I’m watching the Algeria versus Slovenia world cup match, and i’m frustrated! Why? Coz, instead of watching the world’s best soccer players and listening to world class commentary on the TV, I’m listening to a swarm of bees - ANGRY BEES! (aka. the VUVUZELA)
Yesterday, during the England versus America football battle, there was a brief moment, when the English supporters rose up above the B Flat torture of the Vuvuzela, and sung their supporters songs - and it sounded SWEET!
But it lasted too short a time, and once again the angry bees soundtrack filled the air.
As an entrepreneur, I ALWAYS ask people to bring me potential solutions when they bring me problems, so I’m practicing what I preach.
Here are my Top 4 PRACTICAL solutions to the Vuvuzela problem:
1. Ban the vuvuzela’s from being brought into the football stadium’s - even if everyone doesn’t obey, it would still reduce the number significantly
2. When the game is about to begin, the announcers request the vuvuzela’s NOT to be blown during the match - this works for Tennis, so why not for Soccer?
3. The TV commentators sit in a SOUND PROOF booth, so the vuvuzela noise doesn’t interfere with their commentary
4. The TV studio’s use some software to block out a “B Flat” (the sound of the vuvuzela) when they broadcast the games.
I’m sure the atmosphere at the stadium’s is ELECTRIC and the vuvuzela’s contribute the vibe, but for us home watchers, it’s just plain GRATING!!!
34 responses so far ↓
1 Chris M // Jun 13, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Super Sport HD, that’s the answer
2 Eric // Jun 13, 2010 at 2:29 pm
Details Chris? What’s needed for HD? I don’t think I can get it on my plasma, can I??? Sent you a facebook msg as well
Need an answer before the 2nd half starts!
3 Eric // Jun 13, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Jordaan ponders Vuvuzela BAN - http://worldcup.sportinglife.com/story/0,27111,15247_6204308,00.html
4 Shawn Roos // Jun 13, 2010 at 2:48 pm
I couldn’t disagree with you more. The vuvuzela’s are an integral part of the S. African supporter DNA.
Firstly, FIFA deliberately chose not to ban the vuvuzella, because they understood that this is an African world cup, not a european one.
Secondly, almost no sound gets into the commentators mics, the vuvuzella sound comes from the mics on the field, which are then mixed into the commentary. All of this is approved by FIFA.
If FIFA who are anal to the nth degree could deal with it, i think the minority of South Africans who are still moaning about this can also deal with it.
5 Eric // Jun 13, 2010 at 2:54 pm
do you HONESTLY like the sound in the background while you are watching the games on TV Shawn??
6 Chris M // Jun 13, 2010 at 2:56 pm
I guess you’d need a HD decoder for access the DSTV HD channels, it’s something I organised a month or two back knowing that this would be the case.
Besides, the picture quality of HD compared to SABC is absolutely incomparible!
7 Chris M // Jun 13, 2010 at 2:58 pm
*incomparable
8 Should the vuvuzela be banned? // Jun 13, 2010 at 3:00 pm
[...] given his 4 solutions to the vuvuzela scenario and Danny Jordaan has said that if people continue complaining, [...]
9 Eric // Jun 13, 2010 at 3:09 pm
My tirade ISN’T about the vuvuzela being blown in the stadium (although that might change when I’m actually in the stadium) - BUT watching on TV is ANNOYING (that’s just my opinion - feel free to differ!) coz of the BEE SWARM in the background
10 Dadoo // Jun 13, 2010 at 3:29 pm
The vuvuzela is the shittiest South African contribution to the world since apartheid. It kills the atmosphere, it’s childish and stupid and there is nothing positive about the annoying monotone sound of the bee swarm 90 minutes long. The vuvuzela blowers don’t even react to what’s happening on the pitch, they just keep blowing through the game, whether there is a missed chance, a goal or nothing at all is going on. This is without a doubt the most stupid World Cup crowd ever. And don’t tell me it’s a tradition. That’s bullshit. I couldn’t agree more with this post. Cheers!
11 Anthony // Jun 13, 2010 at 5:40 pm
I say let them bring them to South Africa’s games if they are really of any cultural importance. Ban them from the rest though because they are just awful.
12 Bran // Jun 13, 2010 at 5:57 pm
I fully agree they are ruining it for everyone, what’s funny is when rugby is played out there the vuvu’s are BANNNED so why don’t FIFA do the same. If is so integeral to the south african culture, then they should use them when their team is playing and only then.
