THE WORLD OF SOCCER

Gyan Wins most popular entertainer in Ghana

2011-03-25T04:29:00.000-07:00

Ghanaian football star international Asamoah Gyan has been crowned the most popular entertainer in Ghana at the Most Popular Entertainer of Ghana (MPEG) Awards ceremony, held at the National Theatre.

The college, composed of professionals and observers of different disciplines in Ghana, has selected 10 winners for the first edition include:

The most entertaining personality footballer of the year: Asamoah Gyan

Personality boxing's most entertaining of the year: Joseph Agbeko

The most entertaining film acting personality of the year: Adu Kofi (Agya Koo)

Most of the personality of the stage acting of the Year: Andrew Adotey

The most exciting comedy personality of the year: Benson Funny Face

The most exciting musical personality of the year: Dede Amakye

Most Receive Broadcast Radio Personality of the Year: Banson Fife (Accra), Kwame Adinkra (Kumasi), Nana Otu Gyandoh (Takoradi)

Most receive television broadcast personality of the year: Nana Aba Anamoah

Asamoah Gyan

The ceremony honored accomplished individuals and institutions for their contribution to the entertainment of Ghana in the last year and over the years has been a night of honors, laughter and music industry legends came out to award prices to the stars of this! MPEG honored individuals who have excelled in their respective fields, and considered by the College individuals who distinguish themselves among their peers based on monitoring of entertainment in 2010.

The ceremony was hosted by singer / rapper / actor A-Plus got the crowd cracking their ribs in a certain mood. There were also performances by women Dela Hayes stripe, Kofi B, Okyeame Kwame, Bertha, and Dada Halfco.

Asamoah Gyan has emerged the most popular artist after the public vote among the 10 winners. There were also awards for the National Theatre of Ghana, for his contribution to arts and entertainment in Ghana, as well as the Lifetime Achievement Award for veteran actress, Dzifa Glikpo.

The only way Barcelona can survive.

2011-02-22T03:15:00.000-08:00

The Wonders or soccer.
Welcome all our expectations were dashed a fourth night ago when Arsenal beat Barca. But the only way I see Barcelona coming back into the competition is as follows; Read on...

In truth, there's only one way Barca can defeat Arsenal, and that's because there's only one way Barca play: possession, attacking football. Pep Guardiola does not change his approach, playing system, formation, or tactics for any opponent. What he does change, though, is his specific instructions to his superstars during the game. More of a conductor than a coach, Guardiola will bark orders to his players from the touchline to accommodate Arsenal's minute-by-minute strategy

Arsenal will be deprived of the ball, of that there is no doubt even before the two teams head for the tactical drawing board. But while Barca are sometimes too reluctant to play route-one football, Arsene Wenger's men have no problems adopting that approach, as evidenced by the fact that they scored two of their three goals against the Catalans over two legs last season through speedy counter-attacks.

Arsenal are not the most physical side in the Premier League, but almost any team in football today is more physical than Barcelona. The Gunners can get rough and mix it up with the "big boys" if they want to, and if Wenger decides to throw a curveball and deviate from his usual one-touch football and get physical, it could be the ace card that could stun the Blaugrana.

With in-form Samir Nasri doubtful for the clash due to injury, Arsene Wenger will rely heavily on Cesc Fabregas to provide the attacking arsenal. The captain didn't have the best of games in last season's first leg clash, although he was undoubtedly the hero of the night for the home fans when he scored from the spot - with a broken leg - to level the tie and keep his side in the fight. Cesc will be eager to impress against a team who have been trying to lure him away from the Emirates, but it's the red-hot Van Persie that Barca should be worried about. The Dutchman has scored nine goals in his last five Premier League games and with defensive stalwart Carles Puyol struggling to recover in time after injury, Barcelona's backline could be easily exposed.

Barca could've embarrassingly routed Arsenal at the Emirates last season. But having taken a two-goal lead, the Catalans proceeded to take their foot off the gas and grow complacent, allowing speed demon Theo Walcott to spark a comeback and salvage the first leg clash in a 2-2 draw. First, a sloppy pass by Sergio Busquets, then some slack defending which prompted Carles Puyol to clatter into Cesc Fabregas inside the box, gave the Gunners a free get-out-of-jail card, albeit only temporarily in the end.

So far this season, Barca have shown no signs of easing off during a game when they are in front, spanking opponents right, left and centre with goals galore. But Saturday's surprise 1-1 draw at Sporting Gijon demonstrated that a lackadaisical approach can be costly for the Blaugrana.

Well I think Barcelona should get their acts right as I strongly feel that Arsenal is ready ready for a showdown at Camp Nou. What is your take on these, post your comments below.

Asenal ready to dump Bacelona out.

2011-02-22T02:40:00.000-08:00

The Wonders or soccer.
Welcome, you have seen how Arsenal beat Barcelona a fourth night ago. It was really a surprise to many but to me that is football. Here I analyze the chances in which Arsenal use to over power Barcelona.

Midfield action between Xavi and Jack Wilsere.

After the match Wenger revealed his star man would be out for three weeks, which would have ruled him out of the Barca clash.

But Nasri has recovered quicker than expected and has been training since late last week. He came through a fitness test on Monday and will again be tested on Tuesday before Wenger makes a decision on Nasri's involvement.

Arshavin celebrate his winning goal.

If the Frenchman is available for selection it would provide a huge boost to the club. The 23-year-old has been in sparkling form this season, scoring 14 goals already this campaign.

His performances have lit up the Premier League and pushed him forward as a candidate for player of the year.

It would also give Pep Guardiola's side another thing to think about and his direct dribbling style and sharpness in front of goal could cause the Catalan club problems.

Dutch striker Van Persie was absent for both ties last year after missing most of the season with an ankle injury sustained on international duty with the Netherlands.

