by Sarah DiLorenzo

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Fortune and fame may be just around the corner for Aliou Faye, who quit his job earlier this year to devote himself full time to becoming a champion wrestler. For now, though, he can only afford to eat meat twice a week.

FACE OFF—Senegalese traditional wrestler L’an 2000 (French for ‘The Year 2000’), left, faces off against his opponent Super Etoile (‘Super Star’) during a weekly wrestling match in Dakar, Senegal.

“In two years, you won’t recognize me,” said Faye, who is trying to bulk up despite his meager resources.

He is one of thousands of unemployed or underemployed men who flock to this West African country’s capital of Dakar to train in wrestling schools in the hopes of making it big. Those who succeed rake in tens of thousands of dollars every time they step in the ring.

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP)—The South Africans have a new soundtrack of success. The drone of the vuvuzela has been succeeded by the skirl of the bagpipe.

One week after beaming in pride at its historic hosting of soccer’s World Cup, the nation torn apart by apartheid just a generation ago had another reason to stick out its chest: Louis Oosthuizen won the British Open in a dominating romp. On Nelson Mandela‘s 92nd birthday, no less.

SHADES OF BAGGER VANCE—South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen celebrates on the 18th green with his caddie Zack Rasego after winning the British Open on the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland, July 18.

by Tshego Letshwiti

JOHANNESBURG (AP) —Nelson Mandela’s grandchildren underwent a harrowing ordeal with gunmen following the South African icon’s 92nd birthday party, but no one was hurt and the attackers fled after an exchange of gunfire, police said July 22.

Police spokesman Govindsamy Mariemuthoo said the grandchildren were returning to their Johannesburg home following the family birthday party July 18 when two gunmen approached their car. They ordered the occupants to lie down near the entrance to the home of Mandela’s daughter Zindzi.

HEROE’S WELCOME—Former South African President Nelson Mandela and his wife Graca Machel wave to the crowd during the closing ceremony before the World Cup final soccer match between the Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City in Johannesburg, July 11.

JOHANNESBURG (AP)—Nelson Mandela waved to the crowd and Shakira had fans dancing in their seats as South Africa began saying

farewell to the 2010 World Cup in emotional and pulsating fashion.

The anti-apartheid icon, who celebrated his 92nd birthday July 18, had kept a low profile during the month-long tournament, having decided against attending the opening game following the death of his great-grand daughter.

Driven in a small golf cart alongside wife Graca Machel, a smiling Mandela was welcomed by a thunderous mix of vuvuzelas and roars from the crowd. He shook hands with officials before leaving the field a few minutes later.