We’re not suprised that the tortuous vuvuzela horns of the 2010 World Cup are becoming cult objects in Italy, too.
Next time you’re at a game here, you’ll know about it.
According to reports, South Africa’s tourist board in Milan has been giving away the vuvuzelas, which have become so popular that 700 were spirited away in just three hours on Wednesday.
The constant vuvuzela din is proving the bane of television broadcasts around the world, with fans complaining of not being able to hear the match commentary and the BBC turning down the sound.
But down on the street, the vuvuzela is more popular and FIFA has put off any possible ban of the horn at this year’s World Cup.
Meanwhile in Milan, the girls at South Africa House were having difficulty closing the doors to the constant passers-by wanting to get their hands on a vuvuzela.
People had come all the way from Bergamo, 50 minutes by train, just to procure one, while other passersby demanded the only example left on show in the window and others again, more elderly, claimed it was for their grandchildren.
Over at South Africa House in Milan, public order is nearly under threat with online forums organising car pooling to bring friends to where the vuvu is at.
It seems that word-of-mouth in the big cities is still the fastest way to get news around, and we could be putting up with the deafening, monotonous drone at football games in Italy in the future.