On The Verge.co.za BLOG

OnTheVerge.co.za up and running

2008-06-16T17:35:00.008+09:00

Ok so the main website is finally up. It took me a while, but hey Rome wasnt built in a day.

Here it is at http://ontheverge.co.za

Please leave me some comments about layout and posts. Thanks

Cute 5 year old kid but dont touch his lunch box

2008-06-11T14:00:00.005+09:00

Pretty Boy Bam Bam, is a 6 yr old model/Actor who is training to become a professional boxer. You can check his website out here

Racism in South African sports

2008-06-10T13:41:00.008+09:00

"Isn’t it ironic that one of the cornerstones in the fight against apartheid was sporting isolation? The fact that South African team selections were based on race was so abhorrent to the international sporting community that the country was sent packing until it got its house in order."

This is just a segment of an article about the transformation, or lack of it, in the South African sports sector. Michael Trapido of the Mail and Guardian Sports Leader, has tapped on an extremely sensitive issue which many South Africans are really scared to talk about. Is the new goverment laws reagrding sports- RACIST? Everytime the `R` word comes up everybody keeps quiet.

In South Africa there is effectively three main sports namely Cricket, Soccer and Rugby. Trapido comments on these by saying:

"All three major sports are receiving billions and all three are complaining about transformation at a time when black control has effectively been exercised for 14 years. In other words, the billions are not being invested in our kids- fat commissions for landing the World Cup go to administrators and billions are finding their way into coffers, but it’s only a trickle into development. It seems to me that because they refuse to pour the billions into our youth, South African sports administrators believe that the way to get around this criminal omission is to make any non-white player a Protea or Springbok and call that transformation!"

The youth in South Africa and potentially around the world have been left behind while business continues as usual. Both black and white young sports stars alike are suffering. These kids are not given the proper development that is needed in the sports field, and when it comes to the big time they are thrown into the deepend, where they inevitably fail.

To read the whole story go to Mail and Guardian

Stumble It!

Joao Moutinho- youngster shining at Euro 2008

2008-06-08T14:04:00.007+09:00

Adding to our list of youngsters to look out for at Euro 2008 is Joao Moutinho. The 21-year-old looked impressive throughout the opening game of the championships. His passing and ball control was magnificent. Moutinho is already captain of his club side-Sporting Lisbon, and his maturity was evident. His pin-point passing and fantastic vision could prove to be a fantastic asset to the Portuguese.

This is Joao at the under 21 chamionship
Stumble It!

Let Ronaldo go!

2008-06-06T14:17:00.012+09:00

Cristiano Ronaldo's future at Manchester United has taken an unexpected twist after the winger was reported as saying he would like to play for Real Madrid.

A few days after Ronaldo himself denied rumours that he wanted to go to Real Madrid, the Man United star has stirred the pot by saying he would love to play in Spain. All we have heard for the past fews days is Sir Alex telling Real Madrid to "P@$$ off" and now 'Beckham no2' has defied his manager. I call him 'Beckham no2' because we will all remember what happened a fews years ago when Real Madrid poached Becks. He left the club and never really settled down in Spain.

I dont see the big deal. Ok so he is good...but no player is bigger than their club. United are giants when it comes to football and Ronaldo is only a spec on the mantle piece. Forty-plus goals last season, two top winners' medals and it was bound to attract attention. It wouldn't be a surprise if Ronaldo did go to Spain. But like a lot of the greedy, self centred Premier League footballers of today, Ronaldo has exposed himself as the person we all knew he was. The kind of person who would go as far as instigate the sending off of a United team mate (Rooney) during World Cup 2006.

Only days ago he was live on TV saying "I stay" when asked whether he was going to leave Manchester United. Now he says he is going to tell us his decision after the Euro Champs???

Let him go. I for one would not shed a single tear. He will lose the little credibility he has, in Spain. Can he even go down as one of Uniteds greats? Some say he is “the greatest player ever”; others compare him to Zidane, some have even gone as far as to say he is better than Pele and Maradona.

There is no doubt that Ronaldo has some skills, but when compared to players like- Pele, Maradona, Zidane, Beckham, Cantona and Baggio. He falls short.These players did not become great players because they had ONE great season. For Ronaldo to be truly special, he would have to perform like he did this season for at least the next few years, and along the way, win a few trophies. He would also need to win trophies at the international level, something he has failed to do. Add a World cup and Euro Champs to his achievements and i might change my mind.

