Milan are reportedly eying new signings following their qualification to the last 16 in the Champions League.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has struggled in the fashion capital of Europe, and Bosnian Edin Dzeko has been reported as a target in recent times.
According to Il Corriere dello Sport, the Rossoneri might not want to spend the required amount to capture the Wolfsburg striker, who is attracting attention from several clubs across Europe.
It is claimed that coach Leonardo would like to make a couple of signings to reinforce the team, and Udinese’s Gokhan Inler is another name linked with il Diavolo.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Serie A : Marino Out, De Biasi In
Udinese have sacked Pasquale Marino and appointed former Brescia and Torino manager Gianni De Biasi as his successor. A poor run of form that saw the Bianconeri endure seven losses in ten league games ensured that they slipped to 14th position going into the New Year. Successive losses to relegation battlers Bologna and Siena did not help Marino either, as the Zebrette are only five points away from the dreaded drop zone. The ...
Serie A Week 17 Highlights
Weather played spoilsport as four games were postponed, but the games that did take place were just as interesting as things have been in recent weeks. Juventus continued their terrible form to lose 2-1 to Catania and make it five losses in six games. The travellers took the lead through a penalty, but the Bianconeri managed to claw their way back into the game and score during the second period through ...
Serie A Week 17 Highlights
Weather played spoilsport as four games were postponed, but the games that did take place were just as interesting as things have been in recent weeks. Juventus continued their terrible form to lose 2-1 to Catania and make it five losses in six games. The travellers took the lead through a penalty, but the Bianconeri managed to claw their way back into the game and score during the second period through ...
Italy 3-2 Cyprus Highlights
Italy won their final match of the World Cup qualifying campaign in a five-goal thriller that saw Alberto Gilardino score a hat-trick. As the Azzurri had already qualified for the biggest event in football, manager Marcello Lippi decided to shuffle things around and experiment with the line-up. But his experiment initially appeared to have gone all wrong, as Ioannis Okkas and Chrysis Michael scored one in each half to send the ...
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Brazil's Roberto Carlos leaves Turkey's Fenerbahce
Brazil's veteran defender Roberto Carlos played his last game with Fenerbahce on Thursday night, helping his team to win a 1-0 victory over Moldova's Sheriff in UEFA Europa League Group (H) match in Istanbul. Team mates gave Carlos a goodbye shower after the match as Fenerbahce fans chanted "I love you Carlos," giving him a standing ovation. Carlos, 36, signed for Fenerbahce from Real Madrid in 2007. He recently revealed that he penned a two-year deal with Corinthians of Sao Paulo. In their last match in group stage, Fenerbahce qualified to the round of 32 as group leaders with 15 points after their fifth straight win in European games. The draw for the second and the third rounds of games in UEFA Europa League is set be made on Friday in Nyon, Switzerland. Fenerbahce's possible opponents for the second and third rounds include Ajax, Lille, Hamburg, Hertha Berlin, Fulham, Panathinaikos, Villarreal, Everton, Club Brugge, FC Kopenhag ve Athletic Club.
Roberto Carlos eyes Real return
MADRID: Brazil defender Roberto Carlos, who is leaving Turkish giants Fenerbahce for Sao Paulo's Corinthians, said he hopes instead to return to Real Madrid to replace the injured Pepe."I am negotiating my December departure from Fenerbahce," he told Spanish sports newspaper Marca on Tuesday.Reports from Turkey last week said Carlos, whose contract with Fenerbahce ends on December 20, had agreed a two-year deal with Corinthians.Corinthians "are interested in me and we have a verbal agreement, but if Real calls me I will go immediately."The 36-year-old arrived at the Turkish club in 2007 after 11 years with Real, which is now seeking a replacement for Pepe, who is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury."My life in football and the club of my heart is Real," Marca quoted Carlos as saying. "It would be a dream to return home to the Bernabeu and help this club win titles."Earlier, Fenerbahce said on their website that the defender had met with club chairman Aziz Yildirim to agree his departure while Hurriyet and Sabah newspapers reported that there would be a small ceremony for Roberto Carlos following Thursday's Europa League match at home to Sheriff of Moldova.
[edit] Native Brazilians and early Portuguese settlers
When arriving in April 1500 in the coast of what would later be known as Brazil, the Portuguese fleet commanded by found the primitive people who inhabited itThey were divided in several distinct tribes, that fought among themselvesand that shared the same linguistic familyThe "men were hunters, fishers and food collectors and the women were encharged of the reduced agricultural activity that was practicedSome of the tribes were nomads and other sedentary; they knew the fire but not metal casting and a few were cannibalsThe settling was effectively initiated in 1534, when King divided the Brazilian territory in twelve hereditary captaincies that would be governed by members of the lesser nobility or proceeding from educated familiesThe experience revealed itself to be an utter disaster, and in 1549 the king assigned a governor-general to administrate the entire colonyAround 1530, the (the same tribe that Cabral metand their bitter enemies the the largest and most important tribes in Brazil, allied themselves with the Portuguese and the French, respectivelyBetween the Portuguese and the Tupiniquim "occurred a certain intermittently pacific inter-racial assimilationWhile the Tupinambás, however, were mostly exterminated in long wars and mainly by European diseases to which they had no immunitiesThe ones that survived were enslaved by other tribes or by the Portuguese or fled toward the countrysideBy the middle of the 16th century, sugar had become the most important item of the Brazilian exportationsThus, the Portuguese turned to other forms of man power to handle with the increasing international Enslaved Africans were imported and became the "basic pillar of the economy" in the most populous areas of the colony
The Golden Era and Pelé (1958 to 1970)
Brazil's coach, , imposed strict rules on the squad for the , held . The players were given a list of forty things that they were not allowed to do, including wearing hats or umbrellas, smoking while wearing official clothing and talking to the press outside of allocated times. They were the only team to bring a (because the memories of 1950 still affected some players) or a (for, because of their humble origins, many players had dental problems, which caused infections and also had negative impact on performance) with them, and had sent a representative to Europe to watch the qualifying matches a year before the tournament began.
Brazil were drawn in the toughest group, , the and . They beat Austria 3–0 in their first match, then drew 0–0 with England. The Brazilians had been worried about their match with the USSR who had exceptional fitness and were one of the favourites to win the tournament; their strategy was to take risks at the beginning of the match to try and score an early goal. Before the match, the leaders of the team, Bellini, Nílton Santos, and Didi, spoke to coach and persuaded him to make three substitutions which were crucial for Brazil to defeat the Soviets and win the Cup: , and would start playing against the USSR. From the kick off, they passed the ball to Garrincha who beat three players before hitting the post with a shot. They kept up the pressure relentlessly, and after three minutes which were later described as "the greatest three minutes in the history of Vavá gave Brazil the lead. They won the match 2–0. Pelé scored the only goal of their quarter-final match against , and they beat 5–2 in the semi-final. Brazil beat the hosts , in the final 5–2, winning their first World Cup and becoming the first nation to win a World Cup title outside of its own continent. A celebrated fact was that Feola would sometimes take naps during training sessions and would sometimes close his eyes during matches, giving the impression that he was asleep. Because of thiswas sometimes said to be the real coach of the team, as he commanded the mid-field.
In the , Brazil got its second title with as the star player; a mantle and responsibility bestowed upon him after regular talisman, was injured during the first group match against Mexico and unable to play for the rest of the tournament.
In the the preparation of the team was affected by political influences. All the major Brazilian clubs wanted their players included in the Brazilian team, to give them more exposure. In the final months of preparation, the coach was working with 46 players, of which only 22 would go to England; this caused lots of internal dispute and psychological pressure. The result was that, in 1966, Brazil had their worst performance in all World Cups. Of course, another perhaps bigger issue, was that Pelé (who may have been at the height of his career) was chopped at seemingly every opportunity in the group matches.
Brazil won its third World Cup in Mexico in the . Brazil fielded what has been considered to be the best football squad ever, led by Pelé in his last World Cup final, captain and . After winning the for the third time Brazil were allowed to keep it for good.
Brazil were drawn in the toughest group, , the and . They beat Austria 3–0 in their first match, then drew 0–0 with England. The Brazilians had been worried about their match with the USSR who had exceptional fitness and were one of the favourites to win the tournament; their strategy was to take risks at the beginning of the match to try and score an early goal. Before the match, the leaders of the team, Bellini, Nílton Santos, and Didi, spoke to coach and persuaded him to make three substitutions which were crucial for Brazil to defeat the Soviets and win the Cup: , and would start playing against the USSR. From the kick off, they passed the ball to Garrincha who beat three players before hitting the post with a shot. They kept up the pressure relentlessly, and after three minutes which were later described as "the greatest three minutes in the history of Vavá gave Brazil the lead. They won the match 2–0. Pelé scored the only goal of their quarter-final match against , and they beat 5–2 in the semi-final. Brazil beat the hosts , in the final 5–2, winning their first World Cup and becoming the first nation to win a World Cup title outside of its own continent. A celebrated fact was that Feola would sometimes take naps during training sessions and would sometimes close his eyes during matches, giving the impression that he was asleep. Because of thiswas sometimes said to be the real coach of the team, as he commanded the mid-field.
In the , Brazil got its second title with as the star player; a mantle and responsibility bestowed upon him after regular talisman, was injured during the first group match against Mexico and unable to play for the rest of the tournament.
In the the preparation of the team was affected by political influences. All the major Brazilian clubs wanted their players included in the Brazilian team, to give them more exposure. In the final months of preparation, the coach was working with 46 players, of which only 22 would go to England; this caused lots of internal dispute and psychological pressure. The result was that, in 1966, Brazil had their worst performance in all World Cups. Of course, another perhaps bigger issue, was that Pelé (who may have been at the height of his career) was chopped at seemingly every opportunity in the group matches.
Brazil won its third World Cup in Mexico in the . Brazil fielded what has been considered to be the best football squad ever, led by Pelé in his last World Cup final, captain and . After winning the for the third time Brazil were allowed to keep it for good.
2002 World Cup
Fuelled by the scintillating play of the "Three R's" (Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Ronaldinho), Brazil won its fifth championship at the 2002 FIFA World Cup held in South Korea and Japan. When the groups were drawn, Brazil seemed to have been lucky; Their adversaries would be Turkey, China and Costa Rica. At the end, it turned out that Turkey finished the tournament in third place. Brazil went on beating all three opponents, scoring 11 goals and conceding only three, and topping the group.
In Brazil's opening game against Turkey, Rivaldo fell to the ground clutching his face after Turkey's Hakan Ünsal had kicked the ball at his legs. Hakan Ünsal, who had already been booked, was sent off while Rivaldo jumped to his feet and continued playing. Rivaldo escaped suspension but was fined £5,180 for play-acting, he became the first player to be punished in FIFA's crackdown on "simulation" and "diving".
Next they defeated Belgium 2–0, in the most difficult match for Brazil in the tournament. Against England in the quarter finals, Brazil won 2–1. Ronaldinho scored the winner with a remarkable lofted free kick and also assisted teammate Rivaldo for their first goal, but was sent off for stamping on the right ankle of England's Danny Mills. The semifinal was against Turkey, which Brazil had faced in their group. Again, this match was difficult, as Brazil won 1–0 with a goal by Ronaldo. Rivaldo had scored one goal each in all five game up to this one but did not manage to hit the target in the sixth. He had seemed all set to repeat Jairzinho´s great achievement in 1970 when he scored in every game of the World Cup.
The final was between two of the most successful teams in the competition's history: Germany and Brazil. Incredibly, the teams had never played each other in the World Cup before, besides a match between Brazil and East Germany in the 1974 FIFA World Cup. German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn had been the tournament's best keeper, but could not maintain that level of play, as Ronaldo vanquished his France '98 demons, scoring both goals in the Brazilian 2–0 triumph.[19]
In Brazil's opening game against Turkey, Rivaldo fell to the ground clutching his face after Turkey's Hakan Ünsal had kicked the ball at his legs. Hakan Ünsal, who had already been booked, was sent off while Rivaldo jumped to his feet and continued playing. Rivaldo escaped suspension but was fined £5,180 for play-acting, he became the first player to be punished in FIFA's crackdown on "simulation" and "diving".
Next they defeated Belgium 2–0, in the most difficult match for Brazil in the tournament. Against England in the quarter finals, Brazil won 2–1. Ronaldinho scored the winner with a remarkable lofted free kick and also assisted teammate Rivaldo for their first goal, but was sent off for stamping on the right ankle of England's Danny Mills. The semifinal was against Turkey, which Brazil had faced in their group. Again, this match was difficult, as Brazil won 1–0 with a goal by Ronaldo. Rivaldo had scored one goal each in all five game up to this one but did not manage to hit the target in the sixth. He had seemed all set to repeat Jairzinho´s great achievement in 1970 when he scored in every game of the World Cup.
The final was between two of the most successful teams in the competition's history: Germany and Brazil. Incredibly, the teams had never played each other in the World Cup before, besides a match between Brazil and East Germany in the 1974 FIFA World Cup. German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn had been the tournament's best keeper, but could not maintain that level of play, as Ronaldo vanquished his France '98 demons, scoring both goals in the Brazilian 2–0 triumph.[19]
1994 World Cup
Brazil, to the surprise of many, went 24 years without winning a World Cup or even participating in a final. Their struggles ended at the in the United States, where a solid, if unspectacular side headed by the likes of , and won the World Cup for a then-record 4th time. Highlights of their campaign included a 1–0 victory over the hosts in the round of 16, a sensational 3–2 win over the Dutch in the quarter-finals (often cited as the game of the tournament) and a 1–0 win over the Swedes in the semis. This set up a classic confrontation, Brazil vs. Italy, in the final. After a dour and unexciting 0–0 draw, penalty kicks loomed, and when lifted his spot kick over the crossbar, Brazil were champions once again. A new era of dominance had begun.
Brazilion Football Culture
Football quickly became a passion for Brazilians, who often refer to their country as "o país do futebol" ("the country of football"). Over 10,000 Brazilians play professionally all over the world.[5]
Football has a major effect on Brazilian culture. It is the favorite pastime of youngsters playing football on streets. The World Cup draws Brazilians together, with people skipping work to view the national team play, or employers setting up apparatus for employees to watch. The general elections are usually held in the same year as the World Cup, and critics argue that political parties try to take advantage of the nationalistic surge created by football and bring it into politics. Former footballers are often elected to legislative positions.
