There's a new national football squad in town, but no vuvuzelas are needed at Bafunny Bafunny matches; spectators need only bring their sense of humour. The team will be playing away in London later this month before undertaking a gruelling national tour ahead of the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

Bafunny Bafunny is captained by Barry "The Cousin" Hilton, leading Trevor "Delicious" Noah, Nik "Bokkie" Rabinowitz, Loyiso "Laduuuma" Gola, Marc "Long Shot" Lottering, Kagiso "Kaka" Ladiga and John "Die Voël" Vlismas. Mark "Markos Santanos Bankos" Banks is the coach.

They will make history as the first South African comedy production to be staged at London's prestigious Royal Albert Hall, where they play on 20 May.

Despite zero sporting ability, the team will nevertheless keep alive the spirit of the beautiful game at their various tour fixtures.

Their aim is to unite the nation through laughter. As a more serious Vlismas points out: "This comedy show is not at all a mockery of the national Bafana Bafana team. This is just a comedy team doing what they do best - uniting people through laughter."

The show is created by comedy specialists HuntaLive, which has brought to South Africa Chris Rock's No Apologies and Wayne Brady's Making it Up tours.

"Nothing unites an audience like laughter and nothing unites a nation more than the ability to laugh at itself. Bafunny Bafunny celebrates everything South African, and how if funny scored goals, we would win every game," said Sam Hendrikse, the executive producer of HuntaLive.

M-Net and Loaded Smoothies have joined with HuntaLive on the tour.

Hilton says that as the captain of the team, he has the best job. "I make sure that all my players are fit to be on the pitch and produce the best results."

Mario Thompson, the marketing director of Loaded Smoothies, is excited to be part of the team. "As a brand we are super-excited to be the headline sponsor of an event which showcases the very best of comedic talent in the country," he says. "There is a natural synergy between comedy and Loaded Smoothies, an irreverent brand high on nutrition and equally high on fun, with a sense of humour that forbids us from taking ourselves too seriously."

Bafunny Bafunny tour fixtures:

    * Royal Albert Hall, London: 20 May
    * Big Top Arena, Carnival City: 3 June at 8pm
    * Big Top Arena, Carnival City: 4 June at 8pm
    * Big Top Arena, Carnival City: 5 June at 8pm

The team will head to Cape Town and Durban for the next leg of the tour.

Bookings can be made online through Computicket or on 083 915 8000, and tickets are priced from R120 to R200. There are discounts for parties of 10 fans or more. No one under the age of 16 is allowed at the show.

For more information and general funny unsporting behaviour, visit the Bafunny Bafunny website.

City of Johannesburg