My view...let the boy go.

Stumble It!

OnTheVerge post makes it onto popular British website

2008-06-05T21:22:00.004+09:00

OnTheVerge seems to be making waves over the blogosphere. An article of ours has been placed on a popular British website called CLD Sport.

You can see the post here. Your comments will be greatly appreciated.

Euro 2008 youngsters OnTheVerge

2008-06-04T13:03:00.026+09:00

With the European Championships fast approaching, OnTheVerge has been eyeing out the potential young talent with a keen interest on how they will fair amongst the older more experienced players. I have come up with some names that I think you will be sick of hearing come end of June. The Euro 2008 tournament takes place between the 7th – 29th June with 16 nations looking to dethrone 2004 Champs- Greece. With the eyes of the world watching during a huge competition like the European Championships, a host of young talent will look to use the opportunity to showcase their skills. Here’s a few of the youngsters who I reckon will be on every Managers shopping list come transfer window season.

RYAN BABEL Netherlands
Age: 21
Club: Liverpool
Position: Striker
International Record: 22 caps 4 goals
After breaking through from the world famous Ajax Academy in 2004 Ryan Babel picked up two Dutch cups, made 73 appearances and scored 14 goals for the Amsterdam giants before being snapped up by Liverpool. Babel was a part of the 2006 Netherlands World Cup squad and played a pivotal role in winning the 2007 European Under-21 Championships. He has made an impressive start to life in English football playing on the wing or up front in Rafael Benitez’s side and scoring nine goals in 46 games this season.

KARIM BENZEMA, France
Age: 20
Club: Lyon
Position: Striker
International Record: 9 caps 3 goals
A graduate of the Lyon youth academy Karim Benzema announced his arrival in the French premier division by banging in 30 goals in 51 games in all competitions this past season. After rejecting a call up to the Algeria national squad Benzema made a similar impact on the French national side as he did on the French leagues scoring on his debut in a 1-0 win over Austria in March 2007 and since becoming a key part of the French senior squad. Benzema recently pledged his future to Lyon in a 5-year deal believed to be of around 100,000 Euros (£78,900) a week making him the highest paid player in France.

EREN DERDIYOK, Switzerland
Age: 19
Club: FC Basel
Position: Striker
International Record: 1 cap 1 goal
Derdiyok has been a regular in the Swiss youth sides for the past few years, scoring seven goals in seven games for the Swiss u19s and an even more impressive seven goals in five games for the Swiss u21s. Derdiyok was called up and received his first cap for the Swiss team against England earlier this year, at the age of 19. Having come on as a substitute at half time, it only took 12 minutes for Derdiyok to take an excellent early shot (his first), with which he scored. He was then included in Switzerland's squad full time.

HATEM BEN ARFA France
Age: 21
Club: Lyon
Position: Midfielder
International Record: 5 caps 1 goal
This talented left midfielder turned down a chance to play for tunisia in the 2006 World cup with hopes of playing for France. In October 2007 Ben Arfa made a scoring debut for France against the Faroe Islands and has been in the mix for a Euro 2008 place ever since. Linked with a move to Arsenal after the finals, Ben Arfa can also play as a striker and rose through the same French youth teams as fellow young French stars Samir Nasri and Karim Benzema.

CESC FABREGAS Spain
Age: 21
Club: Arsenal
Position: Midfielder
International Record: 23 caps
It’s easy to forget Cesc Fabregas is just 21 years old given that he signed for Arsenal in 2003 and made his Premiership debut a year later at the age of 17. A trainee at Barcelona’s academy, Arsene Wenger snapped up the youngster from right under the noses of the Catalan giants. An influential playmaker Fabregas finished top scorer at the 2003 FIFA under-17 World Championships and subsequently went on to become Spain’s youngest player to feature in a World Cup Finals in Germany in 2006. Whether scoring goals or grabbing assists Fabregas has become a key member of a young Arsenal first team and is set to have an important role to play this summer in the Spanish national side.

Being u21 certainly has it benefits. Keep an eye out for these youngsters as the Championships progress. We will try and update you with regard to their progress.

If there are any of youngsters that I have left off the list and you definately think they have a chance of shining at Euro 2008, let me know so I can checklist them.

Stumble It!

Sport can build character- it can also break you.

2008-06-01T13:36:00.014+09:00

At just 20 years of age Yoli Pena is a model, a promoter, a full time student and..... A BOXER. Originally from Mexico, Yoli has been doing contact sports since the age of 7. She started off doing Karate in a small town in Arkansas, America. After winning a few fights she realised that she was a little more stronger that the other girls.

