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Nelspruit - Vuvuzelas are going to become Bafana Bafanas 12th man during next month's Soccer World Cup finals.
That's the view of Thailand head coach Bryan Robson, whose side were on the wrong end of a 4-0 thrashing at the new Mbombela Stadium on the outskirts of Nelspruit in a friendly match to officially open the new stadium that will be used as a World Cup venue next month.
Robson, the former England and Manchester United captain, experienced first hand what 30 000 vuvuzelas can do as the enthusiastic home fans in the capacity crowd blew their vuvuzelas for all their worth to create an intimidating atmosphere for his outclassed Thailand side.
Said a bemused - but impressed - Robson: "The noise out there was deafening and created a fantastic atmosphere, but it was so loud I could not communicate with my players on the field.
"I think the noise generated by the vuvuzelas will be a big plus for South Africa in the World Cup.
"If 30 000 vuvuzelas can make such a racket, what will 90 000 be able to do when South Africa play in the World Cup?
"That will be something South Africas opponents will have to try and overcome. I reckon these things, combined with this fantastic support I saw for South Africa on Sunday, could be a huge advantage. It could make a difference in the World Cup."
Many foreign journalists called for FIFA president Sepp Blatter to ban the "noisy trumpets" during last years Confederations Cup.
Blatter refused, stating they were part of South African soccer tradition and were welcome during both the Confederation Cup and the World Cup.
Bafana head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, was delighted with the capacity crowd decked out in Bafana colours and when asked about the power of the vuvuzelas for his side, he said: "Make them louder, louder, louder. We want more vuvuzelas at all out matches."
Bafana are hoping that 90 000 fans with vuvuzelas will help intimidate Mexico when the sides meet in the opening World Cup Group A match at the new multi-billion Soccer City on June 11.
But while Parreira and his players returned to their Johannesburg training camp happy with the win, the Mbombela Stadium with just over three weeks to go is not 100 percent ready for the World Cup.
The media facilities were not complete. Journalists were forced to use a make-shift working area and walk from one end to the other end of the stadium through millings fans for the after match press conference.
The traffic jam outside the stadium lasted for over two hours after the end of the match.
