Jabulani problem 'hot air'

Johannesburg - World Cup manufacturers Adidas have provided a compendium of scientific evidence to show the World Cup ball named Jabulani does not have defects - and the criticsm is a lot of hot air.

And, indeed, it does seem that what has caused havoc among goalkeepers and out-players alike in the opening World Cup games is the faster pace and higher bounce of the ball in the rarified air at high altitude.

Supremely fit athletes, such as the players participating in the World Cup, should, in the main, not have serious breathing and respiratory problems in the high altitude conditions of Johannesburg, Pretoria and Rustenburg,

But this does not apply at all when it comes to adjusting timing and distance and coping with the faster pace of the ball, and its penchant for carrying longer distances at a greater pace.

The normally clinical Mexicans, for example, often found their long-range passes sailing over the touchlines in the vibrant 1-1 World Cup opener against Bafana Bafana at Soccer City, while free-kicks in most of the World Cup games from supposed experts have sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.

Tennis players, golfers and rugby players kicking for the posts, among others, have been conscious of the need to adjust timing in the rarified air.

But World Cup players are not doing the same and shots at goal are sailing high more often than not - while goalkeepers are sharing in the malaise of mistakes.