But this year both players are fit and forming an excellent partnership for Wenger's side, which came to the fore again on Saturday against Wolves when Fabregas picked out Van Persie, and the Dutchman finished the cross with a sweetly struck volley.

It was Van Persie's 10th Premier League goal in his last seven matches and showed why Wenger thinks this year's match with the Catalan club could well take on a different script.

It was the Spain star's ninth Premier League assist this term and Van Persie's 12th goal of the season in all competitions.

Barca players celebrate their goal.

But this season, after the addition of Marouane Chamakh to the squad, Arsenal have been more inclined to send balls into the box than in past seasons.

While it is still not Arsenal's strength, it has been an aspect of their game which has improved and it could be a vital weapon against Barcelona.

Guardiola's side have conceded eight of the 14 goals they have let in during the whole season from crosses into the box.

So if Arsenal's full-backs and wingers can get into good crossing positions it will be important for them to get their delivery into the box right.

Four of the eight goals Barca have conceded have also come from headers, so set-piece play could be an unusually strong weapon for the Gunners. The likes of Van Persie and Fabregas will have to be on the money so Arsenal can take advantage.

Alex Song will have a vital role to play against Barcelona if Arsenal are to have any chance of progressing to the next round.

The Cameroon international is the Gunners' primary shield in front of the back four and he will have a tough job on his hands with the likes of Messi, Pedro, Xavi and Iniesta roaming around the field.

While Song does his job effectively against most of the Premier League teams and some of the lesser Champions League sides, he can sometimes be overrun on the counter-attack as his team-mates bomb forward.

Against Barcelona, Song will need assistance from team-mates tracking back and harassing the Barca players when they have the ball.

The return leg will be intriguing what is your take on these, post your comments below.
-curl from goal.com

Nigerian star Uche Okafor is dead

2011-01-10T10:58:00.000-08:00


Uche Okafor

Former Nigeria international, Uche Okafor, was found dead at his Dallas, Texas home in the United States of America (USA) early on Thursday.

- Vote for Nigeria's 50 greatest players

Ben Iroha, a former Nigerian team-mate of Uche between 1990 and 1994, told SuperSport.com that he received the shock news via a telephone conversation from the United States that the 43-year-old has died. “Seriously I still find it hard to believe when I got the call from the US yesterday (Thursday) evening. This is a really sad way to begin the year,” said Iroha.
Iroha added that he is yet to know what really transpired up to the death of his former teammate.
“I am yet to know what happened. But I feel so sad to hear this because he was a very marvelous friend and brother,” said the former Heartland assistant coach.
However, there are still no details concerning surrounding the death of the former winner of the Africa Cup of Nations. The former Nigerian footballer was said to have taken his daughter to school early Thursday and was later found dead in his US home.
The police in the United States are said to have cordoned off the home of Okafor, as a coroner is carrying out an inquest into circumstance surrounding his death.
Okafor’s professional career began at defunct ACB of Lagos before he moved to KRC Mechelen.
The late Nigerian player has also played for Hannover 96 before ending his career at Sporting Kansas City, formerly known as Kansas City Wizards.
Late Okafor also featured in one of the four matches of Nigeria’s Super Eagles at the 1994 Fifa World Cup in the USA. He was also a football pundit on African football for ESPN until his death.
The Wonders or soccer.

Mourinho wins Coach of the Year award

2011-01-10T10:54:00.000-08:00

Jose Mourinho was named world coach of the year on Monday for securing the treble of Champions League, Serie A title and Italian Cup with Inter Milan last season.
The 47-year-old Portuguese - known as the 'Special One' - edged out Spain's World Cup winning coach Vicente Del Bosque and Barcelona's Pep Guardiola, who he is now crossing swords with as Real Madrid boss.
In landing the Champions League with Inter - when they beat Bayern Munich in the final last season - he became only the third coach to win European club football's most prestigious trophy with two different clubs having first landed it with Porto in 2004.
The others were Ernst Happel, with Feyenoord in 1970 and Hamburg in 1983, and Ottmar Hitzfeld, who guided Borussia Dortmund to the 1997 trophy and then Bayern Munich in 2001.
Mourinho, never one to hide his high opinion of himself had in typically punchy fashion insisted last month that he and not Del Bosque was truly deserving of the honour.

Jose Mourinho © Gallo Images

"Me, I've made my choice. 11 months work, 57 matches played, three titles including the most important of all, 'THE' tournament, the Champions League. I have won everything, I could not do any more than that, equally so for the players."
The Wonders or soccer.

.:Barclays Premier League: Beckham arrives at Tottenham

2011-01-10T10:51:00.000-08:00

Beckham in a practice session

David Beckham arrived at Tottenham's training ground on Monday, with the Premier League club still hoping they can take the former England captain on loan.

The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder turned up at Spurs' facility in Chigwell, northeast London for a medical but did not speak to reporters. Tottenham, who have reached the knockout phase of the Champions League, have said Beckham will only be training with them but manager Harry Redknapp is still hopeful of signing the player on loan during the rest of the US off-season.
Beckham, after his initial visit, returned to Chigwell later Monday wearing Spurs training kit, fuelling speculation the loan deal could yet go ahead. The 35-year-old has not played for an English club since he turned out for Manchester United on the final day of the 2002-03 season.
He is set to return to Chigwell on Tuesday to train with the Spurs first team squad ahead of their match against league leaders United at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

The Wonders or soccer.

