Hub of Cricket Information

best from cricket world

Pak FIFA Ranking

Bookmark and Share


Though Pakistan has leapt up 21 places within eight months to seize the 156th spot in the latest FIFA World Ranking, it is below all the countries in the South Asian region except for Afghanistan and Bhutan.

India, which has recently won the SAFF Championship in Bangladesh this month, is still the leader in the region with a 134 ranking, followed by Maldives (137th), Bangladesh (149th), Sri Lanka (151st) and Nepal (152).

Afghanistan are trailing at the 194th spot. Bhutan, who were defeated by Pakistan in the SAFF Championship by 7-0 are at the bottom of the region with a 196 ranking.

Spain are at the top of the ranking followed by Brazil and the Netherlands.

In 2003, Pakistan were at 160 when the current Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) President Faisal Saleh Hayat took the charge of the federation. It is also during his tenure that Pakistan slipped to 177th in April this year after starting 2009 from the 165th spot. {# }

Labels: ,

posted @ 9:52 AM, ,

Lionel Messi named World Player of 2009

Bookmark and Share

Lionel Messi was named the 2009 World Player of the Year on Monday at the FIFA World Player Gala in Zurich, Switzerland. The winner of the award is determined by vote of world’s players and coaches; the award caps a perfect year for the winger. Messi helped lead FC Barcelona to a clean sweep of titles, including his goal in extra time to win the Club World Cup on December 19.

Messi was a unanimous choice over the other nominees: Barcelona teammates Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniest, the 2008 winner Cristiano Ronaldo and the 2007 winner Kaka.
Video footage of Messi's top ten goals of 2009 can be found here

FIFA also announced the World XI, the top players in the world, by position. The players are listed here.

Labels: ,

posted @ 7:05 PM, ,

FIFA and Pakistan

Bookmark and Share


International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has asserted that they are giving due importance to develop Pakistan football.

'FIFA is committed to develop football in a well-known South Asian country and it will work hard towards its commitment', said FIFA President Sepp Blatter in a detailed meeting with President Pakistan Football Federation Faisal Saleh Hayat.

'Pakistan has a huge population and football there needs to be developed; there is enormous potential. We need a clear plan.

'FIFA has many excellent development and education programmes and we need similar programmes in Pakistan which complement all that work. We need a clear vision on how we develop the game in this country.

We will leave no stone unturned to give all out support to PFF which is already moving with positive sign,' he added.

FIFA Chief during his 30-minutes meeting with PFF Chief,in United Arab Emirates, discussed a road map for the development of Pakistan football during 6th FIFA World Club Cup final at the Abu Dhabi's Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on December 19 that saw UEFA Champions League winners FC Barcelona overcoming Copa Libertadores winners Estudiantes 2-1.

Faisal Saleh Hayat, also AFC disciplinary Committee Chairman, attended the final on the invitation from Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Mohammed bin Hammam and United Arab Emirates Football Association President Mohamed Al-Rumaithi.

'There are lots of plans to bring Pakistan football up to the standard to be expected of a nation considered to be the sixth most populated country in the world. They are all a long way from fruition, but do not think Pakistan is lost to football just yet,' Blatter.

'Football will be restructured at the grassroots level,' Blatter says. 'I hope Vision Asia Project will change the fortune of football in Pakistan.' Blatter said it is his desire and one of his life-time wishes to visit Pakistan. 'I tried my best to land in this beautiful nation but security concerns always obstructed me.'

He added that Football for Hope projects will become part of Pakistan in future as PFF is in full swing under the dynamic leadership of Faisal Saleh Hayat.

'I extend to you (Faisal) my heartfelt appreciation for your untiring and steady efforts to lift football from scratch.'

Football for Hope programme, whose inclusion has been ratified by the FIFA Committee for Fair Play and Social Responsibility, will take Football for Hope to a whole new dimension.

The movement already uses the power of football to support more Football in Pakistan from 2006-2009 via concrete, sustainable projects.

Blatter added: 'FIFA takes its social responsibility very seriously as part of its aim to build a better future. That is why we have declared Football for Hope to be a movement and an activity of strategic importance and we are proud that we are now in a position to support more organisations in their work,' said Blatter. {APP}

Labels: , ,

posted @ 1:57 PM, ,

Miraculous Messi in line for FIFA honour

Bookmark and Share

Barcelona's Argentine superstar Lionel Messi is the hot favourite to win the FIFA World Player of the Year award, which will be announced by world football's governing body in Zurich on Monday.

The dazzling winger has already been honoured with the prestigious Ballon d'Or, the European Player of the Year trophy, and he picked up his sixth prize of an unforgettable year with Barcelona after scoring the winning goal in their 2-1 win over Estudiantes in the final of the World Club Cup on Saturday.

"We've just ended a historic year, a perfect year in which we've won every competition we've played in," said the 22-year-old, who vanquished his Argentine compatriots Estudiantes with an innovative chested finish in extra-time of their Abu Dhabi showdown.

"We just needed to take this last step and everything has worked out how we wanted. It's amazing. It's difficult to put into words."

Barcelona's incredible 2009, in which they additionally won the league, the Spanish Cup, the Champions League, the European Super Cup and the Spanish Super Cup, has also led to nominations for midfield pair Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

"If you're talking about all the trophies, then there's no other side that has achieved what we have this year," Messi added in an interview with the FIFA website.

"We are happy at having made history but make no mistake, we'll be out to win everything again next year."

Real Madrid pair Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, the reigning award-holder and world's most expensive player, complete the five-man list of nominees but Messi is widely expected to pip them both, having already beaten Ronaldo to the Ballon d'Or earlier in the month.

The only black mark on Messi's year was the struggle endured by Argentina in World Cup qualifying, but they eventually squeezed through and next summer's South African showpiece will give him the opportunity to join the pantheon of the truly great alongside his national boss Diego Maradona.

Aside from the men's prize, FIFA will select the Women's World Player of the Year from a shortlist featuring Germans Birgit Prinz and Inka Grings, England's Kelly Smith and Brazilian pair Cristiane and favourite Marta.

FIFA will also unveil its inaugural Team of the Year, while the Ferenc Puskas prize -- named in honour of the 1950s Hungarian great - will be presented to the scorer of the year's best goal.{#}

Labels: ,

posted @ 9:53 PM, ,

USA. Get Dutch Date for World Cup Prep

Bookmark and Share

The Netherlands will host United States in a World Cup warm-up at Amsterdam on March 3, with both teams likely to be at full strength for one of the last tune ups before the tournament in South Africa.

Nations are jockeying to find suitable opponents for March 3 - a FIFA match date - as coaches finalise squad selections and tweak their tactics to prepare for the types of opposition they will encounter come June.

The United States have lost on all three occasions they've met the Dutch, including a 1-0 defeat at Amsterdam in 2004. The Americans will now have faced FIFA's top four ranked nations in recent times, with the third-ranked Dutch adding to Spain, Brazil and Italy.

The U.S. opens next year's schedule against Honduras on Jan. 23 at Carson, Calif., and is trying to arrange a home game against Mexico in late February.

