19 June 2010

The peculiarities associated with any given event are becoming evident in the 2010 World Cup tournament in South Africa. 

The controversy over the sound made by the vuvuzela had become a talking point well in advance of the tournament. FIFA dropped its threats against banning the vuvuzela during World Cup games prior to the commencement of the tournament. FIFA did however indicate that the vuvuzela would be banned if any of these instruments were thrown in anger or otherwise on the field of play. This was a real threat as soccer games do sometimes descend into poor sportsmanship with the spectators joining into the fray on and off the field. Thus far, the vuvuzela remains part and parcel of this World Cup. If I have to make a prediction, it is likely to become part of many international sporting events in the future.

The controversy over the Jabulani ball developed by Adidas shall also become an idiosyncrasy associated with this World Cup. Adidas assured the soccer fraternity that this ball was rounder than any other ball developed previously. By inference, it was assumed to be the best and most technically advanced ball to be used in competitive soccer thus far. Many high profile soccer players and soccer team administrators have disagreed thus far, often stating their negative impressions rather forcefully.

The ball is alleged to balloon away when struck especially by strikers in close proximity to the opposition team’s goal mouth. The ball allegedly looks like the plastic versions that one can buy in any toy shop. Often, the ball is being used as an excuse for poor play. The other detractors are the goalkeepers. In the first few matches, the goalkeepers were handling the Jabulani ball like a hot potato. Many goalkeepers chose to fist the ball away rather than attempting to hold or catch it as it is alleged to spill away from their grasp. We have seen some disastrous goalkeeping mishaps thus far. The goal scored by the USA team against England in Rustenberg comes to mind. Robert Green, the English goalkeeper let in a most inexplicable goal after the ball spilled goal wards from his grasp. The Americans were not complaining. On the very next day, the Algerian goalkeeper made a similar mistake.  Fortunately, neither of these players blamed the ball for what were poor goal keeping errors.

 The Jabulani ball has ridges built onto its smooth surface. This is expected to as we are informed assist it in its flight. The developer of the Jabulani ball was invited to and attended the opening ceremony of the World Cup. He addressed the various criticisms aimed at the ball. He declared that he was satisfied with his creation. I presume that he would not let on if he felt otherwise. Many of the complaints came from teams that had not used the Jabulani ball prior to the commencement of the world cup. Yet many of the soccer leagues around the world used the ball during their last professional league seasons. I fail to understand how an international team knowing well that the Jabulani ball shall be sued in this tournament, fails to practice with it.

Ghana and Australia drew their group stage match today. In the other games the Netherlands disposed of Japan 1-0 and Denmark beat Cameroon 2-1. 

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