athlone - vuvuzela
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26 Athlone News Wednesday July 1 2009 SPORT T he buzz of the Confederations Cup is gently fad- ing into the South African night and there are questions if the “buzz makers” will be present when the World Cup returns to South African soil in 2010. The vuvuzela, possi- bly originating from Zulu meaning “making noise” or from every other language meaning “death to your ears and sanity”, is a long plastic trumpet used in South Africa to cre- ate a buzz at soccer matches. The noise is often described as the sound of an elephant although many have described it as the sound of a swarm of bees. Nonetheless, the South African spirit horn is causing quite a stir among the international commu- nity, some even calling for its ban from the 2010 World Cup. FIFA has received thousands of calls from angry fans complaining that the sound of the vuvuzela is not only distracting when watching the matches on television but it also drowns out the commentators. Coaches and players have joined in with the disapproving fans and have voiced their displeasure. Dutch soccer coach, Bert Van Marwijk told reporters that the sound of the vuvuzela interferes with his ability to coach his play- ers on the field. Spanish midfielder, Xabi Alonso, added that the noise makes it nearly impossible to com- municate between team- mates on the pitch, and that it doesn’t add any atmos- phere into the stadium. He also admitted that the noise makes it difficult to concentrate while play- ing. Some fans at the stadium who came to sit and enjoy a quite after- noon or evening of soccer, com- plained that the decibel level of the vuvuzela causes permanent ear damage. They claim the damage is magnified when a die-hard Bafana Bafana fan, sitting directly behind them, blasts the vuvuzela right into their eardrum. However, the only concern FIFA has voiced over the vuvuzela came out of a meeting in 2008 in which they conditionally approved the noisemaker for the 2009 Confedera- tions Cup and the 2010 World Cup as long as they remain free from logos and advertisements and as long as “hooligans don’t use the vuvuzela as a weapon.” Entrepreneurs have pointed to the financial gains as the best rea- son to keep the instrument in the stadiums. Upon the FIFA’s announcement in 2008 allowing the vuvuzelas, there were more than 20 000 plastic instruments sold in a 24-hour period. Economists project more than 50 000 additional instruments sold during the World Cup next year. FIFA President Sepp Blatter remains in support of the vuvuzela as a traditional African sound, but many object to its African heritage claiming that the instrument’s pro- totype was developed in America. However, South Africans are quick to point out that life began at the Cradle of Humanity located in Maropeng in Gauteng, and thus everything comes from Africa including the vuvuzela. No doubt, the debate will rage until the completion of the 2010 World Cup, and the opinions will be as diverse as the countries partici- pating in the most watched sport- ing event; but as for now, keep prac- tising because the vuvuzela is here to stay. ● John Adams is a journalism intern from the University of South- ern California who is currently working at Cape Community News- papers which publishes the Athlone News and 13 other titles. The ‘buzzzzz’ is here to stay ■ Fans make themselves heard during a Confederations Cup game. PICTURE: RICHARD DUCHON John Adams Reports ADRIAN PFEIFER It’s going to be Women’s Day at Kil- larney on Saturday July 4, featur- ing a full programme of champi- onship racing to which all women will be admitted free of charge. Another feature of the bumper 15- event programme is that it’s strictly a cars-only meeting. And with Danica Patrick having established herself as one of the best drivers in America after finishing third in the Indy 500 last month, the progress of women drivers like Andrea Bate, Reinette van Rensburg, Jo Humble and Stephanie Makel- berger, will be followed with interest. The first South African appear- ance of Egmont Baumgartner in the Formula Libre events should be another absorbing feature of the meeting. Baumgartner is here from Europe, where he has been racing with considerable success. He has two cars, a Formula 3 Martini Renault and a Formula BMW and plans to test them both before mak- ing his final choice. The Nashua Porsche Cup Chal- lenge events are going to give Porsche GT-2R driver Laurent Gross a chance to be first across the line again. He was surprisingly beaten by Neil Hawkins in the NA Carrera Sports and GT events at the most recent meeting. The Indy Oil Clubman races have attracted another huge entry. And although the battle up front is likely to be BMW against Volksie, the weather could still play a decisive role, with racing in the rain often more exciting than in the dry. Although Datsun 140Z driver Martin Richards has been in great form in the CAR Magazine Classic events, big guys like Keith Rose (Porsche 911) and Chris Carolin (Mazda Capella rotary) will be out to knock him over this time. There are also going to be races for Makita Supercars, the Powerflow GTi Chal- lenge and Fine Cars, The first event due off at 9am. Admission is R40 for adult males and R10 for school chil- dren under 16, but free for women and children under- 12. ■ S t a r t y o u r e n g i n e s . . . It’s all systems go for a jam-packed, action filled day of motor racing at Killarney,on Saturday. PICTURE: COLIN BROWN Women feature in bumper racing programme
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Transcript of athlone - vuvuzela
26 Athlone News Wednesday July 1 2009 SPORT
The buzz of theConfederationsCup is gently fad-
ing into the SouthAfrican night and thereare questions if the“buzz makers” will bepresent when the WorldCup returns to SouthAfrican soil in 2010.
