This is to wish you all the best for the holiday season. Please play safe in all things. Do not drink and drive and keep an eye at all road intersections for careless drivers who are in a hurry to die. Keep children away from the drivers' seat and passenger seats. Fasten your seat belts and provide special kids seats. Rest after every 3 hours if you drive long distances and eat well. Have good sleep and make sure to hydrate yourself with drinking plenty water. Above all, enjoy yourself responsibly.
Happy holidays.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Jose Mourinho on Coach of The Year; 'Give it to me' and he is right
The year is drawing to an end and I have good memories of the 2010 football, especially the FIFA World Cup. The controversies of the tournament led me to write one article in which I suggested FIFA should abolish offside rule altogether among other laws. One reader made the best comment ever on the story. 'My bro, you are going crazy now, you are losing it. I am serious'. That is my highlight of the year.
Talking of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Spain were victors without playing much football. Their first and second round encounter were lucky affairs that showed much fatigue on the part of the Barcelona contingent that made the bulk of the players. It was a breathe of fresh air to see the traditional owners of the Cup, Brazil and Germany, to some extent, Argentina, France and Italy were not even in the final.
Spain were coached by Vicente del Bosque. He proved to be a good tactician and though a little boring for a conductor of orchestra, he won the FIFA World Cup. Spain did not a perfect record but achieved the objective. Among the contenders of the Coach of the Year, is Carlo Ancelotti of Chelsea, Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United and Pep Guardiola of Barcelona.
Jose Mourinho wants it and has openly said, 'Give it to me'. This is why. At Inter Milan, he won the ultimate national cup, the national league and the European championship. He did that is style. Basically, he won everything there was for him to win. He ran out of competitions to win and did not have competitors at all. That puts him on top, whether you like him or not.
Talking of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Spain were victors without playing much football. Their first and second round encounter were lucky affairs that showed much fatigue on the part of the Barcelona contingent that made the bulk of the players. It was a breathe of fresh air to see the traditional owners of the Cup, Brazil and Germany, to some extent, Argentina, France and Italy were not even in the final.
Spain were coached by Vicente del Bosque. He proved to be a good tactician and though a little boring for a conductor of orchestra, he won the FIFA World Cup. Spain did not a perfect record but achieved the objective. Among the contenders of the Coach of the Year, is Carlo Ancelotti of Chelsea, Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United and Pep Guardiola of Barcelona.
Jose Mourinho wants it and has openly said, 'Give it to me'. This is why. At Inter Milan, he won the ultimate national cup, the national league and the European championship. He did that is style. Basically, he won everything there was for him to win. He ran out of competitions to win and did not have competitors at all. That puts him on top, whether you like him or not.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Knowledge Musona is a world beater
It is now common knowledge that Knowledge Musona played no league football in his native Zimbabwe and that his signing by Kaizer Chiefs was subject of the ridicule of a 'buy one get 2 free' deal synonymous with Chinese $1 shops. His performance yesternight against Mpumalanga Black Aces has underlined the fact that he is arguably the best thing that has ever happened to South African football in recent years.
There is one thing where this is pointing. Zimbabwean is of age, and it has no money. This is supported by the fact that Zimbabwe players earn about $200,00 a month, but then, the ABSA Premiership players will take home a 100 times more. Statistically and officially, the Zimbabwe Premier League is stronger and a better league that South African football. This is according to CAF. This is despite the fact that South Africa is loaded by sponsors and attracts the best African players. Their development structures and level of competition are not good enough.
But then, how then is South Africa lacking? In so many ways. The South African Premiership Champions League representatives have not gone anywhere since Orlando Pirates won it in 1995. SuperSport United have been representing South Africa in this league for ages. With the resources as they can have any coverage and footage of any match of their choice at any time, they have not made an impact at all. They could only manage to subdue Pirates, Chiefs and Sundowns and then nothing else. They flattered to deceive.
Generally, South African football receives way too much attention and television coverage from Supersport and the SABC-TV that even fans do not go to the stadia any more. It was a sore sight seeing empty seats during the Soweto derby. The huge sums of money and TV coverage becomes a quick fix for clubs and no one really cares about tomorrow and hence the whole thing is just a big fuss.
