Former school teacher Mercia Strieman might not appear the most likely author of a book about the 2010 Football World Cup, but she puts writing On the Ball down to divine inspiration, coupled with her philosophy of fulfilling one's potential in life.
Ms Strieman, who lives in Cape Town, South Africa, tells People: "I've never watched a game of soccer, but I have a passion for people and empowering them with knowledge."
Although the project has taken her over three years to research and complete, she says she has enjoyed every minute of it.
"I wanted to encourage South Africans to take ownership of 2010," she adds, elaborating on her motivation.
"I wanted them to be proud of their country and to enable them to interact intelligently with visitors."
The book is divided into four sections. One is on Fifa, which deals with the history of soccer and the World Cup. Another offers facts on each of the 32 participating countries. The section on South Africa lists places of significance during the struggle against apartheid, as well as information on the cities where matches are scheduled to take place. Adventure tourism and safety precautions feature too, as do the country's wildlife and traditional foods.
Ms Strieman, who was principal of the Hebrew nursery school in Durban for over 20 years, admits that writing the book was as much an educational experience for her as she hopes it will be for her readers.
She says: "I didn't know any of this. I didn't have a clue." The book is her first solo venture into writing.
