The 2010 Soccer World Cup has kicked off with a bang in South Africa and my heart is filled with pride. I am a South African!

I had the privilege of attending the first match in Cape Town on Friday between France and Uruguay. The whole process was smooth and fairly painless. We had a little bit of a queue getting it, but other than that, no issues. Easy in, easy watch and easy out. The Stadium is beautiful and there are so many toilets…:) yes, this is something that can make or break and experience.

We were in row 4 so we could see the skill of the players. Although France played a fairly dirty game, I think that the Uruguayans held there own and the fans around us were wonderful. So many painted faces, flags and singing!

And on that note, the stand were filled with South African supporters who just wanted to experience a game, but make sure that you have earplugs with you! The constant droning of the vuvuzela is agonising. I’m all for a trumpet of some sort, especially for the person in the front of the stand who is getting everyone to  together in support, but for every second or even tenth person to have one is overkill. And boy does it make the fans lazy!

We used to have some phenomenal singing at at these kind of events. I’ll never forget how I felt when I heard Shosholoza at the Rugby World Cup and how my whole being swelled with pride. Now it’s just a monotonous noise. There is no cohesion and no imagination being used. There is no relation between noise level and the actual soccer game. There’s no swell of sound or rousing words.

Not only is there this sad loss, but people seem to want to prove that they are able to blow these all the time…walking through shopping centres, walking along the street, having a couple of a drinks with friends…nothing and no-one is safe from receiving this eardrum attack. The sound carries beautifully and would be wonderful from a couple of kilometres away, but right next door is just frustrating. I wouldn’t even mind if someone just wanted to see if they could blow it, but after the twentieth blast it’s far from enjoyable.

But such is life and although there is a possibility that this will be banned due to it possibly being thrown onto the field, I think that this is a battle that just isn’t worth fighting for the current World Cup.

So bring on the earplugs and we’ll have a good sing along when the Soccer is done.