Jabulani, the World Cup ball by Adidas

World Cup 2010: adidas and FIFA present in Cape Town the ball adidas “JABULANI”, the Official Match Ball for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. “JABULANI”, whose meaning is “to celebrate” or “to have fun” in isiZulu (one of the eleven official languages of South Africa, an indigenous language), features a South African inspired design and a new technology.

The new surface system developed is called Grip’n’Groove and provides an incredible stable flight and a good grip under all conditions. It is composed by only 8 spherically moulded panels and it is perfectly round.

Eleven different colours are used in the adidas “JABULANI”, the eleventh adidas World Cup ball. These 11 colours represent the players of every team, the 11 official languages of South Africa and the 11 South African communities of the country that more than anywherelse had a great intregration problem. Four triangle-shaped design elements on a white background lend the ball a unique appearance in African spirit.

The great playability of this ball has already been tested by the Adidas’ partners AC Milan, FC Bayern Munich, Orlando Pirates and Ajax Cape Town. Even if this ball reached an high standard, the Adidas team is already working for the ball of the next World Cup in Brazil (FIFA 2014)