Quaterfinals of FIFA World Cup 2010
Friday, July 2
NED vs BRA
URU vs GHA
Saturday July 3
ARG vs GER
PAR vs ESP
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Nailed by camera
He was not, however, aware of the camera behind him, so when he broke from the huddle, smiling big and wide, he viciously smashed the side of his face on the peeping device. Quickly angered by this, he instinctively reacted by slapping the spit out of that camera as a warning to never get so close again.
But those cameras never do learn.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Magical spray
A footballer goes down with an injury - whether real or imagined - and the team doctors come jogging out with a bag of tricks in an effort to coax the writhing player back to his feet. Almost inevitably, no matter what part of the body the player is clutching in anguish, the attending doctor pulls out an anonymous looking spray can and gives the player a liberal dousing of white mist.
Usually used on freshly crunched ankles, Achilles, shins and knees, the mysterious magic spray has even been used on profusely bleeding mouths, like Spain defender Gerard Pique's. After taking a kick in the kisser during a match against Honduras last Monday, the already battered and bruised Pique accepted a spritz right into his open yap like some sort of industrial strength breath freshener (pictured above) before getting it stuffed with a glob of cotton.
Sometimes it works like spinach for Popeye, sometimes it only serves as a stopgap until the stretcher arrives, but for a while now it has been a mainstay in speedy on-pitch medical treatment.
So what in the name of aerosol is it?!
Skin refrigerants provide a brief spell of anesthesia which can, at times, be enough to reduce the stinging pain of something like stud marks on an ankle or, at least, make the player think that it's helping. And while they certainly won't cure something more serious like, say, torn knee ligaments or a shotgun blast to the chest, that momentary relief can be all it takes to get a player back up and in the game.
Of course, when broken down like that, it doesn't sound nearly as magical, but it definitely is still a spray.
Friday, June 25, 2010
"Mole" causes suspensions
A TICKING time bomb waiting to go off. That best describes the situation leading to the suspension of the entire coaching staff of the national Under-21 team by the FA of Malaysia (FAM).
It is learnt that chief coach Azraai Khor, assistant coach Azman Eusoff and goalkeeper coach P. Mohana Sundram were at loggerheads during the team's three-month stint in Slovakia.
FAM relieved the trio of their duties on Tuesday after the under-21 team resumed training about a week ago after returning from Slovakia on June 1.
It is believed that a "mole" in the team had complained to FAM about training issues, which led to the trio's suspensions.
Azraai, in a posting on Facebook, said he accepted the FAM decision. "I cannot comment any further," said Azraai.
The FAM technical committee will decide on the three coaches next Wednesday.
"As for now, I cannot comment on this issue," said FAM general secretary Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad yesterday.
Asked whether FAM would get replacements for the three coaches, Azzuddin said the technical committee will look into the matter. An inquiry is also likely to be conducted.
As an interim measure, K. Rajagobal will coach the national under-21 team until all issues are resolved.
"Rajagobal has agreed to supervise the team for the time being," said Azzuddin. That makes Rajagobal the head coach of three national teams -- senior, Under-23 and Under-21. -NST.
It is learnt that chief coach Azraai Khor, assistant coach Azman Eusoff and goalkeeper coach P. Mohana Sundram were at loggerheads during the team's three-month stint in Slovakia.
FAM relieved the trio of their duties on Tuesday after the under-21 team resumed training about a week ago after returning from Slovakia on June 1.
It is believed that a "mole" in the team had complained to FAM about training issues, which led to the trio's suspensions.
Azraai, in a posting on Facebook, said he accepted the FAM decision. "I cannot comment any further," said Azraai.
The FAM technical committee will decide on the three coaches next Wednesday.
"As for now, I cannot comment on this issue," said FAM general secretary Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad yesterday.
Asked whether FAM would get replacements for the three coaches, Azzuddin said the technical committee will look into the matter. An inquiry is also likely to be conducted.
As an interim measure, K. Rajagobal will coach the national under-21 team until all issues are resolved.
"Rajagobal has agreed to supervise the team for the time being," said Azzuddin. That makes Rajagobal the head coach of three national teams -- senior, Under-23 and Under-21. -NST.
Strategy to tackle irregular betting
Under the leadership of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the sports movement today agreed on a series of recommendations aimed at protecting and maintaining the integrity of sport if and when put at risk by irregular betting.
These recommendations, which will serve as guidelines for all stakeholders involved, call for prevention, education and information for all involved in sport, as well as increased collaboration with governments.
Gathered in Lausanne to look at the current opportunities and challenges posed by betting in sport, representatives of the IOC, International Sports Federations (IFs), National Olympic Committees (NOCs), the betting sector and public authorities held constructive discussions throughout the day.
IOC President Jacques Rogge, who opened the seminar, said:“It is clear that betting, through the financial benefits it generates, provides huge opportunities to sports organisations. However, there is a significant problem when betting leads to the manipulation of competitions and therefore threatens the integrity of sport. Cheating driven by betting is undoubtedly the biggest threat to sport after doping.”
“For the sports movement it is crucial to develop a unified strategy and to collaborate closely with public authorities and the legal gambling industry. Only then will we be able to address efficiently this complex issue,” Rogge concluded.
The seminar held in Lausanne, focused on the economic and legal aspects of the financing of sports organisations through betting activities as well as on
finding solutions to combat the risks inherent to irregular betting.
The IOC has approached the topic of irregular betting in a preventive way to protect the Olympic Games. The IOC requires that all athletes, coaches, officials and journalists agree not to engage in Olympic-related betting or promote betting companies during the Games. The IOC Code of Ethics also prohibits betting on any Olympic competition by IOC members, IOC staff or any accredited IF and Olympic Games Organising Committee.
For the Games of the Olympiad in Beijing in 2008 and the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver last February, the IOC set up a dedicated monitoring system. No irregular betting patterns were reported during these events.
The seminar produced a list of recommendations that address the necessary actions to be taken by the IOC, the IFs and the NOCs.
The constituents of the Olympic Movement are asked to adopt internal legislation to safeguard the integrity of the athletes, their entourage and officials, and to put in place educational measures for these groups.
The Olympic Movement will also study the possibility of creating a harmonised monitoring system of irregular betting in sport.
These recommendations, which will serve as guidelines for all stakeholders involved, call for prevention, education and information for all involved in sport, as well as increased collaboration with governments.
Gathered in Lausanne to look at the current opportunities and challenges posed by betting in sport, representatives of the IOC, International Sports Federations (IFs), National Olympic Committees (NOCs), the betting sector and public authorities held constructive discussions throughout the day.
IOC President Jacques Rogge, who opened the seminar, said:“It is clear that betting, through the financial benefits it generates, provides huge opportunities to sports organisations. However, there is a significant problem when betting leads to the manipulation of competitions and therefore threatens the integrity of sport. Cheating driven by betting is undoubtedly the biggest threat to sport after doping.”
“For the sports movement it is crucial to develop a unified strategy and to collaborate closely with public authorities and the legal gambling industry. Only then will we be able to address efficiently this complex issue,” Rogge concluded.
The seminar held in Lausanne, focused on the economic and legal aspects of the financing of sports organisations through betting activities as well as on
finding solutions to combat the risks inherent to irregular betting.
The IOC has approached the topic of irregular betting in a preventive way to protect the Olympic Games. The IOC requires that all athletes, coaches, officials and journalists agree not to engage in Olympic-related betting or promote betting companies during the Games. The IOC Code of Ethics also prohibits betting on any Olympic competition by IOC members, IOC staff or any accredited IF and Olympic Games Organising Committee.
For the Games of the Olympiad in Beijing in 2008 and the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver last February, the IOC set up a dedicated monitoring system. No irregular betting patterns were reported during these events.
The seminar produced a list of recommendations that address the necessary actions to be taken by the IOC, the IFs and the NOCs.
The constituents of the Olympic Movement are asked to adopt internal legislation to safeguard the integrity of the athletes, their entourage and officials, and to put in place educational measures for these groups.
The Olympic Movement will also study the possibility of creating a harmonised monitoring system of irregular betting in sport.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Frances's big shame
French soccer chiefs were so certain their failing team would crash out of the World Cup that they had a bus ready to take them straight to the airport for a coach-class flight back home. Sure enough, the most arrogant, disjointed, fractured and embarrassing squad in the tournament was happy to oblige.
For the third match in a row, France, a 2006 World Cup finalist in Germany, showed a complete lack of class on and off the field in South Africa. A 2-1 defeat to the host nation sent the French home with just a single point, and coach Raymond Domenech provided a new low point by gracelessly refusing to shake the hand of South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira.