Yoli's first fight, although not in the ring, was in seventh grade. Another student pulled at her skirt and she punched his lights out.

A recent graduate from the University of Texas, Yoli is an avid sports star, playing soccer, basketball, softball and volleyball. The reason for starting boxing according to Yoli is that her parents fought alot while growing up and this lead to her moving out of her parents house. She was scared of punching her dad.

More and more youngsters are turning to sports to deal with stresses at home. Sport is a great way to tune out and leave your troubles behind for a few hours a day. It builds character in the face of diversity and it allows youngsters to build a future out of nothing. It's a pity though how so many sports stars today take this priviledge and their talents for granted by taking advantage of their positions.

Assault. Rape. Driving under the influence. Fraud. Drug abuse. These are normally not the headlines you see when you open your favourite sports magazine or newspaper- well not until recently. Lately we have seen basketball player Kobe Bryant accused of rape and cheating on his wife. Tampa Bay football player, Warren Sapp, was fined R350 000 for using abusive language with officials. University of Southern California basketball player Rolando Howell, pleaded no context to a charge of criminal domestic violence.

We seem to have become so blinded by the great things these athletes do on the field, that we turn our cheek to the things they do off the field. It's ironic that so many champions, who made it to the top of their sports through determination and discipline, could display such poor judgement when it comes to their personal lives off the field.

The 'system' is often blamed for paying these youngsters crazy amounts of money and making celebrities out of them. But I believe the fans are also to blame. Perhaps we are too forgiving and willing to overlook the mistakes made by our sport idols.

Stumble It!

Britain number 1 out of French Open

2008-05-31T09:36:00.004+09:00

Britains only chance at the French Open ended in a four set defeat for Andy Murray. Although starting slowly and winning the second set, the 10th seed crashed 6-3 6-7 6-3 7-5.

After claiming his first two wins at the clay tournament earlier this week, Murray was no match for the big serving Almagro. Now he can sit back and start thinking about Wimbledon in a few months time.

Brit number 1 could face Clay number 1

2008-05-30T15:01:00.005+09:00

21 year old and British number one and former BBC Sports Personality of the Year, Andy Murray cruised into the third round of the French open Champs at Roland Garros. It was another one of those days in France where the Open has become synonymous with wind and rain. Thankfully, the weather conditions didnt hold back the British No.1 from putting in a brilliant clay court performance.

Murray is still finding his feet around the clay court and this was evident when he faced the former junior number 1 Francis Eysseric. It was a five setter of Epic preportions. His second round opponent, Jose Acasuso, should have been an even harder challenge but the Brit made it look easy at 6-4, 6-0, 6-4.

His next opponent is Nicholas Almagro. If and when Murray gets through that, he has an even bigger challenge waiting on the horizen. Rafael Nadal.

12-year-old female basketball prodigy not good enough for the boys...huh?

2008-05-28T09:14:00.011+09:00

From SportsbyBrooks and ABC News

It seems that age old story of boys being better than girls, boys being stronger than girls and boys being at the forefront of sport is being put to the test. A young Oregon basketball player is pushing the limits of this myth and its making some parents a little upset.

Jaime Nared may be only 12 years old, but she stands at over 6 feet tall and is considered as a powerhouse by her teammates. Jaime is apparently just too good for the girls league and thats why she was pushed up to the boys league. "I think I do a little bit better when I play with the boys," said Jaime, "because I push myself even harder playing with them." Her coach said the other players' parents were fine when Jaime joined the team until she outshone their sons on the court. "They were great ... until she blocked the first shot. Then they were like, 'Hey, we don't want this big kid coming out and making us look bad,'" said Michael Abraham, Jaime's coach.

Parents complained to the head of their basketball league and it seem to make a big impact. They kicked her off the team citing a rule that bars mixed-gender teams. It doesnt seem to be bothering this talented and head strong kid as she has been linked to a scholarship at Oregan State University.

World's best young golfers head to birthpalce of golf

2008-05-27T14:10:00.006+09:00

The first ever elite juniors European tournament is set to be held in Scotland starting May 27th 2008. 34 different nations will be competing in the tournament where the youngest players are seven and the oldest are fourteen.

