Jabulani: the terror of the goalkeepers

Buffon called it “ridiculous” and “with a boat for children”. Víctor Valdés said it was “unpredictable” because it did not describe a regular trajectory. Casillas defined him as “a beach ball”. Roberto Carlos believed that “it seemed to be made of plastic”. English goalkeeper Paul Robinson explained: “It has a plastic layer around it and when it is wet it is even worse.” And the Inter exporter and holder with Brazil in South Africa, Julius Caesar called it “horrifying”: “It looks like one of those balls that you buy at the supermarket.”

We are talking about the Jabulani, the 2010 ball, the most criticized in the history of the World Cups. Goalkeepers from England, Algeria, Japan and Ghana starred in some of the most talked-about songs in South Africa. But all of them, players crucified by their hobbies, had an alibi to hold on to, the erratic ball. AND It was not a simple impression or his feelings on the field.

NASA itself entered the controversy, analyzing the behavior and aerodynamics of the ball. And the results could not be more forceful.

At a speed greater than 72km / h, the Jabulani experienced a 'knuckle effect' that caused its direction to vary completely randomly during its flight. An effect that was enhanced by South African geography, with several cities above 1,000 meters above sea level.