Afellay Makes Dream Barcelona Move

2010-12-27T02:59:00.000-08:00

Ibrahim Afellay © Action Images

Netherlands midfielder Ibrahim Afellay completed his transfer to Barcelona from PSV Eindhoven when he signed a four and a half year contract on Friday..
Barca sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta told a news conference the 24-year-old would be the only player brought in during the January transfer window and the Spanish champions' squad was now complete.
PSV received three million euros for Afellay and the attacking midfielder's new contract includes a buyout clause worth €100 million, Barcelona said on their website (www.fcbarcelona.cat).
The Dutch club would also get an unidentified percentage of any future transfer fee if Afellay was sold on, the statement added.
Afellay, who is the latest in a long line of Dutch players at the Catalan club, will wear the number 20 shirt.
He will be eligible to make his first appearance for Barca in the La Liga match at home to Levante on Januar 2.
"He is a player who has the characteristics of FC Barcelona," Zubizarreta said.
"He can play in every position in the centre of the pitch, is in superb physical condition and of an age that mixes youth with experience."

Top 5 ugliest players

2010-12-27T02:38:00.000-08:00

I came across recently on the internet the names of the top ugliest players in the world. The list was incredible so I decide to take the first 5 most ugliest and blog with it. Here come the name of the world top 5 ugliest players.

1. Wayne Rooney:

Wayne Rooney

2. Ronaldinho:

Ronaldinho

3. Carlos Tevez

Carlos Tevez

4. Peter Crouch:

Peter Crouch

4. Ronaldo:

Ronaldo

Do U have any doubt about my list of the world most ugliest players? If you have anything to say, simply post your comments below.

John Mikel Obi - Africa's under-rated football genius

2010-12-24T06:48:00.000-08:00

John Mikel Obi may be the most under-rated football great in Nigeria's history.

- Vote for Nigeria's 50 greatest players

A player who has played only at the very top of European football (for 5 years), in a club considered one of the best in Europe, and in a team that boasts an all-international cast from various countries, Mikel surely cannot be an ordinary football player. Yet, since his emergence on the national football stage in 2005, I have not seen Nigerians kindle support for Mikel the way they do when players like Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, Finidi George and a number of other truly exceptional players graced our football fields. When any of these players were not in Nigeria's line-up there was usually a spontaneous outburst of emotion, but not with Mikel.
Even when Samson Siasia dropped him from the Olympic team on the eve of the Beijing Games, after he led the under-20 national team to the finals of the World Youth Championship in Holland, there was no national outcry or outburst of protest. It was almost like 'he had it coming'.
In public Mikel has always been rather subdued and lacking in emotive expression. This may be partly due to his attitude to invitations when he started out as a young teenager in Chelsea. He was not in a hurry to come to the national camp when he had not secured a place in the English premiership team that was brimming with talent from all over the world.
Leaving his foreign team to fight for a place in any of the Nigerian national teams would have been a distraction and might have affected how quickly he secured a permanent position in a team that had a scrupulous coach like Mourinho in charge. Mourinho needed a player's total commitment to the club for them to become regulars.
One thing was apparent though. Mikel was a great talent and everyone who saw him play as a child knew that. What was not agreed, even among football coaches, was what position to use him on the field. That matter was settled by Mourinho. He converted Mikel from his original central midfield role to a more defensive role in front of the back four.
Mikel has been stuck in that position ever since. Every attempt by other coaches to use him elsewhere has fallen flat.
Slowly but surely Mikel Obi has grown. His football has developed so much that he has become one of the most permanent fixtures in the Chelsea line-up in the past two seasons.
It is, therefore, rather shocking that this year, when Mikel has finally secured a regular place in Chelsea's midfield and is playing some of the best football of his life, he has not been nominated for Africa's Player of the Year Award. This is despite the fact that the continent has been finding it difficult to bring up new greats to take over from Eto’o, Essien and Drogba, who have dominated the awards list more than any others this past decade.
The situation was so bad that, to break the monotony of those names, CAF had to give two of the last three awards to Kanoute and Adebayor: players who were not convincingly deserving of them. For that move Eto’o alone could very easily have won the award an embarrassing four or five times.
This year, Ghana's Asamoah Gyan has come in to 'rescue' the situation. I believe that this weekend he should have been crowned king of African football even though the football the young man has played this past year was surely way behind the standard displayed by several of those who won the same awards in the past.
At the time when Africa had the likes of Rashidi, Abedi, Weah, Kalusha, Kanu, Jay Jay, and so on, Gyan would have stood no chance of even a nomination. But here we are. Even as starved as the continent is of exceptionally brilliant footballers, Mikel Obi is bypassed. That’s my grouse. There is something not quite okay about the appreciation of the qualities of Mikel Obi, and this even goes beyond Nigeria.
Mikel is not your typical “wow” player. Reactions to his performance have always been economical. That is why Samson Siasia dropped him from his Olympic team and the heavens did not fall. Of course, I believe that Mikel, with his talent, would have made the difference in Siasia's Olympic team. However, we will never know if his inclusion would have been enough to make a difference between the silver medal the team got and gold. I also believe that his absence in Nigeria's midfield during the World Cup in South Africa reduced the strength of Nigeria's ordinary team.
The truth is that, up till now, Mikel Obi has not established himself in the minds of Nigerians as a player that must not be missed in the Super Eagles line-up for any match. There is something about him that makes him less than who he really is in football.
I knew him first as John Obi. He added the Mikel when he arrived in Europe. He was 15 years old when I met him, and he was a student of Saint Murumba College, Jos; my Alma Mater. He came with the school's under-16 team to take part in that year's (2001) Nike International Under-16 football tournament in Lagos, which I was organising on behalf of Ugomba Noel Okorougo.
The representatives from Plateau were the most impressive team and John, tall and skinny, was the undoubted star of the tournament. I was not surprised to learn that he prematurely left school and was soon after taken from that tournament to an academy in Denmark, where he spent the next two years developing into the player that was to become subject of a serious tussle between two of Europe's biggest clubs -- Manchester United and Chelsea FC.
Since then, Mikel (as he is now known) has competed with Makelele, Essien and Ballack, for the position of defensive midfielder in the Chelsea line-up. In the past two seasons he has won the battle and now owns the position.
Every successive coach in Chelsea has found him irresistible. His work rate is tremendous, his tackling skills are effective and sometimes too hard and clumsy, but his passing skills are a delight to behold -- pinpoint-accurate. Whenever he drives forward with the ball (which he does not do often enough) he is a beauty to watch.
Unfortunately, two things have held back his ultimate recognition as a truly great player. The first is that he plays sideways and backwards too much. He also does not exude the 'hunger' to win like Michael Essien, for example, whose determination to win drives him like a man possessed and infects his teammates whenever he plays.
John Mikel Obi is a great player, who has not applied the best of himself enough to make the world appreciate his true worth. I see Mikel becoming, in the near future, not just Africa's next Footballer of the Year, but a player acknowledged by all in the continent as the genius that I believe he is.

