Why David Mo-YES?

The day SAF announced his retirement, there was no doubt that various exciting names would be linked to the Greatest Job available in the world! What did surprise many was the fact that a fellow Scot, a "mid table, mediocre, trophy-less and dithering man" as people have been labeling him recently; was not offered the job, but, was told: "You are the next Manchester United Manager."

Since his appointment, Moyes has seen things go against him, with the lack of business during the summer transfer window, injuries to his key players, he was presented with an unsettled Wayne Rooney and of course, a squad of many average players, who had emerged as Champions the season before.

Whilst a lot people have been giving Moyes stick for the recent United performances and results, only a few would realize what a mess Sir Alex left the team in. Yes, he won trophies, he was ruthless and successful, but he made errors, big time errors that went unnoticed and no one dared to criticize him in the media, because he would shut you up with his successes; but, he didn't retire because he couldn't handle it anymore, its because, he knew, the squad he had could not get him anyway forward, and whilst his rivals spent money like no other, he remained there, letting the likes of Pogba leave for free and opt to bring Scholes out of retirement. For the last three seasons, he has failed to buy a complete midfielder, his inability to replace Scholes and Keane remains to be one of the greatest setbacks during his career, even though it is overshadowed by the shining trophy cabinet he has.

It should be remembered, when everyone mentions the fact that this was the 'same team' that won the league last season, United won the title because of three reasons:
- Robin Van Persie's goals.
- The absence of a strong title challenger, Chelsea were fav until they sacked RDM, City lost the hunger, Liverpool were in transition, Spurs were with AVB and Arsenal were getting over the RVP transfer.
- Sir Alex Ferguson: Managers who have managed top clubs with vast experience will tell you how much of a difference the presence of the Manager brings to the team. Wenger, Fergie, Mourinho are managers whose presence will give you 10 points easily.

Yes United won the title, with the same squad Moyes has inherited, but ask Mancini, Wenger and Mourinho; what is the most difficult thing as a manager, and they will tell you: "To motivate your players to win the same trophy every year." The results speak for themselves, Mourinho doesn't stay for longer in clubs he manages because he knows when his team has lost desire, Mancini lost it last season, Wenger and Fergie are two managers who possess this ability, to motivate players to win the same thing every season. To grind out results from teams, to get top class performances from your players and to instill that mentality is what Fergie was known for, but even he knew, that this was the end of an era, just like squeezing an orange to give you juice, there comes a time when you remain with nothing but the skin, and that is Moyes has inherited at United.
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Addressing the question as to why Moyes was appointed and not any other manager, its quite realistic to say that Manchester United do not have the spending power like other teams do, yes, it's sad to admit it, but it is what it is. The Glazers have been used to SAF not spending money and getting them the results, and they expected this to last for long. There would be no other manager willing to work on the tightest of budgets for a Top Club, and if there ever was, then it was Moyes, because he is someone who for the last 10 years at Everton, worked on an average of 3m budget.

When SAF was appointed as the manager of Manchester United, he made a statement, "This is not a football team, it is a football club." There were reasons behind these, the club has a philosophy, they play in a way they have been known for, but the club is also known for stability, long term planning and its ability to produce young players. It is of no doubt here, that Moyes qualifies for the above mentioned conditions. Many will argue about his playing style and compare him to what Everton are right now, but what they do forget is, who built that team, who went through thick and thin with the club and who brought all those players? I am surprised when people say Everton is where they are, have these people been watching the Premier League all these years or are they one of the many who just speak out of the blue? In 2005, they qualified for Champions League football, a mere three years after his appointment, his greatest set back being finishing 8th for the first time in four years in 2010 and last season he finished above Liverpool. Did he win all those games with boring, selfish, ugly and useless football? I am pretty sure you never watched Everton then. The only reason why people have been going on about all the nonsense, is because United are below Everton, not that Everton are currently in the same position they have been for the last few seasons.

One thing should be clear, the fans of this club are used to glory, since I was born, until SAF retired, all I have known is Manchester United are winners, we have seen trophies all over the place in the last 20 or so years, and we all knew it will come to a time, when we will step back, build and do what we do the best- Come Back Stronger! Just like many out there, I never expected it to be this bad, but what I never expected was that David Moyes to be fully blamed for what has gone wrong this season. When Brendan Rodgers took over Liverpool, for the first few months we all took Liverpool as a laughing stock, even their own fans were fed up, but when he was given the "TIME" to "BUY HIS" set of players, he turned it around for them.

One does not simply walk into a new club and start a clear out, ask AVB he will tell you why, and David Moyes has been in the game for long enough to know not to do so. The man is no angel, it is always hard to get into the boots of SAF, and he is finding it difficult right now, not because he can't do it, but because he doesn't have what he needs. The man needs to buy his set of players, he needs to instill in them the mentality and his way of football, and he can not do it over night.

