I can't believe I am writing this, that I'm giving my time to a ball with a name, but I am, because it is the official match ball of the World Cup. I call the ball Sally but the bods at FIFA call it Jabulani.

It is made by adidas and the word Jabulani means 'to celebrate' in isiZulu and this is, really it is, the 11th edition of the World Cup ball.

I could tell you how the design of the ball came together and how adidas and FIFA spent millions on creating the ball but I won't. I could tell you that to buy the ball you will have to spend £80 or well over $100, but I won't - you can buy it here by the way.

Instead, I'm going to copy what you can find on the FIFA website about the ball - they say it best.

The 11 colours that are present on the Jabulani pay tribute to both football and the country in which Africa’s first-ever FIFA World Cup will be held. They represent a colour for each team player, every official South African language and for each of the 11 South African communities that will welcome the world next year. The design celebrates two of the most important facets of the South African nation - diversity and harmony - as it is these principles that make it such a colourful and welcoming nation.

World Cup 2010 official match ball

It is a ball and it has a name. Millions have been spent on it and players all over the world have tested it and given their opinion. I have no doubt it will do what every other ball in history has done. But, rather than me go on about it, here is the video of the unveiling - yes, a ball got an unveiling and yes, someone even said the ball was going to unify the country.