The Americans start the World Cup in South Africa on June 12 against England, play Slovenia on June 18 and Algeria on June 23, while the Dutch are in a group with Denmark, Japan and Cameroon. {#}

posted @ 10:54 AM, ,

Five Billion World Cup

Bookmark and Share

The 2018 or 2022 World Cup would provide a $5 billion economic impact and create as many as 100,000 jobs in the United States, the U.S. Bid Committee said on Tuesday.

The U.S is one of 10 bidders looking to host either the 2018 or 2022 tournaments. U.S. soccer president Sunil Gulati presided over meetings in New York to discuss the campaign and develop plans for the final push leading up to the decision on the hosts for the two tournaments by FIFA in December 2010.

The high-powered committee includes luminaries from politics and business like former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"The meeting marks an important milestone for our bid as we now start the second and final stage of our bid campaign," Gulati said in a statement.

The committee said it had discussed a recent study conducted by consultants that estimated a successful bid would have an economic impact of $5 billion and would create between 65,000 and 100,000 new jobs during the preparation and operation of the tournament in the year of the event.

The committee also said there are currently 27 cities and 32 stadia under consideration as host venues.

The list would need to be trimmed to the maximum of 18 cities that can be included in the formal bid book due to be handed to FIFA next May.

Labels: ,

posted @ 8:55 AM, ,

South Africa and England Cricket

Bookmark and Share

England captain Andrew Strauss won the toss and sent South Africa out to bat in the first test at Centurion on Wednesday.

South Africa were rocked before the toss by the news that fast bowler Dale Steyn was unable to play due to a tight hamstring.

His withdrawal means 29-year-old Friedel de Wet is set for his international debut.

South Africa have also recalled lanky fast bowler Morne Morkel. Paceman Makhaya Ntini will celebrate a top-class career by becoming the fifth South African to play 100 tests.

England are playing an additional batsman with Ian Bell earning a 50th test cap. The weather at Centurion is fine and sunny.

Teams:
South Africa - Graeme Smith, Ashwell Prince, Hashim Amla,Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Mark Boucher, Morne Morkel, Paul Harris, Friedel de Wet, Makhaya Ntini.

England - Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Jimmy Anderson, Graham Onions. {#}

Labels: , ,

posted @ 8:56 PM, ,

Cape Town Stadium

Bookmark and Share


In a special ceremony for more than 200 invited guests and media, the contractors handed “the key of the door” to Cape Town’s Executive Mayor, Alderman Dan Plato.

As the biggest project of its kind ever undertaken in Cape Town – the total cost was R4.5 billion - it is widely regarded as a triumph in both design and construction. Concept designers were GMP Architekten from Germany, while detail design was done by Louis Karol and Associates and Point Architects.

The main building contractors were Murray and Roberts and WBHO, two of South Africa’s largest construction companies. The city was assisted by a multi-disciplinary professional team who oversaw the project.

The project got off to a late start on March 26, 2007, after a lengthy public participation process, which included an environmental impact assessment, rezoning and building plan approval, feasibility studies, and some legal challenges from local residents.

During the construction process, some 2,500 workers were employed, and 1,200 artisans received training from the contractors.

For the 2010 World Cup, the stadium will have 68,000 seats, but 13,000 will be removed after the event and used at other City of Cape Town facilities.

After the World Cup, the stadium will be operated commercially by Stade de France, a company that runs a massive stadium of the same name in Paris and the South African sports marketing company SAIL. It is anticipated that the stadium will be used for rugby and soccer matches, music concerts, religious gatherings, and spectaculars.

Green Point is the birthplace of soccer in South Africa. The first recorded public game was staged on the common in 1862, but it differed slightly from the modern game in the sense that it was played by “Winchester Rules,” which allowed handling of the ball. The friendly match was played between 15 army officers and the same number of civil servants and it ended in a goal-less draw.

It is, therefore, fitting that eight World Cup matches – five first round clashes, one second round, one quarter-final, and one semi-final – should be played on the site where “the beautiful game” began in South Africa.

The 37,000-square-meter glass roof absorbed a high proportion of the costs and is an engineering “first” for Africa, using technology and components from Germany, France, Spain, and South Africa. Weighing 3,750 tons, the roof is made up of 9,000 laminated glass panels that allow in the natural light but also contain the noise.

An outer façade made from fiberglass mesh contains the light and noise and, when lit up at night, gives the impression of a floating lantern.

The stadium site occupies 18 hectares of the 80-hectare Green Point Common, which is being upgraded and reconfigured to meet high environmental standards and to provide extensive recreational and sporting facilities. It includes a vastly-improved, 9-hole golf course, sports fields, and a new 12.5-hectare urban park. Water ponds for irrigation will be fed by water from the stadium roof and from a spring in Oranjezicht, thus reducing dependence on potable water. {#}

Labels: , , ,

posted @ 7:51 PM, ,

Cape Town Ready to Kick Off

Bookmark and Share


An estimated 55,000 people gathered in Cape Town’s Long Street on Friday, December 4, with an additional 150-million viewers following on TV, to watch the highly-anticipated 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Final Draw. Flags of all countries waved as the expectant crowd waited for the big draw, but it was the South African flag that flew most prominently and proudly as Cape Town represented the country in spectacular fashion.

Now with the Final Draw results known and the full Cape Town match schedule available for review, we’re certain that your plans to attend the first African FIFA World Cup has begun in earnest. With this in mind, we’ve prepared a series of answers for questions you may have.

Noisy, colorful, and enthusiastic! This is the first time a FIFA World Cup will be held on African soil. A soccer-loving nation, South Africa is also excited to be the host of its first international event of this magnitude. Don’t expect Germany, don’t expect Barcelona – this is Africa, where energy, spontaneity, and hospitality are the cornerstones of society.

Yes. There are an estimated 70,000 beds available in the greater Cape Town area. Accommodation options range from six-star luxury hotels and private villas to bed and breakfasts and self-catering house hires. Many of the larger hotels have signed with FIFA booking agent MATCH. If you are looking for a direct booking, go to www.capetown.travel/2010 for some accommodation options. Whatever you do, make sure you book through some sort of reputable agency or recognized tourism association – you don’t want to end up sharing the bathroom with someone else’s granny, someone else’s kids, and someone else’s washing machine!

Cape Town itself is not an expensive destination, but some of the packages on offer are. The primary reason for this is the guarantee that comes with booking a package. Guaranteed tickets to the game you want to see, accommodation, flights, and sometimes even hospitality included means you pay for the satisfaction of certainty. If you are doing it yourself, you will need to buy your ticket through FIFA. Cape Town’s tourism industry has generally agreed on a standard peak rate plus 17 percent. The local tourism authorities have done much work around averting mega-event greed.

