1977, which has gone through a series of name change such as Makwena Computer Stars after a small village in Qwa Qwa also has a dedicated spot on display. Photographs of local sports grounds that were used and still being used such as Masengkeng and Maplankeng have also been exhibited.
Various objects that capture soccer history such as old trophies, soccer kit, old soccer boots, teams' soccer blazers, photographs, the traditional soccer ball, books and newspaper clippings have been displayed.
The exhibition does not only limit information and objects on display to just past events but have displayed the currently happening 2010 FIFA World Cup being hosted on African soil for the first time by South Africa. Photographs of 2004 when the country was announced as the host country of this spectacular event have been displayed and 1020 branded accessories such as supporters gear, Makarapa, vuvuzela and a mini display of the official mascot for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
According to Louise Coetze, museum researcher and public relations officer, the aim of the exhibition was to showcase what the country has achieved to date.
"We wanted to off to visitors our rich cultural and soccer history. The display is also very educational as it is part of the schools' syllabus," Coetze explained. She said they have received a lot of enthusiastic foreign national visitors that are keen to know about the country and locals have also come out in numbers to view the displays.
"It is heart-warming to see how people have an interest in the displays and how their curiosity goes beyond the displays after their tour of the museum," she added.
According to two United States internationals, Lillian and Dr Janet Diaz, they have been marvelled by South Africa and what they have seen, as they have been travelling across the country watching various games. "We have been travelling across the country on our own and thus far it has been a wonderful experience. We are trying to tour around as much as we can, with the soccer, and experience the diversity and rich culture the country has," they said as they stood surrounded by the soccer exhibition at the museum.
Exhibitions at the museum are still continuing and various other museums in town have embraced the soccer fever in their exhibition such as the Old Presidency that has a floor-filled display of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
