Bars around the Cayman Islands get a welcome financial boost this month with the start of the World Cup finals, the greatest sporting event on the planet.
 
From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, football fans will be focused on the unfolding of the tournament in South Africa from 11 June that finishes on 11 July.
 
This one’s special historic significance is that it is the first World Cup being held on the African continent. That resonates even more with Caribbean folk whose loyalties are split in many directions.
 
Brazil is one of the favourites and has a special place in everyone’s heart, but England, home of the Premiership, club football’s most entertaining league, will be well supported by the many expats that regularly watch football at places like Fidel Murphy’s, Triple Crown, Dog House and Centre Spot.
 
Mexico and Honduras have plenty of expats in Cayman and although they will struggle to get past the group stages, every match by these teams will generate a carnival atmosphere in George Town - especially if they win. 
 
When Honduras qualified for the World Cup finals last summer, fans celebrated with motorcades for hours waving flags and blowing horns. Hopefully, they’ll have a chance to repeat the exuberance.
 
Many of the world’s greatest players will display their skills in the football extravaganza but sadly, some will not be fully fit.
 
They include England’s Wayne Rooney, the captain Rio Ferdinand and Ledley King, Spain’s Cesc Fabregas, Xavi Hernandez and Fernando Torres, Ghana’s Michael Essien, William Gallas of France, Nigeria’s John Obi Mikel and Charlie Davies of the United States.
 
But at least the likes of Argentina’s Lionel Messi will have a chance to show why he is the world footballer of the year and Didier Drogba, Chelsea’s goal scoring hero, is anxious to get the Ivory Coast as far as he can. Cristiano Ronaldo, the world’s most expensive player, will do his best for Portugal although they too won’t go too far.
 
Italians in Cayman hope that their side can retain the World Cup, which they won on penalties in 2006 against France. But neither side looks likely to get to the final this time.
 
Along with Brazil, Spain, the European champs, are favourites but with their injuries there are plenty who could seriously challenge.
 
The always super efficient Germany can never be discounted, England under manager Fabio Capello is in with a shout, the United States has a well balanced side and hosts South Africa has the advantage of home support, which historically shows that they are likely to get to the quarter-finals at least.
 
Cayman residents will have to get used to early morning kick offs because South Africa is seven hours ahead of Cayman.
 
South Africa kicks off the tournament against Mexico on 11 June at 8am Cayman time and the following match is Uruguay-France at 2.30pm local time.
 
On 12 June the big matches are England-USA (12.30pm) and Argentina-Nigeria (8am). For the super keen, there is also South Korea-Greece (5.30am).
 
All in all, whatever the times of the games, such is the fervour generated by the World Cup finals, sports bars around the Islands will always be heaving – and employers will just have to make allowances for that!   WH