One unique aspect of football in Brazil is the importance of the Brazilian state championships. For much of the early development of the game in Brazil, the nation's size and the lack of rapid transport made national competitions infeasible, so the competition centered on state tournaments and such inter-state competitions as the Torneio Rio-São Paulo. Even today, despite the existence of a national tournament, the state tournaments continue to be hotly contested and the intrastate rivalries remain intense.
Football has a major effect on Brazilian culture. It is the favorite pastime of youngsters playing football on streets. The World Cup draws Brazilians together, with people skipping work to view the national team play, or employers setting up apparatus for employees to watch. The general elections are usually held in the same year as the World Cup, and critics argue that political parties try to take advantage of the nationalistic surge created by football and bring it into politics. Former footballers are often elected to legislative positions.
One unique aspect of football in Brazil is the importance of the Brazilian state championships. For much of the early development of the game in Brazil, the nation's size and the lack of rapid transport made national competitions infeasible, so the competition centered on state tournaments and such inter-state competitions as the Torneio Rio-São Paulo. Even today, despite the existence of a national tournament, the state tournaments continue to be hotly contested and the intrastate rivalries remain intense.
Football in Brazil
Association football is the prominent sport in Brazil. The National Team has won the FIFA World Cup tournament a record five times, in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002 [1] and is the only team to succeed in qualifying for every World Cup competition ever held, and to be among the favorites to win the trophy every time the competition is scheduled. Pelé, one of the most recognized footballers in history, led Brazil to three of those championships and is the top scorer of all time in the sport. After Brazil won its third World Cup, they kept the Jules Rimet Trophy permanently. All of the contemporary talents in the national team prominent in the football world include Robinho, Marta, Ronaldinho, Kaká. Some of these players can be considered super-stars, achieving celebrity status internationally and signing sports contracts, as well as advertisement and endorsement contracts, in the value of millions of euros.
The governing body of football in Brazil is the Brazilian Football Confederation.
The governing body of football in Brazil is the Brazilian Football Confederation.
Akhil Cup Football: Shankar Dev & Sann Triumph
Kathmandu-Shankar Dev, Sann International College and Nepal Rastriya Higher Secondary School won their respective matches of the Akhil Cup Inter-college Football Tournament here on Kathmandu Wednesday.
Bikash Sapkota scored as Shankar Dev thrashed Tri Chandra College by 1-0. Sann International defeated Nobel Academy 3-2 in the tie breakers after both teams played 1-1 draw during the regular 70 minutes and 15 minutes of additional time. Dev Chandra Thapa scored the decider as Nepal Rastriya beat Little Angels School 1-0.
Bikash Sapkota scored as Shankar Dev thrashed Tri Chandra College by 1-0. Sann International defeated Nobel Academy 3-2 in the tie breakers after both teams played 1-1 draw during the regular 70 minutes and 15 minutes of additional time. Dev Chandra Thapa scored the decider as Nepal Rastriya beat Little Angels School 1-0.
3rd Balram KC Memorial Football: Valley Sports entered final
Kathmandu-Valley Sports Club has advanced to the final of 3rd Balram KC Memorial District Wide Inter Club Football Tournament on Friday.
In the first semifinal played at Pokhara Stadium, Valley registered a crucial 2-1 victory against Damp Side Youth Club. Sunil Subedi and Gambhir Pariyar each scored one for Valley in the 35th and 72nd minute respectively. Earlier, Damp Side took worthless lead in the 12th minute through a goal by Binod Thapa.
In the first semifinal played at Pokhara Stadium, Valley registered a crucial 2-1 victory against Damp Side Youth Club. Sunil Subedi and Gambhir Pariyar each scored one for Valley in the 35th and 72nd minute respectively. Earlier, Damp Side took worthless lead in the 12th minute through a goal by Binod Thapa.
Anil Gurung Scores as Shillong Lajong wins
Kathmandu-Anil Gurung displayed an excellent game as his club Shillong Lajong Football Club (SLFC) defeated giant Dempo 2-1 in Federation Cup Football Tournament being held in Guwahati, India, today.it was the first goal of Anil for Shilong who has been playing for two months in the club.
British Gurkha Cup: 10 Men BUC holds Three Star
Kathmandu-Ten Men Boys Union Club (BUC) holds Nabil Three Star Club by 1-1 in the second match of group B during their clashes at British Gurkha Cup Football Tournament being held at Dasrath Stadium today.
Despite an early lead, Three Star was compelled to share the points after an unbelievable draw. Santosh Shaukhala scored in the 3rd minute of the game to give an early lead to Three Star. It was the fastest goal of the tournament. He netted collecting a long cross by Anjan KC from lest side. Shuvam Shrestha equalized in the 20th minute as Three Star players were shouting and appealing for foul claming the ball was collected from outside of the goal line. A great dispute which was raised due to this reason was not solved even at the end of the match.
Substitute Pravin Karki was shown a straight red card as he punched the lines man after the final blow of whistle.Sudip Limbu of BUC was sent off as he received his second yellow in the 71st minute.
Despite an early lead, Three Star was compelled to share the points after an unbelievable draw. Santosh Shaukhala scored in the 3rd minute of the game to give an early lead to Three Star. It was the fastest goal of the tournament. He netted collecting a long cross by Anjan KC from lest side. Shuvam Shrestha equalized in the 20th minute as Three Star players were shouting and appealing for foul claming the ball was collected from outside of the goal line. A great dispute which was raised due to this reason was not solved even at the end of the match.
Substitute Pravin Karki was shown a straight red card as he punched the lines man after the final blow of whistle.Sudip Limbu of BUC was sent off as he received his second yellow in the 71st minute.
British Gurkha Cup-Three Players Complete hat tricks as RCT Thrashed Mid & Far West XI
Kathmandu- Annapurna Club (RCT) thrashed Mid & Far West XI by 10-2 in the first match of the group B of British Gurkha cup Football Tournament being held here today.
In the first match played at Dasrath Stadium today, three players viz Yogesh Gurung, Rishi Rai and Deepak Rai completed their hat tricks to give an easy win for RCT.
Yogesh Gurung scored in the 10th minute to give an early lead to RCT. He collected a short pass by Rishi Rai and converted it to goal. After six minutes of the goal Yogesh doubled the lead. Deepak Rai struck in 22, 31 and 45 minute and completed the first hat trick of the tournament being organized by All Nepal Football Association (ANFA).
RCT ended the first half with a lead of 5-0. RCT was still searching some more goals. Now it was Rishi's turn to complete a very fast hat trick. He scored in 70, 71 and 73 minute to be the fastest scorer.
Depak Rai scored his fourth goal in the 72nd minute followed by Yogesh's 3rd goal in the 78th minute. Manoj Sunar from the combine team scored twice in the 65th and 74th minute to lessen the goal difference.
In the first match played at Dasrath Stadium today, three players viz Yogesh Gurung, Rishi Rai and Deepak Rai completed their hat tricks to give an easy win for RCT.
Yogesh Gurung scored in the 10th minute to give an early lead to RCT. He collected a short pass by Rishi Rai and converted it to goal. After six minutes of the goal Yogesh doubled the lead. Deepak Rai struck in 22, 31 and 45 minute and completed the first hat trick of the tournament being organized by All Nepal Football Association (ANFA).
RCT ended the first half with a lead of 5-0. RCT was still searching some more goals. Now it was Rishi's turn to complete a very fast hat trick. He scored in 70, 71 and 73 minute to be the fastest scorer.
Depak Rai scored his fourth goal in the 72nd minute followed by Yogesh's 3rd goal in the 78th minute. Manoj Sunar from the combine team scored twice in the 65th and 74th minute to lessen the goal difference.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
2009 Indian Premier League
What a turnaround the 2009 DLF Indian Premier League brought from the first year of the 20-overs-a-side cricket extravaganza. The final featured the two teams that propped up the table in 2008, and the tournament flourished – not in India but in South Africa!
The most lucrative cricket tournament in the world was moved to South Africa after the Indian government conceded that it was unable to guarantee security in that country, due to elections taking place in India at the time, and following a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan national team in neighbouring Pakistan in March.
The tournament took place in six cities across South Africa from 18 April to 24 May, with the Deccan Chargers, the "cellar dwellers" in 2008, holding off the Royal Challengers Bangalore to win the final by six runs at a packed Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
The story of the 2009 IPL, however, was the incredible success of an event that was moved to South Africa from India only three weeks before it was due to begin. The sold-out grounds heaved, buzzed and roared to the glitz and glamour of the IPL and its massive Bollywood connections, with teams featuring the cream of the world's cricketers.
The most lucrative cricket tournament in the world was moved to South Africa after the Indian government conceded that it was unable to guarantee security in that country, due to elections taking place in India at the time, and following a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan national team in neighbouring Pakistan in March.
The tournament took place in six cities across South Africa from 18 April to 24 May, with the Deccan Chargers, the "cellar dwellers" in 2008, holding off the Royal Challengers Bangalore to win the final by six runs at a packed Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
The story of the 2009 IPL, however, was the incredible success of an event that was moved to South Africa from India only three weeks before it was due to begin. The sold-out grounds heaved, buzzed and roared to the glitz and glamour of the IPL and its massive Bollywood connections, with teams featuring the cream of the world's cricketers.
SA's Presidents Cup flows over
The 2003 Presidents Cup has been rated as one of the best-organised - and most exciting - golfing events ever.
Jack Nicklaus, winner of 18 majors and captain of the United States Presidents Cup team, said at the conclusion of the competition at Fancourt near George that he had never experienced anything as enthralling as the battle between the USA and the International Team to land the trophy.
"It's the most unbelievable event the game of golf has ever seen," he said.
Jack Warfield, vice-president of championship operations for the PGA Tour, told The Star newspaper that the level of organisation at the event was "second to none. The event was truly world-class, and rates with the best I have ever seen.
"It has proved beyond doubt that South Africa is perfectly capable of staging huge golf tournaments", Warfield said.
Hollywood scriptwriters would have been sent packing had they come up with the story that unfolded on The Links course over four wonderful days of world-class golf and fantastic sportsmanship. It wouldn't have been believable.
Leads change handsOn the first day it appeared that the Americans would go into the second day with a lead, maybe as big as five-one ahead. But the Internationals stormed back, dominating the final holes to snatch an unlikely advantage of 3½ to 2½.
On the second day, though, Nicklaus' team got it all together and surged past the International team. In the morning four-ball action they won three matches to the two of the Internationals, but in the afternoon foursomes the real move came as the Americans won four of five contests to move three points clear of their opponents.
It seemed that the powerful American line-up would run away with the title, but no one told the International Team that - they stormed back into the lead with a devastating performance in the four balls, winning six out of six matches as the USA was swept for the first time ever.
That left only the singles to be played, with Nicklaus and co needing to pull something out of the hat to get close to Gary Player's team. Making it all the more exciting was that South African favourite Ernie Els had been in fine form throughout the event, and had by that time established himself as the only unbeaten player.
Nicklaus and Player gave the spectators the showdown they wanted when they pitted Tiger Woods against South Africa's number one.
One on oneAn incredible story unfolded as the USA started reeling in the Internationals, eating away at the deficit. In a clash of two major winners, US Open winner Jim Furyk saw off US Masters champion Mike Weir three-and-one to get the Americans moving.
Jerry Kelly nipped South Africa's Tim Clark one-up in a back-and-forth match. Then Kenny Perry defeated Nick Price one-up as the normally calm Zimbabwean - truly one of the nicest men in the game - broke his putter over his knee on the final hole as his putt to halve the match just failed to drop.
It was an action indicative of the close-fought nature of the competition and the tension it engendered.
KJ Choi, though, pulled one back for the Internationals with a convincing four-and-two win over Justin Leonard, who had been responsible for some outstanding putting on the testing greens earlier in the competition.
Unfortunately for young Adam Scott of the International Team, he came out with a cold putter against Charles Howell III and was well beaten, going down five-and-four. Jay Haas then put in a storming back nine to race away from Stephen Leaney, clinching a four-and-three win for the Americans.
Down to the wireRetief Goosen, though, took charge of his match against Phil Mickelson on the back nine, eventually triumphing two-and-one to leave the big hitting left-hander without a point in the Presidents Cup in 2003.
Big Peter Lonard backed up the South African star's fine effort by trouncing Fred Funk four-and-three.
In a terribly tight battle, Chris Di Marco edged Stuart Appleby one-up before Vijay Singh drew blood for Player and co with a four-and-three success against David Toms.
The contest between Els and Woods, meanwhile, had fizzled out. Els took a lead on the first hole, but five holes into the match, Woods took the lead for good, eventually claiming a four-and-three win.
So it all came down to the match between Davis Love III and Robert Allenby. Heading into the final hole, the American was one-up and needed only to halve the 18th to secure the title for the USA. Unbelievably, Allenby snatched the hole to leave the two men all square and the contest tied at 17 points all. Both sides were just a half-point shy of victory.
Sudden deathThat meant a sudden death playoff had to take place, and again it was Ernie versus Tiger as Els and Woods took to the course again, with the pressure rising.
They started on the 18th. Both players managed par fives – Els with a testing putt - and so the contest moved on to the first hole. With all eyes on them and everything on the line, Woods and Els responded with fine pressure putts again, and so it continued on to the third playoff hole, the nasty second that is fortified by a collection of tough bunkers.
Again, with incredible tension in the air, the two golf stars responded like the great gladiators they are by sinking tough putts.
Then, both captains, Player and Nicklaus, said the playoff couldn't continue because the light had faded too much and neither Woods nor Els could read the grain of the greens.
No losersThere followed a period of consulting between the two captains, the two teams, a discussion with PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem and, when it was all over, the two legends, Player and Nicklaus, showed just why they are so revered around the world.
Showing great respect for the game of golf, for each other, for their teams and their opponents, they agreed to share the trophy in a heart-warming decision - even though, as defending champions, the USA should have kept the trophy.
As both men said: neither team deserved to lose.
"I want to thank them for the way they have played the game here", said South African President Thabo Mbeki, who followed US Presidents Gerald Ford, George Bush and Bill Clinton and Australian Prime Minister John Howard in playing the role of honorary chairman of the Presidents Cup.
"The rules state that the defending champions hold the cup in the event of a draw, but theirs was an act of pure sportsmanship when they decided to share the Cup with us", Mbeki said.
That magnanmous gesture brought the curtain down on a spectacular competition. It started with the captains and it worked its way down through their players to the spectators, and the event went off in the very finest traditions of the game.
Hollywood scriptwriters couldn't have penned it better than this one.
