Why South Africans are arming themselves to the teeth

With all the concerns about Bafana Bafana’s chances of making it through the first round of the 2010 World Cup, the host nation appears to have been handed a lifeline.

It comes in the form of the mighty vuvuzela, a plastic trumpet which emits a noise that has been compared to a swarm of bees, a dying elephant and many other disparaging sounds.

Following the teams drubbing of Taiwan last weekend, coach Bryan Robson warned international managers they will have to rethink on-pitch communication strategies due to its raucous roar. The former Manchester United and England skipper warned that the instrument is going to become Bafana Bafana’s 12th man during the month-long tournament.

“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. 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?” he said. Robson is not alone with his concerns about the impact the noise on the stands could have on the performances of the players.

At last year’s Confederations Cup, many broadcasters complained bitterly about the “noisy trumpets”. However, Fifa president Sepp Blatter who clearly recognised that the host nation — currently languishing in 90th place on the world rankings — needed all the help it could get. He stated that they were part of South African soccer tradition and would play an important role in highlighting the “magic” of South African soccer.

Bafana head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira agrees, saying “make them louder, louder, louder”. There has also been some divine intervention in the form of the Grace Bible Church in Soweto which has launched its World Cup campaign themed “The Ultimate Goal”. Pastors, deacons, elders and the entire congregation are wearing Bafana Bafana jerseys and accompanying each “amen” with the blow of a vuvuzela.

Millions of South Africans have woken up to the fact that the most crucial moment in this country’s post-apartheid history is looming fast and they are arming themselves to the teeth.