Cracking the soccer code: the beautiful game is for everyone.

One of the world's greatest sporting events is in full swing. Observing all the machismo associated with the World Cup though, one would think that soccer is designed to be appreciated only by the male of the species.

Listening to one magazine radio programme the day after the start of the World Cup, I gaped in disbelief at how gender differentiation has not spared any field of human endeavour. Sport, and in this case soccer, seems especially vulnerable. The radio host advised women listeners to wear the "soccer widow" label and not to despair, and added: "Your husbands will love you after the World Cup." The very existence of the term "soccer widow" speaks volumes about the manner in which society views sport.

Later in the show, when asked how her boyfriend was conducting himself since the World Cup kick off, one listener moped that he hadn't even bothered to call her.

Girlfriend, be informed! A normal soccer match lasts 90 minutes. This is divided into two halves, giving a full match a break after the first 45 minutes. Even if his eyes were glued to the screen, your boyfriend had opportunities and ample time to call you. In other words, don't blame his irresponsibility on the beautiful game.

On the same programme, women were advised to avoid annoying their male partners--"don't argue when he watches soccer, or he will leave." Etiquette dictates that you do not disturb others when they are watching TV. That's just it. This rule should not be applied only to those watching soccer. And if he leaves under these circumstances, spare your precious tears for a more worthy brother, this one was going to leave anyway!

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If your significant other behaves even remotely like a zombie, accept that you live with a closet one, only now coming out. Is it not strange that any intelligent man could so proudly wear this derogatory tag? Analyse the scenario of someone suddenly transformed into a zombie: breathing, dreaming, eating and generally living soccer, and forsaking everything else. Do not be fooled: that someone has been a zombie all along--you either chose not to acknowledge it, or you are a zombie yourself, and therefore in good company. Such a partner is merely shirking responsibility--unable to multi task, and too dumb to divide time appropriately.

Another thing, sisters: sport has proved to be a great world unifier. Strife does not strike only those with the XY chromosomes! Why then, would you stand on the sidelines and not benefit from the magical moments of the Soccer World Cup? It is 2006, and there is nothing rocket science about soccer! Anyone wanting you to believe it is beyond your comprehension is merely exhibiting their selfish streak--they don't want to share a good thing.

Sport certainly proved a unifying force on 9 June 2006 at a Soccer World Cup Party jointly hosted by Goethe Zentrum (NADS), the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, the British Council, the Allgemeine Zeitung and the Franco Namibian Cultural Centre (FNCC), at 1-5 Fidel Castro Street in Windhoek. On that occasion, young and old, male and female, high commissioner and citizen, resident and visitor, from all walks of Windhoek society met and had a jolly good party, all in the name of soccer.

At one table in the courtyard, a woman was spreading the cheer by painting the colours of the German flag in tribal mark fashion onto the face of any guest who wished to express their support in this way. Adults networked over drinks, while children enjoyed a drawing competition. Tomorrow's Peles had a go at scoring into a portable net brought in for the occasion. Then everyone packed into the auditorium to watch the opening ceremony live on a wide screen.

At that one gathering, in that auditorium, we were a mini replica of the United Nations, with children, men and women, from Angola, Botswana, France, India, Indonesia, Germany, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, United Kingdom, Zambia, and Zimbabwe amongst countries represented.