The Presidents Cup has now been contested on five occasions, with the United States winning three times. The last meeting resulted in a 21½ to 10½ victory for the USA.
Jack Nicklaus, winner of 18 majors and captain of the United States Presidents Cup team, said at the conclusion of the competition at Fancourt near George that he had never experienced anything as enthralling as the battle between the USA and the International Team to land the trophy.
"It's the most unbelievable event the game of golf has ever seen," he said.
Jack Warfield, vice-president of championship operations for the PGA Tour, told The Star newspaper that the level of organisation at the event was "second to none. The event was truly world-class, and rates with the best I have ever seen.
"It has proved beyond doubt that South Africa is perfectly capable of staging huge golf tournaments", Warfield said.
Hollywood scriptwriters would have been sent packing had they come up with the story that unfolded on The Links course over four wonderful days of world-class golf and fantastic sportsmanship. It wouldn't have been believable.
Leads change handsOn the first day it appeared that the Americans would go into the second day with a lead, maybe as big as five-one ahead. But the Internationals stormed back, dominating the final holes to snatch an unlikely advantage of 3½ to 2½.
On the second day, though, Nicklaus' team got it all together and surged past the International team. In the morning four-ball action they won three matches to the two of the Internationals, but in the afternoon foursomes the real move came as the Americans won four of five contests to move three points clear of their opponents.
It seemed that the powerful American line-up would run away with the title, but no one told the International Team that - they stormed back into the lead with a devastating performance in the four balls, winning six out of six matches as the USA was swept for the first time ever.
That left only the singles to be played, with Nicklaus and co needing to pull something out of the hat to get close to Gary Player's team. Making it all the more exciting was that South African favourite Ernie Els had been in fine form throughout the event, and had by that time established himself as the only unbeaten player.
Nicklaus and Player gave the spectators the showdown they wanted when they pitted Tiger Woods against South Africa's number one.
One on oneAn incredible story unfolded as the USA started reeling in the Internationals, eating away at the deficit. In a clash of two major winners, US Open winner Jim Furyk saw off US Masters champion Mike Weir three-and-one to get the Americans moving.
Jerry Kelly nipped South Africa's Tim Clark one-up in a back-and-forth match. Then Kenny Perry defeated Nick Price one-up as the normally calm Zimbabwean - truly one of the nicest men in the game - broke his putter over his knee on the final hole as his putt to halve the match just failed to drop.
It was an action indicative of the close-fought nature of the competition and the tension it engendered.
KJ Choi, though, pulled one back for the Internationals with a convincing four-and-two win over Justin Leonard, who had been responsible for some outstanding putting on the testing greens earlier in the competition.
Unfortunately for young Adam Scott of the International Team, he came out with a cold putter against Charles Howell III and was well beaten, going down five-and-four. Jay Haas then put in a storming back nine to race away from Stephen Leaney, clinching a four-and-three win for the Americans.
Down to the wireRetief Goosen, though, took charge of his match against Phil Mickelson on the back nine, eventually triumphing two-and-one to leave the big hitting left-hander without a point in the Presidents Cup in 2003.
Big Peter Lonard backed up the South African star's fine effort by trouncing Fred Funk four-and-three.
In a terribly tight battle, Chris Di Marco edged Stuart Appleby one-up before Vijay Singh drew blood for Player and co with a four-and-three success against David Toms.
The contest between Els and Woods, meanwhile, had fizzled out. Els took a lead on the first hole, but five holes into the match, Woods took the lead for good, eventually claiming a four-and-three win.
So it all came down to the match between Davis Love III and Robert Allenby. Heading into the final hole, the American was one-up and needed only to halve the 18th to secure the title for the USA. Unbelievably, Allenby snatched the hole to leave the two men all square and the contest tied at 17 points all. Both sides were just a half-point shy of victory.
Sudden deathThat meant a sudden death playoff had to take place, and again it was Ernie versus Tiger as Els and Woods took to the course again, with the pressure rising.
They started on the 18th. Both players managed par fives – Els with a testing putt - and so the contest moved on to the first hole. With all eyes on them and everything on the line, Woods and Els responded with fine pressure putts again, and so it continued on to the third playoff hole, the nasty second that is fortified by a collection of tough bunkers.
Again, with incredible tension in the air, the two golf stars responded like the great gladiators they are by sinking tough putts.
Then, both captains, Player and Nicklaus, said the playoff couldn't continue because the light had faded too much and neither Woods nor Els could read the grain of the greens.
No losersThere followed a period of consulting between the two captains, the two teams, a discussion with PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem and, when it was all over, the two legends, Player and Nicklaus, showed just why they are so revered around the world.
Showing great respect for the game of golf, for each other, for their teams and their opponents, they agreed to share the trophy in a heart-warming decision - even though, as defending champions, the USA should have kept the trophy.
As both men said: neither team deserved to lose.
"I want to thank them for the way they have played the game here", said South African President Thabo Mbeki, who followed US Presidents Gerald Ford, George Bush and Bill Clinton and Australian Prime Minister John Howard in playing the role of honorary chairman of the Presidents Cup.
"The rules state that the defending champions hold the cup in the event of a draw, but theirs was an act of pure sportsmanship when they decided to share the Cup with us", Mbeki said.
That magnanmous gesture brought the curtain down on a spectacular competition. It started with the captains and it worked its way down through their players to the spectators, and the event went off in the very finest traditions of the game.
Hollywood scriptwriters couldn't have penned it better than this one.
The Presidents Cup has now been contested on five occasions, with the United States winning three times. The last meeting resulted in a 21½ to 10½ victory for the USA.
The Halfway Telkom Midmar Mile
South Africa is also home to the world's largest swimming event, the Midmar Mile. The number of entries has rapidly accelerated well past the 10 000 mark, topping 16 000 by 2003. It is so popular that it is now swum over two days.
Former winners include some big names in the world of swimming, such as Ryk Neethling, a previous winner of the FINA World Cup swimming series and an Olympic gold medal winner in the 4 by 100 freestyle relay, as well as Germany's Jorg Hoffman, a former world champion over 400 metres and 1 500 metres, and Terence Parkin, the winner of silver in the 200 metres breaststroke at the Sydney Olympics.
Johannesburg-born Keri-Anne Payne, a four-time winner of the women's race, finished second in the 10-kilometre open water swim in Beijing.
Sam Greetham attended the Midmar Mile in 2005, when the entry was 17 050 swimmers, as a member of swimming world governing body FINA's open water swimming technical committee. He was blown away.
"Nothing I have seen comes anywhere near the Midmar Mile", Greetham said. "Both in terms of the number of participants, tip-top organisation, security and safety aspects, and the interaction between the participants and the public."
Greetham helped design the 10 kilometre open water course for the Beijing Olympics, and he will also design the course for the 2012 Olympics in London.
His view was echoed by German star Nadine Pastor, the runner-up in 2009, who reckoned: Honestly," she said, "I've never seen anything like it: the number of swimmers, the crowds, the organisation, and the beautiful setting."
Former winners include some big names in the world of swimming, such as Ryk Neethling, a previous winner of the FINA World Cup swimming series and an Olympic gold medal winner in the 4 by 100 freestyle relay, as well as Germany's Jorg Hoffman, a former world champion over 400 metres and 1 500 metres, and Terence Parkin, the winner of silver in the 200 metres breaststroke at the Sydney Olympics.
Johannesburg-born Keri-Anne Payne, a four-time winner of the women's race, finished second in the 10-kilometre open water swim in Beijing.
Sam Greetham attended the Midmar Mile in 2005, when the entry was 17 050 swimmers, as a member of swimming world governing body FINA's open water swimming technical committee. He was blown away.
"Nothing I have seen comes anywhere near the Midmar Mile", Greetham said. "Both in terms of the number of participants, tip-top organisation, security and safety aspects, and the interaction between the participants and the public."
Greetham helped design the 10 kilometre open water course for the Beijing Olympics, and he will also design the course for the 2012 Olympics in London.
His view was echoed by German star Nadine Pastor, the runner-up in 2009, who reckoned: Honestly," she said, "I've never seen anything like it: the number of swimmers, the crowds, the organisation, and the beautiful setting."
The Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour
Cycling is a very well supported family-oriented sport, and South Africa boasts the world's largest individually time event, the Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour.
Like the Two Oceans Marathon, it is raced around the Cape Peninsula. In recent years it has drawn an increasing number of overseas cyclists, and it forms part of the International Cycling Union's prestigious Golden Bike Series.
The event also forms part of the Giro Del Capo, a professional tour event, which ends with the Cycle Tour, thus drawing professional teams from South Africa and from abroad.
Robbie Hunter, the first South African to win a stage of the Tour de France, the most famous cycle race in the world, has won the Cycle Tour on a number of occasions.
The Laureus Foundation has used the Cycle Tour to raise funds for sport in South Africa, drawing big names to help boost the profile of the event, including Miguel Indurain, a five-time winner of the Tour de France, and rugby legend Hugo Porta.
Overseas interest in the race continues to grow and in 2006 it topped 2 000 entrants for the first time, including competitors from Africa, North America, South America, Asia, Australasia, the Middle East, Europe, and the United Kingdom.
Like the Two Oceans Marathon, it is raced around the Cape Peninsula. In recent years it has drawn an increasing number of overseas cyclists, and it forms part of the International Cycling Union's prestigious Golden Bike Series.
The event also forms part of the Giro Del Capo, a professional tour event, which ends with the Cycle Tour, thus drawing professional teams from South Africa and from abroad.
Robbie Hunter, the first South African to win a stage of the Tour de France, the most famous cycle race in the world, has won the Cycle Tour on a number of occasions.
The Laureus Foundation has used the Cycle Tour to raise funds for sport in South Africa, drawing big names to help boost the profile of the event, including Miguel Indurain, a five-time winner of the Tour de France, and rugby legend Hugo Porta.
Overseas interest in the race continues to grow and in 2006 it topped 2 000 entrants for the first time, including competitors from Africa, North America, South America, Asia, Australasia, the Middle East, Europe, and the United Kingdom.
The Comrades Marathon
The Comrades Marathon is run annually between the capital of Kwazulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, and the balmy coastal city of Durban. The distance can vary slightly from year to year, but it usually is in the region of 90 kilometres.
The race attracts approximately 13 000 runners, and the route is lined by great numbers of cheering supporters. The biggest entry in the history of the Comrades Marathon occurred in 2000, when the race celebrated its 75th anniversary. An extra hour was allowed for bronze medal finishers to celebrate the milestone and the public responded in incredible fashion with the field topping out at 23 961.
Since the introduction of prize money, the Comrades has also drawn some of the world's top ultra-distance athletes. The undoubted King of the Comrades, though, is South Africa's Bruce Fordyce, who won the grueling race an astounding nine times between 1981 and 1990.
In recent times, runners from overseas have also claimed their share of victories, including Vladimir Kotov winning the up run for Durban to Pietermaritzburg three times in succession, but no one has managed in any way to duplicate the successes of Fordyce in both directions.
The popularity of the Comrades is based largely on some dramatic finishes over the years. But it is not the race for the title that provides the drama as much as the struggle for the also-rans, right at the end of the race, to cross the finish line before the cutoff gun sounds for medals.
Special mention should be made of Isavel Roche-Kelly, who became the first woman to win a silver medal in 1980. More than that, however, she also won the Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour in 1984, making her the only woman to achieve the unique double of victories in the Comrades and the Cycle Tour.
The race attracts approximately 13 000 runners, and the route is lined by great numbers of cheering supporters. The biggest entry in the history of the Comrades Marathon occurred in 2000, when the race celebrated its 75th anniversary. An extra hour was allowed for bronze medal finishers to celebrate the milestone and the public responded in incredible fashion with the field topping out at 23 961.
Since the introduction of prize money, the Comrades has also drawn some of the world's top ultra-distance athletes. The undoubted King of the Comrades, though, is South Africa's Bruce Fordyce, who won the grueling race an astounding nine times between 1981 and 1990.
In recent times, runners from overseas have also claimed their share of victories, including Vladimir Kotov winning the up run for Durban to Pietermaritzburg three times in succession, but no one has managed in any way to duplicate the successes of Fordyce in both directions.
The popularity of the Comrades is based largely on some dramatic finishes over the years. But it is not the race for the title that provides the drama as much as the struggle for the also-rans, right at the end of the race, to cross the finish line before the cutoff gun sounds for medals.
Special mention should be made of Isavel Roche-Kelly, who became the first woman to win a silver medal in 1980. More than that, however, she also won the Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour in 1984, making her the only woman to achieve the unique double of victories in the Comrades and the Cycle Tour.
SA's endurance sport love affair
It's no wonder that South Africans love long-distance challenges - the country's climate and contrasting landscape is ideal for endurance sport activities. Whether on land or in water, South Africans love testing their endurance ability and an ever-increasing number of people from overseas have discovered the fantastic events the country has to offer and are participating in them.
Learn about some of the challenges that South Africans hold dear. Among them are a good number of world leading events:
ON FOOT
Endurance running, which is widely supported throughout South Africa is a discipline ideally suited to the country's varied and beautiful landscape. It is highlighted by two ultra-marathons, both of them world-renowned events.
Learn about some of the challenges that South Africans hold dear. Among them are a good number of world leading events:
ON FOOT
Endurance running, which is widely supported throughout South Africa is a discipline ideally suited to the country's varied and beautiful landscape. It is highlighted by two ultra-marathons, both of them world-renowned events.
South African golf: a success story
South Africa has the weather, the courses ... and the players. The country has produced some of the best in the game, including multiple major winners Bobby Locke, Gary Player, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, and a host of others that regularly challenge for titles around the world.
Gary Player, a nine-time major winner, will forever be associated with two of the greatest players in the history of the game, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Together, those three took golf to another level, pulling millions of new fans to the game with their great battles down the years.
Player's career is an astounding catalogue of successes, with 163 career victories, far more than either Nicklaus or Palmer managed. Player is also probably the most travelled athlete in the history of sport, having flown in excess of 17.5-million kilometres during his career!
Ernie Els is undoubtedly one of the most popular golfers in the world. He is also one of the best. His apparently easy-going demeanour has earned him the nickname "The Big Easy", although Els says that perception is not quite right; he admits to feeling big pressure, just like everyone else.
Another reason for his nickname is the beautiful, lazy-looking swing that somehow propels the ball over 300 metres down the fairway.
Els is regularly one of the top money-winners on both the European and US PGA Tours, but he also plays in Australia and South Africa, and sometimes in Asia.
