From Jabulani to Brazuca!

IAnD Exclusive

Design Blast FIFA 2014           

By Anurag Pandey

Info & Images: Courtesy Adidas

                                                    

Brazuca Vs. Jabulani

Conception of Jabulani or the design of Brazuca?? Know which one’s better...

Football is perhaps the only sport that claims to have the largest number of followers worldwide; with its name coming from the game’s only necessary accessory… the ball itself; which means to say - the better the football, the better the game of football! That’s what Adidas have been trying, being the official football makers for the FIFA World cup 17 times. 

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Now let’s see if the conception of Jabulani -  the official ball for the FIFA World Cup 2010 or the design of Brazuca -  the first ever ball to be named by its fans, is better?  

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Adidas claims to have taken the Brazuca through their most intense testing ever – a two-and-a-half-year program covering Brazil’s diverse seasons, climate and altitude conditions. The Brazuca ball has been tested by over 600 players with extremely positive feedback. Argentina captain Leo Messi says, “My first impression of the ball is that it’s really good. The design is different, with lots of colours. I’ve had the opportunity to test Brazuca and it’s great.” 

Courtesy USA Today

Whereas, the Jabulani was made from eight thermally bonded, three-dimensional panels that were spherically moulded from ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) and thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU); its surface textured with grooves; a technology developed by Adidas called "Grip 'n' Groove" intended to improve the ball's aerodynamics. Developed in partnership with researchers from Loughborough University, UK, the design received considerable academic input. The ball had four triangular design elements on a white background with 11 different colours; the number 11 prominently displayed.   

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Brazuca is a developmental successor to the Adidas Tango 12 series of balls, with the same bladder and carcass but a especially designed surface structure. Made of six thermally bonded polyurethane panels (reduction in the number of panels is claimed to increase the consistency in the ball), the ball weighs 437 grams and has a circumference of 69 centimetres. 

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Brazuca is stated to be more aerodynamic than Jabulani. It is textured to feel more like the Adidas Finale 13, the official UEFA Champions League ball with a multi-colour design to represent Brazil.

Wearing a lab coat to test a ball is not the path to follow; you need to get into the boots, put on the jersey and shoot it through the meadow!!