Vuvuzela South Africa

David Beckham is back in LA and has cleared the air with his LA Galaxy teammate, Landon Donovan after some words flew around about Beckham being “uncommitted.”

According to Forbes Magazine, David Beckham is the highest paid football player, generating an estimated $46 million in 2008. Behind Beckham in the Forbes list is his Brazilian AC Milan team-mate, Ronaldinho, who earned an estimated $33m in 2008. Rounding out the top five places are (respectively); Thierry Henry, Kaka and last year’s FIFA World Player of the Year, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Will Becks be going to Play for Chelsea?

The former Manchester United star has also surprisingly revealed that he would consider returning to the English Premier League. Remember, when Beckham left Man United in 2003 to sign for Spanish giants Real Madrid he swore he would never join a domestic rival of his old club?

Now, his Milan Coach, Carlo Ancelotti is in England coaching Chelsea, so the million $$ question is, will Becks go back home to play for Chelsea?

Back in the USA with Galaxy

For now, he is back in the USA with Los Angeles Galaxy after being on loan for a season to AC Milan. Becks put up his own money to pay off his part of his contract to Milan to show his commitment to Galaxy. He claims to want to grow the game in the USA.

He also says he still hopes to play for AC Milan at the send of the season.

Highest Paid Football Player in the World

And the cherry on top: David Beckham – the highest paid football player in the world – has expressed his desire to be available for the England team for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Fifa 2010 World Cup Mascot Zakumi with Michael Jordaan, CEO of FNB.

I couldn’t believe it – I had just written the post about the Kuduzela and an email popped into my inbox with photos of this unsightly instrument being held by a big furry creature (not the guy with the orange tie, that is the CEO of FNB).

After I had recovered from my shock I realized it must be Zakumi, the official Fifa 2010 World Cup Mascot. According to the Fifa site ” One thing is for sure, Zakumi will be first on the dancefloor and last off it at the biggest party in the world – the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™

Now one thing about mascots;  they are really cute on stickers and badges and I can cope with them as soft toys, but when they become people-size they are just plain scary.

Anyway, I thought  everyone would like to see what First National Bank and South African National Parks have come up with:

Because the Kudu horn is steeped in African tradition, and sport is loved by so many, we believe that the Kuduzela will take pride of place in many a South African home, as well as at the centre of many South African future celebrations,says Michael Jordaan, FNB, CEO.

(I’m not even going to begin with that copy writing – the kudu horn, steeped in African culture? And oh wow,  yebo, yes! sport is truly loved by so many …but what the F@#$% has that got to do with this ugly black stick like thing taking pride of place in many a South African home? (many a ?  I ask you as I stagger off to make a cup of coffee).

And a word of warning to the good customers of FNB – you will stand in line to win one of 150,000 Kuduzelas if you make three or more Prepaid airtime purchases per month…

Popularity: 7% [?]

Well, when you have a good thing, everyone want to jump on the bandwaggon – the latest is an invention called the Kuduzela. But this pretender won’t ever unseat the Vuvuzela.

- ok, I also laughed when I heard about it or in computer speak  I (rofl).

2010 Website

And behind this revolutionary and original invention is … ta, da … First National Bank, home of Shine2010, one of the most pro management/business/ lets see how much we can milk out of 2010- kind of websites around.

Anyway back to the kuduzela, which, according to IOL is … a new wind instrument shaped like a kudu horn, and was unveiled as a football icon that would be used for the 2010 Fifa World Cup and other sporting events in South Africa.

The initiative was a joint effort by First National Bank, the South African National Parks (SANParks), and the Kudu-Kudu Manufacturing plant.

A Football Icon ?

A football icon – I though Jomo Sono and Pele  and David Beckham are a football icons?

A Kudu Horn

“The Kudu horn, he said, emits a sound that some have called the “true sound of the savanna. However the kuduzela, up close and solitary, sounds like a trumpeting elephant and en masse the sound is more like a massive herd of elephants trumpeting and when there’s action near the goal mouth you will hear the elephants going really crazy,“ said Mabunda.

After I read this, I checked the date on the article again because I couldn’t believe my ears – 14 July 2009

FNB chief executive officer Michael Jordaan said it was evident that South Africa was capable of hosting “amazing” international events, as displayed in the recent Fifa Confederations Cup 2009.

“The kuduzela will not only give visitors a South African experience but a truly African experience as well,” he said in a statement.

No ways, these guys must have been eating funky maroelas or smoking some wicked DP.

Have they never heard of Vuvuzelas?

Have they never hear of Vuvuzela’s. No wait they must have, why else call a kudu horn a kuduzela?

And do they really think that they are going to impose this on the soccer public with their Vuvuzelas, nine months before 2010 kicks off?

I say, bring it on…

Popularity: 8% [?]

Durban, South Africa - 2010 Stadium

The Strike is over.

Workers will start returning to work this morning – Thursday latest at the the 2010 Stadiums in South Africa. An agreement was reached last night after grueling negotiations ended with employers and union representatives settling on a 12 percent wage increase.

IOL online : ” According to the National Union of Mineworkers, no further strikes are likely, and workers are committed to pushing to meet World Cup stadium deadlines – by December.”

Popularity: 1% [?]

I’ll never forget the the 2006 Soccer World Cup Final. Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt was one of the most unforgettable moments of the whole tournament

I had been driving around Ireland, staying for a day or two in small towns, wandering around, taking pictures – watching the soccer with the locals in the pubs. It is was great fun – none of us had a dog in the fight – we all enjoyed the soccer, but slipped in a bit of rugby in between pints, and then eventually I was somewhere on the West coast on Ireland and I decided to take a room above the pub so I would miss the cup final.

I’d been holding my breath for days in case the soccer hooligans destroyed all Germany’s beautiful old fountains and buildings, but so far so good.

We cheered as the the final started with each side scoring within the first 20 minutes. Zinedine Zidane opened the scoring by converting a controversial seventh-minute penalty kick. But that was just the begging of a day of controversy for the man from Marseilles.

Near the end of extra time, Zidane head-butted Materazzi in the chest in an off-the-ball incident – he later said the Italian insulted his mother – and Zizou was sent off. Extra time produced no further goals and a penalty shootout followed, which Italy won 5–3

The 2006 World Cup victory also helped Italy top the FIFA World Rankings in February 2007 for the first time since November 1993.

I believe the 2006 World Cup stands as one of the most watched events in television history, garnering an estimated 26.29 billion non-unique viewers, compiled over the course of the tournament. The final attracted an estimated audience of 715.1 million people

Popularity: 2% [?]