Vuvuzela South Africa

England Midfielder, David Beckham, has torn his Achilles tendon and will be out of the World Cup. This injury, in the dying moments of of AC Milan’s 1-0 victory over Chievo at San Siervo, maybe the end of his international soccer career.

According to Times online, the 34-year-old will fly to Finland this morning to visit Dr Sakari Orava, professor of orthopaedics and traumatology at the Mehilainen Clinic in Turku, who is expected to perform surgery on the player’s left tendon this afternoon.

Achilles Tendon Snapped

Beckham was injured without getting hit. With only a few minutes remaining and the score 0-0, Beckham was by himself with the ball at his feet, shifted his weight and reached a hand down to his left heel. David Beckham then stood up and snapped his wrists like he was breaking a twig in half in a gesture to show the AC Milan bench he knew the tendon was broken.

Visibly in pain and in tears, Beckham went to the sideline for medical attention, leaving Milan a man short because all three substitutes had been used.

Beckham on Loan from Los Angeles Galaxy

Beckham was on his second loan stint at Milan from Los Angeles Galaxy as he looked to boost his chances of making England coach Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad, but the injury is likely to have brought an end to his international career.

Popularity: 2% [?]

There is no doubt that the Vuvuzela (stadium horn) is destined to become the icon of the 2010 World Cup. I can’t even think of all the things it has been called, but it is a colorful plastic trumpet.

Blow a Vuvuzela

South African soccer fans blow the Vuvuzela at soccer matches to support their teams, to encourage the players, to show their displease and just to have a jorl ( South African slang for have a blast).

The Vuvuzela had been much maligned, especially by some Europeans after the Confederations Cup who called for the banning of the Vuvuzela at the 2010 World Cup. Not long after that, the  Vuvuzela was banned in Austria because soccer officials believed it was dangerous – as in people attack each other with it!

Bafana Bafana vs Japan

And then the South African National team, Bafana Bafana played a friendly against Japan  – and the poor Japanese team – wanted to have the Vuvuzela banned -their delicate ears were also offended by  “the noisy plastic trumpet”.

But fortunately we have FIFA head honcho Sepp Blatter on our side – who has been so consistent from the getgo that this will be an African World Cup …and when in Africa…

I often wonder if the developed world isn’t just projecting their feeling on us, the Africans – they also probably find us loud and noisy and embarrassing. Oh and dangerous- not sure whether the German team will be running out in flack jackets or not.

And just when we thought it was all over, the Shembe’s  (Nazareth Baptist Church) decided to claim the Vuvuzela.

USA Soccer Team

The Americans, who caused such a stir at the Confed Cup with their great football, just loved South Africa and their advance teams for the World Cup have come back with glowing reports.

Dutch Supporters

The Dutch supporters are going to be blowing orange vuvuzelas and tons of beaded bracelets from KwaZulu- Natal have been shipped to the Netherlands for local football fans.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Parreira on Thursday (04 March) announced a 29-man squad to travel to Brazil for a month-long training camp. The camp is in preparation for the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup, and is one of three before the start of the tournament in June. The two other camps will be in Germany in April and in South Africa in May.

The squad is made up mainly of players doing duty in the ABSA Premiership, with just two who are overseas-based – Daylon Claasen as well as Kermit Erasmus.

On the Safa Website Parreira says it was a difficult period trying to put together the schedule for the Brazilian Camp.

“The Brazilian League is in full swing and it proved very difficult to put this whole exercise together. But the highlight of the camp should be a match against local first division club Cruzeiro on the 17th of March. But before that we will play another club Volta Redonda on the 13th. Both are training matches. We have also secured an international friendly match against Paraguay in Paraguay on the 31st of March,” said Parreira.

Confirmed Matches for Brazil Camp

Matches confirmed for the Brazil Camp:

• BB VS Volta Redondo – 13 March (Kickoff at 15h30)
• BB VS Fluminense – 14 March (Kickoff at 15h30)
• BB VS Cruzeiro – 17 March (Kickoff at 21h50)
• BB VS Botafogo – 20 March
• INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY: BB VS Paraguay – 31 March (Kick off at 19h30)

Popularity: 17% [?]

The Beverly Hills in Umhlanga Rocks where the Greece Team is based.

FIFA  announced the 32 base camps that the 2010 FIFA World Cup finalists will be using earlier this week . amid rumors and grumblings from some coaches about the facilities.

Host Bafana Bafana will be based at the Southern Sun Grayston Hotel in Sandton and train at Sandown High School, north of Johannesburg.

Bafana have two more training camps outside the country, one in Germany and another in Brazil.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will be based in Hempshire, KZN Dolphin Coast, along with Cameroon who will be based at the Oyster Box close by in Durban. Teams also camping in KwaZulu Natal are Paraguay at Woodridge Country Lodge, Algeria at Zimbali Lodge and Greece at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Chile is so far the only team which will be based in Mpumalanga at Ingwenyama Conference Centre.

Teams that will be based in the North West include, Korea Republic at the Hunters Rest Hotel, England at the Bafokeng Sports Campus and Spain at the Potchefstroom University (North West Campus).

Bafana’s opponents in Group A, Uruguay, will be the only team with a training camp in the Northern Cape at the Protea Hotel in Kimberley.

Three teams that will have base camps in the Western Cape are Japan at the Fancourt Hotel & Country Club, Denmark at Simola Hotel Country Club and France at Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa.

Gauteng will have the privilege of hosting Netherlands at the Hilton Sandton Hotel, Brazil at the Fairway Hotel, Mexico at Thaba ya Batswana, Honduras at Indaba Hotel, North Korea (Korea DPR) at the Protea Hotel Midrand.

Serbia will be based at the Sunnyside Park Hotel, Australia at the Kloofzicht Lodge, while defending world champions, Italy, will be based at the Leriba Lodge.

USA will be based at Irene Country Lodge, Ivory Coast will be based at Riverside Hotel and Conference Centre, while Switzerland will be based at the Emerald Resort and Casino.

Germany will set up camp at the Velmore Hotel, Portugal at the Alley Hotel, Ghana at the Rhoode Valley, New Zealand at the Serengeti Estate and Slovenia will be based at the Hyde Park Southern Sun Hotel.

However, the list of base camps, according to FIFA, is subject to change.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Moses Mabhida Stadium

SuperSport United defender Morgan Gould has been withdrawn due to injury  from the Bafana Bafana squad to face Namibia in an international friendly on Wednesday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban according to Kickoff.com

His teammate and captain at United, Bongani Khumalo, will take his place. Gould suffered the injury in his club’s 1-2 League defeat to Bidvest Wits on Wednesday.

The South Africa vs Nabmiba match is part of the 100-day countdown celebrations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The match kicks off at 8.30. Tickets are available at Computicket at Checkers.

Popularity: 11% [?]