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14 Jun 2010
To be honest I didn’t even know what a vuvuzela was until a few months ago and now suddenly every other street corner in South Africa is equipped with it’s own flag, smiling local and of course a trumpeting Vuvuzela.
It’s even trending on Twitter.
I love this passionate display of patriotism that is rocking our country.
Trust me I was one of the last to be convinced about FIFA and the World Cup.FIFIA hijacking South Africa was and still is annoying me, but I am really overwhelmed by the positive spirit surging through South Africans.
I hope this Proudly South African , we’re going to show the world attitude is going to stick.
There is tons of controversy surrounding the plastic horn ( whose origins are disputed) but I want it to stay. Sure it’s noisy, but that didn’t stop Germany kicking off their World Cup campaign with a stunning 4 goal win against Australia did it? So certain European teams might want to rethink using it as a convenient scapegoat ( cough cough France).
The British Media has been far less than complimentary in their coverage about South Africa in the run up to the World Cup ( their SA correspondent is a twit) problems with the official ball, the pitches being too level, the vuvuzelas … in fact according to them we have done little right. There was even talk of Germany coming to our rescue and hosting it there, as poor South Africa was sure to fail.
So hearing dear Eamonn and his crew moaning about the Vuvuzelas this morning made me want to wrap a few up and send them straight to the Sky News studio with fondest love and compliments.
Because I sat in a venue and watched the opening game with South Africans I didn’t know, sang our anthem with them, cried with them, was moved, celebrated madly when Tshabalala scored and drove home thinking wouldn’t it be awesome if we surprise the world and make it through? And I did all of this to the soundtrack of vuvuzelas.. even on the drive home kids were lining the streets with painted faces, smiling and blowing them at passing cars.
I know I wasn’t the only South African to have a moment like this.
South Africans needed a little hope in their lives. So if it takes a month of listening to a couple of noisy horns to bring our country together, then they’re welcome to stay.
Frankly I would also much rather hear the Vuvuzelas than the charming slurs and abuse that some English fans come up with … against their own players. We can do without idiots wishing that players kids get cancer, thanks. Here in Africa, we have hearts.
Germany gave the World military precision and impressive football.
South Africa is giving the World an experience and smiling faces.
I know which of the two I would rather have, do you?
As BBC sports commentator Farayi Mungazi stated in defense of the Vuvuzela ” There is no point in taking the World Cup to Africa and then trying to give it a European feel.”
I really wish you were all here to feel the Pride, Love, Patriotism and the Hope.
Ps Thanks To Angel Campey for the pic of the Madly Patriotic Car