Again, it is advisable to sort yourself out as soon as possible. Early indications are that some of the airlines are planning on charging higher-than-usual fees. One South African carrier, Mango, has publicly announced that it will not be hiking its fees during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

South Africa is a large country – at 1,221 040km2, it is five times the size of Great Britain. Unless an extensive road-trip is part of your plan, you would probably choose to fly. Getting from Cape Town to Johannesburg is a 17-hour drive, while Durban to Johannesburg is about 7 hours. On the plane, a Cape Town-Johannesburg haul is about 2 hours and a flip from Durban to Johannesburg is about 50 minutes.

Cape Town Airport has just undergone a R3-billion upgrade. It has won Best Airport in Africa seven years in a row at the World Travel Market. On arrival, passengers will enjoy a swift automatic baggage-sorting process, after which they will proceed to the Transport Plaza, from where they will choose their preferred route and mode of transport. Cape Town’s bus, coach, taxi, and shuttle systems have all been extensively upgraded. The point-to-point rapid bus system is on track for shuttling fans between the airport, city center, and stadium, and the central Cape Town Station has received a technical and aesthetic face lift, extending into a “park and ride” network that is designed to avert excess traffic on the roads.

Yes. Several point-to-point bus routes will be on offer, taxi fleets are on standby, and a reliable train service is available. The central city to the stadium area is largely pedestrianized.

Cape Town has a sophisticated banking infrastructure. Most retailers are equipped to handle Visa and Master cards and some accept American Express and Diners Club cards. Special condition licenses are being granted to several hotels to allow them to act as bureaus de change during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. Cash is king, but credit is safer. Beyond the city and in the rural areas of South Africa, it is advisable to carry some cash. Cash is also necessary for parking fees and tips.

South Africa has hosted 140 international sporting events over the past few years and not one of these reported any serious crime incident. The South African Police Services are in overall control of safety and security but will work closely with disaster management and fire, cleaning, and transport services through joint operations centers. The whole stadium precinct will be locked down before the event, and entry will be tightly restricted.

The usual common-sense rules apply, of course. Watch your possessions, don’t carry original copies of your travel documents, limit the cash on your person and be aware.

Cape Town is a cosmopolitan city with much to offer. As the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ takes place in winter, fans should expect to take advantage of Cape Town’s excellent and diverse culinary offering. Five Cape Town restaurants feature on the S. Pellegrino World’s Top 100 Restaurants list.

A three-course meal price in an upmarket restaurant will range from R250-R550 per head with a good bottle of wine priced at an average of R120-R300. From the winelands to the townships, there are dining options that are unforgettable.

If shopping is on the agenda, you can choose between ingenious local craft, sexy local youth-culture and design goodies, collectable art, and fashion.

If you are interested in some adventure activity, Cape Town offers plenty. Rock climbing (indoors or out), walks, paragliding, horse-riding, shark cage diving, and helicopter flips are just some of the adrenalin adjusters to help you work off the food and drink.

Winter is also the best time to surf and kite-surf in Cape Town.

If you are still have a burning question about what Cape Town has in store for you this 2010 FIFA World Cup™, then make your way to www.capetown.travel/2010 and see if it is listed among the frequently asked questions (FAQs). If not, ask Cape Town Tourism directly on +27 (0)21 487 6800. {#}

Labels: , ,

posted @ 7:46 PM, ,

FIFA 2018 and 2022

Bookmark and Share

Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, University of Miami president Donna Shalala and comedian Drew Carey attended the first board meeting of the U.S. bid committee trying to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022.

Former women's team star Mia Hamm and U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati also were at the three-hour session Tuesday, held at Major League Soccer's offices. U.S. coach Bob Bradley, who is not on the board, sat in.

FIFA's executive committee is to choose the 2018 and 2022 hosts next December. The U.S. will propose 12-to-18 host cities in its bid book, which is due to FIFA by May. Thirty-two stadiums are under consideration for what would be the second World Cup in the U.S., the first since 1994.

"We were really gathering everybody to focus their attention on the upcoming year, which I would say is the campaign phase of the bid," executive director David Downs said. "When all is said and done, the mission is to get as many of the 24 votes we can get.

"And we were trying to kind of strategize about ways we can go about that and what abilities some of their folks have, either who they know or what assets they have at their disposal."
England, Netherlands-Belgium, Russia, Spain-Portugal, Australia and Japan also are bidding to host both World Cups. Indonesia, Qatar and South Korea are bidding for 2022 only.

Eight of the 24 voters on FIFA's executive committee are from Europe, making that continent the favourite to host in 2018.

"Until somebody tells us we're not permitted to bid for '18, we're bidding for '18. We're bidding for both," Downs said.

Still, he admitted, "a lot of intelligent people are forecasting that '18 is a race between European countries."

Labels:

posted @ 8:49 AM, ,

FIFA's New World Cup Ball

Bookmark and Share

It seems absurd for the world's most popular game to reinvent the wheel every four years, but that's what the folks at FIFA have done.

The world soccer governing body recently unveiled the 2010 World Cup official ball, and it's more than just a commemorative logo that set this sphere apart.

The Jabulani ball (Jabulani means "to celebrate" in isiZulu) was presented in South Africa earlier this month. Adidas says it's the roundest and most accurate soccer ball ever made, beating out the Teamgeist ball from 2006.

Check out a scientific explanation here.

Imagine Major League Baseball building a new ball from scratch for every World Series. It's kind of like that. {#}

Labels: ,

posted @ 8:47 AM, ,

German Aren't Strong Enough to Triumph

Bookmark and Share

Germany captain Michael Ballack has claimed that the three-time World Cup winners should not be considered amongst the favourites for the 2010 finals.

Germany, under head coach Joachim Low, finished ahead of Russia in their qualifying group to reach the finals in South Africa and their impressive record in the competition dictates that they are considered challengers for the biggest prize in football.

As West Germany they won the competition in 1954, 1974 and 1990, while as a unified country they have reached at least the quarter-finals in the past four tournaments, losing in the 2002 final to a Ronaldo-inspired Brazil.

But Ballack, who will lead Germany when their campaign kicks off against Australia on June 13, is unconvinced that his team-mates have the necessary quality to trouble the favourites, Brazil and Spain.

"We do not have the consistency or strength in depth in the squad," Ballack told Kicker magazine. "We have been too weak, particularly in friendlies, to be able to say that we have the class to beat everybody else."

Labels:

posted @ 8:56 AM, ,

Football World Cup 2006: Economic Impact

Bookmark and Share

From its humble beginnings in some muddy English field many centuries ago, football is now an undisputed global affair, with money sloshing around it by the bucketful. For the last event in 2002, FIFA took its cash cow to Asia for the first time, where it was co-hosted by Japan and South Korea. While many doubted the ability of the hosts to pull off the event, it was a success at least off the field, generating a $260 million profit for FIFA [Link].

Last time the world paid so much attention to Germany was 16 years ago when the (Berlin) Wall came down. During ongoing World Cup 2006 German government, businesses, economists and politicians are hoping for a kick, to the national economy – let up in tourism with a million soccer coming there, Adidas anticipating {euro} 1.2 billion worth of World Cup related sales, 60,000 new jobs being created and every third job is expected to be a permanent one.