Liverpool Looking For City's Johnson

2010-12-24T06:35:00.000-08:00

Liverpool are reportedly lining up a move for Manchester City midfielder Michael Johnson, it was revealed on the club's website.

Michael Johnson.

The Eastlands midfielder has spent the best part of two seasons out injured or off form and it appears that Roberto Mancini sees the youngster as very surplus to requirements and Roy Hodgson is interested in bringing the former Everton youth team player back to Merseyside. Johnson has not started a Premier League match since August 2008 but the Anfield boss believes the former England U21 has enough potential to forge a top tier career and hopes to persuade Man City to sell the player to Liverpool.
Roy Hodgson is under instructions to bring in additions that have suit the club's long term plans and with the help of Director of Football Strategy Damien Comolli Liverpool have begun constructing a list of preferred targets and Michael Johnson is a player that reportedly interests both parties.
A move for the 22-year-old midfielder would cost around £8m and given that Mancini has been told to cut back on unneccesary costs the Eastlands club may well listen to offers for a player who appears to be very low down the Man City pecking order.

Barcelona announce US trip

2010-12-24T06:30:00.000-08:00

Barca plans to visit the US.
Barcelona are to tour the United States as part of their preseason calendar next summer, with games planned against Manchester United, AC Milan and Mexican team America.
The Catalan club said on its website on Thursday that the club will also play in Munich, Germany and Split, Croatia.
The United match is scheduled for July 30 in Washington D.C., with the game against Milan on August 3 in Miami.

Barcelona Players Celebrating.

The tour will conclude in Dallas on August 6 with Barcelona taking on America.
The club hopes the six-date tour, which includes three matches in Europe before the team departs for the US, will net Barcelona €6.2 million.
Barcelona toured the US as part its preseason preparations in 2008 and 2009.
The team is likely to be without forward Lionel Messi, right back Daniel Alves and midfielder Javier Mascherano because of the Copa America in Argentina, which ends July 24.
Messi and Mascherano are regulars on Argentina's national team and Daniel Alves on Brazil's.

Champions League Draw: Bayern Munich Meet Inter Again, as Barcelona Await Arsenal Test

2010-12-20T08:52:00.000-08:00

Champions League Draw: Bayern Munich Meet Inter Again, Barcelona Await Arsenal Test

Last year's finalists Inter and Bayern Munich will meet in the round of 16 this season, while 2006 finalists Barcelona and Arsenal face a rematch of their game as well.

Friday's draw for the first knockout round of the Champions League resulted in a number of interesting ties.

Last year's finalists Inter and Bayern Munich will meet in the round of 16 this year. Diego Milito fired the Nerazzurri to Champions League glory last year and the Germans will be gunning for revenge this time around.

Another interesting tie will be the match between Arsenal and Barcelona. The Spaniards proved to be too strong for the Gunners last year and also beat Arsenal in the 2006 CL final.

Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid are one of the favourites to lift the trophy this year, but they'll have to deal with Olympique Lyonnais if they are to go far. The French side beat Madrid in the round of 16 last term and will be eager to cause another upset this term.

Meanwhile, Premier League representatives Tottenham Hotspur travel to San Siro again. They met Inter in the group stage and will now have to deal with Milan.

Inter rule the world, as TP Mazembe make history

2010-12-20T08:00:00.000-08:00

The Wonders of soccer.

Although F.C. Internazionale Milano ultimately reigned supreme in UAE, this was no ordinary FIFA Club World Cup. It's easy to forget giving the convincing nature of their triumph, but so indifferent had the Italians' pre-tournament form been that many people had them behind SC Internacional do Porto Alegre on the list of favourites.

Inter Milan Got Wild While Celebrating.

Led by the inspirational Samuel Eto’o, however, I Nerazzurri defied the doubters, comfortably seeing off Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma F.C. in the last four before dispatching African hopefuls TP Mazembe Englebert by the same 3-0 scoreline in Saturday’s final.

In rediscovering the spirit that took them to the European title earlier this year and in emulating the feat of their city rivals AC Milan, who lifted the trophy in 2007, the Italians collected a third club world championship trophy to add to the two intercontinental titles they won in the mid-1960s. It was the perfect tonic following a trying start to the season.

After his outstanding display in the final, Samuel Eto’o was a deserving winner of the adidas Golden Ball. The Cameroonian striker set up strike partner Goran Pandev for Inter’s opening goal against the Congolese, and then struck with a superb drive for their second before Jonathan Biabiany rounded off the scoring five minutes from time.

Internazionale Milano Celebrate

Despite their defeat, African champions TP Mazembe had every reason to be pleased with their competition. Lamine N’Diaye’s side pulled off the shock of the tournament when they became the first African side to reach a FIFA Club World Cup final, goals from Mulota Kabangu and Dioko Kaluyituka helping them oust Copa Libertadores holders Sport Club Internacional in the semis.

