Thursday, June 18, 2009

What to Do About the Vuvuzela (and some Vuvuzela Love)


According to Reuters, FIFA is to discuss the future of the vuvuzela, the noisy plastic trumpet blown at the Confederations Cup which has drawn complaints from European television stations. and bloggers like myself.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter told a media briefing he was aware of complaints the sound of the instrument was drowning out the commentary of broadcasters and that many wanted it banned at this tournament and next summer's World Cup in South Africa.

Blatter said soccer's governing body would discuss the matter with the organizers.

"It's a local sound and I don't know how it is possible to stop it," he said on Wednesday. "I always said that when we go to South Africa, it is Africa. It's not western Europe.

"It's noisy, it's energy, rhythm, music, dance, drums. This is Africa. We have to adapt a little."

Vuvuzelas, which have been given away free to fans, are a constant background to Confederations Cup games.

Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso said: "I think they should be banned. They make it very difficult for the players to communicate with each other and to concentrate.

"They are a distraction and do nothing for the atmosphere," he added after his team's 1-0 win over Iraq.

MY POV: Ban them? Hmm ... let's not go that far. They're just a part of the game in South Africa. But ban them, you say ... hmm ... You know what? Let me think on that one ...

As a commenter on South Africa's Times so eloquently put it:

Vuvuzelas were created by South Africans for South Africa’s soccer-loving people.

They are proudly South African and are approved by soccer’s governing body Fifa.

We are not going to stop blowing our vuvuzelas just because we now have the Confederations Cup and the 2010 World Cup. I bet these vuvuzela-haters only watch the English Premier League and some European leagues.

This is Africa, not Europe. If you don’t like vuvuzelas, tough luck.

Buy yourself a vuvuzela and I’ll happily teach you to blow it. Remember: if you can’t beat them, join them.



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