Germany has already spent $5 billion to ready the 12 cities for the event, billed as one of the biggest soccer tournament ever. From 16 finalists in the early years, rising to 24 in Spain in 1982, World Cup 2006 will feature 32 teams (as from the 1998 edition) from all six continents.

Remember the experience the experience of the 2002 World Cup hosts Japan and South Korea. Both the economies were ailing, and had banked on the tournament to help spark a revival and increase their global stature. And this did happen.

Now Germany as the host nation is the main beneficiary with an estimated boost of £7.4bn to its economy. The Centre for Economics and Business Research estimates that the World Cup will give a £13 billion boost to the economies of the 32 countries competing in the tournament. Europe will be the biggest winner, with a £11.3 billion gain, mainly from a surge in consumer spending. The UK's gain is calculated at £1.3 billion, while France will get a £1.2 billion benefit and Italy £700 million.

Impact of Word Cup on economies is being research deeply.
Updates:
World Cup economics on a grand scale
World Cup Soccer Economic Impact

Labels:

posted @ 9:53 AM, ,

FIFA World Cup 2006 - From My Archive

Bookmark and Share


The FIFA World Cup was first televised in 1954. Now - 52 years later - it is the most widely viewed and followed sporting event, ahead of even the Olympic Games. The cumulative TV audience of the World Cup 2002 was estimated at 28.8 billion. 1.1 billion TV viewers watched the final match between Brazil and Germany. The 2006 edition, held between June 9 and July 9 in Germany, is bound to draw even bigger audiences. What makes for the unmatched media success of the FIFA World Cup?

FIFA President Sepp Blatter : 'After 847 qualifying games with 2,464 goals and countless moments of drama, and after years of groundwork by both the German organizing committee and FIFA, the time has finally come for the kick-off of the 18th FIFA World Cup in Munich on June 9. That is hardly surprising though, because the FIFA World Cup is simply as good as it gets in football. For the fans, for the associations that have qualified, it will soon see the fruits of their work, and above all for the 736 players who will be selected for the finals in Germany. If you ask any footballer about his fondest memories or his greatest successes, he will invariably say 'playing in the World Cup', or if he is one of the lucky ones, 'winning the World Cup'.

Who will win?

Why I have put blog poll on this site? One because Darren Rowse says that it adds interactivity on the blog (Poll hels as Discussion Starter, Poll Results can lead to incoming links, Research for your writing, Increases reader participation, They demonstrate your blog is alive, Polls can Help Shape your blog and Increases visits from RSS) and two, I am following FIFA Word Cup taking place in twelve cities in Germany, from June 9 to July 9, 2006. I have already filed my predictions and what is in the event for fans across the globe (will appear on June 11). I am hoping that poll results will validate my assertions and what I think and I will show that in the follow up plus what football fans have been doing online {like searching for info about Wayne Rooney and more} during and before the World Cup. Please vote (sidebar). [Note: 32 teams are taking part in the Word Cup]

See it here

Labels: ,

posted @ 9:44 AM, ,

The Games Begins

Bookmark and Share



Performers dance before the start of the FIFA Club World Cup match between the United Arab Emirates' Al-Ahli and Auckland, the reigning champions from the Oceania region, at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on December 9, 2009. The winners of the match will join TP Mazembe, Atlante and Pohang Steelers in the quarter-finals. AFP PHOTO/KARIM SAHIB (Photo credit should read KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images )

posted @ 1:43 PM, ,

South Africa and FIFA

Bookmark and Share

Since I hate soccer with a passion, I would have a deep sense of schadenfreude if South Africa were not ready for the world cup. (For those of you Natal graduates, schadenfreude is a German word: schaden means harm or damage and freude joy, so schadenfreude is pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others.)

The reason for my aggressive attitude is not really that I like to see my country fail but rather that I am disappointed that a game (which I regard with distain) can be the catalyst for the government and provinces of this country to do so much in a short time to produce many things that are needed (like rapid-transit systems) and so many things not needed (like large stadiums) while nothing happens about the eternal African usual suspect problems of healthcare, accommodation, employment, crime, infrastructure, water, and so on.

The cash spent is about R9,6-billion allocated for transport projects and R8,4-billion for the construction of World Cup stadiums. A further R1,5-billion was allocated to the International Broadcast Centre, in Johannesburg, and other aspects of the country's information and communication technology infrastructure.

One wonders what would have happened if FIFA had not said that there must be stadiums for the World Cup but that crime must significantly reduce and infrastructure and employment must significantly increase for the World Cup. Well, we know the answer to that. We do have the budget to nail accommodation, employment, crime, infrastructure, water and employment but, unless we have somebody demanding that something be done about it by some specific deadline, all that happens is that politicians do nothing but talk and buy smart cars.


I think there is no doubt that some of the structures that have been built for the World Cup are quite magnificent, particularly the stadiums. But they contribute very little to our society. The Cape Town stadium will be used four times for the World Cup and thereafter . . . well, perhaps as much as the old Green Point stadium, which is to say not much at all.


Let us look to the other side: the stadiums were built on a very fast track and are a job well done. What does this tell us? If you want something built quickly and well, give it to the experts and they will do the job. The experts in this case are private-sector contractors. But if you want something messed up, then give it to a loose consortium of cadres and comrades with impeccable struggle credentials, all of whom have limited knowledge of big-project construction. The results of the latter, we have seen, are a waste of money with no specific result. But guess what - when Fifa cracks the whip, out go the comrades and in come the private-sector experts, who will get it right.

And the FIFA people have taken the form of gods. They decree that the whole of Cape Town central be blocked for the World Cup draw - and so it is. They block-book all flights between Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban, making intercity travel between these centres very difficult and expensive. They pronounce, they dictate, they pontificate. And we, in awe and amazement that such luminaries can even exist, bow down and lay out the red carpet, all in the name of the 'beautiful' but actually deadly boring game.

In all this, there is one enduring symbol of failure of the World Cup. It is in the form of the South African woman. She may be in the Tugela valley, in Limpopo province, in the Northern Cape, in the Eastern Cape . . . anywhere in this country. She walks with an erect carriage because, balanced on her head, is a 20-l plastic drum of water. She is taking water from a river to her house. The reason for this is that, wonderfully, magnificently, South Africa can spend billions of rands for the sake of entertainment but cannot get it right to bring piped water to the houses of tens of thousands of people, who will not be watching the World Cup. How much more can we fail? {#}

posted @ 9:06 AM, ,

Bookmark and Share

a perdurable a day, helps you sleep, work and play

posted @ 1:34 PM, ,

Abu Dhabi set for Club World Cup

Bookmark and Share


The United Arab Emirates' desire to host the FIFA Club World Cup -- which it is doing this year and next -- needs to be put into a wider sporting context to be fully understood.

It is not just that the Emirates wanted to host one of the world's most prestigious club tournaments, it is that it wanted to make the competition part of a series of high-end sporting events to which it could lay claim.

Over the past few years, the country has worked hard to establish itself as a business and tourist hub. This year saw it add a third dimension, with the UAE attempting to position itself as one of the world's premier sporting destinations: a magnet for top-class football, motor sports, golf and tennis events.