After a player mutiny in which the team refused to show up for one of Domenech’s official training sessions, France was on its way back to Paris, stripped of its superstar privileges.
Instead of flying in first-class luxury on an Airbus A380, like how it arrived to South Africa two weeks ago, the squad was ushered out of the country on a no-frills charter flight booked by its fuming national federation.
And it was nothing less than the team deserved.
There can be no excusing the French performance and, more significantly, their attitude at this World Cup. A squad featuring players from super clubs like Barcelona, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal played like a bunch of amateurs and acted like a collection of spoiled children.
France cheated its way into the tournament back in November when Thierry Henry’s goal-creating handball saved it in a European playoff against the Republic of Ireland. And it cheated its way out of it.
Not by flouting the rules, but by abusing the spirit of the game and the prestige of this worldwide festival of sport.
Domenech had no support from his players even before the event, and it was no surprise. With the federation installing former captain Laurent Blanc as coach – and his contract to start after the World Cup – Domenech was already a dead man walking.
When controversy struck with forward Nicolas Anelka blasting Domenech with an expletive-laden insult during a defeat to Mexico, the revolt was under way. The players stayed in their rooms, watching television instead of getting onto the training field.
Even France president Nicolas Sarkozy waded into the controversy, blasting the squad’s attitude in a public tirade and sending his sports minister to South Africa to confront the players. But there is only one person who might have a chance of sorting out this mess, and he is not a politician.
That person is Laurent Blanc.
For a proud soccer nation like France to be dumped out in such fashion from one of the tournament’s easiest groups is an unspeakable humiliation. The first thing Blanc must do is strip the team of its aging troublemakers who formed a clique that was hugely destructive.
Anelka should have played his last game for his country. The same goes for defenders William Gallas and Patrice Evra, who is believed to be at the center of the team’s mutinous thoughts.
South Africa’s victory was not enough to put it through to the round of 16, making it the first World Cup host in history to fail to reach the second round. Yet the shame and disgrace on Tuesday night was not Bafana Bafana’s.
It belonged instead to a team that didn’t deserve to be in the tournament in the first place and treated soccer’s greatest show like an inconvenience rather than a privilege.
For the third match in a row, France, a 2006 World Cup finalist in Germany, showed a complete lack of class on and off the field in South Africa. A 2-1 defeat to the host nation sent the French home with just a single point, and coach Raymond Domenech provided a new low point by gracelessly refusing to shake the hand of South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira.
After a player mutiny in which the team refused to show up for one of Domenech’s official training sessions, France was on its way back to Paris, stripped of its superstar privileges.
Instead of flying in first-class luxury on an Airbus A380, like how it arrived to South Africa two weeks ago, the squad was ushered out of the country on a no-frills charter flight booked by its fuming national federation.
And it was nothing less than the team deserved.
There can be no excusing the French performance and, more significantly, their attitude at this World Cup. A squad featuring players from super clubs like Barcelona, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal played like a bunch of amateurs and acted like a collection of spoiled children.
France cheated its way into the tournament back in November when Thierry Henry’s goal-creating handball saved it in a European playoff against the Republic of Ireland. And it cheated its way out of it.
Not by flouting the rules, but by abusing the spirit of the game and the prestige of this worldwide festival of sport.
Domenech had no support from his players even before the event, and it was no surprise. With the federation installing former captain Laurent Blanc as coach – and his contract to start after the World Cup – Domenech was already a dead man walking.
When controversy struck with forward Nicolas Anelka blasting Domenech with an expletive-laden insult during a defeat to Mexico, the revolt was under way. The players stayed in their rooms, watching television instead of getting onto the training field.
Even France president Nicolas Sarkozy waded into the controversy, blasting the squad’s attitude in a public tirade and sending his sports minister to South Africa to confront the players. But there is only one person who might have a chance of sorting out this mess, and he is not a politician.
That person is Laurent Blanc.
For a proud soccer nation like France to be dumped out in such fashion from one of the tournament’s easiest groups is an unspeakable humiliation. The first thing Blanc must do is strip the team of its aging troublemakers who formed a clique that was hugely destructive.
Anelka should have played his last game for his country. The same goes for defenders William Gallas and Patrice Evra, who is believed to be at the center of the team’s mutinous thoughts.
South Africa’s victory was not enough to put it through to the round of 16, making it the first World Cup host in history to fail to reach the second round. Yet the shame and disgrace on Tuesday night was not Bafana Bafana’s.
It belonged instead to a team that didn’t deserve to be in the tournament in the first place and treated soccer’s greatest show like an inconvenience rather than a privilege.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Sponsors abandon France
When last we looked in on the seething hive of mutiny that is France, the team was refusing to train, the team director was resigning and manager Raymond Domenech was reading the players' revolutionary manifesto to the press while fitness coach Robert Duverne hurled his stopwatch into the bushes.
Now Domenech has called his team "stupid"and admitted that some French players might refuse to play in Tuesday's match against South Africa. And you thought getting Anelka out of the locker room was supposed to improve team chemistry.
Today, the fallout has only continued over the incredible implosion of a team that finished second in the World Cup just four years ago. The players returned to training, but their sponsors are abandoning them.
Crédit Agricole, the largest bank in France, suspended a TV campaign that revolved around the team. Nicolas Anelka was dropped as a spokesman for the fast-food company Quick. Adidas has reaffirmed its support for the team, but on Sunday, according to the AFP, the players wore the logos of Gaz de France Suez and Carrefour, and on Monday, all trace of those sponsors had mysteriously been removed from their shirts.
In the meantime, French President Nicolas
Sarkozy and former star Zinedine Zidane criticized the players' refusal to train and questioned the way the squad is run. Zidane called the player revolt "sad" and offered lukewarm support for Domenech, but agreed with Patrice Evra that the real problem was that someone in the team setup had leaked news of the conflicts to the press.
"In a locker room a lot of things are said, but they should never come out," he said.
Sarkozy ordered French sports minister Roselyne Bachelot to stay in South Africa to restore some semblance of order to the team. "We are taking note of the indignation of the French people," Bachelot said, adding that "it is not yet the right time to take disciplinary action, but that time will come very soon."
The French media reacted to Sunday's melodrama with calling the team "spoiled," "stupid" and "shameful." L'Equipe described the squad as "a stink bomb that keeps exploding." Le Figaro went even farther:
"The 'field of dreams' became the set of a living nightmare. It was almost hallucinatory. This is a psychodrama that will go down in the history of the World Cup. The French team has been reduced to ashes."
Amazingly, France could still qualify for the knockout rounds with a convincing win over South Africa on Tuesday. What happens then is anyone's guess. But the drama may not be over.
Now Domenech has called his team "stupid"and admitted that some French players might refuse to play in Tuesday's match against South Africa. And you thought getting Anelka out of the locker room was supposed to improve team chemistry.
Today, the fallout has only continued over the incredible implosion of a team that finished second in the World Cup just four years ago. The players returned to training, but their sponsors are abandoning them.
Crédit Agricole, the largest bank in France, suspended a TV campaign that revolved around the team. Nicolas Anelka was dropped as a spokesman for the fast-food company Quick. Adidas has reaffirmed its support for the team, but on Sunday, according to the AFP, the players wore the logos of Gaz de France Suez and Carrefour, and on Monday, all trace of those sponsors had mysteriously been removed from their shirts.
In the meantime, French President Nicolas
Sarkozy and former star Zinedine Zidane criticized the players' refusal to train and questioned the way the squad is run. Zidane called the player revolt "sad" and offered lukewarm support for Domenech, but agreed with Patrice Evra that the real problem was that someone in the team setup had leaked news of the conflicts to the press.
"In a locker room a lot of things are said, but they should never come out," he said.
Sarkozy ordered French sports minister Roselyne Bachelot to stay in South Africa to restore some semblance of order to the team. "We are taking note of the indignation of the French people," Bachelot said, adding that "it is not yet the right time to take disciplinary action, but that time will come very soon."
The French media reacted to Sunday's melodrama with calling the team "spoiled," "stupid" and "shameful." L'Equipe described the squad as "a stink bomb that keeps exploding." Le Figaro went even farther:
"The 'field of dreams' became the set of a living nightmare. It was almost hallucinatory. This is a psychodrama that will go down in the history of the World Cup. The French team has been reduced to ashes."
Amazingly, France could still qualify for the knockout rounds with a convincing win over South Africa on Tuesday. What happens then is anyone's guess. But the drama may not be over.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Cracks in England camp
England goalkeeper David James has fueled speculation of mounting discontent in the team’s camp by publicly disputing manger Fabio Capello’s assertion that the squad played with fear in its 0-0 draw with Algeria.
