Potchefstroom's streets are lined with Spanish flags and its businesses flash banners written in Spanish as locals try to make Spain's World Cup team feel at home during the tournament.
So far though, there have been very few sightings of the Spanish players, and some of the locals in this university town of 250,000 are feeling swindled.
``Where are the Spanish players?'' asks Agreement Sibanda, a 25-year-old waiter from Zimbabwe. ``I want to see them, I mean physically see them. But they are never here.''
Since arriving in this city on the banks of the Mooi River, the European champions have stayed primarily inside their training base at the North West University.
And after opening with a surprise 1-0 loss to Switzerland, and with a crucial Group H match against Honduras on Monday, that's unlikely to change.
Mayor Andrew John Maphetle, thinks the public should give the Spaniards time to settle in, and space to focus on the World Cup before getting too critical.
``Let us give them an opportunity to relax and to acclimatize. I'll give them time before I ask them if they want to go into the community,'' Maphetle said. ``We must give them their privacy. We want them to focus and qualify for next round. If they had won that game I imagine they would have asked to come out.''
After the loss to Switzerland, only a few players ventured into the city, with the majority opting for a safari trip about 60 miles away.
``We try to pass the hours in a good way, playing cards, on the PlayStation, training, relaxing,'' defender Rail Albiol explained.
For soccer fans, the only glimpse of Fernando Torres, Cesc Fabregas and Iker Casillas has come in the few practice sessions that are open to the public. Even then, few of the players stop to sign autographs.
In the neighboring township of Promosa, home of the Platinum Leopards soccer team, locals were upset that the pre-tournament expectations in South Africa weren't a reality.
``The only differences we've seen here is the Spanish flags they've put up on all of those poles. Nothing else,'' the 21-year-old Gavin Lotern said. ``There have been no improvements for us here, no new jobs. All the money has gone to the big cities. We do the same, just hoping some work comes along.''
Most of the visitors to Potchefstroom, about 75 miles southwest of Johannesburg, have been journalists covering Spain.
But Maphetle said without Spain's arrival, many of the city's planned works would not have materialized so quickly. Roads have been repaired, infrastructure has been built and the airport has been improved.
``We invested in infrastructure, not Spain. Spain was a lucky number for us to make all of this happen,'' Maphetle said. ``I'm satisfied, I don't have qualms.''
Maphetle expected the Spanish team to make an effort to look around the city once its group games against Honduras and Chile have been played - regardless of the result.
``When they qualify for the next round I'll sit down with management and tell them there is a concern from community about meeting them because people do ask me about that,'' Maphetle said. ``We'll spend money, we'll provide security but I expect them to stay for an afternoon and go into the community and do something.''