Every Manager walks in with their own set of coaching staff, and one thing where people criticize Moyes and I do commend him for is the fact that he showed Ferguson who the boss is. When Fergie told him to stick with his coaching staff, he brought in his own, but, he did it after offering Rene the assistant manager job, which Rene refused. Fair play to him, he wanted a new challenge, yes Moyes needs a great tactician in his coaching staff, and I hope he does get one soon. Whilst managers keep getting accolades, people tend to forget how immense and great the work rate and role an assistant manager plays.

One thing that has left me worried is the expression on the player's faces, the fact that they don't possess the same desire they did under Ferguson, they could have their own reasons, but here is when the Manager's stand and authority comes in. It is simple, no one is greater than the club, its a policy everywhere, and United is no different. How can one blame Moyes if your strikers can't score, or if you can not take a sensible penalty kick? Ask Wenger, he will tell you the same thing, and refer to my last article, where I highlighted how players were to be blamed and not Wenger for the woes at the club.

One thing is for sure, just like how Ozil\s signing brought a psychological boost to Arsenal, Moyes needs to do something similar. There is always a need of fresh air, a new face in the club which motivates everyone, we all know its been the worst season for United, but a few signings would be a great motivation. Moyes needs to wrap up deals soon, his inability to make quick decisions has to come to an end, and Ed Woodward needs to step up his game.

I am not saying Moyes is the best manager in the world today, there are many out there who have won lots, achieved more and done better in their first season, all I am trying to say is, it is absolute nonsense to blame Moyes for the results and the performances. I will stand by my opinion that this squad is not strong enough to compete for any thing this season, and if you want a proof, write down your best midfield this season, make 6 best midfield teams, and let me know if you ever do have any Fit Manchester United player who makes it in your team, apart from Adnan Januzaj, who is a mere 18 year old.

David Moyes is no Sir Alex Ferguson, he is David Moyes, he has made mistakes, he will continue making them, and he will learn through them. Every Manager has had lows through which they have learnt and come back stronger, and I don't see any reason why Moyes can't do the same/

David may not be the best man for this job, there are many out there with better qualifications, but he is the right man, for now at least, to build a project, to build his team, to make the Glazers know that keeping the money at home won't be enough to win titles and for everyone out there to know, that Manchester United are no glory hunters, stability and long term planning is part of the philosophy and this will continue for generations to come.

I am not standing by David Moyes because SAF said so, SAF is not my Father and can not ask me to share the same opinion as his, but I support David Moyes, because just like you and me, he deserves the chance and the time to establish himself in the name of the Most Successful Club in England for the last 20 years.

I stand by David Moyes just like I would have stood by any other manager at any other club. I stood by Brendad Rodgers when he was appointed, not that I am a Scouser or will ever be, but because, Football is not a night club where you come and enjoy your drinks for a night and move on, Football is a religion, it is a nation and it is life! Just like how you and I grew up wearing pampers and weren't rushed by our parents to wear Jeans and a shoe size 8 when we were just four, this is exactly what Football is about, time and patience, and of course results do count!

Arsene: Wenger or Danger?

In Arsene We Trust- those are the words that usually come out from the mouths of the Arsenal fans who have hung a huge banner up at the Emirates with the same words, for the Manager who has led the club to Glory in formidable ways, but has now gone eight years without winning a major trophy. 

In the past few months, Arsene has been on the receiving end from the club's supporters, who have been frustrated with the lack of activity of the club in the transfer market, the failure to win big games, numerous failed attempts to win a trophy and most of all- they are tired of Arsene, they feel he has lost the plot, he needs to retire and the list goes on and on. 

As I sat down and read the tweets, facebook posts, radio calls, posters and debates going on regarding Arsene, I felt sorry for the man who rejected big moves to Real Madrid, Bayern and other clubs and has done all that has been in his abilities to make Arsenal a force they are today.

I thought I would have my say on this matter, and perhaps shed some light on what Arsene has been going through, he, just like every other human is no angel and is bound to make mistakes, perhaps he makes quite big mistakes which cost a fortune, but he is the same man who is the reason why Arsenal have never failed to make it to the top four of the EPL, despite having one of the most economical teams (cost wise) in the top half of the table.

What has Arsene done for Arsenal? 

-The invincible team that won the EPL

-First ever Champions league final in the club's history- against Barcelona- 2006
-In his second season won the Premier League and FA Cup to complete the second league  and cup double in the club's history.
-Double once more in the 2001–02 season
- 2003 FA Cup -Final
-Winning % Since 1996- 56.72%

The above list may not be as long as what other managers have achieved, but it is also important to note that Arsene has worked under the most difficult circumstances for a top four club. If compared to Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and now Tottenham, Arsene has worked on very limited budgets, something that only David Moyes has gone through.  Since their move from Highbury, Arsenal have been considered a money making business and the club had its aims set- recover all the debts! Which after all these years, has finally been achieved!

