Cathal Dervan

It's probably ironic that there are two kinds of journalists covering this World Cup in South Africa -- the haves and the have-nots.

In a country where equality is still not exactly a priority, we should probably take it as a compliment that the Irish hacks here are being treated slightly differently to some.

FIFA -- never our favorite people -- have a definite pecking order when it comes to organizing things like access to match tickets, press conferences and player interviews for the traveling media.

Welcome back to South Africa and welcome to Bloemfontein, the City of Roses as it is commonly known to those who populate this vast and welcoming land.

Welcome to South Africa. Welcome to the 2010 World Cup. Welcome to a land and a tournament full of contradictions.

For a week now I have been stationed in the northern Johannesburg resort of Craighall Park, billoted with a charming South African travel writer and tour guide by the name of Sally Roper at her Buckingham guest house.

Sally and her staff are everything that is good about South Africa. Nothing is ever too much trouble for them. Everything is achievable. The visitors and their happiness are paramount.

Welcome to South Africa. Welcome to the 2010 World Cup. Welcome to a land and a tournament full of contradictions.

For a week now I have been stationed in the northern Johannesburg resort of Craighall Park, billoted with a charming South African travel writer and tour guide by the name of Sally Roper at her Buckingham guest house.

Sally and her staff are everything that is good about South Africa. Nothing is ever too much trouble for them. Everything is achievable. The visitors and their happiness are paramount.

A is for Africa as the continent prepares to host the World Cup finals for the first time ever amid all sorts of scare stories about half ready stadia, soaring crime against tourists and bizarre claims from England that Spain will try to bribe referees! Just another mad month in the wacky world of FIFA president Sepp Blater.

B is for Brazil, the World Cup masters who have won the tournament more than any other country and could and should do so again when Kaka, et al, set about the challenge of qualifying for the July 11 final in Soccer City. Don’t bet against them.

C is for the cable car which climbs to the top of an expansive arch at the spanking Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, some 106 meters above a pitch that will play host to the likes of Germany, Australia, Spain, Switzerland, Holland, Japan, Nigeria, Korea, Brazil and Portugal during the group stages.

A high up officer from Croke Park expressed the opinion the other day that all will be well with the GAA this summer, even in the light of the competition from the World Cup finals.

Spin FM in Dublin ran a radio poll on Tuesday dealing with effects of jealousy in a long term relationship.

The girl whose call prompted the feature was afraid to even look at the postman delivering the mail, such was the possessiveness of her partner.