All eyes at the 2014 World Cup will be on the official ball - Brazuca

Brazuca – The official match ball of 2014 FIFA World Cup

Man’s unquenchable thirst to fathom the unfathomable laws of nature through science has often led to more problems than solutions. But today we are in an era that dwells with science and technology. Over the years, scientists have altered the course of history and have brought about a decisive change in the way we live our lives.

“The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom,” said American writer Isaac Asimov. The statement reflects a plausible reason for all the complications that prevail in our society today.

During the summer of 2010, one of the greatest sporting spectacles on the planet – the FIFA World Cup – traveled to the African continent for the first time. The football partisan’s spirits were high and Africa reverberated under the ghastly loud monotonic tunes of the Vuvezela. The world waited with bated breath to witness the sorcery of Lionel Messi and the sizzling moves of Cristiano Ronaldo. But destiny had other ideas, as the mesmerisms of a ball named ‘Jabulani’ stupefied footballers, coaches, fans and even the scientifically inclined researchers around the world.

A couple of years prior to the World Cup in South Africa, Adidas went on its mission to produce a football with the best possible aerodynamics. After receiving considerable academic input, they developed a ball in partnership with researchers from the esteemed Loughborough University in England. On December 4, 2009 it was announced that Jabulani would be the official ball for the World Cup with many stating that it is a ball with improved aerodynamics compared to the previous version of ‘Teamgeist’.

Footballers around the globe landed in South Africa with each one contemplating to showcase their mastery over the ball on the grandest stage of world football. As the World Cup kicked off, each player’s dream was blighted by the aerodynamically gifted Jabulani. The movement of a 440g weighing object flummoxed even the insanely gifted supernatural athletes and coaches equipped with astute tactical abilities.

The ball’s swift movement in the air and erratic swerve even left the game’s finest goalkeepers gawk in awe. “It’s terrible, horrible. It’s like one of those balls you buy in the supermarket!” said Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar. A ball bought from the supermarket would have not been aerodynamically inclined and would have not made footballers look like puppets. But for Brazilian defender Maicon, the Jabulani was the wizard who waved his magic wand to bring him overnight fame and glory with a goal from an improbable angle.

The scientists would have been over the moon as they had managed to confound humankind once again. Footballers who redefined the dimensions of sport were brought to a stark reality, that they were mere humans on the football field, controlled by the exaggerated laws of physics exhibited by the Jabulani. Researchers need to figure out that footballers need not develop a penchant to construe the laws of aerodynamics (which is mind boggling even for a graduated aerospace engineer like me), to play in a world cup for his nation.

The great Albert Einstein once said “Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent.” The intelligent fools – ‘scientists’ – have come up with a new ball – ‘Brazuca’ for the upcoming world cup in Brazil. The Brazuca ball is stated to be more aerodynamic than the Jabulani ball! In a few months from now, the Brazuca will enjoy the limelight and stardom, as each fanatic’s eye will monitor its every movement.

A common quip about football is, “The English invented it, the Brazilians perfected it!” And the ‘Canarinho’ will hope that the Brazuca will dance to the samba tunes.