The centerpiece was the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November. That was followed by the inaugural Dubai World Championship golf tournament three weeks later, which is the end-of-season climax to the re-branded Race to Dubai, which used to be known as the far less exciting-sounding European Tour Order of Merit.

November also saw Dubai host FIFA's Beach Soccer World Cup -- a sport where the hosts are now so good that they actually beat Brazil in Rio de Janeiro this summer.
Pakistan, which is unable to play international cricket in its homeland at present due to security issues, took on New Zealand in a five-match series in Abu Dhabi and Dubai during November. In January, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will, for the second year running, play in the invitational Capitala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.

The northern emirate of Ras al-Khaimah was also ready to host the America's Cup race in February, until a New York court ruled in late October that the race had to be held in the southern hemisphere.

Such an array of events opens the UAE to a wide variety of sporting tourists and, perhaps even more importantly, gives the country exposure and prominence to fans watching around the world.
But, despite the wide choice of sports, football is still king in the Emirates.

FIFA awarded the UAE back-to-back Club World Cups in May 2008, with a $5 million donation to grassroots football helping the Emirates beat off competition from Australia and Japan, where the event will return in 2011.

"I am sure that part of our bid made a big difference," admits Mohammed al-Mahmood, chief executive of Abu Dhabi Sports Council. "I think it is fair to say it could have made the difference between success and failure."

Before this year, the only FIFA competition to have been held in the UAE was the '03 World Youth Cup.

"They said then that they wanted a bigger event and this is it," says FIFA president Sepp Blatter. "The executive committee was unanimously in favor of the UAE bid and is very proud to take this competition there."

In the 16 months since the UAE was awarded the Club World Cup, a lot has happened in the world of Emirati football. On the ownership front, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed bought Manchester City, while Sulaiman al-Fahim managed to buy and sell Portsmouth in a matter of months.
On the pitch, the UAE Under-19 team won the Asian championship for the first time and followed it up by reaching the quarterfinals of the Under-20 World Cup. And the Under-16s came third in the Asian competition to earn a spot at the Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria.

But while the youngsters have been doing well on foreign fields, back at home, Abu Dhabi has been readying itself to host the likes of Barcelona and Estudiantes de La Plata in the Club World Cup.

Five of the tournament's eight games, including the final, will be held at Zayed Sports City, with the other three, including the opener between UAE title-holder Al-Ahli and Oceania champion Auckland City on Wednesday, at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.

Both grounds have been improved significantly, with $20 million spent on the latter, raising its capacity from 15,000 to 42,000. Zayed Sports City's stadium will hold 45,000 and has new dressing rooms, hospitality areas and an upgraded royal box. Both venues will be alcohol-free and have dedicated female-only and family stands.

The grass on both pitches was shipped in from Panama, with seeds being sprayed on to them via hydro-sprigging, a technique which is normally used on golf courses and means those planting the seeds do not have to walk directly on to the area they are treating. The pitches were then put through 15 different tests, ranging from making sure the ball bounces correctly to checking the color and evenness of the grass.

"We are really impressed by what we have seen today, both in terms of the playing and training facilities, and the tremendous hospitality shown to us by the people of the UAE," said Albert Perrín, a Barcelona board member, when his club visited the UAE capital in September to check on the facilities.

"December promises to be an exciting month of football here and we sincerely hope that the next time we leave the UAE, it will be as Club World Cup champions."

Marketing deal: While the absence of an English team will mean less traveling supporters, a considerable number of fans are still expected to make the short trip from Saudi Arabia. Barcelona's presence has been widely welcomed due to its four-year marketing deal with Etisalat, which is the Emirates' biggest telecommunications company. Special charter flights have also been arranged from Barcelona, while the Emirates is home to around 2,000 Spaniards.

There have been concerns that the matches will be played in half-empty stadiums. Last season, games in the Pro League -- the top division in the UAE -- averaged less than 2,500 fans, but around 18,000 were at the Mohammed bin Zayed stadium to watch Sheikh Mansour's Al-Jazira draw 2-2 with Al-Ain in October.

A test event was also held at Zayed Sports City in November, with the UAE national team taking on Manchester City in a friendly, and organizers are buoyed by the fact that the grand prix and this year's Capitala tennis event were both sold out.

They have made match tickets available that are affordable for almost every section of society, pricing them from $2.70 to $82. The cheapest ticket to watch Barcelona in their semifinal is just $4.10.

"I am 100 percent confident that we will attract big crowds for all of the matches," added al-Mahmood. "I feel sure the event will be a major success."

He is also confident that the tournament will not be affected by problems with supporters, who will be entertained outside the stadiums in designated fan zones. "The reputation of this country is such that we are not regarding security as an issue," he said. "We are providing other ways for them to enjoy themselves."

Mohamed al-Rumaithi, president of the UAE Football Association, says of the Club World Cup: "It is a unique opportunity for the people here to be part of an historic international event. Some of the biggest names in football will be playing right here in our backyard for the very first time."

Labels: ,

posted @ 9:51 AM, ,

World Player of the Year

Bookmark and Share

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have both been nominated for FIFA's World Player of the Year award, in a final shortlist of five dominated by Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Messi is one of three Barcelona players to have been named alongside team-mates Xavi and Andres Iniesta, while Real Madrid's record signing Kaka completes the line-up.

In the run-up to the 2010 World Cup, favourites Spain have two players, and Portugal, Brazil and Argentina one each. No English player has made the cut, nor has any player currently playing in the Premier League.

The original 23-man shortlist boasted eight Premier League players, but none have made it to the final five, with the likes of Didier Drogba, Wayne Rooney, and Steven Gerrard all notable absences.

England striker Kelly Smith is up against Brazil's Cristiane and Marta and Germany's Inka Grings and Birgit Prinz for the women's award.

Two new awards have been introduced for 2009; the FIFA Puskas Award, and the FIFA/FIFPro World XI. The Puskas Award, created in honour of Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskas, will be awarded to the "most beautiful goal" during the year, while the World XI will name the best 11 players in the world, as voted for by professional players around the globe.

The winners will be announced on December 21 in Zurich. {# }

Labels: ,

posted @ 11:35 AM, ,

Welcoming Pakistan in South Africa

Bookmark and Share

Syed Ali Naqvi




The first thing that comes to mind about Africa is its biodiversity and wildlife. The more you explore Africa the better you get to know nature?s gifts raw and unadulterated. But going south to the Republic of South Africa one can experience the taste of urban life with all the glitz and glamour. The southern tip of the world is now emerging as the centre of cultural activities of Africa. Cape Town and Pretoria are one of those cities that appreciate art. Yasir Nisar, a photographer par excellence, recently got the opportunity to exhibit his ?The Other Pakistan? collection in South Africa. Executive Mayor of Cape Town Alderman Dan Plato in association with Pakistan High Commission organised the exhibition. Along with Yasir?s work the exhibition also displayed the works of four guest photographers.

Yasir Nisar belongs to Lahore the cultural capital of the country. He is a nationally acclaimed and celebrated photographer who uses his lens as a paintbrush to capture moments of eternal beauty and magnificence.