Gary Player, a nine-time major winner, will forever be associated with two of the greatest players in the history of the game, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Together, those three took golf to another level, pulling millions of new fans to the game with their great battles down the years.
Player's career is an astounding catalogue of successes, with 163 career victories, far more than either Nicklaus or Palmer managed. Player is also probably the most travelled athlete in the history of sport, having flown in excess of 17.5-million kilometres during his career!
Ernie Els is undoubtedly one of the most popular golfers in the world. He is also one of the best. His apparently easy-going demeanour has earned him the nickname "The Big Easy", although Els says that perception is not quite right; he admits to feeling big pressure, just like everyone else.
Another reason for his nickname is the beautiful, lazy-looking swing that somehow propels the ball over 300 metres down the fairway.
Els is regularly one of the top money-winners on both the European and US PGA Tours, but he also plays in Australia and South Africa, and sometimes in Asia.
World Cup success
The Els-Goosen pair won the World Cup of Golf for South Africa in 2001, but more recently it was another South African pair that did the trick. Rory Sabbatini and Trevor Immelman won at Kiawah Island in 2003 to give the country two victories in the last three times the competition has been held. The $700 000 they each pocketed couldn't have hurt, either.
In 2003, Tim Clark also showed the strength of South African golf with a third-place finish in the US PGA. Later in the year he joined Els and Goosen in the International Team for the . In a wonderful contest and a great advertisement for the game, he helped the Internationals to a memorable tie against the USA at Fancourt near George.
Trevor Immelman stunned the golf world in 2008 when, just four months after having a tumour removed, he captured the US Masters title in convincing fashion. It was a stunning turnaround of his fortunes and it meant he had emulated his hero, Gary Player.
A very healthy local tour, known as the Sunshine Tour, that also co-hosts a few events with the European PGA, ensures that South Africa continues to produce the golfing goods. Over the years it has attracted some of the world's top golfers, often early on in their careers.
South Africa has the weather, it has the courses, and it has the talented players too.
In 2003, Tim Clark also showed the strength of South African golf with a third-place finish in the US PGA. Later in the year he joined Els and Goosen in the International Team for the . In a wonderful contest and a great advertisement for the game, he helped the Internationals to a memorable tie against the USA at Fancourt near George.
Trevor Immelman stunned the golf world in 2008 when, just four months after having a tumour removed, he captured the US Masters title in convincing fashion. It was a stunning turnaround of his fortunes and it meant he had emulated his hero, Gary Player.
A very healthy local tour, known as the Sunshine Tour, that also co-hosts a few events with the European PGA, ensures that South Africa continues to produce the golfing goods. Over the years it has attracted some of the world's top golfers, often early on in their careers.
South Africa has the weather, it has the courses, and it has the talented players too.
INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
Since 1995, when Nelson Mandela handed the William Webb Ellis Trophy to Springbok captain Francois Pienaar after a pulsating Rugby World Cup final in Johannesburg, South Africa has shown itself capable not only of hosting the really big sporting events, but of making really big successes of them.
1996 African Cup of Nations
A year later, Mandela was on hand once more to present the African Cup of Nations trophy to South Africa's soccer team, Bafana Bafana. As with the Rugby World Cup, the continent's premier footballing event went off smoothly in South Africa, with full houses and impressively well-behaved supporters – something not always associated with international soccer matches!
1996 African Cup of Nations
A year later, Mandela was on hand once more to present the African Cup of Nations trophy to South Africa's soccer team, Bafana Bafana. As with the Rugby World Cup, the continent's premier footballing event went off smoothly in South Africa, with full houses and impressively well-behaved supporters – something not always associated with international soccer matches!
'Get behind the Proteas'
CSA CEO Gerald Majola said: "Preliminary findings indicate that supporters are finding it costly to attend live cricket events during this economically difficult time and CSA would like to introduce a special promotion to encourage fans to get to the ground and get behind the Proteas.
"The full report of the survey and recommendations will be submitted to the CSA Board in February 2010 with the hope of using these key insights to assist us in staging quality world-class events which are well attended."
Reflecting on what playing in front of a packed crowd means, Proteas captain, Graeme Smith, said: "I always remember going to watch the England test at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium in 1999 when Herschelle Gibbs made a magnificent 80 under very difficult batting conditions.
"The full report of the survey and recommendations will be submitted to the CSA Board in February 2010 with the hope of using these key insights to assist us in staging quality world-class events which are well attended."
Reflecting on what playing in front of a packed crowd means, Proteas captain, Graeme Smith, said: "I always remember going to watch the England test at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium in 1999 when Herschelle Gibbs made a magnificent 80 under very difficult batting conditions.
Festive cheer for SA cricket fans
Cricket South Africa has introduced a festive season special to ensure that the Proteas play to capacity crowds during the test series against England, which gets under way at SuperSport Park in Centurion on 16 December.
The special offer, which runs from Friday, 11 December until the end of the Castle Test Series in January 2010, will allow scholars up to the age of 18 to attend a day of test cricket for just R10 per scholar per day.
The decision to offer such cheap tickets follows a survey conducted by Cricket South Africa (CSA) and IFM Sports Marketing Surveys SA to investigate low attendances during the opening matches of the England tour. It was conducted online at the CSA website and face-to-face at centres including Maponya Mall in Soweto, Eastgate Mall in Bedfordview, OR Tambo International Airport and the 1st MTN One Day International at SuperSport Park in Centurion.
Researchers also considered comments posted on various news websites, including Sport24, SuperSport Zone and Independent Online.
The special offer, which runs from Friday, 11 December until the end of the Castle Test Series in January 2010, will allow scholars up to the age of 18 to attend a day of test cricket for just R10 per scholar per day.
The decision to offer such cheap tickets follows a survey conducted by Cricket South Africa (CSA) and IFM Sports Marketing Surveys SA to investigate low attendances during the opening matches of the England tour. It was conducted online at the CSA website and face-to-face at centres including Maponya Mall in Soweto, Eastgate Mall in Bedfordview, OR Tambo International Airport and the 1st MTN One Day International at SuperSport Park in Centurion.
Researchers also considered comments posted on various news websites, including Sport24, SuperSport Zone and Independent Online.
Chartered domestic flights
Match has also signed a service agreement with South African Airways to lease 20 aircrafts for the duration of the World Cup. These will provide 100 000 seats on scheduled domestic flights on match days during the month-long tournament.
The domestic flights will fly to destinations such as Nelspruit, Bloemfontein, Polokwane and Port Elizabeth.
This will help supporters find flight connections to smaller city destinations from their accommodation base.
The domestic flights will fly to destinations such as Nelspruit, Bloemfontein, Polokwane and Port Elizabeth.
This will help supporters find flight connections to smaller city destinations from their accommodation base.
2010 accommodation now online
Online applications for accommodation during the 2010 Fifa World Cup™ are now open to international and local soccer fans on the Fifa.com website.
This follows the recent launch of the online accommodation service by the World football controlling body, Fifa.
Accommodation and ticketing provider Match has secured 1 725 190 room nights for next year's World Cup, and 43% of the entire inventory (741 832 room nights) in the 1 007 properties will be reserved for the general public.
This follows the recent launch of the online accommodation service by the World football controlling body, Fifa.
Accommodation and ticketing provider Match has secured 1 725 190 room nights for next year's World Cup, and 43% of the entire inventory (741 832 room nights) in the 1 007 properties will be reserved for the general public.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Steven Gerrard Set for his 500th 'Shirt' for Liverpool FC
Reminiscing about his senior debut 11 years ago against Blackburn Rovers, Steven Gerrard had said, "When the bus arrived back in Liverpool, I didn't want to get out. I thought it wouldn't be long until I was out permanently, sent back to the Under-19s with a note marked 'not good enough'." The same lad from Whiston today is the captain of the Liverpool team, and has guided the club to one UEFA Champions League victory and 1 FA Cup victory. He also holds the second position in the fan polled list of the '100 players who shook the Kop'. Not bad for someone who thought his career was over after his very first senior appearance.Things have changed as Gerrard readies himself to put on the Liverpool shirt on for the 500th time-his 500th shirt, if you may-he is one of the most highly rated (and priced) midfielders in the world, and quite frankly, indispensable in Liverpool FC's plans.And what better team to play against in his 500th appearance than the team which he played against the first time? Yes, when Steven Gerrard comes out of the tunnel the 500th time, it will be against none other than the team he thought he was given a 'bad remark' against: Blackburn Rovers.Surely, Gerrard would love to celebrate his appearance with a victory away from home, but he is not setting any lofty targets for the season. Gerrard knows that gunning for the title this year is all but impossible. But I'm sure he wouldn't mind thumping in a couple of goals in this special occasion. But Blackburn Rovers are sky-high with their confidence after their penalty-shootout win against Chelsea in the Carling Cup. And they're at home too.
Steven Gerrard Set for his 500th 'Shirt' for Liverpool FC
Reminiscing about his senior debut 11 years ago against Blackburn Rovers, Steven Gerrard had said, "When the bus arrived back in Liverpool, I didn't want to get out. I thought it wouldn't be long until I was out permanently, sent back to the Under-19s with a note marked 'not good enough'." The same lad from Whiston today is the captain of the Liverpool team, and has guided the club to one UEFA Champions League victory and 1 FA Cup victory. He also holds the second position in the fan polled list of the '100 players who shook the Kop'. Not bad for someone who thought his career was over after his very first senior appearance.Things have changed as Gerrard readies himself to put on the Liverpool shirt on for the 500th time-his 500th shirt, if you may-he is one of the most highly rated (and priced) midfielders in the world, and quite frankly, indispensable in Liverpool FC's plans.And what better team to play against in his 500th appearance than the team which he played against the first time? Yes, when Steven Gerrard comes out of the tunnel the 500th time, it will be against none other than the team he thought he was given a 'bad remark' against: Blackburn Rovers.Surely, Gerrard would love to celebrate his appearance with a victory away from home, but he is not setting any lofty targets for the season. Gerrard knows that gunning for the title this year is all but impossible. But I'm sure he wouldn't mind thumping in a couple of goals in this special occasion. But Blackburn Rovers are sky-high with their confidence after their penalty-shootout win against Chelsea in the Carling Cup. And they're at home too.
India Move to No. 1 in ICC Test Team Rankings
India secured No. 1 ranking in the ICC Championship test matches, after defeating Sri Lanka, by an innings and 24 runs at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai. The visitors began with the overnight score of 274 for 6, on the morning of the fifth day, with the Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara at the crease at 133. But Sangakkara could only add four runs to his overnight score of 133, when he was dismissed by Zaheer. India wrapped up the test match in just 7.4 overs, after the rest of the Sri Lankan batting lineup folded quickly adding just 35 runs. Zaheer took three of the four wickets finishing with an impressive 4-1-21-3. With 5-75 blowing figures in the match, Zaheer Khan claimed his eighth five wicket haul.The last Sri Lankan wicket fell when Muttiah Muralitharan edged a flighted delivery from Harbhajan Singh to Indian skipper Mahendra Dhoni, who made no mistake. Earlier, the Sri Lankans were made to chase a mammoth score 726-9, the highest total in test cricket by India against Sri Lanka. Skipper Dhoni scored an unbeaten century and declared 333 runs ahead of the visitors and two days left to play. This was the seventh match India won out of ten under the captaincy of Dhoni. Highlight of the match was the 293 run knock by Indian opener Virendra Sehwag. Though, Sehwag missed becoming the only batsman to score three tons for the third time, he is the only batsman who has scored the fastest 250 in test cricket. Sehwag was declared as both Man of the Match and Player of the Series.The first test match played in Ahmedabad was a draw, while the second test at Kanpur ended with India wiinning by an innings and 144 runs. By winning the third and final test match at Mumbai, India clinched the three test series against Sri Lanka 2-0.With this decisive win, India has overtaken South Africa in the ICC test match rating at 124 points from 32 matches. South Africa has scored 122 points of 30 matches. Australia and Sri Lanka finish at third and fourth with 116 and 115 points respectively, after playing 31 matches. India will now play Sri Lanka in two Twenty-20 internationals at Nagpur and Mohali, and five match ODI series beginning on December 15 at Rajkot
India Move to No. 1 in ICC Test Team Rankings
India secured No. 1 ranking in the ICC Championship test matches, after defeating Sri Lanka, by an innings and 24 runs at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai. The visitors began with the overnight score of 274 for 6, on the morning of the fifth day, with the Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara at the crease at 133. But Sangakkara could only add four runs to his overnight score of 133, when he was dismissed by Zaheer. India wrapped up the test match in just 7.4 overs, after the rest of the Sri Lankan batting lineup folded quickly adding just 35 runs. Zaheer took three of the four wickets finishing with an impressive 4-1-21-3. With 5-75 blowing figures in the match, Zaheer Khan claimed his eighth five wicket haul.The last Sri Lankan wicket fell when Muttiah Muralitharan edged a flighted delivery from Harbhajan Singh to Indian skipper Mahendra Dhoni, who made no mistake. Earlier, the Sri Lankans were made to chase a mammoth score 726-9, the highest total in test cricket by India against Sri Lanka. Skipper Dhoni scored an unbeaten century and declared 333 runs ahead of the visitors and two days left to play. This was the seventh match India won out of ten under the captaincy of Dhoni. Highlight of the match was the 293 run knock by Indian opener Virendra Sehwag. Though, Sehwag missed becoming the only batsman to score three tons for the third time, he is the only batsman who has scored the fastest 250 in test cricket. Sehwag was declared as both Man of the Match and Player of the Series.The first test match played in Ahmedabad was a draw, while the second test at Kanpur ended with India wiinning by an innings and 144 runs. By winning the third and final test match at Mumbai, India clinched the three test series against Sri Lanka 2-0.With this decisive win, India has overtaken South Africa in the ICC test match rating at 124 points from 32 matches. South Africa has scored 122 points of 30 matches. Australia and Sri Lanka finish at third and fourth with 116 and 115 points respectively, after playing 31 matches. India will now play Sri Lanka in two Twenty-20 internationals at Nagpur and Mohali, and five match ODI series beginning on December 15 at Rajkot
White-hot Alabama vs. stumbling Texas.
It's almost enough to make you wish for TCU or Cincinnati in the big game. As it is, the unbeaten Horned Frogs and unbeaten Boise State will play in the Fiesta Bowl, and unbeaten Cincinnati will play Florida in the Sugar Bowl after the BCS pairings were announced Sunday night. Iowa was the last at-large team, selected by the Orange Bowl to play Georgia Tech.