13 Dorette Steenkamp // Jun 13, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Changed our Twitter page especially for you and the 40 000 odd Face Book fans that really do not LOVE the vuvuzela, but just like it
14 Eric // Jun 13, 2010 at 6:30 pm
Thanks Dorette - just twittered your URL to get support for your cause. For those who haven’t checked out the earplug campaign, take a look at http://twitter.com/vuvuunplugged
15 Kevan R. Craft // Jun 13, 2010 at 7:26 pm
These annoying vuvuzela like plastic trumpets being allowed to be taken into the stadiums and blown continually during the matches during the 2010 African World Cup will define this World Cup long after the football has ended..
The most annoying and horrible torture possible when attempting to listen to commentary and the sounds of the supporters during each game.. Who in the right mind sanctioned the vuvuzela being allowed to be taken into matches?
Its utter madness..
Ban the damn things or I will be one who won’t watch any more of the games - switch off time..
Do what I did, complain directly on FIFAs webs site and make your thoughts about the vuvuzela known the those fools who run FIFA..
Stupid, stupid, stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ahhhhhaaaagggg!!!!!!! Hate the damn things!!!!!
16 Ryan // Jun 13, 2010 at 7:53 pm
As much as I hate the Vuvuzela what gives Johnny Come Lately’s the right to change the way South Africans have been watching football for the past 10 years?
The Vuvuzela’s were been blown by the true South African football fans who supported the local game. Now only when the world cup arrives do they want to ban it.
Lets not anger the fans who are going to watch the and support the local game. The fans and community needs football!
17 Ed // Jun 13, 2010 at 8:23 pm
Ryan, I don’t agree with your point. As you state, the so called ‘tradition’ of blowing the vuvuzelas only goes back to roughly the 90s (in terms of football matches), so it’s not exactly a African cultural tradition.
The practice of CONSTANTLY blowing the vuvuzelas has neither rhyme nor reason. If the need to blow them like imbeciles is that strong, do it for their own team only. Don’t impose it on other teams fans and players!!
And BTW music and chanting is universal. Rhythm is not a ‘cultural thing’, but a human instinct. I’ve heard true African music, and it has lots of rhythm. So do not tell me this vuvuzela nonsense is the same as singing!!
18 Anthony // Jun 13, 2010 at 8:26 pm
Next time I’m at a sports game I plan to blow an airhorn from start to finish. When anyone asks me to stop (if I can hear them) I’ll tell them I’ve been doing itfor ten years and is part of my culture.
19 Steve Crane // Jun 13, 2010 at 8:40 pm
Wikipedia says ‘During the last quarter of a match, supporters blow vuvuzelas frantically in an attempt to “kill off” their opponents.’
So if regular South African supporters blow it in the last quarter, who are the idiots that blow furiously throughout the match? And how is it traditional for them?
20 nkosinathi // Jun 13, 2010 at 9:13 pm
i am very angry at these comments. i dont understand why people have to make a fuss about the vuvuzela just because africa is hosting. we are different in the way we do things, our believes are different which make us unique from the rest of the world. we cannot be restircted to do things the way western people want them to be done. football has a different meaning to us. its a way of life and when many countries were at war football and music were the only two things that coud bring people togather. a vuvuzela is just not about the noise. if you are able to use it properly you will come to realize that you can play musical tunes with a vuvuzela. world cup is a global event we also deserve a fair share in it. we are africans and proud of it vuvuzela is here to stay
21 nkosinathi // Jun 13, 2010 at 9:14 pm
vuvuzela is here to stay
22 me // Jun 13, 2010 at 9:17 pm
ban those bastard **** **** vuvu **** zelas…. they are doing my head in. **** world cup ever!
{Comment from Eric - I edited this posting slightly, as the swearing was a “bit” intense!}
23 Ryan // Jun 13, 2010 at 9:29 pm
@ed @anothony you are both missing my point. Why should we ban Vuvuzela’s 10 years after they have been in the local South African game? Why was there hardly any blog posts, Facebook groups etc before the World Cup and Confed Cup?
The point I am trying to make is that after the World Cup most people who are complaining about Vuvuzela’s will not be supporting the local game so why should we ban them and spoil the game for those that watch and support the local game which goes on after the World Cup year after year. Why should we ban something for an event that comes along once in your lifetime and please those that only watch games at our local stadiums when international teams come out which make up a minority of the game?
@Ed I get your point about rhythm but do you really want to take your children to a game where they sing all the time? I have been to games all over Europe and what they sing is not what you hear on the radio. Chants like “You are the son of a whore” (in Turkey), making fun of people that have died in plane crashes (Man Utd vs Man City) and using other swear words are pretty regular.
BTW I never used the word tradition or culture in my comment so how are using that as base for an argument defies logic.
24 Anthony // Jun 13, 2010 at 10:09 pm
The reason I wasn’t conplaining before is because I had never heard of the things. In my opinion the negative aspects they bring to the game (dangerously loud, distracting to players and fans, annoying, ect) outweigh the positives (”cultural” meaning). I for one find it so bad that I choose not to watch games that don’t directly effect my team. That may not be everyone’s feeling, but it is mine. I think there could be compromises though, such as the last ten minutes of the match and stoppage time. I just have a hard time believing that a 10 cent piece of molded plastic is the greatest tradition such a complex country as South Africa can muster up.