Instead, James said Algeria had successfully employed tactics specifically designed to frustrate its opponent.
“You are usually playing matches when the opposition wants to win,” James argued. “It is very difficult when you are up against a side who seem not to want to lose.”
With criticism of Capello’s authoritarian regime mounting back home, James also made it clear he was not a fan of the Italian’s policy of not letting players know whether they are in the starting lineup until two hours before games.
The Portsmouth veteran was the beneficiary of that policy on Friday, when he was restored to the side at the expense of Robert Green, who is unlikely to feature again after the mistake that gifted the United States its equalizer in England’s first Group C match.
Despite keeping a clean sheet, though, James does not know whether he will be in goal when England faces Slovenia on Wednesday in a match it must win to be sure of reaching the knockout phase.
“I have been happy with it [Capello’s system] as a starting player and I have to accept it when I haven’t started,” James said. “Now the whole process goes on again for Wednesday. The fact I’ve played one game doesn’t mean I’m guaranteed to play the next.”
Former England boss Graham Taylor said James’s comments indicated all was not well.
“He is very articulate and he was giving us a message there, make no mistake,” Taylor said. “That was a message that all is not right in the England camp.”
Taylor said Capello had made a mistake in attempting to introduce a system of strict rules for the players on everything from the use of mobile phones to what they wear at breakfast.
“Our culture is not, rightly or wrongly, to be so disciplined that you can’t have a drink or you can’t use your mobile,” Taylor said.
“To be told you must do that, you report at this time — we need to have a smile back on the faces.
“Yes, we can criticize our players for not being able to accept this, but it is not our culture to be able to do it. As far as I’m concerned, it is about relaxation. Have yourself a drink, let’s get out and enjoy the next game.”
Instead, James said Algeria had successfully employed tactics specifically designed to frustrate its opponent.
“You are usually playing matches when the opposition wants to win,” James argued. “It is very difficult when you are up against a side who seem not to want to lose.”
With criticism of Capello’s authoritarian regime mounting back home, James also made it clear he was not a fan of the Italian’s policy of not letting players know whether they are in the starting lineup until two hours before games.
The Portsmouth veteran was the beneficiary of that policy on Friday, when he was restored to the side at the expense of Robert Green, who is unlikely to feature again after the mistake that gifted the United States its equalizer in England’s first Group C match.
Despite keeping a clean sheet, though, James does not know whether he will be in goal when England faces Slovenia on Wednesday in a match it must win to be sure of reaching the knockout phase.
“I have been happy with it [Capello’s system] as a starting player and I have to accept it when I haven’t started,” James said. “Now the whole process goes on again for Wednesday. The fact I’ve played one game doesn’t mean I’m guaranteed to play the next.”
Former England boss Graham Taylor said James’s comments indicated all was not well.
“He is very articulate and he was giving us a message there, make no mistake,” Taylor said. “That was a message that all is not right in the England camp.”
Taylor said Capello had made a mistake in attempting to introduce a system of strict rules for the players on everything from the use of mobile phones to what they wear at breakfast.
“Our culture is not, rightly or wrongly, to be so disciplined that you can’t have a drink or you can’t use your mobile,” Taylor said.
“To be told you must do that, you report at this time — we need to have a smile back on the faces.
“Yes, we can criticize our players for not being able to accept this, but it is not our culture to be able to do it. As far as I’m concerned, it is about relaxation. Have yourself a drink, let’s get out and enjoy the next game.”
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Her name is FIFA
South African parents are celebrating their hosting of the FIFA World Cup 2010 by giving their newborn babies unique names.
One baby girl was named 'FIFA' - all in capitals - after the sport's governing body, while another was called 'Ke Nako', a World Cup slogan that means 'it is time'.
FIFA Ntshinga was born at Rahima Moosa Hospital in Johannesburg, while baby boy Ke Nako was born to teenage mother Busiswa Landiso and her 21-year-old boyfriend Samuel Ntshiwa, who both are from Bloemfontein.
Another couple in Bloemfontein had twin boys during the opening match between South Africa and Mexico and decided to name their kids after the two teams playing.
Bafana - South Africa's nickname is Bafana-Bafana - and Mexico Venter were born during the 1-1 draw at Soccer City.
Their new dad, 29-year-old Charl said: ''I'm giving them those names as a token of my willingness to know more about the game.
"My wife, Riana (26), and I knew in December that we would have twins but for them to be born on this day was a wonderful surprise." FIFA spokeswoman Delia Fischer wished all the World Cup babies and their families the best. - Eurosports.
One baby girl was named 'FIFA' - all in capitals - after the sport's governing body, while another was called 'Ke Nako', a World Cup slogan that means 'it is time'.
FIFA Ntshinga was born at Rahima Moosa Hospital in Johannesburg, while baby boy Ke Nako was born to teenage mother Busiswa Landiso and her 21-year-old boyfriend Samuel Ntshiwa, who both are from Bloemfontein.
Another couple in Bloemfontein had twin boys during the opening match between South Africa and Mexico and decided to name their kids after the two teams playing.
Bafana - South Africa's nickname is Bafana-Bafana - and Mexico Venter were born during the 1-1 draw at Soccer City.
Their new dad, 29-year-old Charl said: ''I'm giving them those names as a token of my willingness to know more about the game.
"My wife, Riana (26), and I knew in December that we would have twins but for them to be born on this day was a wonderful surprise." FIFA spokeswoman Delia Fischer wished all the World Cup babies and their families the best. - Eurosports.
Sports will be main agenda
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak said Saturday night that sports will be made part of the main agenda in national development because it gives much benefits to the people and country.
He said the government would ensure that sports would not be neglected but would instead become a major national activity.
"I believe success in sports can provide much benefits to the country, the sports industry, the national image as well as to the individuals personally," he said when closing the 13th Malaysia Games (Sukma) at the Stadium Hang Jebat, here.
At the 10-day games, defending champion Terengganu was declared as the overall champion for the 13th Sukma when the state swept 47 gold medals, beating 14 other contingents.
Also present at the colourful closing ceremony were the prime minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam and Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek.
Addressing about 50,000 spectators, the Prime Minister said participation in sports could churn out outstanding and well-balanced human capital in terms of spirit and physique. As such, he wanted the people to turn sports into their daily culture.
He said that since the Sukma was first held in 1986, it had become a platform to churn out many second line athletes for the country.
He said the government would ensure that sports would not be neglected but would instead become a major national activity.
"I believe success in sports can provide much benefits to the country, the sports industry, the national image as well as to the individuals personally," he said when closing the 13th Malaysia Games (Sukma) at the Stadium Hang Jebat, here.
At the 10-day games, defending champion Terengganu was declared as the overall champion for the 13th Sukma when the state swept 47 gold medals, beating 14 other contingents.
Also present at the colourful closing ceremony were the prime minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam and Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek.
Addressing about 50,000 spectators, the Prime Minister said participation in sports could churn out outstanding and well-balanced human capital in terms of spirit and physique. As such, he wanted the people to turn sports into their daily culture.
He said that since the Sukma was first held in 1986, it had become a platform to churn out many second line athletes for the country.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Vuvuzelas from China
The vuvuzelas providing the ear-splitting soundtrack for the World Cup in South Africa are proving a gold mine for manufacturers in China, and a hit with buyers there.
Sales of the braying plastic horns both in China and other parts of the world have soared, with manufacturers struggling to keep up with demand and supplies selling out on some Chinese Web sites.
China’s state-run Global Times said nearly 90 percent of South Africa’s vuvuzelas — whose bee-swarm buzz at World Cup matches has triggered complaints from fans, players and broadcasters alike — are produced in China.
One company, the Jiying Plastic Product Corp. based in the eastern province of Zhejiang, sold more than a million of the horns in the first four months of the year, mainly to South Africa, and the orders keep coming in.
“We plan to produce 300,000 to 500,000 more through the end of the World Cup,” said Wu Yijun, the firm’s general manager.
The company produces 37 types of vuvuzela, at a wholesale price of about 2 yuan (29 US cents) apiece, he said. Chinese fans and merchants are also getting into the craze.
“Starting from May, we received domestic orders for about 150,000 vuvuzelas. Before that, all the vuvuzelas we produced were for export,” Wu said.
“The World Cup frenzy has greatly driven our business, and we expect revenue will jump more than 100 percent this year from a year earlier.”
According to Huicong Plastic, a Chinese Web site that provides news on the plastics industry, manufacturers in toy-making hub Chenghai in the southern province of Guangdong have made “several million” vuvuzelas.
