The South African World Cup is quickly becoming a host for controversy thanks to the sound of these painful instruments that sound like an endless convoy of semi-trailers – the vuvuzelas.
The locals say they build atmosphere. I say noise pollution.
It’s alright South Africa; the millions of people watching on television didn’t want to hear the games anyway.
English keeper Rob Green can at least hide behind the fact that he couldn’t hear the ball coming as he sabotaged England’s one goal lead against the US. The English team themselves will be adopting these horns soon enough, anything to drown out the advice from Fabio Capello.
In saying this, a few vuvuzelas in the SBS studio wouldn’t go astray. Les Murray with a side serve of Craig Foster certainly doesn’t bode well. The day Les smiles is the day I’ll enjoy their coverage.
The greatest sporting events in the world today are never perfect, but the World Cup comes as close to the word as possible. Why tarnish its great reputation with the memories of fog horns clogging our ears?
Nelson Mandela said: “I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself.”
How about sharing a bit of that peace with the television audiences of the world.
Ramirez
Guest
Unfortunately the vuvuzela has become a political thing now. If you complain about it, you are a heartless, cruel european trying to rape South African culture. I'm afraid we'll have to endure them through the whole competition. (They just dont explain why south americans, north americans, asians and other africans are complaining about it as well)
JV
Guest
My opinoin is that the -BRRRZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ- oh sorry -BRRRRRZZZZZZ- i cant con- BRRRZZZZZZZ -centrate - BRRRRZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!! god dammit....
Dareth 7
Guest
Vuvuzela and there overuse are a stain on the very fabric that is the worldcup ....
Camo.16
Guest
I agree with stoffy18 with the tribal drums, singing and dancing and the occasional tune from the vuvuzeal, it would be nice to hear real atmosphere like the world cups from the past
Smokygrayson
Guest
Dear oh dear. It's not cultural imperialism, the dratted things are just noisy and annoying, even the players are saying so. Have your fun but don't get upset when others don't like the noise.
Smokygrayson
Guest
Yeah! The roar, roars with the vuvuzela sound and it’s 3-0, farewell Bafana Bafana these Bafana what what have no clue what is happening to them. Even the referee is blowing hi vuvuzela… how many will go through this weak South Africa side??? Hahahahahahaha…. Vuvuzela people!!! Eat them!!!!! South Africa is a free country, cry into your vuvuzelas!
Smokygrayson
Guest
Goose.
Stoffy18
Guest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meEIsMtwk1Q&annotation_id=annotation_854486&feature=iv
Photon
Guest
10 matches in, and this tournament has the second highest average attendance as well as television ratings that are projected to be the highest in history. I think it's safe to say Africa's first world cup is shaping up to be an unpresidented success. Fella's have been moaning about this tournament happening here for the last 6 years. I think those same people who said it would be a disaster for numerous other reasons like crime and murder, are latching on to this because those other problems have not eventualised. But it's okay, we'll just carry on enjoying our tournament and turn it into the greatest world cup yet, but as they say, there's no pleasing some people!! Anyway can't wait for Greece v Nigeria tomorrow afternoon, vuvuzela and all, should be a blast!!
kyle
Guest
I agree with stoffy, and i understand that people at the game want to celebrate and the vuvuzelas are a way of doing this. However not the whole world follows soccer and the world cup is a terrific event which allows people to flow a sport because they want to support there nation. The vuvuzelas create so much noise that in my opinion they effect the watching of the game on T.V. and this could turn away the interest of people which wouldn't normally watch soccer as they annoying. Also the chants are blocked out because of the noise and when a team is up the chanting is a thing which pushes the team on to perform at their peak, not vuvuzelas blown at them.
Emmanuel
Guest
As said, are plastic horns really a tradition? Stupid arguement.
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
alex, like you i dont hate the vuvuzela's at all, i'm all in favor of a tune or two... but not a tune or a million. Theres a level where its just too much, unfortunatly the Africans are so caught up in World Cup Fever, they dont know when to stop blowing the things. I say bring out the tribal singing and dances that make Africa famous!!
alex
Guest
im pretty sure African tribes dont sit around campfires blowing on cheap plastic horns anyway, they play drums, sing dance etc. which would be much better than just buzzing, they dont really add any atmosphere. i'm not even really against them but everyone thats for them has such ridiculous arguments for them that it's actually made me dislike them
Jezzdog
Guest
I completely agree with stoffy. If the commentators state that they cant hear themselves, from behind a wall or two, the players will have no chance
Derek
Guest
Stoffy18, what do you rate the Netherlands chance of going all the way this year? There form seems good but do they have a solid enough defence?
MummaStoff18
Guest
Your so RIGHT! Those horns are the most annoying thing in the world cup! The supporters cant put out their awesome cheers for their countrys...
Cobes
Guest
agreed.
DJ
Guest
nothing wrong with a bit of silence, or at least if there was to be alot of noice it should be something enjoyable to listen to ;)
Cobes
Guest
well thats a really great way of accommodating other countries as the host nation.
Michelle
Guest
Hi, having been to a few games i concur with this article on most points. I had one of the vuvuzelas in my ear the whole time and found it really invasive.