The focus, however, is on Pasadena, where Texas will play for the third time in six years and Alabama will play (in the postseason) for the first time since 1946. Texas will try to win its second national championship in the BCS era, while Alabama is shooting to extend the SEC's dominance: five championship games, five victories -- including the last three.
"We're well aware of how our league has played in that game," Alabama guard Mike Johnson said. "We take a lot of pride in that."
A quick look at the game:
The focus, however, is on Pasadena, where Texas will play for the third time in six years and Alabama will play (in the postseason) for the first time since 1946. Texas will try to win its second national championship in the BCS era, while Alabama is shooting to extend the SEC's dominance: five championship games, five victories -- including the last three.
"We're well aware of how our league has played in that game," Alabama guard Mike Johnson said. "We take a lot of pride in that."
A quick look at the game:
Warum FC Bayern 2009/2010 nicht deutscher Meister wird
seit der verpfilchtung jürgen klinsmanns als bayerntrainer dürfte es wohl jeden, der seinen eigenen hintern mit beiden händen finden kann, klar sein, daß im bayernvorstand demenz dominiert. ein weiterer beweis dafür ist wohl auch die ein-bzw verkaufspolitik der letzten zeit. gomez ist unnötig wie ein kropf, lazarett-robben wozu? ribery hätte, solange er noch was einbringt verkauft und durch diego ersetzt werden müssen. jansen wurde verkauft, leuten wie soza, ottl, lell, schweinsteiger, breno und rensing wird weiter geld in den arsch geblasen und auch die letzten panikeinkäufe ließen nicht gerade auf ein durchdachtes konzept schließen. die einzigen lichtblicke sind louis van gaal und der verkauf von lucio. als nicht-bayernfan wünsche ich mir von herzen, daß dieser göttliche vorstand noch lange im amt bleibt und mit seinem "transfer-kabarett" für gute laune sorgt. und auch dafür, daß bayern münchen so schnell nicht deutscher meister wird!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Opening of first Football for Hope Centre heralds a new dawn for Khayelitsha
The first Football for Hope Centre in Khayelitsha in the outskirts of Cape Town opened its doors today (5 December 2009). FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter was joined by Western Cape Premier Helen Zille, 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC) CEO Danny Jordaan, South African Football Association President Kirsten Nematandani and Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town Dan Plato at the celebration of the latest milestone of 20 Centres for 2010, the Official Campaign of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. Among the special guests were Football for Hope ambassador Dr Gabriele Princess Inaara the Begum Aga Khan and former Bafana Bafana captain Lucas Radebe.
The centre, which is the first of 20 community centres, will help to tackle HIV/AIDS and some of the biggest issues facing young people across the African continent. “With the opening of this Football for Hope Centre, we can now see the real legacy that the 2010 FIFA World Cup will leave in Africa,” said the FIFA President. “This centre will use people’s passion for football to transform communities and to provide hope and opportunities for young people. Many years from now people will still be benefiting from this and the other 20 Centres for 2010.”
The next five centres will be built by FIFA and its strategic ally streetfootballworld in disadvantaged communities in Kenya, Namibia, Mali, Rwanda and Ghana and will address crucial issues like health, education, gender equality, peace-building and the environment as well as HIV and AIDS – considered to be one of the greatest challenges faced by young people in Africa.
“When the FIFA President asked me to become a Football For Hope ambassador several months ago, I accepted very happily. Football for Hope offers a unique platform for various sectors of society to implement social change,” said Begum Inaara Aga Khan.
The centre in Khayelitsha has been built in an area once notorious for crime and violence as part of an initiative to breathe new life into the community. It provides rooms for public health services and informal education, office space, common space for community gatherings and a football turf pitch.
“We are hoping that this initiative will have a positive influence in our society and enhance our efforts to build a better future for our young people. For us it was always important that this FIFA World Cup would touch the lives of ordinary people, and this campaign is a great example,” explained Nematandani.
Each of the 20 centres will be run by an existing community organisation. The Football for Hope Centre in Khayelitsha will be managed by Grassroot Soccer, a South African-based non-profit organisation that uses football to educate young people about HIV and AIDS and empower them with the knowledge to live HIV-free. “This was more like a crime spot, but now it is more like an activity spot where people come to enjoy themselves,” said Zamayedwa Sogayise, chairperson of the Khayelitsha Development Forum.
The centre, which is the first of 20 community centres, will help to tackle HIV/AIDS and some of the biggest issues facing young people across the African continent. “With the opening of this Football for Hope Centre, we can now see the real legacy that the 2010 FIFA World Cup will leave in Africa,” said the FIFA President. “This centre will use people’s passion for football to transform communities and to provide hope and opportunities for young people. Many years from now people will still be benefiting from this and the other 20 Centres for 2010.”
The next five centres will be built by FIFA and its strategic ally streetfootballworld in disadvantaged communities in Kenya, Namibia, Mali, Rwanda and Ghana and will address crucial issues like health, education, gender equality, peace-building and the environment as well as HIV and AIDS – considered to be one of the greatest challenges faced by young people in Africa.
“When the FIFA President asked me to become a Football For Hope ambassador several months ago, I accepted very happily. Football for Hope offers a unique platform for various sectors of society to implement social change,” said Begum Inaara Aga Khan.
The centre in Khayelitsha has been built in an area once notorious for crime and violence as part of an initiative to breathe new life into the community. It provides rooms for public health services and informal education, office space, common space for community gatherings and a football turf pitch.
“We are hoping that this initiative will have a positive influence in our society and enhance our efforts to build a better future for our young people. For us it was always important that this FIFA World Cup would touch the lives of ordinary people, and this campaign is a great example,” explained Nematandani.
Each of the 20 centres will be run by an existing community organisation. The Football for Hope Centre in Khayelitsha will be managed by Grassroot Soccer, a South African-based non-profit organisation that uses football to educate young people about HIV and AIDS and empower them with the knowledge to live HIV-free. “This was more like a crime spot, but now it is more like an activity spot where people come to enjoy themselves,” said Zamayedwa Sogayise, chairperson of the Khayelitsha Development Forum.
Zakumi - a Mascot with attitude
So what can we say about him? One thing is for sure, Zakumi will be first on the dancefloor and last off it at the biggest party in the world - the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. He wants to dance and entertain as many people as he can. He is an animator for fans, players and officials, for schoolchildren, teenagers and big kids alike!
Needless to say, he is extremely proud to be the Official Mascot and determined to be the best host for everyone visiting his beloved country. He symbolizes South Africa and the rest of the African continent through his self-confidence, pride, hospitality, social skills and warm-heartedness.
Zakumi is a jolly, self-confident, adventurous, spontaneous, and actually quite shrewd little fellow. He loves to perform and always follows his instinct and intuition, yet sometimes has the tendency to exaggerate a bit. You will often find him fooling about and teasing people but not in a mean way. He is warm-hearted and caring, and wants to make as many friends as possible.
He loves to play football as it is a great way to connect with others and break down language barriers. He always carries his football around which he will use to invite people to play with him.
Zakumi loves football. At one time he decided to dye his hair green as he felt it would be the perfect camouflage against the green of the football pitch; a bit like his rosette spots are when hunting in the wilderness!He does have one striking weakness. With all his energy, he needs frequent rests. Occasionally, in-between performances on stage, he may suddenly fall asleep on the spot at the most random times! But rest assured, these are only short breaks that a leopard of his calibre needs to recharge his batteries.
Over the last years he has travelled the whole of Africa where the leopard habitat is good (pretty much everywhere from open savannahs, forests, jungles to mountainous areas, even deserts). He has therefore learned to adapt to new environments; enjoying the diversity in nature and people across the African continent
The name ‘Zakumi' is a composition of ‘ZA' standing for South Africa and ‘kumi', which translates into ‘10' in various languages across Africa.
Zakumi's main priority is to turn the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa into one huge, joyful and unforgettable party and show the thousands of international guests the warmth and spirit of the African continent.
"He wants to create a good mood for the fans and raise the excitement for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the first on African soil. He is a proud South African and wants to ensure that the world will come together in South Africa," explained Lucas Radebe, South Africa's football icon and close friend of Zakumi.
Needless to say, he is extremely proud to be the Official Mascot and determined to be the best host for everyone visiting his beloved country. He symbolizes South Africa and the rest of the African continent through his self-confidence, pride, hospitality, social skills and warm-heartedness.
Zakumi is a jolly, self-confident, adventurous, spontaneous, and actually quite shrewd little fellow. He loves to perform and always follows his instinct and intuition, yet sometimes has the tendency to exaggerate a bit. You will often find him fooling about and teasing people but not in a mean way. He is warm-hearted and caring, and wants to make as many friends as possible.
He loves to play football as it is a great way to connect with others and break down language barriers. He always carries his football around which he will use to invite people to play with him.
Zakumi loves football. At one time he decided to dye his hair green as he felt it would be the perfect camouflage against the green of the football pitch; a bit like his rosette spots are when hunting in the wilderness!He does have one striking weakness. With all his energy, he needs frequent rests. Occasionally, in-between performances on stage, he may suddenly fall asleep on the spot at the most random times! But rest assured, these are only short breaks that a leopard of his calibre needs to recharge his batteries.
Over the last years he has travelled the whole of Africa where the leopard habitat is good (pretty much everywhere from open savannahs, forests, jungles to mountainous areas, even deserts). He has therefore learned to adapt to new environments; enjoying the diversity in nature and people across the African continent
The name ‘Zakumi' is a composition of ‘ZA' standing for South Africa and ‘kumi', which translates into ‘10' in various languages across Africa.
Zakumi's main priority is to turn the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa into one huge, joyful and unforgettable party and show the thousands of international guests the warmth and spirit of the African continent.
"He wants to create a good mood for the fans and raise the excitement for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the first on African soil. He is a proud South African and wants to ensure that the world will come together in South Africa," explained Lucas Radebe, South Africa's football icon and close friend of Zakumi.
Sascoc, Chuene’s nemesis
Finally, after what’s been one of the most tragic episodes in the country’s sporting history, someone has taken action. And Leonard Chuene’s Pinocchio act has finally got him suspended.
The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee has dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s on this one. Its statement on its website is a masterpiece of the legal art of making sure someone isn’t allowed past security for a while (Bobby Godsell, maybe you want to take notes here). Finally someone has got a good lawyer in to sort out the mess. And Sascoc isn’t mucking around. It’s kicked all the people possibly involved. And there’s lots of blame to go around.
The day’s drama started with a statement from Athletics South Africa, an apology to the nation, to Semenya, to the president; they did miss out the sun, the moon and the accompanying stars, but you get the drift. The statement looks suspiciously like a copy-and-paste job from the ANC’s Caster Semenya Task Team’s list of demands. ASA rolled over and asked the ANC to scratch it’s tummy, because it knew what was coming next.
And next was the statement from Sascoc. The suspensions, the need for a full investigation. The promise of further action. The kicker is the appointment of Ray Mali as an interim chairman. He gets the happy task of convening the elections of an interim committee (without the suspended individuals).
The nation celebrated. Sports people everywhere were thrilled, the chatrooms went berserk, and of course, talk radio lapped it up. Chuene’s reaction hasn’t been recorded. The ANC itself isn’t speaking. Curious that. It’s really been its spokesperson Jackson Mthembu who’s been leading the fight “on behalf of Caster”, and he didn’t want to talk about this. But he has been consistent in the view that the party believes that ASA “and everyone involved” should apologise to everyone else. That’s now happened.
So where to now? Well, Chuene may want to have another press conference, we could all do with a distraction from who’s keeping the lights on at the moment. But that’s unlikely. And Sascoc will no doubt send a lawyer to take notes. Come to think of it, as of tomorrow he could start selling raffle tickets for his legal fund.
But Chuene’s made of pretty strong stuff. And he’s spent the last few years building up his power base at ASA. Don’t forget that very few provincial bodies would take him on during the special meeting to discuss the Semenya issue. So now Mali has to step rather carefully.
Yesterday, Sascoc efficiently removed anyone who could run things the way he might like to, so his power base could erode pretty quickly. As a general rule in South African politics, once someone steps down, or is suspended, they don’t get to come back. Not always, but generally. The nation will be hoping that the rule sticks and Chuene is as good as gone.
The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee has dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s on this one. Its statement on its website is a masterpiece of the legal art of making sure someone isn’t allowed past security for a while (Bobby Godsell, maybe you want to take notes here). Finally someone has got a good lawyer in to sort out the mess. And Sascoc isn’t mucking around. It’s kicked all the people possibly involved. And there’s lots of blame to go around.
The day’s drama started with a statement from Athletics South Africa, an apology to the nation, to Semenya, to the president; they did miss out the sun, the moon and the accompanying stars, but you get the drift. The statement looks suspiciously like a copy-and-paste job from the ANC’s Caster Semenya Task Team’s list of demands. ASA rolled over and asked the ANC to scratch it’s tummy, because it knew what was coming next.
And next was the statement from Sascoc. The suspensions, the need for a full investigation. The promise of further action. The kicker is the appointment of Ray Mali as an interim chairman. He gets the happy task of convening the elections of an interim committee (without the suspended individuals).
The nation celebrated. Sports people everywhere were thrilled, the chatrooms went berserk, and of course, talk radio lapped it up. Chuene’s reaction hasn’t been recorded. The ANC itself isn’t speaking. Curious that. It’s really been its spokesperson Jackson Mthembu who’s been leading the fight “on behalf of Caster”, and he didn’t want to talk about this. But he has been consistent in the view that the party believes that ASA “and everyone involved” should apologise to everyone else. That’s now happened.
So where to now? Well, Chuene may want to have another press conference, we could all do with a distraction from who’s keeping the lights on at the moment. But that’s unlikely. And Sascoc will no doubt send a lawyer to take notes. Come to think of it, as of tomorrow he could start selling raffle tickets for his legal fund.
But Chuene’s made of pretty strong stuff. And he’s spent the last few years building up his power base at ASA. Don’t forget that very few provincial bodies would take him on during the special meeting to discuss the Semenya issue. So now Mali has to step rather carefully.
Yesterday, Sascoc efficiently removed anyone who could run things the way he might like to, so his power base could erode pretty quickly. As a general rule in South African politics, once someone steps down, or is suspended, they don’t get to come back. Not always, but generally. The nation will be hoping that the rule sticks and Chuene is as good as gone.
Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup™
The FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa is an international event with great historic importance to the African continent. It will be the first FIFA World Cup ever to be hosted in Africa since the competition began in 1934, and I am convinced that Africa is ready to welcome this momentous FIFA World Cup with open arms. I am also convinced that the host nation, South Africa, will be up to the task, not least because it has abundant potential and resources. The experiences acquired during the hosting of the 1995 Rugby World Cup and the United Nations summit in Johannesburg in 2002 will stand the country in good stead. The speech given by His Excellency President Thabo Mbeki to 53 African heads of states in January 2007 at the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, also provided clear evidence of South Africa's commitment to hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.
This World Cup will inspire hope and aspiration throughout Africa. It shall contribute to the change in the global image of Africa by showing our continent as more positive, dynamic and open. On the this issue of image, it is interesting to say again that our continent is blessed with enormous economic potential and that, with the successful organisation of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the African economy in general will surely change in a more positive direction. It will also display the continent's positive values, and the world media will relay these values to the entire world in a way that is sure to attract foreign investors to our continent.
When I look at great footballers from Africa, such as Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto'o, Benni McCarthy and Michael Essien, I feel a certain pride to see them play an ambassadorial role on the field of play. They not only bring joy to the spectators at the stadium, but also to those sitting at home across the world. These great players contribute immensely to the positive image of African football.
We have the potential today, and the state of African football has developed considerably with a general improvement in the game in our continent. All of this is thanks to the greater number of competitions and the development plans we at the CAF, with the support of FIFA, have put in place.
My greatest dream would be to see an African team reach the Final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Issa Hayatou
This World Cup will inspire hope and aspiration throughout Africa. It shall contribute to the change in the global image of Africa by showing our continent as more positive, dynamic and open. On the this issue of image, it is interesting to say again that our continent is blessed with enormous economic potential and that, with the successful organisation of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the African economy in general will surely change in a more positive direction. It will also display the continent's positive values, and the world media will relay these values to the entire world in a way that is sure to attract foreign investors to our continent.
When I look at great footballers from Africa, such as Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto'o, Benni McCarthy and Michael Essien, I feel a certain pride to see them play an ambassadorial role on the field of play. They not only bring joy to the spectators at the stadium, but also to those sitting at home across the world. These great players contribute immensely to the positive image of African football.
We have the potential today, and the state of African football has developed considerably with a general improvement in the game in our continent. All of this is thanks to the greater number of competitions and the development plans we at the CAF, with the support of FIFA, have put in place.
My greatest dream would be to see an African team reach the Final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Issa Hayatou
Invictus: how will Bok fans react?
Clint Eastwood’s latest movie, Invictus, will be released in South Africa on December 11. Bok fans are likely to heap scorn on the rugby scenes, but hopefully it won’t matter.
Apparently there’s a lot of rugby in Invictus. The first reviews are in, and while the critics have so far said it’s an okay (but not outstanding) film, a lot of them seem to be quite taken with the game. The Huffington Post reviewer reckons the movie’s got more rugby in it than she’s ever seen anywhere. “I’m into it now,” she writes. “Might see some in real life.”
Lovely to hear. But the same reviewer then gives Invictus a six out of ten, which has got to make you wonder how it’s going to be received by South Africans. Ruben Kruger, Kobus Wiese, Naka Drotske, Rudolph Straeuli and Brendan Venter are all listed as dramatis personae, and the local audience is nothing if not wise to the subtleties of these mens’ movements across a rugby field. Can Graham Lindemann really demonstrate the awesomeness of Kobus’s arrival at a ruck? Can Rolf Fitschen throw a lineout ball as straight as Naka?
The answer, of course, is no. And because the answer is no, there’s likely to be much sniggering when the film gets released here this month. In fact, the sniggering has been gathering momentum for a while already – honestly, what was your first reaction when you heard that Matt Damon was cast as Francois Pienaar? Did you tell your mates that the guy was born for the role?
There is another side to this story, though, which will hopefully quell at least a bit of the inevitable scorn. It’s flattering for Springbok fans to have their heroes played by A-list Hollywood celebrities, even ones who can’t put any spin on a pass. Also, the movie’s plot line covers one of the most uplifting periods in this country’s recent history. A reliving of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, with Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela, can hardly be a bad thing.
Then there’s the fact that Invictus might have left a positive legacy for our own filmmaking industry. “The most challenging thing was just getting past this mindset that bending the rules for filmmakers wasn't allowed," Rob Lorenz, who produced the film with Clint Eastwood, told the Hollywood Reporter. "Permission to shoot at the presidential offices was granted and rescinded no less than four times, but we persisted, and I think we were the first company in 25 years that shot there."
Apparently there’s a lot of rugby in Invictus. The first reviews are in, and while the critics have so far said it’s an okay (but not outstanding) film, a lot of them seem to be quite taken with the game. The Huffington Post reviewer reckons the movie’s got more rugby in it than she’s ever seen anywhere. “I’m into it now,” she writes. “Might see some in real life.”
Lovely to hear. But the same reviewer then gives Invictus a six out of ten, which has got to make you wonder how it’s going to be received by South Africans. Ruben Kruger, Kobus Wiese, Naka Drotske, Rudolph Straeuli and Brendan Venter are all listed as dramatis personae, and the local audience is nothing if not wise to the subtleties of these mens’ movements across a rugby field. Can Graham Lindemann really demonstrate the awesomeness of Kobus’s arrival at a ruck? Can Rolf Fitschen throw a lineout ball as straight as Naka?
The answer, of course, is no. And because the answer is no, there’s likely to be much sniggering when the film gets released here this month. In fact, the sniggering has been gathering momentum for a while already – honestly, what was your first reaction when you heard that Matt Damon was cast as Francois Pienaar? Did you tell your mates that the guy was born for the role?
There is another side to this story, though, which will hopefully quell at least a bit of the inevitable scorn. It’s flattering for Springbok fans to have their heroes played by A-list Hollywood celebrities, even ones who can’t put any spin on a pass. Also, the movie’s plot line covers one of the most uplifting periods in this country’s recent history. A reliving of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, with Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela, can hardly be a bad thing.
Then there’s the fact that Invictus might have left a positive legacy for our own filmmaking industry. “The most challenging thing was just getting past this mindset that bending the rules for filmmakers wasn't allowed," Rob Lorenz, who produced the film with Clint Eastwood, told the Hollywood Reporter. "Permission to shoot at the presidential offices was granted and rescinded no less than four times, but we persisted, and I think we were the first company in 25 years that shot there."
Cape Town shows off its 2010 spirit
It was a party to rival New Year’s Eve in Cape Town and just like 1 January, the Long Street party to celebrate the Final Draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup is just beginning.
With the African sun high in a perfect blue sky and Table Mountain watching on approvingly, crowds gathered in the early afternoon of 4 December 2009.
Cape Town was showing off.
It was a magnificent day and South Africa got its first real taste of what hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup is all about. Sun kissed fans in summer dress were greeted by a kaleidoscope of flags covering every available inch of the building facades facing the road.
A handful of top local artists drove the crowd to fever pitch long before the five massive big screens lining the street crossed live to hear the results of the Final Draw at 19h00.
Miss Universe contestants swayed below the towering stage, rubbing shoulders with Cape Town locals to the live music.
"I’ve never felt so proud to be South African,” Miss South Africa Tatum Keshwar enthused, looking down the street at a sea of screaming fans. “The future for South Africa is so bright it burns my eyes!”
Cape Town local Simthembile Nkovu was one of the fans who’d endured the unrelenting sun since early afternoon to secure a spot at the front. He was there to hear South African group TKZee.
As he hugged his vuvuzela and sipped slowly on bottled water, waiting for the band to start, he was optimistic for the coming draw. “It might be tough, but the cup will remain here in South Africa after the FIFA World Cup next year.”
After an energetic set that had the crowd singing and jumping along TKZee’s frontman, Kabelo Mabalane was pumped.
As he dragged himself from the stage he too felt the surge of pride. “I’m just so proud to be South African at the moment,” he exclaimed. “It’s great to play to a home crowd advantage. We know Bafana Bafana heard us wherever they are and hopefully it spurred them on too.”
As performers made way for the live cross to the draw at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, some of the crowd spun out into the bars and cafes lining the street to get a closer look. Others remained transfixed in the glow of the big-screens staggered up and down Long Street.
The city's bars certainly came to the party, many adopting international football teams, using the Long Street party to recruit potential revellers for 2010.
Dutch expatriate Marcus Zandhuis commandeered popular Long Street night club Fiction. Partygoers in orange t-shirts lined the balcony and spilled into the buzzing street below.
“We organised this as a Germany versus Holland party,” he confided, “With fans from both countries celebrating here in Cape Town. But the winner here was always going to be South Africa.”
And then it was done. Every team was drawn against their opponents and Long Street could get back to the party. German Knut Muller, from Dortmund, a volunteer in a children’s home in one of Cape Town’s townships Khayelitsha, was amazed.
All around him groups of locals sang and jumped, blasting their vuvuzelas with excitment. “If this is what’s happening in South Africa at only the Final Draw, I can’t imagine what the World Cup is going to be like,” he said.
With the African sun high in a perfect blue sky and Table Mountain watching on approvingly, crowds gathered in the early afternoon of 4 December 2009.
Cape Town was showing off.
It was a magnificent day and South Africa got its first real taste of what hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup is all about. Sun kissed fans in summer dress were greeted by a kaleidoscope of flags covering every available inch of the building facades facing the road.
A handful of top local artists drove the crowd to fever pitch long before the five massive big screens lining the street crossed live to hear the results of the Final Draw at 19h00.
Miss Universe contestants swayed below the towering stage, rubbing shoulders with Cape Town locals to the live music.
"I’ve never felt so proud to be South African,” Miss South Africa Tatum Keshwar enthused, looking down the street at a sea of screaming fans. “The future for South Africa is so bright it burns my eyes!”
Cape Town local Simthembile Nkovu was one of the fans who’d endured the unrelenting sun since early afternoon to secure a spot at the front. He was there to hear South African group TKZee.
As he hugged his vuvuzela and sipped slowly on bottled water, waiting for the band to start, he was optimistic for the coming draw. “It might be tough, but the cup will remain here in South Africa after the FIFA World Cup next year.”
After an energetic set that had the crowd singing and jumping along TKZee’s frontman, Kabelo Mabalane was pumped.
As he dragged himself from the stage he too felt the surge of pride. “I’m just so proud to be South African at the moment,” he exclaimed. “It’s great to play to a home crowd advantage. We know Bafana Bafana heard us wherever they are and hopefully it spurred them on too.”
As performers made way for the live cross to the draw at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, some of the crowd spun out into the bars and cafes lining the street to get a closer look. Others remained transfixed in the glow of the big-screens staggered up and down Long Street.
The city's bars certainly came to the party, many adopting international football teams, using the Long Street party to recruit potential revellers for 2010.
Dutch expatriate Marcus Zandhuis commandeered popular Long Street night club Fiction. Partygoers in orange t-shirts lined the balcony and spilled into the buzzing street below.
“We organised this as a Germany versus Holland party,” he confided, “With fans from both countries celebrating here in Cape Town. But the winner here was always going to be South Africa.”
And then it was done. Every team was drawn against their opponents and Long Street could get back to the party. German Knut Muller, from Dortmund, a volunteer in a children’s home in one of Cape Town’s townships Khayelitsha, was amazed.
All around him groups of locals sang and jumped, blasting their vuvuzelas with excitment. “If this is what’s happening in South Africa at only the Final Draw, I can’t imagine what the World Cup is going to be like,” he said.
Cities ready and waiting
The focus of the football world’s attention was squarely focused on Cape Town last night as the Final Draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ mapped out the opening rounds of next year’s football showpiece.
In what Chief Executive Officer of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa, Dr Danny Jordaan, described as ,”a great celebration of Africa”, the Final Draw was proof that South Africa is more than ready to put on a show like no other when the 32 teams arrive in the country.
For the Host Cities, last night was a significant moment as, for the first time, they had a clear idea of the teams and the fans they will be hosting next year.
It was soon evident that football fans in the smaller cities such as Polokwane, Rustenburg and Nelspruit will have the same opportunies to capture a glimpse of the football stars expected in South Africa next year.
Speaking after the Draw, Mayor of Nelspruit, Mr Lassy Chiwayo said, “We are excited on a number of fronts. With the 18 giraffes that tower above us at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, we too are ready to walk tall and deliver a great experience. Our people are amazing, warm and peaceful. “
Nelspruit will see Hondurus and Chile battle it out on 16 June 2010, with defending champions, Italy, playing New Zealand on 20 June 2010. All matches will be played in the newly built Mbombela stadium which boasts seating and structures resembling the wildlife of the surrounding areas.
Host city coordinator for Polokwane, Ndavhe Ramakuela, also promises to deliver a different World Cup experience for the teams and the thousands of fans. “We will welcome fans to a natural environment away from the noise and concrete of the city. We will offer something to everyone.”
Polokwane, in the northern province of Limpopo, offers fans that will be travelling to watch the France-Mexico or the Greece-Argentina game on 17 and 22 June respectively a variety of activities including game viewing or visits to the neighboring countries of Botswana and Mozambique.
The regal home to the Royal Bafokeng family, Rustenburg, will see an influx of fans too as they come to watch England against USA on Saturday 12 June 2010. Rustenburg can also expect an influx of African supporters as African favourites, Ghana, play against Australia on 19 June. Spokesperson for the Host City of Rustenburg said that fans will be well entertained and “can expect a royal treatment when they come to Rustenburg.”
Having built a stadium that was ready over a year ahead of the tournament, Nelson Mandela Bay will be entertaining fans from Chile, England, Portugal and Germany as they travel to the Eastern Cape for some superb on the field action.
With similar enthusiasm, says the Mayor of Port Elizabeth/Nelson Mandela Bay, Mr Zanoxolo Wayile, “We are more than prepared in terms of accommodation, transportation, safety and security, entertainment and of course the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium is one of the best facilities in the world. We are confident all ten teams will feel more than at home in a city named after the great man himself.”
With names such as France, Uruguay, Paraguay, England, Algeria, Portugal, Korea DPR, Cameroon, Netherlands as well as a Semi Final match to be hosted by the City of Cape Town, there is certainly a lot of excitement in the ‘Mother City’.
“Just looking at the draw, we were very happy with what we saw. There are some big names there and the tournament in Cape Town will certainly be a huge spectacle,” said Mayor of Cape Town, Dan Plato.