As expected, the Congolese side brought their colourful and noisy band of supporters with them, with Sport Club Internacional’s fans also making themselves heard during Saturday’s match for third place against Seongnam Ilhwa FC. Belatedly reproducing the form that took them to the Copa Libertadores title earlier this year, the Brazilians salvaged some pride with a 4-2 win, a match which provided the perfect send-off for their veteran Argentinian goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri, who came on as a second-half substitute in what was the final appearance of his professional career.

The Hero Sam Eto'o

The man of that particular match was Alecsandro, who scored two of O Colorado’s four goals and set up Tinga, for another. Andres D’Alessandro capped another influential display by scoring a long-range strike, while the South Koreans were indebted to another in-form South American, Colombian midfielder Mauricio Molina, for their two goals. Also on the scoresheet in the 4-1 quarter-final win over Al Wahda - a game in which he also provided two assists - Molina ended the tournament as leading goalscorer.

The Asian champions’ hopes of reaching the final were dashed by the ruthless FC Internazionale Milano in the semis. Driven forward by the tireless Javier Zanetti, the Italians made light of Wesley Sneijder’s early injury to run out easy 3-0 winners, although their Asian opponents can take pride from emulating compatriots Pohang Steelers, who also reached the last four 12 months ago.

Having appeared in the competition twice before, Club de Futbol Pachuca were expecting to make an impact themselves, but had to be content with fifth place after losing to TP Mazembe in the quarters. The Mexicans rounded off with a penalty-shootout win over home side Al Wahda, who were at least able to improve on the seventh place attained by fellow countrymen Al Ahli FC in 2009.

Oceania champions Hekari United FC, who lost 3-0 to the Emirati side in the play-off for the quarter-finals, had performed miracles merely to reach the tournament, the last to be held in Abu Dhabi before its return to Japan next year.

Overall, the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2010 proved to be a great success, as FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter commented afterwards. “The United Arab Emirates have raised the bar,” he noted, throwing the gauntlet down to Japan ahead of the world’s continental champions' next meeting in the Far East.

Tp Mazembe players having a good time.

Final standings 1. FC Internazionale Milano
2. T. P. Mazembe
3. Sport Club Internacional
4. Seongnam Ilhwa FC
5. Pachuca
6. Al Wahda
7. Hekari United

Stadiums Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium (Abu Dhabi)
Zayed Sports City Stadium (Abu Dhabi)

Top scorers 3 goals: Mauricio Molina (Seongnam)
2: Alecsandro (Internacional), Dario Cvitanich (Pachuca) and Fernando Baiano (Al Wahda)

Latest champion league results for Tue 23/11/10

2010-11-25T07:02:00.000-08:00

The last champion league matches were filled with surprise, Arsenal losing to Sporting Braga was a shocker to many especially to Arsenal fans. we also see the likes of Tel Aviv making a surprise win over Benfica. This was really a football fiesta. I could not believe that Hapeol Tel Aviv can draw benfica let alone to beat them silly, well that was football . Here come the champions league latest results.

Champions League Trophy.

Group A
Internazionale 1-0 FC Twente
Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Werder Bremen

Group B
Hapoel Tel Aviv 3-0 Benfica
Schalke 3-0 Lyon

Group C
Rangers 0-1 Manchester United
Valencia 6-1 Bursaspor

Group D
Rubin Kazan 1-0 Copenhagen
Panathinaikos 0-3 Barcelona
Results from Tuesday after the jump:

Group E:
Roma 3-2 Bayern Munich
Basel 1-0 CFR Cluj

Group F:
Chelsea 2-1 Zilina
Spartak Moscow 0-3 Marseille

Group G:
Auxerre 0-2 AC Milan
Ajax 0-4 Real Madrid

Group H:
Partizan Belgrade 0-3 Shakhtar Donetsk
Braga 2-0 Arsenal

Sir Alex Ferguson- Manchester derby more intense now.

2010-11-10T06:12:00.000-08:00

Manchester derby more intense now - Sir Alex Ferguson

MANCHESTER CITY v MANCHESTER UNITED
Venue: City of Manchester Stadium Date: Wednesday, 10 November
Kick-off: 2000 GMT Coverage: Live on Sky Sports 2; highlights on Match of the Day; talkSPORT, BBC Radio 5 live and local radio; BBC Sport website & mobiles

Sir Alex Ferguson Behind Mancini

Sir Alex Ferguson's side are two points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea

Sir Alex Ferguson believes the Manchester derby has developed a far greater ferocity in recent seasons.

Ahead of Wednesday's Eastlands match, the Manchester United boss insists that City's new competitive muscle means the fixture has a fresh edge.
"There is an incredible intensity in this derby game now, which was not there 10 or 15 years ago," he said.
Meanwhile, City manager Roberto Mancini thinks Chelsea will win the league and that his team are battling for second.
Ferguson - whose preparations for the match have been hampered by various injuries and a virus affecting some of his players - admits that the money City now have at their disposal since being bought by Sheikh Mansour in 2008 adds an extra element to the fixture.
"Now the meetings with City are ones of great intensity, which is built up by the media explosion around what they are doing and what they are trying to achieve," he said, referring to City's major spending in the transfer market.

"It is difficult to say whether it is inevitable they are eventually going to win the league.
"Obviously, in many people's eyes, having the money is a lot better than not, but this is still a difficult league to win. City recognise that themselves.
"But there is nothing more satisfying than winning a derby game. It doesn't matter what year it is or when it is. Derby games are fantastic.
"What would you rather be doing, managing a game between City and United or Carlisle against Crewe? They are the ends of the spectrum. Derby games can divide husband and wife. You are involved in a game of emotions."
Ferguson's side sit two points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea, who were beaten at Liverpool at the weekend, while big spending City are a further three points back.
United dramatically won both league games against City last season with injury-time winners and they also emerged victorious from their two-legged Carling Cup semi-final.
Mancini was diplomatic about the rivalry between the two clubs but insisted his team had the talent and belief to defeat United.

