Tuesday, November 2, 2010

What exactly is wrong with our clever selves?

Today America votes. It takes one Republican president 8 years to destroy US, and Americans think it will take one Democratic president 2 years to repair the damage. They over-rate Obama. I guess it's the same as if it takes 8 monkeys to cross the Atlantic ocean 2 nights, then 2 monkeys will take 8 nights. The good thing is that dolphins don't have to vote. They would reason that the Republicans brought USA to its knees, hence it will take the Republicans to lift the US out. Elephants would really remember who got them there and they would not tolerate the small of whoever is responsible for their demise. There is this animal whose memory is so short it cannot count to 4. After hitting 3, it draws a blank. Which of the animals will vote today? That is why I am not a politician. I just don't get these things. Anyway...

Football is not divorced from politics. Nigerians got their feet tangled in the sport and FIFA banned them from international competition. It was always the desire of the government to see the national association stops the participation in football until the Nigerian Football Association house was in order. A few issues were thrown in and then it seems like after some manipulation somewhere, FIFA lifted the ban and Nigerian football will continue to nose-dive down. I can confirm they are not dealing with the far east betting syndicates. I urge you not to put your money on that one.

The Zimbabwe Warriors' coach, Tom Saintfeit will be keeping his fingers crossed hoping to hear the out-come of his work-permit application outcome next week. Given the relationship of this guy with a convicted criminal who threw matches, it is hoped he is clean. His appointment coincided with investigation of that national association bosses into the betting scandals with the Malaysian guys. Saintfeit has to work magic if he gets his permit. If he doesn't, I guess he will be earning his monies as he is the current employee of the association. His players are tainted with syndicate dollars and at least the government has promised not to interfere or prosecute the guilty ones. This makes me think that Zimbabwe and Nigeria should exchange governments. Africa is indeed a very interesting place and this may happen in a matter of hours.

The one time weird story that kept the impatient South Africans almost toyitoying was the appointment of their national coach after the 2010 FIFA World Cup. When the national association hired the $250 000 per month earning Carlos Alberto Parreira, they asked him to set up structures and recommendation to develop the game as a lasting legacy. He was to recruit and nurture one local coach to take over after he was gone. When he left, SAFA were going to interview candidates for the national team job. They have not implemented any of the the Brazilians recommendations that included junior league for under 19 players, reserve team league or even the quota of foreign players. The truth is that South Africa will hire someone sometime and ask him for recommendations and he will tell them the story they do not want to hear and then he will be fired. Now that Pitso Mosimane is the boss, usually that guy comes in as an unsolicited 'advisor' who eventually operates as a smooth criminal to 'hit' a coup.

The story is more or less in Botswana, where coach Stanley Tshosane has made a minor country into an overnight giant after the Zebras made Tunisia and Togo bite the dust in the 2012 AFCON qualifiers. Zimbabwe tasted the same dust in a friendly. Tshosane's job security is as safe as the gold bar covered by half a layer of a domestic spider's web. I guess they also want Tom Saintfeit, in which case, since he is lodging in their backyard, they can ask him to coach at night while his work permit is being sorted out.

My point actually, was the fact that Madinda Ndlovu will coach the Warriors in a friendly in Maputo soon. Ndlovu was given charge with Norman Mapeza the last time the national team was on duty. Ben Moyo delivered the message to the players that Mapeza will assist Ndlovu. As if the Belgian's departure after the immigration people showed him the border gate, the national association came back to tell the players how much a lier Moyo was. He addressed the players to say that the 2 coaches were in the government of national unity under a global football agreement. The confused players could not even see where the goals were on match day.

At this point, since it is just a friendly against Mozambique, Ndlovu is the coach and the bosses are still to come and tell players the match for money or that Saintfeit has come and will be assistant to Madinda. Do not rule out a foreign assistant coach. Crazier things have happened, and more are coming.

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