Chenghai toy manufacturers were quoted as saying that factories were working overtime to meet World Cup demand.
Sales of the braying plastic horns both in China and other parts of the world have soared, with manufacturers struggling to keep up with demand and supplies selling out on some Chinese Web sites.
China’s state-run Global Times said nearly 90 percent of South Africa’s vuvuzelas — whose bee-swarm buzz at World Cup matches has triggered complaints from fans, players and broadcasters alike — are produced in China.
One company, the Jiying Plastic Product Corp. based in the eastern province of Zhejiang, sold more than a million of the horns in the first four months of the year, mainly to South Africa, and the orders keep coming in.
“We plan to produce 300,000 to 500,000 more through the end of the World Cup,” said Wu Yijun, the firm’s general manager.
The company produces 37 types of vuvuzela, at a wholesale price of about 2 yuan (29 US cents) apiece, he said. Chinese fans and merchants are also getting into the craze.
“Starting from May, we received domestic orders for about 150,000 vuvuzelas. Before that, all the vuvuzelas we produced were for export,” Wu said.
“The World Cup frenzy has greatly driven our business, and we expect revenue will jump more than 100 percent this year from a year earlier.”
According to Huicong Plastic, a Chinese Web site that provides news on the plastics industry, manufacturers in toy-making hub Chenghai in the southern province of Guangdong have made “several million” vuvuzelas.
Chenghai toy manufacturers were quoted as saying that factories were working overtime to meet World Cup demand.
Friday, June 18, 2010
World Cup's worst red card
It was hardly Zidane headbutting Materazzi in the 2006 final, but Sani Kaita's straight red card for kicking out at Vasilas Torosidis in the 33rd minute of Nigeria's 2-1 loss to Greece looks likely to be the silliest foul/sending off of this World Cup.
With Nigeria up 1-0 after an early goal, Kaita and Torosidis came together in an awkward clash as they both chased down a wayward ball and Torosidis collected it for a throw in. Torosidis made like he was going to shove the ball at Kaita, who almost reflexively kicked out at the Greek defender, grazing his leg with his foot.
Well, Torosidis made the most of it and went to the ground with dramatic flair to make sure the referee saw what happened. He did and Kaita was sent off.
Of course, there are a lot of matches left to go and you never know what Rino Gattuso will do under a full moon, but this could be hard to beat.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Vuvuzelas sabotaging the World Cup
JOHANNESBURG – They are plastic, noisy and cost no more than a few bucks. And they are, sadly, sabotaging the World Cup.
The constant droning of the vuvuzela – the traditional South African horn that has been a permanent backdrop to this tournament – is becoming such an annoyance to fans, players and television viewers that soccer’s governing body is considering drastic action.
According to a source who has regular contact with top World Cup officials, FIFA president Sepp Blatter, FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke and World Cup organizing committee chief Danny Jordaan will hold fresh talks over the next few days to discuss whether to reverse policy and implement a vuvuzela ban.
They should.
Remarkably, in a tournament involving the finest, richest and most controversial soccer stars on the planet and a misbehaving soccer ball, the most-discussed issue has revolved around a brightly colored plastic instrument so simple that a child could blow it.
It takes a lot to distract the world from the event it has waited four years and focus on something so apparently trivial, yet tortured eardrums and pounding headaches have done just that only four days into the month-long World Cup.
Supporters everywhere have reacted angrily to the continuous use of the horns, which have been heard on television broadcasts every second of the games so far. But the problem for soccer’s loyal fans is not so much the ever-present buzz – enterprising locals have made a small fortune by selling earplugs to help drown out the sound for those in attendance. It is more about what is missing, namely the typical color and atmosphere that is normally seen at top-level matches.
Because the vuvuzelas create a wall of sound, there has been little of the usual chanting, singing and roaring that are a staple of soccer games everywhere else in the world. Even the fans of the England national team, normally among the loudest in international soccer, could not bring themselves to muster their usual diet of boisterous chants and songs during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with the United States, effectively admitting defeat to the almighty horn.
Furthermore, players admit they have struggled to concentrate amid the noise and there have been regular communication problems among teammates. Slovenia’s Samir Handanovic and Marko Suler screamed furiously at each other in their team’s victory over Algeria following a mixup that almost led to a goal for their opponent.
“It is impossible to communicate,” said Argentina’s Lionel Messi, the world’s best player. “It is like being deaf.”
Some fans might already be thinking that deafness is not such a bad option compared to the incessant aural assault they are currently suffering through. The vuvuzela, which is made to replicate the call of an elephant, comes across as a drone on television. In real life, though, the noise reaches 144 decibels, equivalent to the sound made by a passenger jet.
Also, vuvuzelas come with only one sound, one pitch. Fans blow them as hard as they can during dead periods of action as they do after a thrilling moment, so there is none of the inspirational roar from fans that urges an attack from their team. None of the imaginative and patriotic chants are sung to light up games. None of the childish yet always amusing crescendo aimed at increasing a goalkeeper’s nerves as he steps up to take a goal kick is heard.
Portugal plays its first match Tuesday. The team – which played in the Confederation Cup in South Africa last summer – knows what awaits them. And it’s not happy about it.
“There is something missing,” star Cristiano Ronaldo said. “I like the atmosphere of football; it is beautiful. This is not beautiful.”
There is an argument that this is South Africa’s event and the rest of the world should adapt. But this is more than a South African event. The World Cup is a truly global spectacle – and the world is making itself heard that it doesn’t want its ears bashed any longer.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Say no to sports betting
Former national footballer Radhi Mat Din was unveiled as the poster boy for the PAS nation-wide anti-sports betting campaign, at a ceramah at the 56th PAS muktamar in Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan late last night.
The Kedah state football coach (right) spoke to the 3000-strong crowd after kicking off the Kelantan-level campaign at the Islamic Tarbiyah Centre where the muktamar is being held.
He decried the federal government's legalisation of sports betting after its failure to curb illegal gambling.
He laments the reduction of the sport into one of profit and loss, saying the focus on money will cause the decline of the game.
"They will bet on everything. Public perception will shift from the quality of the game to what to bet in sports. Games will be orchestrated by the proxies of betting companies turning what is the game of sport into a puppet-show,” he said.
He predicted that players and coaches will in future be bribed with huge amounts of cash for the benefit of certain parties. The problem can only get worse off from there. The youth will be the most vulnerable, since they constitute 80 percent of sport fans
"What will happen to future generations if the government legalises sports betting? If they fall into this bad habit at a young age, they will be trapped in it until they grow up. In the end, it will result in families of gamblers, who shall form a society of gamblers, and turn us into a nation of gamblers," he added.
Radhi then exhorted the crowd to join the mammoth rally planned for July 3 which will see 100,000 protesters march through Kuala Lumpur to submit a memorandum of protest to the Agong.
He said that the rally is important to pressure the government to ban sports betting, something which will not happen without public support.
"The people of Malaysia must rise and fight this evil," he said.
He also called on former premier Mahathir Mohammad and Abdulah Ahmad Badawi, and opposition leaders Kelantan MB Nik Aziz Nik Mat, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and DAP stalwarts Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh to join in the rally.
Yesterday the PAS muktamar passed a resolution condemning sports betting and calling for the federal government not to re-issue the sports betting licence to Ascot Sports.
One of the strategies outlined was to channel the party mechanism and the grassroots into the massive July 3 initiative to make it a success. PAS is one of the organisations behind the Movement to Ban Gambling (GMJ), the main organiser for the mammoth rally.
The Kedah state football coach (right) spoke to the 3000-strong crowd after kicking off the Kelantan-level campaign at the Islamic Tarbiyah Centre where the muktamar is being held.He decried the federal government's legalisation of sports betting after its failure to curb illegal gambling.
He laments the reduction of the sport into one of profit and loss, saying the focus on money will cause the decline of the game.
"They will bet on everything. Public perception will shift from the quality of the game to what to bet in sports. Games will be orchestrated by the proxies of betting companies turning what is the game of sport into a puppet-show,” he said.
He predicted that players and coaches will in future be bribed with huge amounts of cash for the benefit of certain parties. The problem can only get worse off from there. The youth will be the most vulnerable, since they constitute 80 percent of sport fans
"What will happen to future generations if the government legalises sports betting? If they fall into this bad habit at a young age, they will be trapped in it until they grow up. In the end, it will result in families of gamblers, who shall form a society of gamblers, and turn us into a nation of gamblers," he added.
Radhi then exhorted the crowd to join the mammoth rally planned for July 3 which will see 100,000 protesters march through Kuala Lumpur to submit a memorandum of protest to the Agong.