It is the first time the US Kids Golf Foundation, an organisation started in 2001 to boost youth golf in America, has held an event in Europe. If it ends up being a success which i highly think it would, it is set to be held in Scotland every year. The courses that these child prodigies will be playing on include Gullane, Craigielaw, Kilpindsie and Luffness.

The European market would be an exciting opportunity to bring positive, high-quality competitive events to youngsters from around the world. As well as local players, some of the best young golfers from around the world will be making huge round-trips to compete.

Gullane youngster Duncan Maclean will be one of the homebred hopefuls teeing off.Duncan, 12, playing off a 15 handicap is not among the favourites to win the tournament it seems home advantage might give him a little edge.

Maxwell Martin, a ten-year-old player from Warwickshire with a handicap of 9, has won many British titles including the HSBC Wee Wonders Championship. He represents one of Britain's best hopes in the tournament while Ciera Mia, a 12-year-old girl, will travel more than 12800 kms to get to East Lothian from Hawaii. Another huge inspiration is that of Demetri Kotsovolos will compete in the tournament despite a three-year battle against cancer.

I am sure that a tournament like this will not hurt business either. It is going to be brilliant for the hotel and restaurant owners and the whole area in general.

u19 Euro Champs results and Upcoming fixtures

2008-05-25T18:49:00.004+09:00

Check out all the fixtures and results from the u19 European Championships.

u19 European Championships

The Elite round wraps up on May 31st. The final tournament will commence at the beginning of July with the final on July 26th.

Spain lift the u17 European Championship

2008-05-25T16:57:00.005+09:00

Spain became the first team to retain the UEFA European Under-17 Championship and gave a scintillating display to defeat France in the final.

Final score

Spain 4-0 France

The hero on the day was the exciting Keko who got on the scoreboard alongside Sergi, Thiago, Manu. It won’t be a surprise if Keko becomes a star soon and his exploits along the right flank will surely mesmerise the football purists.

It seems that Atletico Madrid have the Midas Touch when it comes to finding raw young talent. Former Atletico hitman, Fernando Torres or ‘El Nino’, who is now with Liverpool, was also a member of a Spanish Under-17 side who won the UEFA title. Then, there is Barcelona’s Bo- jan Krkic, who starred in Spain’s victorious Under-17 team last year. To date, the gifted Krkic has not only played in the La Liga but the Champions League as well this season, and he’s still only 17.

There was another outstanding kid who turned heads in Turkey- Barca’s Thiago Alcantara. Alcantara, in fact, was the team’s inspiration throughout the tournament. In a 3-3 group match draw with France, he scored Spain’s first and third equalisers via two brilliant freekicks. Thiago also converted a pen- alty in the final.

But then again, those gifts are no surprise as he’s the son of Brazil’s 1994 World Cup winner Mazinho.

With so many teen gems coming through the conveyor belt, it’s little wonder Spain have won the UEFA Cup Under-17 tournament eight times. Sadly, this great success story isn’t matched by Spain’s senior teams. Spain have only won the Euro once in 1964. Lets not even speak about the World Cup. Lets hope that in the upcoming Euro Champs, the senior side consisting of players like Torres, David Villa, Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas, should be considered one of the favourites to lift the title.

Interviews cancelled

2008-05-19T09:33:00.004+09:00

Unfortunately high school students around Fukuoka are writing end of term exams starting the beginning of next week so OTV.co.za wont be able to interview the youngsters that we promised.

This is really unfortunate as we will have to push the launching of site back a few weeks

You can however subscribe to the blog to receive updates and to find out when we will be up and running.

Young Basketball Phenomenon

2008-05-19T09:30:00.002+09:00

Subscribe now

2008-05-14T21:08:00.003+09:00

You can subscribe to OnTheVerge posts so you can either read them in a reader like bloglines or you can easily subscribe via email. So everytime there is a post you will be notified via email.

2020 table tennis champion.

2008-05-12T13:37:00.001+09:00

What were you doing at the age of 3?

2008-05-12T13:35:00.003+09:00

This girl has to sit on the table cause she is to small to stand behind it.

Young tennis star

2008-05-09T15:12:00.007+09:00

I found this while playing around on youTube. Pretty good for a six year old.

Contenders for 2008 BBC Sports personality are...

2008-05-09T12:42:00.009+09:00

Of the 10 athletes chosen, 3 of them are under the age of 21. Last years winner 36 year old Welsh boxer Joe Calzaghe is defending his title against some talented opponents.