Maybe it was worthwhile for some of the supporters but I think a lot of them were embarrassed

Ferguson on the infamous Tevez poster

"I think that they know that we are now a strong team," he said.
"We have respect for United and Ferguson because he is the top manager in the world, but we understand that we can beat them now. I think it will be a good game."
City will be without striker Mario Balotelli, who lost an appeal against his red card in the win at West Brom on Sunday, while fellow forward Emmanuel Adebayor is a doubt with a calf strain.
But former Manchester United frontman Carlos Tevez is fit to face his previous employers as Mancini targets a win that would boost his side's chances of finishing the season in the top four and qualifying for the Champions league for the first time.
"I think that Chelsea will win the Premier League but I think that all the other teams that are near them can try [to win it] because the season is long and difficult," added Mancini.
"Our target must be Champions League. At this moment we must just think game after game. We have United and we should only think about this game."


Mancini

The infamous 'Welcome to Manchester poster' marking the arrival of Tevez from Old Trafford 16 months ago was the centrepiece of a City marketing campaign which still rankles the United boss.
"I don't know how it was created, probably some advertising gimmick at City. But I don't think they can be proud of it," the 68-year-old Scot added. "I said it was stupid at the time. They probably think that now.

"I don't see how they thought it would get more points off us when it came to playing on a pitch. Maybe it was worthwhile for some of the supporters but I think a lot of them were embarrassed. They would rather see that trophy being paraded through the city before they start screaming from the rooftops."
Ferguson will be without Ryan Giggs and Owen Hargreaves for Wednesday's clash, while Nani is a doubt.
A flu virus has also put a doubt over several players and Ferguson added: "We are counting heads at the moment."
Paul Scholes, Dimitar Berbatov and Nemanja Vidic are believed to be three players suffering from the virus.
"I've no idea where to begin with my team, no ideas at all at the moment," revealed Ferguson.
"We've still got players out with flu and some were sent home on Monday so we're not in a great position at the moment."
Giggs has been denied the chance of making a record 34th derby outing because of a hamstring injury while Nani is struggling with the groin problem he suffered in the Champions League win at Bursaspor.
Hargreaves faces five weeks out after going off early in the 2-1 win over Wolves on Saturday as he made his long awaited comeback.
This match will be explosive what do you think post your comments below.

Manager Harry Redknapp questions Tottenham fans' booing

2010-11-10T06:11:00.000-08:00

Harry Redknapp

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Redknapp cannot fault Spurs display

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has responded to the club's fans after his side were booed off following the 1-1 Premier League draw with Sunderland.

Spurs are down to sixth in the table after failing to win in their last four league games, although they beat Inter Milan 3-1 in the Champions League.
And Redknapp queried: "What have they got to moan about?
"They've seen some of the best football in recent times here, I don't think anyone can be disappointed with us."
Redknapp also criticised referee Howard Webb for turning down a penalty appeal and not sending off Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole at White Hart Lane.
David Bentley looked like he had been fouled when he tumbled in the Sunderland penalty box during the second half but the Spurs winger was booked instead for diving.
"It was a penalty, a blatant penalty," said Redknapp. "How he [Webb] can book him...
"I've never been one for criticising referees - it's never been my game - but it was a blatant penalty. If you get the penalty, it could make a big difference."
Cattermole was also shown a yellow card for a challenge on Luka Modric but Redknapp felt the tackle deserved a red one.

606: DEBATE

We are told time and time again by Redknapp it's the best squad in years... well, time to start showing it

HM-OZTHFC

"It was a bad tackle in my opinion and could have broken his leg easily," said the Spurs boss. "Modric has got some bad marks on his leg but he was lucky he didn't break his leg.
"Webb has to understand the difference between going over the top of the ball and playing the ball. It just sounds like I'm criticising him but they were two key decisions that I felt weren't right."
Redknapp, missing several players through injury, admitted he was perplexed by the booing at the end of the game, only seven days after their stunning victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League.
"Anyone who enjoys watching football has to enjoy how we're playing - I do for sure," he continued. "We're a really good team and we'll go on to be fantastic one.
"We couldn't have done any more. We couldn't have tried any harder."
And, sarcastically, he added: "They've [the supporters] had it so good over the years, you see. When you keep winning league championships every year, you get upset when you don't win."

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Sunderland mentality has to change - Bruce

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce was delighted with his side's second-half display after they earned a point thanks to Asamoah Gyan's strike, which cancelled out Rafael van der Vaart's opener.
"Spurs were terrific in the first half, with Modric and Tom Huddlestone zipping it around, but we pressed them higher up the pitch in the second half and looked a real threat," Bruce reflected.
"There's a lot said about tactics and things but when you play away from home you've got to play like you mean it. We were better when we went two up top in the second half and I thought we could have nicked it.
"There is much more to come from Gyan - a lot of players needed a bit of a break after the World Cup. When I can play him with Darren Bent, we'll be a real threat."
Gyan, who scored his fifth goal for the Black Cats, admitted that Bruce had given them a dressing down at half-time after an inadequate 45-minute performance.
"The manager wasn't happy, we had to come back strongly and get into the game and we did that," said the Ghanaian striker.
"I think we could have won in the end. We came back well in the second half and it's an important point for us.
"I'm really happy because the team is doing well, I'm delighted with how it's going at Sunderland."