He said that the rally is important to pressure the government to ban sports betting, something which will not happen without public support.
"The people of Malaysia must rise and fight this evil," he said.
He also called on former premier Mahathir Mohammad and Abdulah Ahmad Badawi, and opposition leaders Kelantan MB Nik Aziz Nik Mat, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and DAP stalwarts Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh to join in the rally.
Yesterday the PAS muktamar passed a resolution condemning sports betting and calling for the federal government not to re-issue the sports betting licence to Ascot Sports.
One of the strategies outlined was to channel the party mechanism and the grassroots into the massive July 3 initiative to make it a success. PAS is one of the organisations behind the Movement to Ban Gambling (GMJ), the main organiser for the mammoth rally.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Maradona's secret weapon
Diego Maradona's secret weapon to bring the World Cup to Argentina has arrived in South Africa- his grandson Benjamin.
Ole reported the toddler's arrival in Johannesburg together with mother Giannina, who is married to Sergio Aguero, and grandmother Claudia. The trip was not without its difficulties however as on arriving the passengers had to wait an hour on the runway staying in the plane, as officials checked the flight list for potential barra brava.
Maradona is famously superstitious, and it is not unusual to see him prowling the dugout with rosary beads in hand as he manages the Seleccion.
Recently though he took it a step further- in a press conference he referred to his grandson as a 'cabala'- good luck charm in Argentine Spanish. And with his family in the stands for the first game, Benjamin included, confidence is sure to be sky-high for at least one member of the Argentine World Cup camp.
Can Benjamin inspire grandad's team to World Cup glory?
Ole reported the toddler's arrival in Johannesburg together with mother Giannina, who is married to Sergio Aguero, and grandmother Claudia. The trip was not without its difficulties however as on arriving the passengers had to wait an hour on the runway staying in the plane, as officials checked the flight list for potential barra brava.
Maradona is famously superstitious, and it is not unusual to see him prowling the dugout with rosary beads in hand as he manages the Seleccion.
Recently though he took it a step further- in a press conference he referred to his grandson as a 'cabala'- good luck charm in Argentine Spanish. And with his family in the stands for the first game, Benjamin included, confidence is sure to be sky-high for at least one member of the Argentine World Cup camp.
Can Benjamin inspire grandad's team to World Cup glory?
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Alternate views
THE FOLLOWING ARE COMMENTS POSTED BY A FOLLOWER OF THIS BLOG. THE COMMENTS ARE INTERESTING....... READ AND ENJOY.
By Mr. Constitution
Uncle Joe, Have you glean through the OCM constitution amendments? The part of retirement age is not my immediate concern, reading it the Board of OCM now have unfettered powers on bodies under their jurisdiction.
They are so powerful and independent that no legal or political interference can even touch them provided it is in the name of complying with the "Olympic Charter".(See 5.11). Olympic Charter? It is as wide as the Straits of Malacca and any question you can talk about in Sports involves the Olympic Charter.
You want to talk about age of retirement of its board members? Look at the Indian Olympic Association when the Government want to restrict the Terms of Service to 12 years of some of the aging members. They resisted it in the name of going against the Olympic Charter. Get my drift? Now the Board of OCM are the Untouchable - political or legal cannot touch them. OCM have absolute powers.
They are beyond the control of the Ministry of Youth & Sports (a political position) and I dare say they can tell the Sports Commissioner that I can over ride the Sports Development Act. So what are you going to do about it? I have the Olympic Charter immunity.
The Sports Commissioner have seen how the Secretary General had demonstarted his authority many times and yet got away scot free. No examples here. But the SC knows what I am talking about.
Look at the membership article, they have 3 classes the Honorary, Associate & Ordinary. Forget the Honorary membership. Look at 7.6 and 7.7. Now let me ask you why do you need a provision of an Associate member who is Not recognised by the International Federation existing side by side of an Ordinary member recognised by the IF? Note an "Associate member may or may not be affilaited to the International Federation".
This must have stem from the Taekwando episode, where if the body of the IF is naughty, OCM can always get the Assocate member to run the sport. Now what you think will happen? Can you imagine the confusion it will cause, Taekwando Team by the NSA recognised by the IF is pushed aside in favour of the Associate member. OCM calls it the Olympic Team! It has happened in so many sports and now they make it kosher to do it.
Now in the amendments they have added an Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR). Look at 5.14 5.15 and reference is also made to Article 22.2. The intention is good but there are weakness and there is a fatal flaw in this. The weakness is this covers only disputes involving Member and member of OCM and a Member of OCM and its member.(6.14). Looking at its jurisdiction it involves only members.
Disputes in sports more often than not involves non members. Take MAKAF, the Karate boys. It is a known fact that MAKAF has excluded other karate bodies registered under the SC to be their members. Now how can this ADR deal with dispute of this nature?
The only issue is membership, and I know and OCM also know for a fact that the only issue is joining MAKAF. Now what is so important about joining MAKAF, the answer is MAKAF is the NSA for Karate and you want to represent the country you must join MAKAF, if not you are excluded.
On non members OCM is powerless to deal with such matters. This is a weakness.
Now on this point, The SEC Gen himself extolled that it is a Human Right for everyone to participate in Sports. Is it not also against Human Rights to prevent a body to join the NSA, and they are willing to follow its rules of the NSA.
Look at the problem of the Persatuan Okinawa Shoringyu Sibukan Karate Antarabangsa Malaysia, registered with the Sports Commissioner office under 0154/98. This body is registered as a Federation and they have more than 2,500 members. They are excluded by MAKAF. Why?
Look at Ganga Rao being sacked with no reasons at all, sure BAM constitution may say that Nadzmi as president have the right to hire and fire with no reasons. But in sports when you talk about fair play and extol the goodness of sportsmanship, is this right? In the Court of Public Opinion, it is definitely unjust. Can OCM help Ganga or the BAM constitution overides OCM constitution?
So where is the fatal flaw of the Alternate Dispute Resolution? Before that I think we need to ask who appoints these mediators to the ADL? The Clue lies in 15.2.7 and perhaps 15.2.11. All said whatever the case maybe, it is still the Executive Board of OCM who will select the members as they are empowered to do so under 15.2.7 and select members outside OCM under 15.2.11.
Now consider this, can you trust the ADL of the OCM when the selection of its members are not independent. Look, it is trite law and common sense that whoever sits in the Board of ADL must be fiercely independent.
Yes, I am saying that the Constitution suggest that the composition of the ADL are not independent. If there is a dispute between OCM and its member, do you think you can win, when the executive Board are going to form the panel of ADL. Yes, you can object like what they say but the fact remains that the jokers are from OCM.
Look at Article 22 on disputes and 26 that deals with appeals. Who are the ADL Mediation Committee of OCM? There are no answer but looking at the set up it must be from OCM people or appointed by them. Even if it goes to arbitration look at 22.3 , the arbitrator must come from the ADR Arbitration Committee? Is this right, can you expect a fair hearing on this?
The stylo milo part of the Constitution is that you can go to the International Court of Arbitration for Sports in Lausanne in Switzerland. Wow! NSA who cannot even pay for their RM 50 subscription can go to Switzerland for Arbitration. What utter rubbish is this.
Look at 26.3 if you appeal the arbitration Tribunal shall comprise of 3 members from the list of arbitrators on the Roll of OCM.Get it from the ROLL of OCM, by that in simple language "their own "kakis la".
Look at the not too recent Taekwando Dispute? Tunku Imran was to head an ad hoc committee to resolve the issues among the warring parties. Tunku Imran even threaten to remove Taekwando from Sukma.
However you look at it, they are part of the Taekawndo problem. Now you have confidence to get an OCM representative to resolve this matter?
So what is the fatal flaw? OCM under Section 9, they are also a Sports Body under the Act. Now think, one Sport Body trying to be more superior than another sport body.
OCM trying to play Solomon to decide on another Sports body? Mana Bolih! Is this not a fatal flaw why the ADL is doom to fail?
By Mr. Constitution
Uncle Joe, Have you glean through the OCM constitution amendments? The part of retirement age is not my immediate concern, reading it the Board of OCM now have unfettered powers on bodies under their jurisdiction.
They are so powerful and independent that no legal or political interference can even touch them provided it is in the name of complying with the "Olympic Charter".(See 5.11). Olympic Charter? It is as wide as the Straits of Malacca and any question you can talk about in Sports involves the Olympic Charter.