The vuvuzela, possi-bly originating fromZulu meaning “makingnoise” or from everyother language meaning“death to your ears andsanity”, is a long plastictrumpet used in South Africa to cre-ate a buzz at soccer matches.
The noise is often described asthe sound of an elephant althoughmany have described it as thesound of a swarm of bees.Nonetheless, the South Africanspirit horn is causing quite a stiramong the international commu-nity, some even calling for its banfrom the 2010 World Cup.
FIFA has received thousands ofcalls from angry fans complainingthat the sound of the vuvuzela isnot only distracting when watchingthe matches on television but it alsodrowns out the commentators.
Coaches and players have joinedin with the disapproving fans andhave voiced their displeasure.
Dutch soccer coach, BertVan Marwijk told reportersthat the sound of thevuvuzela interferes withhis ability to coach his play-ers on the field. Spanishmidfielder, Xabi Alonso,added that the noise makesit nearly impossible to com-municate between team-mates on the pitch, and thatit doesn’t add any atmos-phere into the stadium.
He also admitted thatthe noise makes it difficultto concentrate while play-ing.
Some fans at the stadium whocame to sit and enjoy a quite after-noon or evening of soccer, com-plained that the decibel level of thevuvuzela causes permanent eardamage. They claim the damage ismagnified when a die-hard BafanaBafana fan, sitting directly behindthem, blasts the vuvuzela right intotheir eardrum.
However, the only concern FIFAhas voiced over the vuvuzela cameout of a meeting in 2008 in whichthey conditionally approved thenoisemaker for the 2009 Confedera-tions Cup and the 2010 World Cup aslong as they remain free from logosand advertisements and as long as“hooligans don’t use the vuvuzelaas a weapon.”
Entrepreneurs have pointed tothe financial gains as the best rea-son to keep the instrument in thestadiums.
Upon the FIFA’s announcementin 2008 allowing the vuvuzelas,there were more than 20 000 plasticinstruments sold in a 24-hourperiod. Economists project morethan 50 000 additional instrumentssold during the World Cup nextyear. FIFA President Sepp Blatterremains in support of the vuvuzelaas a traditional African sound, butmany object to its African heritageclaiming that the instrument’s pro-totype was developed in America.
However, South Africans arequick to point out that life began atthe Cradle of Humanity located inMaropeng in Gauteng, and thuseverything comes from Africaincluding the vuvuzela.
No doubt, the debate will rageuntil the completion of the 2010World Cup, and the opinions will beas diverse as the countries partici-pating in the most watched sport-ing event; but as for now, keep prac-tising because the vuvuzela is hereto stay.
● John Adams is a journalismintern from the University of South-ern California who is currentlyworking at Cape Community News-papers which publishes the AthloneNews and 13 other titles.
The ‘buzzzzz’is here to stay■ Fans make themselves heard during a Confederations Cup game. PICTURE: RICHARD DUCHON
John AdamsReports
ADRIAN PFEIFER
It’s going to be Women’s Day at Kil-larney on Saturday July 4, featur-ing a full programme of champi-onship racing to which all womenwill be admitted free of charge. Another feature of the bumper 15-event programme is that it’s strictlya cars-only meeting.
And with Danica Patrick havingestablished herself as one of the bestdrivers in America after finishingthird in the Indy 500 last month, theprogress of women drivers likeAndrea Bate, Reinette van Rensburg,Jo Humble and Stephanie Makel-berger, will be followed with interest.
The first South African appear-ance of Egmont Baumgartner in theFormula Libre events should beanother absorbing feature of themeeting. Baumgartner is here fromEurope, where he has been racingwith considerable success. He hastwo cars, a Formula 3 MartiniRenault and a Formula BMW andplans to test them both before mak-ing his final choice.
The Nashua Porsche Cup Chal-lenge events are going to givePorsche GT-2R driver Laurent Grossa chance to be first across the lineagain. He was surprisingly beaten byNeil Hawkins in the NA CarreraSports and GT events at the mostrecent meeting.
The Indy Oil Clubman races have
attracted another huge entry. Andalthough the battle up front is likelyto be BMW against Volksie, theweather could still play a decisiverole, with racing in the rain oftenmore exciting than in the dry.
Although Datsun 140Z driverMartin Richards has been in greatform in the CAR Magazine Classicevents, big guys like Keith Rose
(Porsche 911) and Chris Carolin(Mazda Capella rotary) will be out toknock him over this time. There arealso going to be races for MakitaSupercars, the Powerflow GTi Chal-lenge and Fine Cars, The first eventdue off at 9am. Admission is R40 foradult males and R10 for school chil-dren under 16, but free for womenand children under- 12.
■ Start your engines ... It’s all systems go for a jam-packed, action filledday of motor racing at Killarney, on Saturday.
PICTURE: COLIN BROWN
Women feature in bumper racing programme