Athletics: Bolt full of praise for young world champ

2010-11-04T07:46:00.000-07:00

World junior champion Jacko Gill. Photo / NZ Herald

Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt believes New Zealand's world junior shot put champion Jacko Gill is five years away from realising his full potential.
Gill supplanted Bolt as the youngest winner of a gold medal at the world junior athletics championships (a competition for under-20 athletes) in Canada in July.
The Auckland-based teenager struck gold at the biennial championships aged just 15 years 183 days with a 20.76m effort - a mark which tops the 2010 global junior rankings.
Bolt had held the previous age record after winning the 200m title at the 2002 world junior championships in Jamaica, aged 15 years 333 days.
Gill is regarded by many as one of the most exciting young global talents in athletics and Bolt was genuinely excited to lose the record to the Takapuna Grammar student.
"I am very happy that the sport of track and field continues to produce champions at that age," Bolt told the Herald on Sunday.
"He is obviously a natural talent with a big heart."
Interestingly, Bolt's career stalled after his 2002 junior success. Injuries restricted the Jamaican's development and Bolt sounded a clear warning to the young Kiwi of the pitfalls ahead.
"Injury is Jacko's No 1 threat," explains Bolt. "What is important is that you employ a proper injury management programme. Continue training.
"He has made a name for himself and fans will be following his progress. Give yourself time, let's say five years like I did.
"My goals when I started my professional career in 2003 was to be ready in five years - like in Beijing - and look what happened to me."
In 2008, Bolt emerged as a global superstar, winning three gold medals at the Beijing Olympics in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay and breaking the world record in each.
Gill shares the same coach, Didier Poppe, as Valerie Adams, the world and Olympic champion, who retained her Commonwealth shot put title with ease in New Delhi last week.

Real Madrid Coach Jose Mourinho learnt a Milan Lesson.

2010-11-04T07:36:00.000-07:00

Real Madrid Coach Jose Mourinho Hopes His Team Learn From Their Lesson In Milan

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho hopes his side will learn from their trip to Milan in the UEFA Champions League in preparation for the knockout round.

Real Madrid Coach, Jose Mourinho.

Los Blancos took the lead at San Siro but had to rely on a late equaliser to steal a point and qualify from the group.
"I think my team needs to learn, they need to learn how to play in the Champions League," Mourinho told FIFA.com.
"The important thing is to learn to play at this level. If we had played as we should have done in the second half, we could have been 2-0 or 3-0 up but instead we could have lost. So it was a great experience in terms of helping us to learn."
The Portuguese tactician was however delighted with his team's spirit to take the game right to the death and avoid a first defeat of the season.
"It was an important moment for Pedro but more so for the team because we've not lost, we've already qualified for the second round and we need just one point to win the group. The most important thing was that the team had the mentality to play with the risk their coach asked of them at the end with many forwards."

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Auxerre Stun Ajax

2010-11-04T07:28:00.000-07:00

AJ Auxerre 2-1 Ajax: AJA Stun Godenzonen To Keep Slim Hopes Alive

Eufa Champions league.

Auxerre picked up three vital points in their quest for progression from Group G as they overcame Ajax 2-1 at the Stade Abbe-Deschamps in France. Frederic Sammaritano scored the the go-ahead goal in the first half and Toby Alderweireld equalised for the visitors after the break. Substitute Steveen Langil won it for the hosts shortly after to give the AJA a glimmer of hope for qualification.
The Godenzonen started the game on the front foot and were the better team in the early minutes of the game. Then, completely against the run of play, Frederic Sammaritano opened the scoring with a fine volley in the ninth minute after some good play by Dariusz Dudka.

Ajax, clearly surprised with the somewhat unfortunate development of the game, continued to press for goal, but were lacking penetration and were mainly restricted to long range drives. Demy de Zeeuw, Rasmus Lindgren and Eyong Enoh all tried their luck from distance in the next twenty minutes and could not find the equaliser before half-time.

For their part, AJA created some decent half-chances on the counter, but could not put them away and entered the break with a slender lead.

The second half saw Auxerre throwing bodies forward in search for a goal that would seal the game. Their inability to penetrate Ajax's stubborn defence, however, convinced them to take a more negative approach in attempt to close up the game.

The Godenzonen laid a siege on the hosts and launched countless attacks as they were looking for an equaliser. After much resolute defending AJA's backline finally capitulated in the 79th minute when Tody Alderweireld headed past Olivier Sorin after cross by Luis Suarez from the left wing.

Ajax's reckless attacks continued in the remaining minutes of the game and the Godenzonen ultimately paid the price for their aggressiveness in the 84th minute when substitute Steveen Langil netted a controversial winner for the hosts. Auxerre held on until the final whistle and claimed their first three points in this season's Champions League

Following tonight's result AJA are last in Group G with three points, one short of Ajax in third. The Godenzonen face Real Madrid on home soil on the November 23rd, while Auxerre host AC Milan on the same day.

EUFA champions league group stage results.

2010-11-04T07:16:00.000-07:00

Here come the result fro the champions league played this week.

Eufa Champions League.

Day	Date	Home team	Score/Time	Away team
Tue	02/11/10	Rubin Kazan	0 - 0	Panathinaikos
		Tottenham Hotspur	3 - 1	Internazionale
		Werder Bremen	0 - 2	Twente
		Hapoel Tel Aviv	0 - 0	Schalke 04
		Benfica	4 - 3	Olympique Lyon
		Valencia	3 - 0	Rangers
		Bursaspor	0 - 3	Manchester United
		København	1 - 1	Barcelona
Wed	03/11/10	Basel	2 - 3	Roma
		CFR Cluj	0 - 4	Bayern München
		Chelsea	4 - 1	Spartak Moskva
		Žilina	0 - 7	Olympique Mars…
		Auxerre	2 - 1	Ajax
		Milan	2 - 2	Real Madrid
		Partizan	0 - 1	Sporting Braga
		Shakhtar Donetsk	2 - 1	Arsenal

African Women Championship Latest.