The other Pakistan?, as the title suggests, aims to highlight the soft image of the country. A nation such as Pakistan cannot be seen only through the prism of security issues, or perceived as a country infected with fanaticism. The roots of our rich cultural heritage can be traced as far back as the Indus valley civilization. Pakistan is a country, which has often been misunderstood. It is either been seen through the perspective of the Indian media or through the western propaganda. Yasir?s work covers all major aspects of Pakistani society from social norms to religious and cultural festivals and from Mughal architecture to natural landscape of the north.

Yasir?s work shows that he has travelled the light and breath of Pakistan. The content varies from mundane daily aspects of life, to elements that are purely human. He brings us face to face with various facets of Pakistan?s life, and takes us away from the transient to what is permanent, the essential beauty, dignity and vastness of what Pakistan is all about.
Arts and culture promote and reflect open society values, and influence public attitudes. It helps in fostering relations based on love and friendship. The work of Yasir Nisar and his supporting photographers through this exhibition not only introduce the soft image of Pakistan to the South African people but also lays a foundation of mutual friendship and brotherhood between the two nations.

Talking to the Sunday Plus Yasir Nisar said, ?I have learnt the art of photography as a means to document the essence of our nation?s socio-cultural milieu, using the aesthetics to enlighten the viewer?s perception to an embracement of our cultural tapestry, our heritage, and the mosaic landscapes unique to the region. This is my absolute passion.?

Yasir has founded the Pakistan Photographers Group ? an online platform, not only for Pakistani photographers, but all aficionados, from hobbyists to professionals around the globe. The aim of the Group is to capture the soul of Pakistan in all its eclectic forms.

Yasir's work has been printed and displayed both at national and international level in various books, travel magazines and newspapers. He has done numerous projects such as the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs? official coffee-table book, which features 12 of his images, and his photographs are also used extensively in tourism magazines. He is sought-after in the advertising industry, and is well known for his striking billboards of the cricket series when held in Pakistan. In addition, he is an accredited photographer to theatre productions, and is equally a widely respected fashion photographer. He has won numerous national awards, and launched the first ever quarterly online tourism magazine, Towards Pakistan.

The world is a global village, cultural exchanges should be promoted, explored and underscored. The Other Pakistan? is one such initiative that would encourage young enthusiasts of fine arts to go for the international exposure. The exhibition is a step forward also in encouraging and inspiring both South African and international artists.

A solo exhibition by Yasir Nisar focusing the religious life in Cape Town was also held in Cape Town. The exhibition was arranged by University of Cape Town. It aimed at highlighting different faiths including Muslim, Christian and Jewish and their rites and traditions coexisting in South Africa in general and Cape Town in particular.

Labels:

posted @ 3:58 PM, ,

Why FIFA decided to use October 2009 rankings only?

Bookmark and Share

“In the past the seedings have been determined by a mixture of world rankings and performances in past World Cups but this time the feeling was the October rankings most closely represented the best teams in the tournament.”

Fine but please let us know well in advance (before qualification for 2014 WC starts) what criteria you will use to determine the seeds for 2014 WC Draw. For the 2014 WC don’t use a criteria that will keep Malawi out of the top seeds.

“We made the decision last month that the October rankings would be used because they were fairer – countries who had been involved in the play-offs would have had an unfair advantages because they would have played more games and that affects their rankings.”

Initially, the release date for the November 2009 FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking publication was November 11, 2009. FIFA had to postpone the publication release date to November 20, 2009 so the final matches (played on November 14 and 18) could be included in the calculation for November rankings. Why did FIFA postpone the release date for the November 2009 FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking publication from 11 November to 20 November if they knew that they would use October rankings? I need to know the exact date FIFA made the decision that the October Rankings would be used. Was it after or before the France/Ireland game? Why didn’t they make a press release soon after the meeting?

Using November Rankings wouldn’t have been fairer because “countries who had been involved in the play-offs would have had an unfair advantages because they would have played more games and that affects their rankings“? What’s fairer about FIFA Rankings? All teams that go further into the competition (e.g. the finals) play more games than the ones that don’t. Also, some teams play more friendlies than other teams. Though more points are awarded for competitive games than for friendlies, some teams make up for the losses in competitive games by playing more friendlies. All competitions that are not on FIFA Calendar are considered friendlies. For example, COSAFA Senior Challenge and CECAFA Senior Challenge. Right now Zambia and Uganda have qualified for the quarter finals of the CECAFA Orange Challenge Cup. Zambia may end up playing 5 games at the competition. Let’s suppose they win all five. Will they not move up on FIFA Rankings? Click here for FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings Calculation Method. Are the rankings calculated based on equal number of games played?

“This is not a case of wanting Holland to be seeded over France, just that the feeling was the October seedings represented the best teams. The system was designed to reward the teams with the best qualifying record.”

Fifa rankings take into account performances in all matches over the last four years so how can October seedings (rankings) represent the best teams at the moment? The system was designed to reward the teams with the best qualifying record?

Labels:

posted @ 10:29 AM, ,

Adidas unveils official match ball for 2010 FIFA World Cup

Bookmark and Share


World Cup set up Adidas unveils the official match ball today for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which will be played next June in South Africa. The Jabulani -- which means "celebrate" in IsiZulu -- is splashed with colors representing the 11 tribes and languages of the host country. Adidas, which has its U.S. headquarters in Portland, has produced new soccer balls for every World Cup since 1970. It claims the latest version, which retails for $150, gives players better control in all weather conditions, through its system of panels, grooves and "goose bumps." Some goalies complain, however, that the constantly changing balls make their job harder.

Coming Sunday: Retail analysts are watching closely as Adidas embarks on a worldwide marketing campaign, boosting its soccer presence and banking on positive sales in return. In Business

Labels: ,

posted @ 10:27 AM, ,

U.S. to open vs. England

Bookmark and Share

The United States will face England at the World Cup for the first time since a famous upset 60 years ago, then play Slovenia and Algeria in the first round of next year's tournament.

The U.S. opens against England in Rustenburg on June 12, the teams' first World Cup matchup since the Americans' 1-0 victory at the 1950 tournament in Brazil.

U.S. Group Play Schedule
The schedule for the United States' opening round games in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa:

June 12 England Rustenburg
June 18 Slovenia Johannesburg
June 23 Algeria Pretoria

The United States then meets Slovenia at Johannesburg's Ellis Park on June 18 and completes the first round on June 23 against Algeria in Pretoria. The U.S. has never played either nation.

"American fans are thinking we should advance out of the group, and I like that. I like how they're thinking," U.S. captain Carlos Bocanegra said. "We feel confident as well that this is a group we can get out of."

After advancing to the quarterfinals in 2002, the best U.S. finish since the initial World Cup in 1930, there were high expectation for the Americans at the 2006 tournament in Germany. But they were eliminated in the first round with losses to the Czech Republic and Ghana around a tie with Italy.