After the festivities on Long Street during the Final Draw celebrations – which saw an estimated 30,000 people take to the streets in celebration – Plato is confident that the visiting teams and fans will be treated to a festival atmosphere throughout the World Cup period.
“As a city we are very happy to host these teams in our stadium and our city. You can see from the vibe last Sunday when we turned on the festive lights in Adderley street and 120,000 people turned up to the party in Long Street last night to celebrate the Final Draw – there is a great vibe in this city and we have shown the world that we are ready for 2010.”
But the eyes of the world will be on Soccer City in Johannesburg on the day the tournament kicks off between host country South Africa and Mexico on 11 June 2010. As the gateway city to South Africa, Johannesburg has two stadiums and is the most central place to accommodate the fans with five of the ten stadiums within four hours driving distance.
Says Christa Venter of Joahnnesburg City, “The opening ceremony is going to be great – we look forward the vibe and seeing the Mexican wave in tandem with the vuvuzela.” Johannesburg will see most of the greats at some stage between Soccer City and Ellis Park stadiums, including Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Germany and Italy.
In what Chief Executive Officer of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa, Dr Danny Jordaan, described as ,”a great celebration of Africa”, the Final Draw was proof that South Africa is more than ready to put on a show like no other when the 32 teams arrive in the country.
For the Host Cities, last night was a significant moment as, for the first time, they had a clear idea of the teams and the fans they will be hosting next year.
It was soon evident that football fans in the smaller cities such as Polokwane, Rustenburg and Nelspruit will have the same opportunies to capture a glimpse of the football stars expected in South Africa next year.
Speaking after the Draw, Mayor of Nelspruit, Mr Lassy Chiwayo said, “We are excited on a number of fronts. With the 18 giraffes that tower above us at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, we too are ready to walk tall and deliver a great experience. Our people are amazing, warm and peaceful. “
Nelspruit will see Hondurus and Chile battle it out on 16 June 2010, with defending champions, Italy, playing New Zealand on 20 June 2010. All matches will be played in the newly built Mbombela stadium which boasts seating and structures resembling the wildlife of the surrounding areas.
Host city coordinator for Polokwane, Ndavhe Ramakuela, also promises to deliver a different World Cup experience for the teams and the thousands of fans. “We will welcome fans to a natural environment away from the noise and concrete of the city. We will offer something to everyone.”
Polokwane, in the northern province of Limpopo, offers fans that will be travelling to watch the France-Mexico or the Greece-Argentina game on 17 and 22 June respectively a variety of activities including game viewing or visits to the neighboring countries of Botswana and Mozambique.
The regal home to the Royal Bafokeng family, Rustenburg, will see an influx of fans too as they come to watch England against USA on Saturday 12 June 2010. Rustenburg can also expect an influx of African supporters as African favourites, Ghana, play against Australia on 19 June. Spokesperson for the Host City of Rustenburg said that fans will be well entertained and “can expect a royal treatment when they come to Rustenburg.”
Having built a stadium that was ready over a year ahead of the tournament, Nelson Mandela Bay will be entertaining fans from Chile, England, Portugal and Germany as they travel to the Eastern Cape for some superb on the field action.
With similar enthusiasm, says the Mayor of Port Elizabeth/Nelson Mandela Bay, Mr Zanoxolo Wayile, “We are more than prepared in terms of accommodation, transportation, safety and security, entertainment and of course the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium is one of the best facilities in the world. We are confident all ten teams will feel more than at home in a city named after the great man himself.”
With names such as France, Uruguay, Paraguay, England, Algeria, Portugal, Korea DPR, Cameroon, Netherlands as well as a Semi Final match to be hosted by the City of Cape Town, there is certainly a lot of excitement in the ‘Mother City’.
“Just looking at the draw, we were very happy with what we saw. There are some big names there and the tournament in Cape Town will certainly be a huge spectacle,” said Mayor of Cape Town, Dan Plato.
After the festivities on Long Street during the Final Draw celebrations – which saw an estimated 30,000 people take to the streets in celebration – Plato is confident that the visiting teams and fans will be treated to a festival atmosphere throughout the World Cup period.
“As a city we are very happy to host these teams in our stadium and our city. You can see from the vibe last Sunday when we turned on the festive lights in Adderley street and 120,000 people turned up to the party in Long Street last night to celebrate the Final Draw – there is a great vibe in this city and we have shown the world that we are ready for 2010.”
But the eyes of the world will be on Soccer City in Johannesburg on the day the tournament kicks off between host country South Africa and Mexico on 11 June 2010. As the gateway city to South Africa, Johannesburg has two stadiums and is the most central place to accommodate the fans with five of the ten stadiums within four hours driving distance.
Says Christa Venter of Joahnnesburg City, “The opening ceremony is going to be great – we look forward the vibe and seeing the Mexican wave in tandem with the vuvuzela.” Johannesburg will see most of the greats at some stage between Soccer City and Ellis Park stadiums, including Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Germany and Italy.
Oh Henry! What have you done to our souls?
If you suspect that modern competitiveness in sport, like Thierry Henry’s disgraceful cheating in the match against Ireland, is playing havoc with the notion of honour, then you’re a hopeless old fogey who takes this stuff far too seriously. But then again, you might just be right.
World Cup 2010 has its first massive talking point. French captain Thierry Henry’s double handling of the ball which saved his team from World Cup elimination has soccer fans embroiled in an emotional cauldron.
Yet behind Henry’s act of stupendous callousness lies a broader sickness; a world in which achievement on the sport field is rated higher than honour in life.
There are four arguments within the soccer fraternity about the Republic of Ireland/France game: first, the game should be played over with Henry banned; second, the game should be played over with Henry included, third, the result should stand, but Henry should be banned from playing in the World Cup and fourth, the result should simply stand.
According to a poll by the BBC, soccer fans are fairly evenly divided on the four options.
The argument in favour of letting the result stand is simply that the rules say the ultimate decision maker is the referee of the match. If the referee did not see the infringement, then that is all that can be said about the matter.
This is also Henry’s argument, although he claims, obviously falsely, that his decision to tap a ball that was trickling past him out of play down to his feet in the dying moments of the game was instinctive and reflexive. He told Richard Dunne, one of the most hardworking Irish players, that the Irish had deserved to win, and admitted that he had handled the ball. "But," he added, "I am not the referee."
The problem with this approach is that this might be well and good in most games, but this one was special. It decided who would participate in the World Cup in South Africa next year and who would not. As it stands, France are in and Ireland are out. Soccer fans can stomach bad luck in a league match because there will always be another tournament or another year or another or another match. But do it in a match which decides who will play and who will not at the World Cup is simply cruel and unfair.
This is why two other options directly target Henry, either banning him from the World Cup or from the replay. The latter aims at simply resetting not the rights and wrongs, but merely history by starting again. The problem with all these options is that they would be so exceptional and so precedent-setting that the effort seems unlikely. (Although, at the club level, the precedent does exist: in 1999, Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger did an honourable thing and offered Sheffield United a replay of their FA Cup game moments after the match had finished. Arsenal's winning goal resulted from Kanu failing to return the ball to the Sheffield players, after they kicked it into touch to allow an Arsenal player to receive injury help. Arsenal won the replayed game 2-1 and Wenger’s reputation was much enhanced. – Ed, aka ‘Old Fogey’)
Sometimes the loss must lay where it falls, and this time it’s at the feet of a plucky team, but a team which anyway were unlikely contenders and who, when all is said and done, did not do enough to force themselves into the finals.
The other soccer talking point is whether a television umpire should be installed, particularly since they have proved so successful in cricket, rugby and tennis. This may be the compromise solution; an attempt not at re-casting history, but at least at trying to ensure it does not happen again.
Yet these are all questions of soccer, not questions of character, and it’s here that the vexed issue finally rests. The question comes down to this: why do soccer players still cheat when they know hundreds of cameras and instant television replays will find them out?
Clearly the touch-and-go position of the French team had something to do with it. Clearly also Henry’s captaincy of the side had something to do with it. Clearly national pride was driving him to places he might not normally have gone.
Henry doesn’t have a history of cheating, or particularly of being a bad sportsman. Yet in a moment of thoughtlessness, a chevalier of the Legion d'honneur dishonoured his country and the game.
Perhaps it’s easier to make this claim from the outside than from within. If you are trained from an early age to win, trained to believe success means victory and victory means success, then acts of instinctive madness are much less difficult to understand.
Sports people are instinctively competitive, and if they weren’t, they wouldn’t be sports people. Who are we, mere spectators, to judge?
Yet we do and we should. Guardian sports writer Richard Williams points out that in 1997 Robbie Fowler unsuccessfully pleaded with the referee to rescind a penalty he awarded to Liverpool at Highbury after the whistle had been blown for a perceived foul on him by David Seaman.
In 2000, while playing for West Ham, Paolo Di Canio stopped play by catching the ball when he saw that the opposition's goalkeeper, Paul Gerrard of Everton, was lying helpless in the penalty area after twisting his knee while clearing the ball.
And last March, during a Romanian first division match between Rapid Bucharest and Otelul Galati, Costin Lazar of Rapid refused to take a penalty because he did not believe he had been fouled, and eventually the official agreed with him.
If acts of superior sportsmanship are possible even in tight matches, then clearly Henry has let the side down; not just his own side, but the sport as a whole. Yet outrageous as it is, it seems to matter less than winning even now while the issue is white hot.
Listen to France international Emmanuel Petit: "I don't think it will damage his reputation. Thierry has done so much in his career and this is a very rare indiscretion. It's similar to the situation with Zinedine Zidane - he's been sent off plenty of times ... we always found an excuse for Zidane so why can't we find one for Thierry as well?"
What? A flagrant indiscretion is being forgiven before the sun has even set twice on the incident. The fact is that over time the seriousness of sporting contests has begun taking on a grander meaning than could ever have been conceived of when the codes were formed. They are now substitutes for national prowess, they are replacements for personal success, and proxies for personal relationships.
All of this tends to help fans forgive players for sliding into the grey areas to win. Sports administrators know that and consequently try desperately to stay out of these controversies.
Yet with each blow of the axe, a wood chip is loosed, and eventually the tree will fall.
World Cup 2010 has its first massive talking point. French captain Thierry Henry’s double handling of the ball which saved his team from World Cup elimination has soccer fans embroiled in an emotional cauldron.
Yet behind Henry’s act of stupendous callousness lies a broader sickness; a world in which achievement on the sport field is rated higher than honour in life.
There are four arguments within the soccer fraternity about the Republic of Ireland/France game: first, the game should be played over with Henry banned; second, the game should be played over with Henry included, third, the result should stand, but Henry should be banned from playing in the World Cup and fourth, the result should simply stand.
According to a poll by the BBC, soccer fans are fairly evenly divided on the four options.
The argument in favour of letting the result stand is simply that the rules say the ultimate decision maker is the referee of the match. If the referee did not see the infringement, then that is all that can be said about the matter.
This is also Henry’s argument, although he claims, obviously falsely, that his decision to tap a ball that was trickling past him out of play down to his feet in the dying moments of the game was instinctive and reflexive. He told Richard Dunne, one of the most hardworking Irish players, that the Irish had deserved to win, and admitted that he had handled the ball. "But," he added, "I am not the referee."
The problem with this approach is that this might be well and good in most games, but this one was special. It decided who would participate in the World Cup in South Africa next year and who would not. As it stands, France are in and Ireland are out. Soccer fans can stomach bad luck in a league match because there will always be another tournament or another year or another or another match. But do it in a match which decides who will play and who will not at the World Cup is simply cruel and unfair.
This is why two other options directly target Henry, either banning him from the World Cup or from the replay. The latter aims at simply resetting not the rights and wrongs, but merely history by starting again. The problem with all these options is that they would be so exceptional and so precedent-setting that the effort seems unlikely. (Although, at the club level, the precedent does exist: in 1999, Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger did an honourable thing and offered Sheffield United a replay of their FA Cup game moments after the match had finished. Arsenal's winning goal resulted from Kanu failing to return the ball to the Sheffield players, after they kicked it into touch to allow an Arsenal player to receive injury help. Arsenal won the replayed game 2-1 and Wenger’s reputation was much enhanced. – Ed, aka ‘Old Fogey’)
Sometimes the loss must lay where it falls, and this time it’s at the feet of a plucky team, but a team which anyway were unlikely contenders and who, when all is said and done, did not do enough to force themselves into the finals.
The other soccer talking point is whether a television umpire should be installed, particularly since they have proved so successful in cricket, rugby and tennis. This may be the compromise solution; an attempt not at re-casting history, but at least at trying to ensure it does not happen again.
Yet these are all questions of soccer, not questions of character, and it’s here that the vexed issue finally rests. The question comes down to this: why do soccer players still cheat when they know hundreds of cameras and instant television replays will find them out?
Clearly the touch-and-go position of the French team had something to do with it. Clearly also Henry’s captaincy of the side had something to do with it. Clearly national pride was driving him to places he might not normally have gone.
Henry doesn’t have a history of cheating, or particularly of being a bad sportsman. Yet in a moment of thoughtlessness, a chevalier of the Legion d'honneur dishonoured his country and the game.
Perhaps it’s easier to make this claim from the outside than from within. If you are trained from an early age to win, trained to believe success means victory and victory means success, then acts of instinctive madness are much less difficult to understand.
Sports people are instinctively competitive, and if they weren’t, they wouldn’t be sports people. Who are we, mere spectators, to judge?
Yet we do and we should. Guardian sports writer Richard Williams points out that in 1997 Robbie Fowler unsuccessfully pleaded with the referee to rescind a penalty he awarded to Liverpool at Highbury after the whistle had been blown for a perceived foul on him by David Seaman.
In 2000, while playing for West Ham, Paolo Di Canio stopped play by catching the ball when he saw that the opposition's goalkeeper, Paul Gerrard of Everton, was lying helpless in the penalty area after twisting his knee while clearing the ball.
And last March, during a Romanian first division match between Rapid Bucharest and Otelul Galati, Costin Lazar of Rapid refused to take a penalty because he did not believe he had been fouled, and eventually the official agreed with him.
If acts of superior sportsmanship are possible even in tight matches, then clearly Henry has let the side down; not just his own side, but the sport as a whole. Yet outrageous as it is, it seems to matter less than winning even now while the issue is white hot.
Listen to France international Emmanuel Petit: "I don't think it will damage his reputation. Thierry has done so much in his career and this is a very rare indiscretion. It's similar to the situation with Zinedine Zidane - he's been sent off plenty of times ... we always found an excuse for Zidane so why can't we find one for Thierry as well?"