2010-11-04T07:04:00.000-07:00

Nigeria over power South Africa with 2-1 win

11-04-2010

Nkwocha scoring her goal

For the first time since the beginning of the competition, the stadium was filled to capacity and the atmosphere inside the stadium was electrifying.
The match was however a let down from the start as both sides came out rather cautiously. The two teams sized each other up for the greater part of the opening minutes but in the 20th minute, South Africa had the first real chance of the game with goal keeper Precious Dede tipping over the bar a goal bound header by captain Matlou Noko after an inside the box scramble.
The game assumed a different dimension and in the 22nd minute, Perpetua Nkwocha who had been heavily marked all day, finally broke loose as she was released by Ebere orji with a pass that caught the South African defence off guard. Nkwocha with an opening day hat-trick, controlled her nerves to slot home the opening goal, catching the onrushing goal keeper off guards.
The Nigerians became spirited and pressed on for another goal with Stella Mbachu using speed as her major asset to leave her marker in her wake in the 30th minute only to see her cross into the box cleared into a corner kick. Helen Ukaonu also went pass the offside trap of the South Africans in the 32nd minute but her finishing left much to be desired.

The South Africans still could not break down the Nigerian defence and each time they poured forward, Mbachu Stella was always on hand to cause anxious moments on the counter and in the 38th minute, she won a corner kick that was well measured by Jerome Ulunma and perfectly turned in with the head by Perpetua Nkwocha for her 2nd goal of the day.
The goal sent the Nigerian fans into delirium but it was however not for long as South Africa powered back through a thunderous 30 yards free-kick by Van Wyk right on the dot of time to make it 2-1.
Referee Dia Fadouma from Senegal only awarded a minute of added time, an indication that the game had been played clean and rightly contested.
It was South Africa 1-2 Nigeria going into the break.

The 2nd half was then expected to explode into a warfare and Nigeria began the half by replacing Ebere Orji who was a shadow of her Germany U-20 world cup performance with Francisca Ordega who scored one of the goals against Mali in the opening match.
Francisca Ordega was immediately put through on goal in the 49th minute but she shot tamely directly at the South Africa goal keeper.
South Africa then seized the initiative from then on and a couple of long range balls into the Falcons 18 yard box clearly unsettled goal keeper Precious Dede.
The turn of events spurned the South Africa bench into action and Dlamini Amanda came on for Matjila Elson in the 63rd minute, clearly an attacking change.
The Nigerian bench obviously not at ease also got the message and reacted by taking out Glory Iroka and sent on Ngozi okobi.

Super Falcon Celebrating one of their goals.

In the 80th minute, South Africa almost got the deserved equalizer as Precious Dede fumbles with a cross but danger woman, Popela Mamphase was beaten to the rebound by a Falcon defender.

[source:cafonline]

Mancini rejects claims of Manchester City disunity

2010-11-04T06:53:00.000-07:00

Mancini and Milner presented a united front ahead of City's Europa League Group A clash at Lech Poznan amidst a string of player bust-ups and a dip in form for the big-spending club.
Successive defeats in the Premier League - to Arsenal and, more damagingly, Wolves - have led to reports of rows between key players and dressing room dissatisfaction with Mancini's methods.
Mancini, reacting to claims he had fallen out with the Toure brothers Yaya and Kolo - both of whom have been left in Manchester with minor injury complaints - was also clear. Asked if he was losing the dressing room, the Italian said: "It's not true, it's false. But if there's someone who wants to write these lies then I'm very happy for them. But no, it's not true.''

Milner is one of the players implicated for his recent on-field disagreement with Yaya Toure but he is clear about the fact that destabilising stories are only helping to forge City's siege mentality.

Manchester city coach Roberto Mancini.

"When we see nonsense written in the papers it pulls us closer together,'' Milner said. "When it seems like the whole world is against you, that is when you pull together. These things will make us stronger as a football club. You go through times when things aren't quite right and it's important to keep things right off the field.
"I've been at Newcastle and Leeds where the press seemed to be outside the training ground whenever you drove in. We can't control what's off the field, we can only control results. (Having on-field disagreements) says we're very hungry to win football matches. We'd be worried if there wasn't that hunger because we're desperate to win trophies. In changing rooms up and down the country you'll see people disagreeing but it's forgotten as soon as you step off the pitch. We're a tight group.''
City are virtually assured passage to the knock-out stage of the Europa League, regardless of Thursday night's result, but there is encouraging news ahead of the weekend match against West Brom. Captain Carlos Tevez, who has been both injured and homesick, should return to Manchester on Thursday and while that rules him squarely out of the Europa action, Mancini is already considering his next league line-up.
"We will change some players for tonight; it's impossible to play the same players always,'' said Mancini. "But tomorrow he (Tevez) will be in Manchester and I think he will be ready for West Brom on Sunday. If he is okay then he should be.''
Striker Mario Balotelli could start for City against Lech Poznan. He had been struggling with a thigh strain but travelled following a morning training session.
[courtesy:ESPNsoccernews]

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2010-10-28T04:57:00.003-07:00

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2010-10-19T02:22:00.000-07:00

world cup best goal keeper Vincent Enyeama and world best player Messi.

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top 5 ugliest players

2010-10-14T05:57:00.001-07:00

Iron Man 2 (Three-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy)

I came across this recently on the internet and I decide to blog with it. Here comes the top 5 ugliest players at all time, but I wonder why Rooney is toping the list while the likes of Teves and ribery are there. Now the five ugliest.

Rank

Name

Wayne Rooney

Ronaldinho

Carlos Tevez

Peter Crouch

Ronaldo

What do you think post your comment below.