Ish; d-Bongz; Yammy; Koolka; Dammy; Tshepo; Maggie; and Justin capped their Chase The Makarapa experience at Soccer City on 11 July, where they got the chance to watch the epic 19th World Cup final and party the night away with the ecstatic Spanish fans. Their trip has taken them from Jo’burg to Mpumalanga; Newcastle to the Underberg; through Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth; and onwards to Cape Town, before completing the circle by arriving in Johannesburg for Match 64 via Kimberley.

Their final task – winning tickets to see the final – was kept a mystery until a live appearance on SuperSport’s Supernova on Saturday, 10 July where SuperSport Head Honcho, Tex Texeira, told them that they were about the face their toughest task yet. They were tasked with becoming ambassadors for South Africa, wherever they travelled – a mission they gladly accepted after the incredible time they had traveling around the country. With that, they each received a ticket to the Final.

An emotional and flu-ridden Koolka talked a lot in one of her final diary sessions about not wanting to leave South Africa. “I don’t even want to think about going home, it’s been such an amazing month. I’ll probably cry like a baby when it’s all over,” she said. “We’ve done everything like a big family – I love these guys. I can’t wait to come back.”

Tshepo said he had formed a lot of friendships on the trip. “We’ve made so many lifelong memories and friendships,” he said. “I’ve learnt so much from these guys and I’ll miss them.”

India’s Yamini said she had mixed feelings about coming to the end of the trip. “It’s been amazing and exciting – we had tough days, but we pulled through. Just as we’re really getting to know each other, the trip is ending and I’m really going to miss everyone,” she said. “I’d like to stay here in South Africa for a while – I can see myself settling here, but my parents wouldn’t enjoy that! My favourite moment was the trip around the Aldo Scribante race track with Hergen Fekken – also I really loved my big shopping trip in Durban and also the dolphin show at uShaka – I’m a big lover of dolphins.”

D-Bongz decribed meeting Archbishop Desmond Tutu as a highlight of his trip. “That was a fantastic moment for me – the real cherry on the top of the trip,” he said. “We’re all worried now about what we’ll do when the trip is over, but I do miss my wife and daughter and I’m coming home! Getting to see the whole country was a blessing - everything we did taught me a lot about my country.”

Ish – Chase The Makarapa’s resident Brazilian – said he had dreamed of attending a World Cup since he was a child. “When I started college, I told my mom that I would cover a World Cup as a correspondent when I graduated, and a year after finishing up, here I am!” he said. “The worst part is that it’s over – in just under a week, I’ll be back in Brazil and back at work!”

D-Bongz and Justin had a rapid return to reality as they headed directly back to work on Monday morning, while the rest of our contestants will return to their homes across the globe in a few days after soaking up what’s left of the football fever.

Don’t forget to log on to www.supersport.co.za/makarapa to check out the contestants’ thoughts on their incredible trip and catch up on their own personal video highlights.

Chase the Makarapa was brought to you by BP and broadcast by SuperSport.