What? A flagrant indiscretion is being forgiven before the sun has even set twice on the incident. The fact is that over time the seriousness of sporting contests has begun taking on a grander meaning than could ever have been conceived of when the codes were formed. They are now substitutes for national prowess, they are replacements for personal success, and proxies for personal relationships.
All of this tends to help fans forgive players for sliding into the grey areas to win. Sports administrators know that and consequently try desperately to stay out of these controversies.
Yet with each blow of the axe, a wood chip is loosed, and eventually the tree will fall.
The 2010 Soccer World Cup, not for sissies
The prelude to Africa’s first Soccer World Cup went off without a hitch on Friday, but perhaps a bit downbeat when it dawned on all the teams precisely how difficult it is going to be to progress to the second knockout round.
None more so than hosts South Africa, who are in the only group to contain two previous World Cup winners, France and Uruguay. They could also have hoped for an easier start to the competition than having to face Mexico.
But SA’s reinstated coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira, put his finger on it in the post-draw interview with the SABC when he said that there is much more balance between soccer-playing nations now than in the past.
Parreira noted that it was the only group with two former world champions, but added, “It doesn't scare us. It is a challenge for us," demonstrating the obligatory confidence of the seasoned campaigner that he is.
Yet the curiosity of post-draw commentary was how much it focused on the “tough group” this or that country drew.
Since the tournament is taking place on African soil for the first time, fostered by President Jacob Zuma’s confident assertion that an African team would win, there was some discussion about the draws of the continental teams.
The prevailing opinion is that African teams did not fare particularly well. Veteran Africa soccer writer and commentator Mark Gleeson wrote for Reuters that the hopes of Africa’s six contenders of getting through to the knockout phase “looked a tough ask” after Friday's draw.
Yet with six contenders and eight categories, this is essentially the same as saying that all groups were tough, which is essentially the truth.
Yet you have to feel a bit for Ivory Coast, perhaps the best African side in the tournament, who will have to negotiate a group which includes five-time World Cup-winners Brazil and Portugal, late but strong contenders.
By comparison, Cameroon has what seems like an easier ride, with Holland, Denmark and Japan in their group. Likewise Nigeria, fielding perhaps the weakest side in recent history, face Argentina, Greece and South Korea in Group B. Algeria are in Group C with England, the US and Slovenia, which might not seem a particularly tough group except that Slovenia played exceptionally well during the qualifiers and were responsible for excluding Russia.
Ghana, who some consider could be the dark-horse African side, face Germany, Australia and Serbia, which also seems pretty tough.
But for all that, African sides can be thankful that they are not in groups which include current holders of the title Italy or favourites Spain.
The secret of the structure of the world cup with a “group stage” and a “knockout stage” is that the group stage is designed to ensure that the top teams are not ejected from the tournament by a lesser side’s stroke of luck, which would cause all kinds of gnashing of teeth within the powerhouses of the sport.
Since two of every group go forward and a draw is likely between two teams somewhere in the group, one really decisive win and a bit of luck is quite often all that is required to progress.
Yet, in this new era of football internationalism, even for the traditionally strong sides, this is becoming a harder and harder task. Ivory Coast is a tiny, poor country, but almost all of its team’s players are regulars in European clubs.
Consequently, the bookies don’t have European champions Spain down as favourites, but it’s a 4:1 bet, hardly the strongest of odds, despite what some describe as a good draw.
The betting tells other interesting stories too. Ever-pessimistic South Africans may already be bracing themselves for an early exit, but they are not even close to being the least-favoured side. That dubious distinction goes to North Korea currently sitting at 2000:1.
South Africa are currently 125:1, better that Greece, Slovenia and Algeria, presumably based on the past out-performances of host nations.
England’s odds have shortened to 5:1 after the supposedly favourable draw, making them second favourite, but these are British bookies don’t forget, and the Brits are often guilty of over-rating their national side, based on the prowess of British club football. The South Americans, Brazil and Argentina, then follow inevitably, yet once again the odds are relatively long - 11:2 and 9:1.
Punters know something that fans do not – winning this thing is not based on skill alone. The dice inevitably come into it somewhere.
None more so than hosts South Africa, who are in the only group to contain two previous World Cup winners, France and Uruguay. They could also have hoped for an easier start to the competition than having to face Mexico.
But SA’s reinstated coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira, put his finger on it in the post-draw interview with the SABC when he said that there is much more balance between soccer-playing nations now than in the past.
Parreira noted that it was the only group with two former world champions, but added, “It doesn't scare us. It is a challenge for us," demonstrating the obligatory confidence of the seasoned campaigner that he is.
Yet the curiosity of post-draw commentary was how much it focused on the “tough group” this or that country drew.
Since the tournament is taking place on African soil for the first time, fostered by President Jacob Zuma’s confident assertion that an African team would win, there was some discussion about the draws of the continental teams.
The prevailing opinion is that African teams did not fare particularly well. Veteran Africa soccer writer and commentator Mark Gleeson wrote for Reuters that the hopes of Africa’s six contenders of getting through to the knockout phase “looked a tough ask” after Friday's draw.
Yet with six contenders and eight categories, this is essentially the same as saying that all groups were tough, which is essentially the truth.
Yet you have to feel a bit for Ivory Coast, perhaps the best African side in the tournament, who will have to negotiate a group which includes five-time World Cup-winners Brazil and Portugal, late but strong contenders.
By comparison, Cameroon has what seems like an easier ride, with Holland, Denmark and Japan in their group. Likewise Nigeria, fielding perhaps the weakest side in recent history, face Argentina, Greece and South Korea in Group B. Algeria are in Group C with England, the US and Slovenia, which might not seem a particularly tough group except that Slovenia played exceptionally well during the qualifiers and were responsible for excluding Russia.
Ghana, who some consider could be the dark-horse African side, face Germany, Australia and Serbia, which also seems pretty tough.
But for all that, African sides can be thankful that they are not in groups which include current holders of the title Italy or favourites Spain.
The secret of the structure of the world cup with a “group stage” and a “knockout stage” is that the group stage is designed to ensure that the top teams are not ejected from the tournament by a lesser side’s stroke of luck, which would cause all kinds of gnashing of teeth within the powerhouses of the sport.
Since two of every group go forward and a draw is likely between two teams somewhere in the group, one really decisive win and a bit of luck is quite often all that is required to progress.
Yet, in this new era of football internationalism, even for the traditionally strong sides, this is becoming a harder and harder task. Ivory Coast is a tiny, poor country, but almost all of its team’s players are regulars in European clubs.
Consequently, the bookies don’t have European champions Spain down as favourites, but it’s a 4:1 bet, hardly the strongest of odds, despite what some describe as a good draw.
The betting tells other interesting stories too. Ever-pessimistic South Africans may already be bracing themselves for an early exit, but they are not even close to being the least-favoured side. That dubious distinction goes to North Korea currently sitting at 2000:1.
South Africa are currently 125:1, better that Greece, Slovenia and Algeria, presumably based on the past out-performances of host nations.
England’s odds have shortened to 5:1 after the supposedly favourable draw, making them second favourite, but these are British bookies don’t forget, and the Brits are often guilty of over-rating their national side, based on the prowess of British club football. The South Americans, Brazil and Argentina, then follow inevitably, yet once again the odds are relatively long - 11:2 and 9:1.
Punters know something that fans do not – winning this thing is not based on skill alone. The dice inevitably come into it somewhere.
No fears for Casillas
Spain captain Iker Casillas is relishing the prospect of possibly locking horns with either Brazil or Portugal in the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup.
The European champions were handed what looks on paper to be a fairly straightforward group after being drawn against Chile, Honduras and Switzerland last night. However, a top-two finish in Group H would then pit Spain against one of the leading sides from Group G in the next round, with Brazil, Portugal, Côte d'Ivoire and Korea DPR making up that pool.
If we want to get to the final we have to think that we are going to face important teams.
Iker Casillas
Far from fearing having to face one of the big guns from the 'Group of Death' though, Casillas is looking forward to the opportunity. "If we want Spain to have a good tournament then we have to face the best teams," said the Real Madrid goalkeeper. "We cannot get to the final by facing teams that aren't among the favourites.
"We have to play as we have been doing up to now, arrive in the best possible form and if we face a team such as Brazil and Portugal we will have to give our best. To be able to play against important teams is a real pleasure."
Regarding his side's draw for the group stages, Casillas admitted fortune had smiled on them. "Of all the teams that we could have faced, we've been lucky, but you need to respect all the teams," he added. "We are not going to think that we are assured of nine points. If we want to get to the final we have to think that we are going to face important teams.
"There's a long time until the World Cup. There will be a lot of talk before then but we will go there with the intention of doing as well as the Spanish national team is supposed to."
The European champions were handed what looks on paper to be a fairly straightforward group after being drawn against Chile, Honduras and Switzerland last night. However, a top-two finish in Group H would then pit Spain against one of the leading sides from Group G in the next round, with Brazil, Portugal, Côte d'Ivoire and Korea DPR making up that pool.
If we want to get to the final we have to think that we are going to face important teams.
Iker Casillas
Far from fearing having to face one of the big guns from the 'Group of Death' though, Casillas is looking forward to the opportunity. "If we want Spain to have a good tournament then we have to face the best teams," said the Real Madrid goalkeeper. "We cannot get to the final by facing teams that aren't among the favourites.
"We have to play as we have been doing up to now, arrive in the best possible form and if we face a team such as Brazil and Portugal we will have to give our best. To be able to play against important teams is a real pleasure."
Regarding his side's draw for the group stages, Casillas admitted fortune had smiled on them. "Of all the teams that we could have faced, we've been lucky, but you need to respect all the teams," he added. "We are not going to think that we are assured of nine points. If we want to get to the final we have to think that we are going to face important teams.
"There's a long time until the World Cup. There will be a lot of talk before then but we will go there with the intention of doing as well as the Spanish national team is supposed to."
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About the World Cup
From it's humble beginnings in 1930 the Soccer World Cup has grown to be one of the most spectacular sporting events in the world. The 2010 World Cup promises to be the planet's biggest sporting event ever. Well over a billion people are expected to follow the month long tournament between the world's top 32 soccer playing nations.
The World Cup is the most important competition in international soccer and is organised by FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association), the sport's governing body.
The tournament takes place every four years. The previous tournament was held in 2006 in Germany and Italy won the World Cup. 2010 will be the first time that the final tournament will be hosted by an African nation.
More than 160 national teams take part in the regional (Continental Zone) qualifying rounds to qualify as one of the 32 teams that will take part in finals.
The World Cup is the most important competition in international soccer and is organised by FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association), the sport's governing body.
The tournament takes place every four years. The previous tournament was held in 2006 in Germany and Italy won the World Cup. 2010 will be the first time that the final tournament will be hosted by an African nation.
More than 160 national teams take part in the regional (Continental Zone) qualifying rounds to qualify as one of the 32 teams that will take part in finals.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Toure: Pressure is good for us
Côte d’Ivoire are now among the favourites at South Africa 2010. Do you think you will be able to handle the pressure and live up to expectations?(Laughs) People see us as the best team in Africa, that is pressure on its own. I don’t really want to say we will win the World Cup, but our intentions obviously are to win the competition. But I think we should take it one step at a time, we shouldn’t think ahead of ourselves. The media will always have its favourites, we don’t have to base our thinking and our belief on that. We know what we can do, we know what we can achieve. We have been gelling well as a team, we are now playing as a collective. In 2006, we had the hunger, but we lacked experience. Another thing is, we were given a tough group. We don’t know who will be our opponents this time around, but I guess that is something we cannot control. We will have to play against whomever our opponents turn out to be.
Pressure is good for us
When Yaya Toure joined Barcelona, commentators often referred to him simply as “Kolo’s younger brother”. Though clearly in his elder sibling's shadow at the outset, there was always the question of just how long it would take Yaya to make a name for himself.
He soon provided the answer through his impressive performances. He now enjoys his football at Camp Nou and for Côte d’Ivoire, whom he helped qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. FIFA.com caught up with Toure to discuss the secret behind the Ivorians' success, his own personal journey and next year's world finals.
FIFA.com: Yaya, qualifying for a second successive FIFA World Cup must feel like a big achievement for Côte d’Ivoire. What does this mean to you and your country?Yaya Toure: This is a very big moment for us and the people back home. This World Cup is special for all of Africa. We are the first generation of players in Africa to play the World Cup on our own continent. We are excited, we are glad to be part of this African World Cup. I don’t have guarantees on how things will play out, but I know that we will give our best. We have learned a lot, we have seen our mistakes in previous tournaments. That doesn’t mean we won’t make mistakes again, but we can’t repeat the old mistakes. That means we are progressing, we are going towards a good direction - that is good for Ivorian football.
Côte d’Ivoire played quality football during the qualifiers and you scored the most goals. What has been the secret behind your success?The qualifiers were not easy, all the teams wanted to come to this World Cup. The key for us is that we have been very consistent lately. We had to work harder in all the games we played. For example, Burkina Faso are fighters and Malawi is a very unpredictable team. It’s not easy playing in African qualifiers, with all the travelling that is involved, especially for the European-based players among
He soon provided the answer through his impressive performances. He now enjoys his football at Camp Nou and for Côte d’Ivoire, whom he helped qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. FIFA.com caught up with Toure to discuss the secret behind the Ivorians' success, his own personal journey and next year's world finals.
FIFA.com: Yaya, qualifying for a second successive FIFA World Cup must feel like a big achievement for Côte d’Ivoire. What does this mean to you and your country?Yaya Toure: This is a very big moment for us and the people back home. This World Cup is special for all of Africa. We are the first generation of players in Africa to play the World Cup on our own continent. We are excited, we are glad to be part of this African World Cup. I don’t have guarantees on how things will play out, but I know that we will give our best. We have learned a lot, we have seen our mistakes in previous tournaments. That doesn’t mean we won’t make mistakes again, but we can’t repeat the old mistakes. That means we are progressing, we are going towards a good direction - that is good for Ivorian football.
Côte d’Ivoire played quality football during the qualifiers and you scored the most goals. What has been the secret behind your success?The qualifiers were not easy, all the teams wanted to come to this World Cup. The key for us is that we have been very consistent lately. We had to work harder in all the games we played. For example, Burkina Faso are fighters and Malawi is a very unpredictable team. It’s not easy playing in African qualifiers, with all the travelling that is involved, especially for the European-based players among
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