25 Dorette Steenkamp // Jun 13, 2010 at 10:20 pm
It is utter irony that health risks do not seem to feature much as the main thread of discussions online. Health is not high enough on the African agenda - thus the Millennium Development Goals.
However, in defence: it seems that two universal human rights are competing for attention and it will all depend on the preference and PC of the organisers in the end:
“Everyone has the right to freely participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits” and
“Everyone has the right to a standard of living that is adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family”…
Uthango’s team asked itself whether one could be pro-vuvuzela and pro-health without (at the very least) advocating for hearing protection? This is like saying one should have have safe sex, but then not supply any condoms. For every one vuvuzela you buy, one should feel compelled to hand out five earplugs. And of course, we would promote earplugs - but the underlying key social issue is that we need to advocate for healthy and responsible behaviour.
How many sports fans actually KNOW that permanent damage could be caused and that the levels of a vuvuzela is equivalent and more to the levels experienced in industry where hearing protection is obligatory? Just asking…
And promoting: http://www.vuvuzelaunPLUGged.com
26 true // Jun 13, 2010 at 11:39 pm
Yeah, they should definitely ban them. I only disagree with the 3rd one, as I’d love to hear the chants of fans:)
27 Capello Fabio // Jun 14, 2010 at 1:58 am
Now it has started and it’s a bug, there are a couple of petitions online to ban the vuvuzela from the World Cup. Here’s one:
http://www.petitiononline.com/2010WC/petition.html
28 Aasia // Jun 14, 2010 at 6:29 am
I was going to post a proper comment, but in all honesty all the naysayers here want to whinge, and thats all.
The white dude thats making the vuvuzela’s with covers has been asked to do some for the Bundes Liga in Germany, the La Liga and some English teams.
You’re obviously in the minority. It’s gonna be around for a while, might as well get used to it!
29 Desre Dempsey // Jun 14, 2010 at 10:45 am
I think that from the beginning the Vuvuzela’s should only have been allowed for the Games that South Africa played in, and banned from all other games. Giving the other countries a chance to support their players in their own traditional ways. I love the sound of the crowd singing their songs and shout outs when a goal is scored. But this constant hum is so annoying, that we have to watch with the sound turned off to be able to enjoy the games. I am South African and I agree the vuvuzela is the most stupid invention ever.
30 Joerg // Jun 14, 2010 at 2:30 pm
I support Dorette’s point of view. Tradition and culture might be a point, and e.g. stoning women is in certain areas of the world still tradition and culture. Do we have to accept all traditions and cultures, or should we rather look into facts like health risks etc. However, as long as we ignore the danger of drugs and cigarettes, why not ignoring the risk of hearing problems…. It’s fun, and who cares about tomorrow…. FIFA should, as there might be a huge waves of claims waiting for them - there are no warning signs (against better knowledge) to wear ear plugs and the possible damages for the hearing (just google ‘vuvuzela hangover’ - the after effects …
And interesting approach is always to find different solutions - see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzgyBPyjPRI.
31 jokevn // Jun 14, 2010 at 6:33 pm
Good manners require that if you invite people from another culture into your house you take their culture into consideration. We have invited the word into our country, we should consider their cultures as well - this is only good manners. It is extremely selfish to say that the supporters of one of the 32 teams may dictate to the world without taking the other cultures into account. I feel sorry for the football players because they cannot wear earplugs and they are the people entertaining us. We can be certain that the World Cup will never take place in South Africa again if we are not grown up enough to display this courtesy towards the rest of the world and keep on insisting that we want it “our way”.
32 Simon H // Jun 16, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Check this out dude.http://www.2oceansvibe.com/2010/06/16/vuvuzelas-the-crux-of-the-matter/
33 Robbie Squires // Jun 17, 2010 at 6:28 am
Garbage! Desre and Jokevn made the best points. I have no interest personally in engaging with or participating in South African sporting culture ever if i have to listen to those insane horns. Chants and counter chants add character to football matches; the horns are fascist in that they force everyone to suffer and don’t allow any fan expression. Look in the stands on tv: very few people are actually blowing those idiot pipes. All the civilized fans (never thought id say that about soccer fans) just look cowed when the Africans start shitting in everyones ears. Sporting events should be more centralized anyway: why force fans to go to China or South Africa just to make them feel part of a world they don’t know to participate in.
34 Nic // Jun 17, 2010 at 1:58 pm
I think the only thing stopping Fifa now is admitting they made a mistake by allowing them in the first place.
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