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Comment by Stephen Nell
Cape Town - It’s great to see that there is at least some debate in footballing circles about the future of the vuvuzela.
Having attended two sporting events – the Super 14 final in Soweto and the football match between France and Uruguay – where fans blew on their vuvuzelas, I have drawn the conclusion that it definitely detracts from the occasion.
Saturday’s rugby Test at Newlands was very enjoyable mainly for two reasons – the Springboks gave France a jolly good thrashing and Western Province’s bosses stuck to their policy of keeping the stadium a vuvuzela-free zone on rugby days.
It will be interesting to see what the rule is at Loftus Versfeld now that the Bulls have played two games in Soweto.
Vuvuzelas had a novelty value for Bulls fans at those Soweto games and it was also a way to bridge a cultural divide in a new environment.
But hopefully we won’t be seeing too much of the “instrument” in rugby. If players are going to struggle with their communication because there is such a cacophony of sound, why even allow it?
I will concede that it’s part of South Africa’s footballing culture, but South Africa are the host country of the 2010 World Cup and not the only team at the event.
South Africans don’t sing a great deal at sporting events, but that does not necessarily apply to other countries.
For those who consider singing and terrace humour an important part of their sporting experience, the noise emanating from vuvuzelas can be nothing but an irritation.
Imagine vuvuzelas drowning out You’ll never walk alone at Anfield, It’s a grand old team to play for at Goodison Park or Glory Glory Man United at Old Trafford!
Not only is the vuvuzela an irritation, but it’s a threat to a game where fans from different cultures look to express themselves in various ways.
Fortunately I don’t think football fans outside Africa will take to it beyond the World Cup.
Thank goodness that Newlands only allows vuvuzelas when football is played there.
Western Province, the Stormers and Springboks are assured that Newlands will be vuvuzela-free when they play. And please messrs Titus, Wagner, Kuhn, Wakefield and Roux: let’s keep it that way!
Talking about rugby, it’s actually a pity that the Boks’ excellent win over France at Newlands has had such a low profile.
Rugby is making all the politically correct noises about being happy to play second fiddle to soccer for the moment.
I’m a big football fan myself and 2010 World Cup is certainly wonderful for our country. Of course I would also love Bafana Bafana to win the tournament.
However, if I had to place money on the next South African team to win a World Cup, I’d feel safer betting it on Peter de Villiers’ Springboks.
Let’s stop the talk of France “not pitching” on Saturday and give credit where it’s due.
The 42-17 victory certainly underlined what a force South Africa are in world rugby and I believe their chances of retaining their world championship in New Zealand is probably better than Bafana claiming the footballing crown on home soil.
Even so, I remain a proud Bafana supporter – without a vuvuzela.
Cape Town - It’s great to see that there is at least some debate in footballing circles about the future of the vuvuzela.
Having attended two sporting events – the Super 14 final in Soweto and the football match between France and Uruguay – where fans blew on their vuvuzelas, I have drawn the conclusion that it definitely detracts from the occasion.
Saturday’s rugby Test at Newlands was very enjoyable mainly for two reasons – the Springboks gave France a jolly good thrashing and Western Province’s bosses stuck to their policy of keeping the stadium a vuvuzela-free zone on rugby days.
It will be interesting to see what the rule is at Loftus Versfeld now that the Bulls have played two games in Soweto.
Vuvuzelas had a novelty value for Bulls fans at those Soweto games and it was also a way to bridge a cultural divide in a new environment.
But hopefully we won’t be seeing too much of the “instrument” in rugby. If players are going to struggle with their communication because there is such a cacophony of sound, why even allow it?
I will concede that it’s part of South Africa’s footballing culture, but South Africa are the host country of the 2010 World Cup and not the only team at the event.
South Africans don’t sing a great deal at sporting events, but that does not necessarily apply to other countries.
For those who consider singing and terrace humour an important part of their sporting experience, the noise emanating from vuvuzelas can be nothing but an irritation.
Imagine vuvuzelas drowning out You’ll never walk alone at Anfield, It’s a grand old team to play for at Goodison Park or Glory Glory Man United at Old Trafford!
Not only is the vuvuzela an irritation, but it’s a threat to a game where fans from different cultures look to express themselves in various ways.
Fortunately I don’t think football fans outside Africa will take to it beyond the World Cup.
Thank goodness that Newlands only allows vuvuzelas when football is played there.
Western Province, the Stormers and Springboks are assured that Newlands will be vuvuzela-free when they play. And please messrs Titus, Wagner, Kuhn, Wakefield and Roux: let’s keep it that way!
Talking about rugby, it’s actually a pity that the Boks’ excellent win over France at Newlands has had such a low profile.
Rugby is making all the politically correct noises about being happy to play second fiddle to soccer for the moment.
I’m a big football fan myself and 2010 World Cup is certainly wonderful for our country. Of course I would also love Bafana Bafana to win the tournament.
However, if I had to place money on the next South African team to win a World Cup, I’d feel safer betting it on Peter de Villiers’ Springboks.
Let’s stop the talk of France “not pitching” on Saturday and give credit where it’s due.
The 42-17 victory certainly underlined what a force South Africa are in world rugby and I believe their chances of retaining their world championship in New Zealand is probably better than Bafana claiming the footballing crown on home soil.
Even so, I remain a proud Bafana supporter – without a vuvuzela.