You want to talk about age of retirement of its board members? Look at the Indian Olympic Association when the Government want to restrict the Terms of Service to 12 years of some of the aging members. They resisted it in the name of going against the Olympic Charter. Get my drift? Now the Board of OCM are the Untouchable - political or legal cannot touch them. OCM have absolute powers.
They are beyond the control of the Ministry of Youth & Sports (a political position) and I dare say they can tell the Sports Commissioner that I can over ride the Sports Development Act. So what are you going to do about it? I have the Olympic Charter immunity.
The Sports Commissioner have seen how the Secretary General had demonstarted his authority many times and yet got away scot free. No examples here. But the SC knows what I am talking about.
Look at the membership article, they have 3 classes the Honorary, Associate & Ordinary. Forget the Honorary membership. Look at 7.6 and 7.7. Now let me ask you why do you need a provision of an Associate member who is Not recognised by the International Federation existing side by side of an Ordinary member recognised by the IF? Note an "Associate member may or may not be affilaited to the International Federation".
This must have stem from the Taekwando episode, where if the body of the IF is naughty, OCM can always get the Assocate member to run the sport. Now what you think will happen? Can you imagine the confusion it will cause, Taekwando Team by the NSA recognised by the IF is pushed aside in favour of the Associate member. OCM calls it the Olympic Team! It has happened in so many sports and now they make it kosher to do it.
Now in the amendments they have added an Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR). Look at 5.14 5.15 and reference is also made to Article 22.2. The intention is good but there are weakness and there is a fatal flaw in this. The weakness is this covers only disputes involving Member and member of OCM and a Member of OCM and its member.(6.14). Looking at its jurisdiction it involves only members.
Disputes in sports more often than not involves non members. Take MAKAF, the Karate boys. It is a known fact that MAKAF has excluded other karate bodies registered under the SC to be their members. Now how can this ADR deal with dispute of this nature?
The only issue is membership, and I know and OCM also know for a fact that the only issue is joining MAKAF. Now what is so important about joining MAKAF, the answer is MAKAF is the NSA for Karate and you want to represent the country you must join MAKAF, if not you are excluded.
On non members OCM is powerless to deal with such matters. This is a weakness.
Now on this point, The SEC Gen himself extolled that it is a Human Right for everyone to participate in Sports. Is it not also against Human Rights to prevent a body to join the NSA, and they are willing to follow its rules of the NSA.
Look at the problem of the Persatuan Okinawa Shoringyu Sibukan Karate Antarabangsa Malaysia, registered with the Sports Commissioner office under 0154/98. This body is registered as a Federation and they have more than 2,500 members. They are excluded by MAKAF. Why?
Look at Ganga Rao being sacked with no reasons at all, sure BAM constitution may say that Nadzmi as president have the right to hire and fire with no reasons. But in sports when you talk about fair play and extol the goodness of sportsmanship, is this right? In the Court of Public Opinion, it is definitely unjust. Can OCM help Ganga or the BAM constitution overides OCM constitution?
So where is the fatal flaw of the Alternate Dispute Resolution? Before that I think we need to ask who appoints these mediators to the ADL? The Clue lies in 15.2.7 and perhaps 15.2.11. All said whatever the case maybe, it is still the Executive Board of OCM who will select the members as they are empowered to do so under 15.2.7 and select members outside OCM under 15.2.11.
Now consider this, can you trust the ADL of the OCM when the selection of its members are not independent. Look, it is trite law and common sense that whoever sits in the Board of ADL must be fiercely independent.
Yes, I am saying that the Constitution suggest that the composition of the ADL are not independent. If there is a dispute between OCM and its member, do you think you can win, when the executive Board are going to form the panel of ADL. Yes, you can object like what they say but the fact remains that the jokers are from OCM.
Look at Article 22 on disputes and 26 that deals with appeals. Who are the ADL Mediation Committee of OCM? There are no answer but looking at the set up it must be from OCM people or appointed by them. Even if it goes to arbitration look at 22.3 , the arbitrator must come from the ADR Arbitration Committee? Is this right, can you expect a fair hearing on this?
The stylo milo part of the Constitution is that you can go to the International Court of Arbitration for Sports in Lausanne in Switzerland. Wow! NSA who cannot even pay for their RM 50 subscription can go to Switzerland for Arbitration. What utter rubbish is this.
Look at 26.3 if you appeal the arbitration Tribunal shall comprise of 3 members from the list of arbitrators on the Roll of OCM.Get it from the ROLL of OCM, by that in simple language "their own "kakis la".
Look at the not too recent Taekwando Dispute? Tunku Imran was to head an ad hoc committee to resolve the issues among the warring parties. Tunku Imran even threaten to remove Taekwando from Sukma.
However you look at it, they are part of the Taekawndo problem. Now you have confidence to get an OCM representative to resolve this matter?
So what is the fatal flaw? OCM under Section 9, they are also a Sports Body under the Act. Now think, one Sport Body trying to be more superior than another sport body.
OCM trying to play Solomon to decide on another Sports body? Mana Bolih! Is this not a fatal flaw why the ADL is doom to fail?
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
True dedication
World Cup fever literally drove a group of Portuguese fans to take a 42-day road trip from Portugal to South Africa, passing through eleven other countries en-route.
Carlos Brum, a wholesale goods shop owner, made the decision to undertake this adventure in his 1980 Mercedes Benz van after discussing the idea with his friends Jorge Franco, a hotelier, and Joaquim Batista, a landscaper. All three are from Torre de Belem in Portugal.
“Everyone likes football and people love Cristiano Ronaldo so it was easy to travel through all the countries,” said a jubilant Carlos while relaxing on the sofa in his deluxe camp-a-van.
The renovated home-on-wheels boasts a king-size and two-bed sleeping area, shower/bathroom, kitchen with fridge-freezer and dining/lounge area. It is powered by a generator with back-up battery supply via the engine.
“Since arriving in South Africa we have met up with wonderful people. Everyone has been so amazed and excited to see our car showing photos of all the places we have visited,“Carlos added, smiling broadly while Jorge and Joaquim agreed in their limited English.
The car is a visual map of their travels coupled with football memorabilia which these long-time friends will continue to decorate while having an adventure of a lifetime
The trio, who call themselves Portugal’s Number One fans, travelled through Spain, France, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and then into South Africa.
“Some of the roads were very bad to drive on. For instance in Kenya there was a stretch of road that took us days to manoeuvre but we managed and everyone was pleased to welcome us in each country. This is the longest road trip I’ve done but this car has a fantastic motor. It can make it around the world," said Carlos.
Today the Portuguese adventurers who also go by the nickname Vasco da Gama after the famous Portuguese explorer who arrived in the Cape 500 years ago will reach Magaliesburg where Portugal’s training camp is based to give support and cheer on their team.
“We know the coach and the players very well so they will be happy to see us today at their training. I have followed Portugal all over the world often with my family wherever they play friendly matches, World Cups such as Korea and any continental games,” Carlos said.
“We are attending the friendly match against Mozambique in a couple of days and then we’ll be back in Johannesburg for the big eve of the World Cup concert and party at Orlando stadium in Soweto on June 10. The Portuguese are discoverers by nature and we are not scared to discover new places so if we have a few days after the tournament we will go to the Kruger Park for a few days as well.”
“If Portugal win the World Cup we will undertake a celebratory road tour up the other side of Africa via Namibia, Angola, Cameroon, Nigeria, Guinea, Mali, Senegal, Mauritania and out through Morocco. That would be fabulous!” added Carlos.
You might be lucky enough to spot the ‘Vasco da Gama’ caravan at any of Portugal’s three first round matches starting with the first game against Cote d’Ivoire in Port Elizabeth on June 20, the second match against the People’s Republic of Korea in Cape Town culminating with the eagerly anticipated game against Brazil in Durban on June 25. -LOC.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
KONI accepts Cricket
After working hard in recent years to promote the sport, Cricket Indonesia got the recognition it deserved when it was granted membership of the National Sports Committee on Friday.
Its inclusion on the committee, also known as KONI, is part of a long-term goal for Indonesian cricket, which will be played as an exhibition event in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games to be held here.
“Though cricket is quite new in our country, Cricket Indonesia has been doing a great job in teaching the intricacies of the sport to the young. Promoting cricket in the region by way of the SEA Games will be good for the game,” said KONI chairwoman Rita Subowo after she met with an International Cricket Council delegation in Jakarta on Friday.
International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat said the body was excited about the new developments.
“The progress has been very encouraging because Indonesia has been playing competitive cricket for the last 10 years,” Lorgat said.
Cricket Indonesia was recognized as the Best Junior Cricket Initiative at the ICC East Asia-Pacific Development Program Annual Awards for three straight years from 2007 to 2009.
