Clyde Tlou takes a historic look at why the Dutch should be
South Africa's favourites tonight.  This piece is a personal
comment article from Clyde Tlou, a young South African who has
experienced the 2010 tournament as an intern writer at  It was
back on April 6 in 1652 when the Dutch merchant Jan van Riebeeck
landed in Cape Town accompanied by 82 men and eight women, his
own wife amongst them. Commissioned by the Dutch-East India
Trading company, he established a strong base to provide the
company's ships with fresh groceries, mainly meat and vegetables
on the long journey from Europe to Asia.  On June 7 in 2010 the
Netherlands head coach Bert van Marwijk landed at the OR Tambo
International Airport in South Africa with his 23 troops, this
time not to colonise the country but to conquer the football
world.  Just when the British had decided against the
establishment of a colony at the Cape of Good Hope, it was the
Dutch who realised the strategic and economic importance of the
Cape.  Ironically snubbed by En