As a result, the South African Premiership is now ranked as the 16th best topflight league on the continent compared to Zimbabwe's 12th position. They have 7 points and Zimbabwe has 17, a point behind Cote d'Ivoire and Angola — who occupy joint 10th place. For this reason, Zimbabwe have 2 Champions League slots while South Africa has one, with Motor Action and Dynamos getting those slots. Dynamos' exploits in this league are the reason why Zimbabwe football has this rating and they have a preliminary round bye.
Who is the best, you may ask. The Tunisian football league is.Tunisia stood top with 96 points followed by Egypt (87), and Nigeria (75). Others listed in the order of merit include Sudan (54) Democratic Republic of Congo (46), Algeria (27), Morocco (20), Mali (20), Cameroon (19), Cote d'Ivoire (18), Angola (18) and Zimbabwe (12).
There is one thing where this is pointing. Zimbabwean is of age, and it has no money. This is supported by the fact that Zimbabwe players earn about $200,00 a month, but then, the ABSA Premiership players will take home a 100 times more. Statistically and officially, the Zimbabwe Premier League is stronger and a better league that South African football. This is according to CAF. This is despite the fact that South Africa is loaded by sponsors and attracts the best African players. Their development structures and level of competition are not good enough.
But then, how then is South Africa lacking? In so many ways. The South African Premiership Champions League representatives have not gone anywhere since Orlando Pirates won it in 1995. SuperSport United have been representing South Africa in this league for ages. With the resources as they can have any coverage and footage of any match of their choice at any time, they have not made an impact at all. They could only manage to subdue Pirates, Chiefs and Sundowns and then nothing else. They flattered to deceive.
Generally, South African football receives way too much attention and television coverage from Supersport and the SABC-TV that even fans do not go to the stadia any more. It was a sore sight seeing empty seats during the Soweto derby. The huge sums of money and TV coverage becomes a quick fix for clubs and no one really cares about tomorrow and hence the whole thing is just a big fuss.
As a result, the South African Premiership is now ranked as the 16th best topflight league on the continent compared to Zimbabwe's 12th position. They have 7 points and Zimbabwe has 17, a point behind Cote d'Ivoire and Angola — who occupy joint 10th place. For this reason, Zimbabwe have 2 Champions League slots while South Africa has one, with Motor Action and Dynamos getting those slots. Dynamos' exploits in this league are the reason why Zimbabwe football has this rating and they have a preliminary round bye.
Who is the best, you may ask. The Tunisian football league is.Tunisia stood top with 96 points followed by Egypt (87), and Nigeria (75). Others listed in the order of merit include Sudan (54) Democratic Republic of Congo (46), Algeria (27), Morocco (20), Mali (20), Cameroon (19), Cote d'Ivoire (18), Angola (18) and Zimbabwe (12).
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Sir or Sheik Alex Ferguson? United may change hands
A Qatari royal family are said to be on their way to owning Manchester United for a mere £1.5 billion. This is peanuts for someone from a country that will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, as long as you drive your car. Oil prices have been consistently high at about $80,00 a barrel. Over the years, oil-rich countries budget with the assumption of crude oil costing $60,00 a barrel and hence, the extra $20,00 is excess and the governments record budget excesses over over $300 billion.
The American family, the Glazers stand to have a 100%, as opposed to the Hicks loss at Liverpool, since they paid £790 million five and a half years ago. With rumour of £252 million debt having been 'paid by Qatar Holdings' owned by Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, it seems the issue is beyond a point of return.
Will it benefit United to go east, or will it be a death knell to the already mediocre team?
The American family, the Glazers stand to have a 100%, as opposed to the Hicks loss at Liverpool, since they paid £790 million five and a half years ago. With rumour of £252 million debt having been 'paid by Qatar Holdings' owned by Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, it seems the issue is beyond a point of return.
Will it benefit United to go east, or will it be a death knell to the already mediocre team?
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