So, what’s the big hullaballoo over this Jabulani ball? What’s everyone saying about the ‘most perfect ball ever?’
A World Cup is, without doubt, the biggest competition in any sport. Make that sport football – and it becomes a truly global event. The Cup, that invites more countries than the United Nations itself.
All the biggest names in the world are there on the big stage. Each and every one of them dreaming of the day they will wear their country’s colors and stand tall on the green, in front of millions of screaming fans and flashing cameras. Every move pre-calculated. Every second forethought. Every shot, every pass, rehearsed a thousand times, both on the field, and in the mind.
No one, however, will dare to dream about making a fool of himself under the pressure. Missing an easy shot. Miscalculating the flight of the ball. A rush of blood that makes you do something foolish. To faze out of the game. To make a horrendous back pass. To make a horrendous tackle.
But what if such eventualities are out of your hands?
Yes, fellow sportsdreamers, I am picking up the one topic that seems to surface every four years with added vigor. The official match ball.
Official balls have always come across criticism from players regarding their dynamics, However, the 2010 edition, the Jo’bulani, has come under the scanner after many players have been left quite angry in it’s wake.
The Jo’bulani ball, is a member of the Jabulani Series, developed by Adidas. The Jabulani, which stands for ‘rejoice’, in Zulu, was unveiled on December 4, 2009 in Cape Town, South Africa. It was developed at Loughborough University, United Kingdom.
The Jo’bulani has been named after Johannesburg, which is often referred to as Jo’burg, which is the venue of the World Cup finals.
The Science in the Ball: The Jo’bulani ball, without doubt, is an academic wonder. Every World Cup seems to perfect the roundest wonder, but this version takes up that status with gusto. Cutting down from the previous version of 14, this ball has 8 thermally bonded, three dimensional panels. It comprises of 11 colours that represent the 11 on-field players, the official languages and the number of communities in South Africa, the design is aimed to celebrate the diversity and harmony of the country.
A comparison: The making of the ball
Adidas has used a cutting-edge technology called GripnGroove in the design of the Jo’bulani ball. This technology is aimed to improve the ball’s aerodynamics, which allows for maximum control, stable flight and perfect grip under all conditions. The profile circles twist around the ball to provide stability in flight, making it one of the most stable and accurate balls to be made ever.
Response to the Jo’bulani:
The new ball seems to have mostly negative reviews by players around the world. Several goalkeepers have voiced their concern about the light weight, and the unpredictable swing of this ball.
Spanish captain and goalkeeper, Iker Casillas, said, “”It’s a bit like a beachball,” the Spain captain said on Sunday. “Now it isn’t only the goalkeepers (complaining), it is the outfield players as well. It’s sad that a competition as important as a World Cup has an element as vital as the ball with such abysmal characteristics.”
And just like he said, even teammate and Spanish mid-fielder Xavi, was not too impressed. “It’s a question of getting used to it but in truth it does move around a lot.”
Italian and Juventus goalkeeper, Buffon, the winner of the Golden Gloves in 2006, voiced his concerns as well. “The new model is absolutely inadequate and I believe it is shameful to play such an important competition, where so many champions are taking part, with a ball like that,” the 2006 World Cup winner said.
US goalkeeper Tim Howard said it is difficult for not only the goalkeepers, but defenders as well, to judge the flight and swing of the ball.
“It’s terrible,” Howard said. “You will hear that a lot next week, next month. We are trying to get used to it, trying to read an unreadable situation. Hopefully it’s not going to come back and bite us but you are going to see some crazy things with the ball.
Blocking a lot of sunshine
“What does it do? What doesn’t it do would be a better question. It moves all over. If you hit five balls with the same striking motion you wouldn’t get the same result.”
Back-up goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann added: “Take my word for it, there will be goals scored from 45 yards at this World Cup. They will be called great goals but they won’t be great goals, it’s just the ball.”
And centre-back Jay DeMerit chimed in, “A lot of our problems defensively against Australia were just trying to get used to the ball,” he said. “‘Even the easy crosses can be difficult. We don’t understand how this ball is working yet.”
Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar has said the ball is “terrible, horrible” and like one purchased in a supermarket, while Italy striker Giampaolo Pazzini said it was a “disaster” for both goalkeepers and forwards because it is so light.
But not all players are so concerned, with Frank Lampard saying, “It’s a very strong ball, true to hit.” While on the receiving end of one of Lampard’s strikes goalkeeper Petr Cech said “You can feel the energy coming towards you, like a shot.”
Thomas Van Schaik, the adidas Head of Global Public Relations, remarks with confidence, “According to the rigorous FIFA specification range for footballs, we have created a ball that is small and heavy allowing for maximum accuracy, perfect grip and exceptionally stable flight.”
Either way, it makes for a very interesting battle between foot and glove. Will the ball really be able to change the course of a match and decide a team’s destiny?
Impossible is this thing!
Editor’s Note: Registered Sportskeeda users can win the Jabulani Official Match ball by participating in the All-star League .