The U.S. famously upset England 1-0 in the first round of the 1950 tournament in Brazil, still considered by many the greatest American soccer victory. The June 12 game in Rustenburg features a matchup that could pit Los Angeles Galaxy teammates David Beckham and Landon Donovan on opposite teams.

While the English are ranked ninth in the world and have stars such as Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, whose club matches are televised throughout the world, Algeria (28th) and Slovenia (33rd) both needed to win playoffs to reach the tournament and are ranked well behind the U.S. (14th).

"It think it was a very fair group," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. "It gives us an opportunity, you know, to play well and to advance."

Odds on the U.S. winning were lowered from 80-1 to 65-1 after the draw, with Spain remaining the favorite at 4-1 followed by five-time champion Brazil at 5-1 along with England.

If the Americans finish second in their group, they likely would play Germany in the second round. If they finish first, they probably would advance to a meeting with Serbia or Ghana.

"For the U.S. it looks to be a positive grouping," said Bruce Arena, who coached the Americans at the previous two World Cups. "But again, let's not count them through yet."

The U.S. has not done particularly well at soccer's showcase event. Since returning to the World Cup in 1990 following a 40-year absence, the Americans are 3-12-3 in the tournament, including 1-9-2 against European teams.

"I think it's one of the more well-balanced groups," England coach Fabio Capello said. "We're going to have to be careful. All the games are difficult and we may start with the toughest game, since the United States will have a lot more time to prepare for the World Cup."

All three games will be at venues where the U.S. played at this year's Confederations Cup, and all are at altitudes of 3,700 feet or higher. The Americans lost to Italy and Brazil in Pretoria, defeated Egypt in Rustenburg to advance to the semifinals, then took a two-goal halftime lead against Brazil in the final at Ellis Park before losing 3-2.

"This is the best draw we've ever had in any World Cup," said former U.S. forward Eric Wynalda, now an analyst for the Fox Soccer Channel. "No disrespect to England, but this is an ideal group for us."

2010 FIFA World Cup Draw
Group A: France, Mexico, South Africa, Uruguay
Group B: Argentina, Greece, Nigeria, South Korea
Group C: Algeria, England, Slovenia, United States
Group D: Australia, Germany, Ghana, Serbia
Group E: Cameroon, Denmark, Japan, Netherlands
Group F: Italy, New Zealand, Paraguay, Slovakia
Group G: Brazil, Ivory Coast, North Korea, Portugal
Group H: Chile, Honduras, Spain, Switzerland

Several U.S. players are well-known to England because they play in the Premier League, including goalkeeper Tim Howard (Everton), midfielder Clint Dempsey (Fulham), defenders Jonathan Spector (West Ham) and Jay DeMerit (Watford), and forward Jozy Altidore (Hull). Bocanegra played for Fulham before moving to Rennes in France.

"It will be like a Premier League game," Fulham manager Roy Hodgson said. "The USA is like a team you meet every week."

Watching the draw from Cape Town on television at a Manhattan restaurant, Donovan shrugged his shoulders when South African rugby captain John Smit reached into a clear bowl and picked the white-and-black ball with a blue strip of paper inside containing "USA," putting the Americans in Group C with England. Beckham stood a few feet away on the draw stage.

For Donovan, the tournament is a chance at redemption.

"We've been waiting a long time for this opportunity," he said. "This is everything to me."

The U.S. is 2-7 against England, winning 2-0 in a 1993 exhibition at Foxborough, Mass. In the most recent matchups, England won 2-1 at Chicago's Soldier Field in 2005 and 2-0 at Wembley last year.

The only official match between the teams was at the 1950 World Cup.

In the other groups, France, Mexico, South Africa and Uruguay were put in Group A; Argentina, Greece, Nigeria and South Korea were put in Group B; Australia, Germany, Ghana and Serbia in Group D; Cameroon, Denmark, Japan and Netherlands in Group E; defending champion Italy, New Zealand, Paraguay and Slovakia in Group F; Brazil, Ivory Coast, North Korea and Portugal in Group G; and Chile, Honduras, Spain and Switzerland in Group H.

There are 48 first-round matches, but for now the focus is on one. American defender Jonathan Bornstein was already looking to the 1950 match in Belo Horizonte, won on a goal by Joe Gaetjens, for inspiration.

"Hopefully 60 years later we can have a similar performance," Bornstein said.{#}

Labels:

posted @ 10:15 AM, ,

FIFA Tickets

Bookmark and Share

An estimated one million World Cup tickets were made available on Saturday in the latest phase of sales for the 2010 finals amid fears not enough tickets were being bought by the South African hosts because of the cost.

About 90 percent of the previously available tickets have been sold, but FIFA and local organisers are having to implement an aggressive marketing campaign to entice more sales to locals.

South African residents have bought just over half of the 674,403 tickets already sold in the first two phases of sales, FIFA said. Now that the fixture list is decided after Friday's draw, locals could be enticed by the game's global stars and marquee fixtures such as Brazil against Portugal.

"What we have to do now is to keep that passion and support for the World Cup alive, not just in terms of what happens on the field but also in terms of selling tickets," South Africa 2010 chief executive officer Danny Jordaan said after Friday's draw in Cape Town.

The slower pace of sales in South Africa contrasts with the demand for the last finals in Germany, where an average of six applications were received for each available ticket.

Jordaan said his compatriots had a habit of buying tickets for sports events at the last minute, though prices have been set much higher than that normally paid by South African fans. The cheapest World Cup ticket is US$20 while to attend local premier league matches costs around US$3.

The tickets released on Saturday would be made available through a random ballot with international fans applying though the internet, while locals could make applications at bank branches. Applications close on January 22.

The exact number of tickets available is not certain as tickets reserved for sponsors and marketing partners but not taken up, are now being offered to the general public, FIFA said. Officials said it would be around one million tickets, considerably more than made available in the first phase.

There are a total of 3.7-million tickets for the tournament with almost a third taken up by sponsors and FIFA members. There are two further phases of ticket sales in early 2010. {#}

posted @ 10:08 AM, ,

Liverpool Tickets

Bookmark and Share

The passion for Football is certainly sweeping everyone across the world, particularly the football fans and sportsmen. Fans go a long way to watch the sport. Sometime it becomes difficult to get the ticket for a favorite football match. More so in case of Liverpool -  the most successful club in the history of English football.


That is where The Sports Box Office comes in. They are the best in providing LIVERPOOL TICKETS for all Liverpool Home and away Games. I suggest you should not miss the chance to buy LIVERPOOL FC TICKETS for the 2009/10 Premier League Season. Book Online or call their sales team for the best online prices for LIVERPOOL TICKETS. Get the ticket and watch your favorite sport star in action in the field.

Labels:

posted @ 10:06 AM, ,

FIFA's Executive Committee at Robben Island

Bookmark and Share

As a symbol of the changing face of South Africa, the decision to hold the latest gathering of FIFA's movers and shakers at the place where Nelson Mandela was famously imprisoned for 18 years could not have been bettered.

