http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/organisation/theball/

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/sideline-some-celebrate-jabulani-ball-some-don%E2%80%99t

http://www.helium.com/items/1852996-jabulani-ball-2010-fifa-world-cup

 

The Jabulani is the 11^th ball World Cup Ball designed by Adidas and adopted by FIFA as the official ball for the 2010 World Cup. The word Jabulani is a Zulu word meaning to celebrate and according to FIFA, there is a lot to celebrate about the ball.

According to the FIFA webpage, the Jabulani has a texture with a grip and groove. The significance of the grip and groove is that the player will experience a perfect grip, stable flight, and a control in the maximum when playing with it.

Frank Lampard of the English National Football/Soccer Team has praised the ball saying that it is “a true to hit very strong ball”. Peter Cech of the Czech National Football/Soccer Team has sung praises of the Jabulani even though his country will not participate in this historic event.

Joe Hart [who is the goalkeeper for the English National Football/Soccer Team] and Xavi [the midfielder for Spain] have also praised the Jabulani Ball. Xavi Alfonso [another midfielder for the Spanish National Football/Soccer Team] has stated that people “have to get used to the ball.

While Adidas, FIFA, and certain players are praising the Jabulani Ball, it has a lot of detractors in the various teams that are competing in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.  Morten Olsen who is the coach of the Danish National Football/Soccer Team has declared the Jabulani an “impossible ball.

The various members of the Italian National Football/Soccer Team have added their complaints about the Jabulani Ball. Giampaolo Pazzini who is the striker for the team called the ball “a disaster” and Gianluigi Buffon the goalkeeper declared that the ball was “not right”.

 The Brazilian National Football/Soccer Team has a few word concerning the Jabulani Ball with Julio Cesar [the goalkeeper] considering the ball one that a person “could buy in a supermarket”.

Wendell [who is the goalkeeper coach for the Brazilian team] stated that the ball “is highly unpredictable when hit from long distances”. Luis Fabiano [who is a striker for Brazil] commented that the ball is “supernatural” because the person “kicks it and it moves out of the way”.

The comment by Luis Fabiano reminded the underwriter of a comedy show in Venezuela in the 1970’s when a soccer player attempted to kick the ball and the ball moved in order to avoid being kicked.

Iker Casillas who is the goalkeeper for the Spanish National Football/Soccer Team has stated his disagreement with Xavi by declaring the Jabulani “a rotten ball” for a “great sporting event”.

It remains to be seen what will happen when the Jabulani Ball is played in the 2010 FIFA World Cup to see who was right and who was wrong.