Jabulani Ball in FIFA 2010

In our previous article on FIFA World Cup 2010for all our Soccer Fans, We have provided Fifa 2010 Schedules and Top Teams.

Jabulani is the name of Football that is being used in FIFA 2010 wc designed by Adidas which is facing many controversies due to it’s design Jabulani – meaning “to Celebrate” in the isiZulu language ,it is the name of the ball that is being used in the FIFA World Cup 2010 made, as ever, by Adidas.The balls have improved year on year, though not without attracting some controversy along the way.

Why is it so special ?

Regular balls are made with 32 hexagonal panels. The Teamgeist for World Cup in Germany 2006 had only 14 panels. The Jabulani ball has an amazing 8 panels.It consists of ‘grip’ and ‘groove’ texturing, which is also to aid smooth flight.It is a heavy ball, and has bonded 3d panels moulded spherically to retain shape and create a seamless sphere.The number 11 carries heavy symbolism the tribes of South Africa, the players in a football team. In honor of this, there are 11 colors used on the ball.The ball is constructed of eight thermally-bonded polyurethane panels, and is very nearly waterproof.

FIFA Standards / Jabulani Ball Stats

What’s Expert’s view on Jabulani?

• It became so controversial because of its allegedly erratic flight which has unnerved more than one goalkeeper in South Africa and have concluded that the Jabulani may simply be too round to fly straight.

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• Part of the problem may be that the stitches of the Jabulani are internal, so the ball resembles a perfect sphere which makes it to deviate more in flight and cause serious problem for Goalkeepers and strikes to predict it’s trajectory.
• In other sports tennis, cricket or baseball the balls have irregularities precisely to insure a more stable and controlled trajectory. The ridges or exposed seams are the key participants which make possible spin in tennis or a curve ball pitch in baseball.
• Despite the Jabulani’s so-called ‘grip’ and ‘grove’ texturing, however, the ball apparently doesn’t behave in the same way.
• Because of the shape, the time of contact with the foot is reduced, due to this ball practically doesn’t spin. The ball travels a little less far, and will have a floating and unpredictable trajectory.
• Wind-tunnel tests conducted on machine-made Jabulani revealed that it was close to a perfect sphere, and has a tendency to slow suddenly in mid-flight which is not so good for Footballers.
• After some computer tests it is revealed that the ball goes faster and is more unpredictable than it’s previous versions.

Adidas defined their product that  Jabulani “to celebrate” in isiZulu “allows for maximum control, stable flight and perfect grip under all conditions,” which is quite opposite from the reality.

The Jabulani ball that is going to be used in final’s of FIFA world cup 2010  has a golden color scheme to match the trophy, and in homage to the “City of Gold” – Johannesburg.