I am not much of a soccer fan; for that matter I am not a sports fan in general. There are certain sports about which I can engage in basic conversation. Why would a non-fan keep a finger on the pulse of the sports news?

It’s simple. I love to read and when I click on my favorite on-line media source, I read everything, including sports news. I even read the “Entertainment” news, which often leaves me quite aware of my high level of ignorance in the world of celebrity-dom. What has this to do with the vuvuzela? Nothing, I digress.

The Coca-Cola Company took the Soccer World Cup (SWC) trophy on a nationwide road show. I had the privilege of attending a few of these road shows, where competition winners and the general public had the opportunity to see the real SWC trophy up close. The atmosphere at the road shows was very festive. I was starting to think that maybe I should choose a team to support. While analysing the thought of what it would mean to be a fan, the sound of a vuvuzela interrupted my thinking. How rude!! We are in a marquis for goodness sake. Couldn’t he blow that “thing” outside? What’s wrong with the security detail? Tell him to stop or put him out!

As I plugged my ears with my fingers I thought, “This is not going to work. How am I to survive the opening match if I can’t tolerate the sound of one vuvuzela?” Internal conflict reigned. I hate noise, but how could I miss this opportunity to attend the opening match of the first SWC in Africa? Dare I miss a live viewing of the opening ceremony? I decided to buy earplugs and press on.

I didn’t get it until I was at the match. The vuvuzela is the mouthpiece of the fans. From anywhere in the stadium, it communicates to the players on the pitch, “we are behind you”. Fans use it to celebrate with each other. I watched as two of them took turns trying to outdo each making tunes on the vuvuzela. The vuvuzela is used to “boo” the opposing side, and it helps revive the excitement when the stadium becomes too quiet. I think that the vuvuzela is to the true soccer fan what the regulation ball is to the SWC. The atmosphere is not an authentic South African soccer match without the vuvuzela.

I would not have been protected from a too-much-noise-melt-down without earplugs. Thanks to my trusty earplugs, I was able to enjoy the match, and appreciate why the vuvuzela should not be silenced (except during the anthems).

Too bad I can’t use earplugs to understand why a celebrating female fan embraced and kissed me after passing several other spectators. After all, earplugs are cheaper than therapy.

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