MILAN - Vuvuzela trumpets of the 2010 World Cup became cult objects in Milan after South Africa's tourist board in the Italian northern city gave 10,000 authentic pieces away.
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 An Italian fan blows a vuvuzela before the 2010 World Cup Group F soccer match between Italy and New Zealand at Mbombela stadium in Nelspruit June 20, 2010. [Photo/Agencies] |
"Vuvuzela is the latest fashion," a soccer fan handing a vuvuzela with Italian flag's colors told Xinhua on Sunday, while following Italy-New Zealand match on a huge screen in Milan's Duomo square among thousands of people.
"I like to keep a symbolic object of each Word Cup. This time vuvuzela is the must-have item, and I was excited when I heard it was possible to get an authentic one in Milan," he added before blowing it to make the typical high-pitched sound.
Imported from South Africa and distributed complimentary to promote the country, the one-meter long plastic trumpet won the heart of Milan citizens of all ages and professions. People also came all the way from other cities just to procure a vuvuzela for many different reasons.
"I wanted to make a cool surprise to my South African colleague," said 27-year-old Daniele while patiently waiting in queue at the South Africa's tourist board to get a vuvuzela.
"I find this instrument very joyful, I'd like to have one to applaud better for Italy," said a 11-year-old girl, Carlotta, who was accompanied by her mother.
"My wife is from Mexico, therefore it's easier for our family to support two national teams with vuvuzelas," said a man adding that, if Italy wins the World Cup again, he'll blow the South African trumpet in the streets all night.
The girls of the tourist board were having difficulty closing the doors to the constant citizens standing in line for hours, obstructing the road.
One of the girls, who named herself as Laura, told Xinhua that she had distributed 1,000 pieces in less than two hours.
"What's happening here is unbelievable. Although many citizens blamed the noise of vuvuzelas, our office is constantly full of all kinds of people wanting one, from small kids to 95-year-old soccer fans coming here with her caregivers," she said.
"Some people demanded the only example left on show in the window, while some others asked us to teach them how to blow it, because it's not that easy."
According to Italian newspapers, some entrepreneurs in northern Italy started to produce vuvuzelas to make money out of it, as the fever of the "magic trumpets" will extend to the national Championship, the new season of which is to kick off at the end of August.