Forty-five years after football's world governing body suspended South Africa because of its iniquitous apartheid regime, one of the most notorious penal colonies of the last century was the landmark venue for Thursday's FIFA executive committee meeting on the eve of the draw for next year's World Cup finals.

The prison, a 30-minute ferry trip in the shadow of Table Mountain, was supposed at the time to break both spirits and bodies, not least those of Nelson Mandela and current South African president Jacob Zuma, who was also jailed by the white minority government.

The prison is now a tourist attraction but there are plenty of reminders of the past including Mandela's cramped, grim cellblock and black and white portraits of the hardships inflicted on inmates and the trials of many of the political prisoners who had dared challenge white supremacy.

Yet football, it emerged during a whistle-stop tour of the island, played a critical role in preserving the sanity of prisoners who lived an otherwise degrading existence. Zuma, it emerged, was a highly proficient referee while the Makana Football Association, the league of eight teams set up on the island and named after a tribal chief who was killed trying to escape the fortress, was made an honorary member of FIFA two years ago

"Mandela used to watch us from his cell window, standing on a chair or a box," Mark Shinners, who served a combined 23 years on the island between 1963 and 1990, told reporters. "But eventually even that was taken away from him."

The prison league became so serious that prisoners even lost sleep before games. And sometimes, if their relatives visited on match days, they would forego seeing their loved ones in favour of their greater love for football. "This place represents a triumph of the human spirit," said Tokyo Sexwale, another former prisoner who is now a member of FIFA's fair play committee. "We came here young with small feet but the spirit of survival prevailed among us. We had to stand together for the right even to play football.

"We put rags together to make footballs and we used to kick them around in our cells. It was illegal to have a proper ball at the time but we used football as a tool of resistance to unite ourselves. And now we have FIFA holding an executive committee meeting here."

While football on Robben Island might sound like a contradiction, thousands of documents discovered by historians in Cape Town after the prison was closed down proves this was not the case. The rules of the game were strictly adhered to and helped ease the physical and psychological abuse, the daily routine of hard labour and the minimal rations.

Chuck Korr, who highlighted the history of football on Robben Island in a book published last year, couldn't believe some of the surprises he encountered while researching. "They were writing formal letters complaining about everything to do with the game," said Korr. "That's what led me to realize how seriously they took it. Denis Howell, the former British sports minister, wrote the authoritative book on refereeing. Somehow they managed to smuggle in a copy. It was the second most read book in the prison library."

When England beat Germany in the 1966 final, a letter was smuggled into the inmates describing the match in detail. "We knew about the controversial England goal and everything," said Shinners who trotted out a stream of anecdotes. "When it was foggy or misty the matches got cancelled cos the guards had to have at least 15 metres of visibility. They were not good days. You have to understand. Football saved our sanity." {#}

Labels: ,

posted @ 6:18 PM, ,

Tee Off at Myrtle Beach Golf Ttimes Only

Bookmark and Share


I am an armature golfer. Let me hurry to add that I started this sport for mandatory walk. I got the membership of local golf club – a venue for many international golf events – and started playing after hanging may helmet. I love the sport and can appreciate when quality Golf sport is being played. I am also familiar with Myrtle Beach Golf Ttimes Only.

I am sure that all golfers may already be familiar with Myrtle Beach Golf. Ttimes Only is one stop shop for Myrtle Beach golf tee times. Their trained golf professionals have been in the business for over 14 years. Ttimes Only offers Myrtle Beach Golf Vacations as well as Myrtle Beach Golf Package and golf only packages for locals. Ttimes Only offers you flexibility in times and a wide selection of golf specials and golf packages to choose from.

Have a look at aesthetically laid out and uncluttered website and see what all they are offering and how. Better still plan your next tournament with Golf Packages Myrtle Beach. You can also view the golf course online, determine the number of players and book at using secure tee times reservation form or call 877-238-1975. It is as simple as that.

What else, I should be teeing off there rather than writing this.

Labels: ,

posted @ 6:11 PM, ,

FIFA Plays Fair in Seedings Snub

Bookmark and Share

The correct thing to do in the interests of fair play - or a deliberate and premeditated stitch-up?


Whatever the official line trotted out by FIFA following the decision to exclude France from the World Cup seedings, the conspiracy theories will inevitably stir Gallic resentment right through to next summer's finals.

No-one at FIFA would admit openly that France had got their just desserts as a result of Thierry Henry's infamous handball that broke Irish hearts. But when Raymond Domenech's under-performing team found themselves placed in the same pot as the second tier of European finalists, you could almost hear the cries of "what goes around comes around" and "serves you right" reverberate across the International Convention Centre in Cape Town.

And not just in Cape Town. The bottom line is that FIFA has to find a way - any way - of placating advocates of fair play. So what did they do? Use the October rather than the November world rankings and scrap performances in previous World Cups - traditionally one of the criteria for selecting the seeds.

For once, however, FIFA cannot be criticised on either count. The cynics will say they decided first on an outcome and then on a formula to bring it about. But consider the facts. Using the October rankings makes perfect sense - and not only because England would have been unseeded otherwise. FIFA wanted to use a strategy that put all teams on a level playing field. Factoring in the November rankings would have given the play-off teams two extra games to move up the ladder - as France thought they had.

Ignoring how well teams had done in previous World Cups was a totally unexpected but worthy decision. Holland are ranked third in the world and were the first team from Europe to qualify for next summer's finals. Yet had previous World Cup form been used, the Dutch would have been the ones to give way to France. And that, too, would have been unfair.

The host country South Africa plus Brazil, Spain, Italy, Germany and Argentina were named as the other seeds alongside Holland and England. What it all means of course is that France will certainly be drawn on Friday against another major footballing power. The French may not deserve to be seeded judging by the recent performances but they will still be the most dangerous floater.

FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke insisted the Henry incident had played no role in the seeding decisions - even though using rankings alone had not been used previously. "In the past the seedings have been determined by a mixture of world rankings and performances in past World Cups but this time the feeling was the October rankings most closely represented the best teams in the tournament," he said. "We made the decision last month that the October rankings would be used because they were fairer. Countries which had been involved in the play-offs would have had an unfair advantage because they would have played more games and that affects their rankings."

"France qualified after additional matches and were not even first in their group. Why should playing more matches and gaining more points kick out England who qualified with a good campaign? We used purely sporting criteria. France-Ireland was never part of the discussions."

There will be four pots in Friday's draw - one containing the top seeds, the second with countries from Asia, Oceania and north/central America, the third with the five other African nations and three South American countries, and a fourth pot with the other eight European countries.

England manager Fabio Capello will be glad that his side will avoid the real big hitters such as Spain and Brazil but will be acutely aware that England could still end up in a tough group. All kinds of scenarios could take place and you could almost feel the tension with 24 hours to go. Until then, the main talking point will not be about the eight teams that have been seeded - but about the one that had not.

Labels: ,

posted @ 9:59 AM, ,


Light Within

Blog Roll

ss_blog_claim=eebcdd26d5c32d5838ede03f68f01f91 ss_blog_claim=eebcdd26d5c32d5838ede03f68f01f91