KONI is scheduled to meet with members of the SEA Games Council in September, part of Indonesia’s preparations for hosting the 2011 Games. Rita said the ICC has been invited to join the meeting.
“It will be the perfect time for the ICC to promote the sport, because we are expecting delegations from all 11 Southeast Asian countries to attend the meeting,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Globe Under-17 National Championships will culminate in Cibubur, East Jakarta, over the weekend, capping off the tournament with the grand final on Saturday.
Thirteen regional teams and two clubs from Singapore are vying for the championship.
Its inclusion on the committee, also known as KONI, is part of a long-term goal for Indonesian cricket, which will be played as an exhibition event in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games to be held here.
“Though cricket is quite new in our country, Cricket Indonesia has been doing a great job in teaching the intricacies of the sport to the young. Promoting cricket in the region by way of the SEA Games will be good for the game,” said KONI chairwoman Rita Subowo after she met with an International Cricket Council delegation in Jakarta on Friday.
International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat said the body was excited about the new developments.
“The progress has been very encouraging because Indonesia has been playing competitive cricket for the last 10 years,” Lorgat said.
Cricket Indonesia was recognized as the Best Junior Cricket Initiative at the ICC East Asia-Pacific Development Program Annual Awards for three straight years from 2007 to 2009.
KONI is scheduled to meet with members of the SEA Games Council in September, part of Indonesia’s preparations for hosting the 2011 Games. Rita said the ICC has been invited to join the meeting.
“It will be the perfect time for the ICC to promote the sport, because we are expecting delegations from all 11 Southeast Asian countries to attend the meeting,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Globe Under-17 National Championships will culminate in Cibubur, East Jakarta, over the weekend, capping off the tournament with the grand final on Saturday.
Thirteen regional teams and two clubs from Singapore are vying for the championship.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Why like that ah !
Sometime ago the forces in Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) pushed through some ammendments to its constitution, to comply with the requirements of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It was pushed through and expressly approved by the Sports Commissioners just days before the last AGM.
Sounds ok, in fact very noble, right. But, have been asking and lately more loudly, why the part where it is stated that office bearers can hold office till the age of 70 (or something to that effect) was not part of the ammendments. Well, I don't know. Maybe my friend the Loose Cannon and his favourite Tan Sri can shed some light into this matter.
To be fair, probably this is a non issue amids pressing things around us such as how to stop the rot in sports.
Meanwhile, OCM Deputy president Datuk Dr M.Jegathesan was conferred the Darjah Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM) award which carries the 'Tan Sri' title in conjunction with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's birthday Saturday.
Dr Jegathesan, 67, in his heyday as an athlete in the 1960s was dubbed the "Flying Doctor", and is the holder of the national 200m sprint record till today.
He clocked 20.93 seconds in the event at the Mexico Olympics in 1968 and prior to that was named Sportsman of the Year in 1966 after winning three gold medals at the Asian Games in Bangkok, the same year.
Dr Jegathesan is also the chairman of ADAMAS, the anti-doping body for Malaysian sportspersons, Commonwealth Games Foundation (CGF) medical advisor, Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) medical commission chairman, and a member of the International Olympic Council's medical commission.
Happy weekend folks.
Sounds ok, in fact very noble, right. But, have been asking and lately more loudly, why the part where it is stated that office bearers can hold office till the age of 70 (or something to that effect) was not part of the ammendments. Well, I don't know. Maybe my friend the Loose Cannon and his favourite Tan Sri can shed some light into this matter.
To be fair, probably this is a non issue amids pressing things around us such as how to stop the rot in sports.
Meanwhile, OCM Deputy president Datuk Dr M.Jegathesan was conferred the Darjah Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM) award which carries the 'Tan Sri' title in conjunction with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's birthday Saturday.
Dr Jegathesan, 67, in his heyday as an athlete in the 1960s was dubbed the "Flying Doctor", and is the holder of the national 200m sprint record till today.
He clocked 20.93 seconds in the event at the Mexico Olympics in 1968 and prior to that was named Sportsman of the Year in 1966 after winning three gold medals at the Asian Games in Bangkok, the same year.
Dr Jegathesan is also the chairman of ADAMAS, the anti-doping body for Malaysian sportspersons, Commonwealth Games Foundation (CGF) medical advisor, Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) medical commission chairman, and a member of the International Olympic Council's medical commission.
Happy weekend folks.
Chin Chai is BAM's pick
Negeri Sembilan Badminton Association secretary Ng Chin Chai has been appointed Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) secretary.
BAM president Datuk Nadzmi Salleh said Ng qualified for the job as he was an old hand in Malaysian badminton.
"His appointment has full support of all BAM committee members," he told reporters after the committee meeting Friday night.
Former BAM secretary P. Ganga Rao was controversially sacked by Nadzmi in April.
BAM president Datuk Nadzmi Salleh said Ng qualified for the job as he was an old hand in Malaysian badminton.
"His appointment has full support of all BAM committee members," he told reporters after the committee meeting Friday night.
Former BAM secretary P. Ganga Rao was controversially sacked by Nadzmi in April.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
34 vie for three spots
Thirty-four Asian teams will vie for only the three available slots for the London Olympics 2012 while in the women’s division, 16 teams will fight it out for two berths.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have confirmed Asian entries for the qualifying rounds of the 2012 London Olympics football tournaments.
Participating teams in the men's competition are Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, DPR Korea, Korea Republic, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, UAE, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Yemen. Jordan are the notable absentees.
In the women's section, the confirmed teams are Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Japan, DPR Korea, Korea Republic, Myanmar, Palestine, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
Detailed information including the competition format on the qualifiers will be provided to all participating Member Associations in due time.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have confirmed Asian entries for the qualifying rounds of the 2012 London Olympics football tournaments.
Participating teams in the men's competition are Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, DPR Korea, Korea Republic, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, UAE, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Yemen. Jordan are the notable absentees.
In the women's section, the confirmed teams are Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Japan, DPR Korea, Korea Republic, Myanmar, Palestine, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
Detailed information including the competition format on the qualifiers will be provided to all participating Member Associations in due time.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
New line up for MRU
The Malaysian Rugby Union (MRU) on Wednesday announced that Kedah Rugby Association chief Datuk Amiruddin Che Embi, 64, has been elected as the new president of MRU for the 2010/2013 term.
In a statement here, MRU said Amiruddin defeated former MRU president Muhammad Muhiyuddin Abdullah in the contest for the presidency at MRU's polls held in conjunction with its annual general meeting at Wisma OCM on Saturday.
Following is MRU's executive committee lineup for the 2010/2013 term:
President: Datuk Amiruddin Che Embi (Kedah)
Deputy President: Datuk Sharifuddin Abd Ghani (Pahang)
Vice President 1: Zaid Ibrahim Che Awang (Johor)
Vice President 2: Safaruddin Mohammad (Selangor)
Development Director: Wan Ibrahim Wan Chik (Johor)
Competitions Director: Maj Khalid Hamzah (RMAF)
Coaching Director: Naharudeen Othmanlis (Perlis)
Refereeing Director: Mohd Zamrin Yassin (Malaysian Rugby Referees Association).
In a statement here, MRU said Amiruddin defeated former MRU president Muhammad Muhiyuddin Abdullah in the contest for the presidency at MRU's polls held in conjunction with its annual general meeting at Wisma OCM on Saturday.
Following is MRU's executive committee lineup for the 2010/2013 term:
President: Datuk Amiruddin Che Embi (Kedah)
Deputy President: Datuk Sharifuddin Abd Ghani (Pahang)
Vice President 1: Zaid Ibrahim Che Awang (Johor)
Vice President 2: Safaruddin Mohammad (Selangor)
Development Director: Wan Ibrahim Wan Chik (Johor)
Competitions Director: Maj Khalid Hamzah (RMAF)
Coaching Director: Naharudeen Othmanlis (Perlis)
Refereeing Director: Mohd Zamrin Yassin (Malaysian Rugby Referees Association).
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
We were almost there
Missing the 1982 World Cup finals in Spain still hurts many of the players of the national football team of the 70s and 80s. Malaysia, who had qualified for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, were just one step away from qualifying for the Spain finals but the team, led by skipper Soh Chin Aun, fizzled out rather meekly in the scorching heat of Kuwait at the 1981 Asian World Cup Qualifying finals when they were the top favourites.
Malaysia lost 2-1 to South Korea, 4-0 to Kuwait and drew 2-2 with Thailand. Kuwait finished top of the table with six points from three games to qualify.
