VUVUSELA - THE SOUTH AFRICAN ALPINE HORN

Tens of thousands of Vuvuzela were sold at Expo WP over several months prior to the Soccer World Cup in South Africa, especially at the night market. Hence, hundreds of thousands of soccer fans and spectators  religiously take their vuvuzelas along whenever they go watch their favorite soccer team play. But this may not be for long, because the annoying sound of the vuvuzela may be lost from South African soccer grounds forever if the PSL management so decide. This is not because because of the incessant drowning wall of noise which made the vuvuzela so unpopular with global audiences during the 2010 World Cup but rather because of the security threat they may present.

The globally famous vuvuzela - the Alpine horn from South Africa

Premier Soccer League (PSL) officials mentioned that although they are not intending to pursue banning the vuvuzela, it has become a matter of concern after a bout in incidents where the vuvuzela was used to cause alleged injury. Premier Soccer League (PSL) general manager Derek Blanckensee said "Our rules ban all dangerous weapons from matches,"  "If the vuvuzela is to become a dangerous weapon then we will look into this."

Vuvuzelas are made of lightweight plastic and seems very incapable of causing grievous bodily harm but it may be a way to rid soccer of the all too familiar sound of the vuvuzela. Vuvuzela bashing has taken on a new form since vuvuzelas were among a number of objects like cooldrink cans, plastic bottles and fruit thrown at Orlando Pirates coach Roger de Sa after his side were held to a draw by AmaZulu at the Moses Mabhida Stadium earlier this year. Not long thereafter a supporter, who took offence at a red-card decision against his team, charged on the pitch and attempted to strike the referee with the plastic instrument during a league match between Lamontville Golden Arrows and Kaizer Chiefs in Durban. Kaizer Chiefs is South Africa's most popular soccer club and they have been chasing after a first league title for the past eight years.

British and South African soccer fans competing in noise production with their vuvuselas.

On a different occasion,  another Chiefs supporter,  was apprehended after he too ran onto the soccer field. Both these spectators were arrested and released on R500 ($55) bail. These abnormal incidents have not only called  the level of security at PSL games into question but also the future of the world famous  vuvuzela which remains popular with most local fans. PSL officials are wary of a possible backlash should they ban the vuvusela and not permit them to be brought to soccer matches.  The vuvusela quickly became popular with international soccer fans, especially Brazillians and Englishmen who bought then to take back to the Britain. It is very unfortunate that several countries have already banned the vuvuzela since fans attempted to bring it into stadiums and setup a wall of noise.

Photojani Photographic studios at EXPO WP have more than a 1000 photographs on show of the Soccer World Cup and vuvuselas in general and this is just a sample.