South African and Southern African soccer fans were bitterly disappointed Wednesday to see Bafana Bafana - "the boys, the boys" - humbled as Uruguay trounced the South African national team 3-0 in World Cup play.
The constant high-decibel blowing of vuvuzela horns in the Pretoria stadium died down as fans for the host team realized that South Africa would be ending the match with no goals to show for its efforts.
Tempers flared among fans and players alike when goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune received a red card and was sent off the pitch for tackling a Uruguayan striker near the end of the game, leaving the squad short one man.
Elsewhere in World Cup action, Chile defeated Honduras 1-0 in their opening group H game in Bbombela Stadium in Nelspruit. A goal in the 34th minute by Chile’s Jean Beausejour eventually decided the match. Favored Spain was edged out 1-0 by Switzerland with a goal by Gelson Fernandes in minute 52.
Meanwhile the controversy over the ever-present vuvuzela horn-blowing continued.
Some teams have complained that the continual drone breaks their concentration. But FIFA has said it will not succumb to pressure and ban the horns, which it says are a South African tradition.
Striker Norman Maroto of Zimbabwe's Gunners Football Club told VOA Studio 7 reporter Marvellous Mhlanga-Nyahuye that vuvuzelas must remain as a way of life for African soccer fans.
In cricket, meanwhile, New Zealand said it will resume Zimbabwe tours in 2011 after a Tuesday meeting between Sports Minister David Coltart and Kiwi Cricket Board Chief Executive Justin Vaughan in Christchurch.