But before the tournament Malaysia and South Korea were the fancied teams to qualify as they were the powerhouses in Asia at the time, while Kuwait, practically newcomers to the scene, were the dark horses because of home advantage and the weather.
As hosts, Kuwait played all their fixtures at night when the weather was much cooler while Malaysia’s matches against South Korea and Thailand were played in the noon heat.
Towkay Chin Aun recalled the pain of not qualifying very clearly and remembered the headlines of the day after the miserable outing.
"Oh you mean ‘The Kuwait Debacle,’" Chin Aun said at the Maxis Legends Press Conference held at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Sepang recently.
"It was a big miss indeed," said Chin Aun, leading the Maxis Legends panel of former centreback partner Santokh Singh and strikers James Wong and flanker Hassan Sani, who were all members of the team.
"That team to Kuwait was a good team. In fact, it was one of the best assembled with every chance of making the World Cup," said Chin Aun.
"But sadly we did not perform to our true capabilities. It was disappointing for all of us. We just did not take off.
"I don’t want to make any excuses but the heat was different. You know, I didn’t sweat despite the burning heat there and, frankly, I tell you I just could not play my normal game. So it was not surprising to see the others suffering as well.
Chin Aun added : "We were at a disadvantage as our games (except against hosts Kuwait) were played in the hottest time of the day.
"I am just as puzzled today as I was back then as to why all the matches could not have been played in the cool of night at the lighted stadium which hosts Kuwait enjoyed. But we and South Korea had to play our matches, including our battle with the Koreans, in the afternoon.
"I think our president, who was also the AFC president, should have acted in scheduling the matches at the proper time." (Datuk Seri Hamzah Abu Samah was then Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president).
">Malaysia had actually a year earlier beaten the dominant Koreans 1-0 through a James Wong strike that saw them qualify for the 1980 Moscow Olympics. But the joy was short-lived as it turned out to be a futile exercise – Malaysia joining the majority of other nations in boycotting the Moscow Games because of the Russian intervention in Afghanistan.
It was a blow to most of the players except for Chin Aun as he had the privilege of playing in the 1972 Munich Olympics.
"It was really a shame we couldn’t go to Moscow after all the effort. But it was a government, political (call it what you want) so we had to listen and stay back," said James who shared his frustration with the likes of Santokh and Hassan.
Upset and disappointed at missing the Moscow Olympics, a concerted effort was taken to give the Malaysians the best preparation for participation in the first ever World Cup finals.
"Target Spain World Cup 1982" began with one of the biggest campaigns ever undertaken to recall Mokhtar Dahari (now deceased), who was then in premature retirement, back to the national squad.
Mokhtar had announced his retirement from national football two years before after failing to make an impression from his comeback after undergoing a Menicus operation to his knee.
The huge one-month "Comeback Mokhtar" public campaign saw the prolific striker making his return to the national team and so began the adventure to Kuwait.
Malaysia had assembled perhaps the best team of the time, from goalkeeper right up to the strikers.For the first time the national team featured the "Super Mokh and King James" strike partnership – a combination that was never seen together before, although Mokhtar and James had been on the Malaysian football scene for more than 10 years.
But somehow they were not available for the national squad at the same time because of one reason or the other, either through injury or were not selected because of form at the time when the national teams were named for various tournaments.
But the much-hyped combination failed to click in Kuwait and was singled out as the main cause of the "Kuwait Debacle".
They were accused of keeping the ball and passing it among their own group of players. Chin Aun refutes claims that there were two camps within the team.
"I was the captain and I didn’t see it. I would never have allowed such a thing to happen. We played as a team and went down as a team. There never was two camps... We went down in the scorching heat and, let’s face it, losing to Korea was bound to happen as they controlled most of the match.
"For that matter, in my experience of playing the Koreans, I always thought we were lucky because whenever we beat them, they had actually dominated the proceedings.In most of the our matches we scored in one of the rare breakaways... just like when we qualified for the Moscow Olympics."
The squad disintegrated over the next two years. The first six of them were dropped immediately upon their return from Kuwait while others called it quits after having served for more than 10 years.
"I was sacked, not dropped and till today I don’t know why I was sacked," James Wong blurted out at the press conference.
Ironically, "the Kuwait Debacle" was also the beginning of the slide in the standard of Malaysian football. - Sun2Surf.
Malaysia lost 2-1 to South Korea, 4-0 to Kuwait and drew 2-2 with Thailand. Kuwait finished top of the table with six points from three games to qualify.
But before the tournament Malaysia and South Korea were the fancied teams to qualify as they were the powerhouses in Asia at the time, while Kuwait, practically newcomers to the scene, were the dark horses because of home advantage and the weather.
As hosts, Kuwait played all their fixtures at night when the weather was much cooler while Malaysia’s matches against South Korea and Thailand were played in the noon heat.
Towkay Chin Aun recalled the pain of not qualifying very clearly and remembered the headlines of the day after the miserable outing.
"Oh you mean ‘The Kuwait Debacle,’" Chin Aun said at the Maxis Legends Press Conference held at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Sepang recently.
"It was a big miss indeed," said Chin Aun, leading the Maxis Legends panel of former centreback partner Santokh Singh and strikers James Wong and flanker Hassan Sani, who were all members of the team.
"That team to Kuwait was a good team. In fact, it was one of the best assembled with every chance of making the World Cup," said Chin Aun.
"But sadly we did not perform to our true capabilities. It was disappointing for all of us. We just did not take off.
"I don’t want to make any excuses but the heat was different. You know, I didn’t sweat despite the burning heat there and, frankly, I tell you I just could not play my normal game. So it was not surprising to see the others suffering as well.
Chin Aun added : "We were at a disadvantage as our games (except against hosts Kuwait) were played in the hottest time of the day.
"I am just as puzzled today as I was back then as to why all the matches could not have been played in the cool of night at the lighted stadium which hosts Kuwait enjoyed. But we and South Korea had to play our matches, including our battle with the Koreans, in the afternoon.
"I think our president, who was also the AFC president, should have acted in scheduling the matches at the proper time." (Datuk Seri Hamzah Abu Samah was then Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president).
">Malaysia had actually a year earlier beaten the dominant Koreans 1-0 through a James Wong strike that saw them qualify for the 1980 Moscow Olympics. But the joy was short-lived as it turned out to be a futile exercise – Malaysia joining the majority of other nations in boycotting the Moscow Games because of the Russian intervention in Afghanistan.
It was a blow to most of the players except for Chin Aun as he had the privilege of playing in the 1972 Munich Olympics.
"It was really a shame we couldn’t go to Moscow after all the effort. But it was a government, political (call it what you want) so we had to listen and stay back," said James who shared his frustration with the likes of Santokh and Hassan.
Upset and disappointed at missing the Moscow Olympics, a concerted effort was taken to give the Malaysians the best preparation for participation in the first ever World Cup finals.
"Target Spain World Cup 1982" began with one of the biggest campaigns ever undertaken to recall Mokhtar Dahari (now deceased), who was then in premature retirement, back to the national squad.
Mokhtar had announced his retirement from national football two years before after failing to make an impression from his comeback after undergoing a Menicus operation to his knee.
The huge one-month "Comeback Mokhtar" public campaign saw the prolific striker making his return to the national team and so began the adventure to Kuwait.
Malaysia had assembled perhaps the best team of the time, from goalkeeper right up to the strikers.For the first time the national team featured the "Super Mokh and King James" strike partnership – a combination that was never seen together before, although Mokhtar and James had been on the Malaysian football scene for more than 10 years.
But somehow they were not available for the national squad at the same time because of one reason or the other, either through injury or were not selected because of form at the time when the national teams were named for various tournaments.
But the much-hyped combination failed to click in Kuwait and was singled out as the main cause of the "Kuwait Debacle".
They were accused of keeping the ball and passing it among their own group of players. Chin Aun refutes claims that there were two camps within the team.
"I was the captain and I didn’t see it. I would never have allowed such a thing to happen. We played as a team and went down as a team. There never was two camps... We went down in the scorching heat and, let’s face it, losing to Korea was bound to happen as they controlled most of the match.
"For that matter, in my experience of playing the Koreans, I always thought we were lucky because whenever we beat them, they had actually dominated the proceedings.In most of the our matches we scored in one of the rare breakaways... just like when we qualified for the Moscow Olympics."
The squad disintegrated over the next two years. The first six of them were dropped immediately upon their return from Kuwait while others called it quits after having served for more than 10 years.
"I was sacked, not dropped and till today I don’t know why I was sacked," James Wong blurted out at the press conference.
Ironically, "the Kuwait Debacle" was also the beginning of the slide in the standard of Malaysian football. - Sun2Surf.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)