The likes of Lewis Hamilton, 2007 young sports personality of the year Tom Daley, Andy Murray and Paula Radcliffe are set to give Calzaghe a hard time.

We`ll certainly be keeping an eye out on the youngsters involved in the competition.

Tom Daley (13) looking for a medal in Beijing.
Andy Murray (20) fighting to be the first British tennis player to win a grand slam tournament since 1936.
Amir Khan (21) could be crowned the youngest ever British boxer at the end of July.

Baby boks just not black enough...when will it end?

2008-05-07T14:15:00.008+09:00

The IRB World chamionships are to be held in Wales next month where a South African u20 side of 16 white players and 10 black players will be trying to hoist the trophy.

The team was chosen purely on merit and shouldnt that always be the case. Where in the world are these types of issues even brought up? Would you ever hear Gordon Brown saying that the English soccer side has not enough black players. Or even the Aussies where the Aboriginal race have been kept out of sports for ages. Their teams are all chosen on merit with no questions asked.

These players have been instructed that they have been selected on their performances. Imagine how they feel when the media writes about these political issues. All they want to do is play for their country. Let the boys play the sport they love and the sport that South Africans are always proud of. When politics become involved in sports, we always lose out. Jake White, Carlos Parreira and not to mention all the sports stars that have left our shores because they have been told that they are not black enough (Kevin Peterson). Never a good thing when you are trying to develop the youngsters for the future.

Ntini to invest in the cricketing youth of SA

2008-05-06T17:30:00.004+09:00

Makhaya Ntini, South Africa's prime time fast bowler has announced that he is to invest in the development of the young cricketing talent that is on offer in his home province of the Eastern Cape.

Ntini will play an active role in the coaching of the young cricketers. He also mentions that he will call upon some of his friends to help out where they can. He told IOL that he would be able to get the likes of Muttiah Muralitharan and Harbhajan Singh to come to SA and teach the young kids how to bowl spin. My question is why now? Why not five or six years ago. Why must he wait till he has played ten years in the big leagues to think of helping others. I suppose rather later than never hey.

Old Mutual will be donating R500 000 to help the Ntini Academy.

Beijing ahead of the games

2008-05-05T09:43:00.011+09:00

After arriving back in Japan after spending six days in China's capital, I am greeted with blue skies, friendly people, clean streets and no pollution. All of which Beijing does not have. With less than 100 days to go before the curtain rises on the 2008 Olympic games, many local citizens and organizers are busy fine-tuning some last minute issues.

The games in my opinion are certainly going to be an extravagant one. The Chinese are definately famous for showing off what they can do. The National Olympic stadium is just one example of this. It looks like a 'Birds Nest', because of all the wires, metal girders, chaotic structure and yet it all comes together. It's a small resemblance of what Beijing is all about.

Fears about competing outdoors is apparently dwindling but I am very scheptical. The pollution is passed off everyday as fog, mist or 'its just a cloudy day'. My lungs did not lie to me though. I felt like i had been smoking for 30 years. Your vision is also blurred. I could not see more that a few hundred metres in front of me. All i can say is good luck to all the athletes. I know some of them are in Japan training ahead of the games. I can now see why.

I got this survey off the internet and from what i saw, its a complete lie.

"A survey released by Renmin University of China in February found that in 2007, 2.54 percent of people still spat, roughly a half of the figure for 2006, and the occurrence of littering in public dropped from 5.3 percent in 2006 to 2.86 percent in 2007 and queue-jumping from 6 percent to 1.5 percent."

Nearly everyone in Beijing spits. Its a habit and enjoyable past time of theirs. The litter is incredible. While walking on the great wall i was sad to see that it was not the foreigners who were littering but rather the Chinese locals.

Beijing is one of the most beautiful cities with its traditional and historical sites. I have been to some phenomenal places around the world from Egypt to France but one of the greatest things i have ever seen is the Great Wall. Its the most magnificent human achievement. But unfortunately it's in China. I don't think it gets its full credit.

I will definately watch the games. I am a fan of most of the events and I am not going to miss out. There are some really talented youngsters that are going to be competing which will be great. I am glad however not to be going there for the games. I think its going to be chaos.

Short break from posting

2008-04-26T09:11:00.005+09:00

OnTheVerge will be taking a short vacation in Beijing for the next week or so. Unfortunately their will be no posts going up in that time. You can still however email us if you have any news or youngsters who would like to join the site.

Thanks for your support and have a good Golden Week (Japanese Holidays).