Photos and interviews by Shabna Ullah
With the FIFA 2010 Football World Cup fever now in the air, members of the public commented on the match, their favourite team(s) and their feelings about the vuvuzela [a plastic trumpet-like object used in South Africa during football matches]. The sound of the vuvuzela is described as a “swarm of angry bees” and some of the European TV stations were calling for it to be banned.
Winston Maycock, auto electrician
`I think all the teams are good but I would say that my favourite teams are Germany and Brazil. I am enjoying the matches a lot even though I have to tape them and watch them at nights when I get home from work. I was a footballer so that is why I like the game so much.
I still play a little street game with the boys. The vuvuzela is not bothering me. When I listened to it during the first game it sounded annoying. But now my ears got accustomed to it and I just concentrate on the game.’
Eusi Davis, teacher
`I am a big fan of the Brazil team and I am especially excited about the disciplined brand of football they are playing now. They have a more efficient and effective approach with both offence and defence and with tactical precision rather than the excitement that everybody is accustomed to having. Judging from the various upsets in the bigger teams such as Spain, England and France, I compliment Brazil’s coach, Dunga for sticking to this pattern of football. It is at the expense of his popularity at home where he is facing a lot of criticism with fans. I like the vuvuzela and I think they should stick to it because that is their tradition and it should not be taken away from them.’
Richard Pooran, self-employed
`My favourite team is Argentina. I also want Brazil to be in the finals because both teams are from South America. I think this game is different from all the others. Even though we have more Brazilians watching there are lots of support from all over. To me Argentina has one of the best and most experienced coaches in the game; Diego. I think the vuvuzela is good but it is too much because the players can hardly hear the coach because of the noise. I don’t think it should be banned though. It is a good spirit for the game. It is a part of the country’s culture and should be appreciated.’
Pernell Cummings, marketing assistant
`England is my favourite team. I have all faith in them and I know the team would make it. The World Cup match has been great so far and I am enjoying it. I have always been a football fan. I noticed that far less goals are being scored than in the previous years and that is because the teams are more defensive. I don’t have a problem with the vuvuzela; it reminds me of the conch shell that is used during the cricket matches. I don’t think the vuvuzela should be banned.’
Donald Harprashad, sports organizer
`I am from South America so obviously my favourite teams would be Argentina and Brazil. I believe that the South American brand of football is by far above all the rest. One of the gifts they have is better ball control over their opponents and they move easily between the players. Another observation is that the European teams seem to play what we call ‘long ball.’ They kick the ball in the air and run after it whereas the South American brand of football tend to use more ball control to draw their opponents out of their comfort zones. The World Cup is exciting but the response from Guyanese is not as expected. I guess that is because of what is happening in terms of the game in Guyana. A couple of years ago persons used to be glued to their television. I think the vuvuzela is good; it is carnival-like which is good for the off-field innovation. Some persons from the European countries would not enjoy the sound; it would disturb them because they are not accustomed to it.’
Dereck Lovell, security personnel
`My favourite team is Brazil because that is one of our neighbours. I am also a fan of that team because of the influx of Brazilians now living Guyana. Apart from that, the team plays very good football and I wish them all the best in winning the 2010 World Cup. I always follow football; in fact, I love sports on a whole. I just hope Guyanese get better facilities so that they too can rise up in sports one day and make us proud. I like the vuvuzela and I think it should remain because that is a way to attract the supporters. Every country has its own culture and the people are entitled to theirs.’
Stacy Campbell, waitress
`I watch the football on and off but my favourite team is definitely Brazil. I believe that they will win the cup because they play a very good game. Players like Kaka and Luis Fabiana are the stars of the game. I think the other teams are good too. I like the sound of the vuvuzela for the excitement it creates. It is good for sports because all sports have to have entertainment. So far I am enjoying the game and I would follow it to the last to see my favourite team win the cup.’
Yonette Lynch, housewife
`I am a big fan of Brazil and I also like the team (Ivory Coast) that (Didier) Drogba is playing for. A lot of the other teams like Germany, Portugal and Uruguay are also playing good. I watch the games every day. So far the game is going good and I am enjoying it. The sound of the vuvuzela is not as annoying as some people claim and it should not be banned. I like it; it does not bother me. It makes the game more exciting.’
Ramesh Ronaldinho, accountant
`I am a fan of Brazil; always have been, always will be. As we say in Brazil, ‘a sexta,’ meaning we have five world cups already and we are looking for the sixth cup this year. The matches have been really good but the one between Algeria and England was not. Another team to look out for is Ghana. That is a young team and the players are powerful. I am disappointed in Germany because they might get knocked out. Brazil is always a sentimental favourite. Kaka is the star striker of the team – scoring the most goals and I expect him to do well. We don’t have all the big names as in previous games but we have a great coach and a cohesive team. I like the vuvuzela; it is noisy and it is distracting but it brings something more of the South African culture to the world. It should not be banned. South Africa is known for more than just apartheid.’
George Persaud, taxi driver
`My favourite team is Brazil; I always love Brazil. Some of the other teams like, Italy, Germany and Argentina are good too. I think the World Cup is better this year because they have better systems and there are a lot of young players. I noticed that they don’t give any red or yellow cards for obstructing a player. I don’t know if they changed that system but I like everything else about the game. I like the vuvuzela; it is good to play in the background for the excitement it creates. I love the scenes of the country too; everything is just beautiful.’