Cape Town has gees!

Cape Town - Just under an hour before kick-off in the friendly international between Bafana Bafana and Norway last night, Cape Town Stadium was a worrying sight with only a handful of fans scattered around.

But by the time the teams walked out on to the pitch a 35 000-strong crowd was in full voice. The gees was back in the Mother City.

The national anthem resonated around the stadium and climaxed in a roar of voices and vuvuzelas.

Afterwards, as the teams lined up in the middle of the field, the referee blew his whistle and the stadium fell into silence as fallen cycling ace Burry Stander was remembered and celebrated.

It was a night of enthralling highs and heartbreaking lows as the crowd cheered each touch by World Cup hero Simphiwe Tshabalala, but soon arms were rolling furiously as the fans signalled for the substitution of Katlego Mphela after he missed from point-blank range.

Only the goal by Norway captain Tarik Elyounoussi in the 41st minute silenced the crowd and dampened spirits slightly.

A few sad faces were spotted as the teams shook hands after the 1-0 defeat, but despite the heartbreak the crowd kept applauding and singing. The gees that had returned to Cape Town could not be broken. - Cape Argus