He has had to build squads contending for Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and Carling Cup at the same time, with a budget that doesn't fit in today's transfer market. There is no manager who wishes to loose his best players, even Ferguson never wanted to loose Ronaldo, but the circumstances force Managers to give up. When clubs like Barcelona come knocking, with a rich history, strong financial backgrounds, it is hard for players to refuse. Arsenal has become a feeding club to Barcelona (Henry, Fabregas, Hleb, Song), Man City (Adebayor, Toure, Clichy, Nasri) and now, probably one of the biggest mistakes Arsene has ever made- to sell his best player to his local rivals- Manchester United.

One thing however, I must point out, apart from the Henry, Fabregas and RVP Transfers, Wenger has got his decision of letting the rest go absolutely correct. When a player has been nothing short of a trouble maker in the dressing room, and has no willingness to play for the club, why keep him? This is one character that defines a great manager- Man Management and his ability to make bold decisions.

Arsene's ability to explore young talents and make them superstars is unquestionable, just like his technique in building the youngest team (average age) and take it to the heights of top four EPL finishes. It is something that not many managers would do, not every manager would risk to put young players as young as seventeen and eighteen in a Champions League must win game and grind out a result. However, it is sad, that players today have lost meaning of the word loyalty and sacrifice, and end up forgetting their roots when they are a strong tree!

Where has Arsene got it wrong then? 

As much as I love total football, and Arsene's philosophy of playing one of the most beautiful games in Europe, I still disagree with him when it comes to his behavior in the transfer market- where he brands it as Mad! Class and Quality don't come in cheap, yes players are over priced, but what do you do when clubs are willing to pay crazy amounts? The transfer market is the survival of the fittest, and Arsene needs to play  his wild card very well, and stop moaning about the prices. It has cost him to miss out Yaya Toure, Ibrahimovic, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and others. 

Arsene's failure to keep hold of his best players, and his inability to replace them has been one of the reasons for the trophy drought. The team has had no experience that they need, for me, Arsene has failed to replace Vieira, probably his best leader despite of all the problems he had with Keane. The Arsenal dressing room today, could be linked to an U-21 dressing room, where every one is looking up to the other for some inspiration, and end up in distraught. 

It might sound strange, but for me, those have been the major setbacks of what could have been a glittering Managerial career of the person who has single handed-ly, economically and wisely made Arsenal who they are today. 

He may be old, moaner, stingy, but England has yet to see a manager who has achieved glory without altering his policies and playing one of the best football in Europe. For me, if he is given the money that every other manager is offered, Arsenal will be a threat to anyone in Europe- remember, its the only team to have won against Barcelona without playing ugly! 

Hold on to Arsene, he surely is Wenger and could be Danger to everyone out there, he could win everything or he could be the first manager to have gone through almost  a decade without a Trophy!

Come what may, Arsene needs to be honored and respected for his achievements! 

Je, Tanzania kweli tuna mpira?

Tangu utotoni, nikiwa mshabiki mkubwa wa mpira wa Tanzania, haswa Simba ambako Baba yangu alikuwa Mweka Hazina enzi za akina Mwemeja, nilikuwa na hakikisha na enda uwanjani ku angalia kandanda na kuisapoti timu yangu. Nilikuwa mtu mwenye bahati nzuri ya kuwa moja wao ku enda kambini ku kaa na wachezaji, ku ongea nao na wengine tuki kaa nyumbani kula pamoja. Hadi leo, ambako nimefikia umri wa miaka 21, na ji ulizaga swali moja: "Je, Tanzania kweli tuna mpira?"

Ni swali ambacho kina maoni tofauti kati ya watu, lakini ni dhahiri kabisa kusema kuwa, Tanzania, tumeuacha mpira nyuma na ku elekeza uzembe, hela na siasa kuiharibu mpira wetu.
Katika makala hili, nitaizungumzia sera 5 kati za nyingi zilizopo, ambazo zimesababisha kifo cha mpira wa Tanzania, na kuiweka iwe Simba na Yanga tu!

Uongozi:

Ukitulinganisha na nchi tofauti katika Bara la Afrika, sie tuna wachezaji wenye kipaji na uwezo mkubwa, ila ni uongozi wa vilabu ambazo zina sababisha kifo cha soka la Tanzania. Kutoka enzi za wachezaji kama Akilimali, Machinga, Ally Mayai, na leo Kipre Tchetche, Ngassa, hakuna uongozi hata moja walichokifanya kitu chochote ku sababisha maendeleo ya mpira wetu.

Kila aliekuja madarakani, ame ingiza hela, aka sajili wachezaji aliewapenda, aka leta kocha anaemsifu na mwishoni aka shinda ligi katika mwaka wake wa kwanza madarakani, mwake uliofuata, timu pinzani ikampindua Mwenyekiti, nae aka fanya alicho fanya mpinzani wake, na sakata hili lika endelea hadi leo.

Hakuna kiongozi ata moja aliekuja madarakani na kufanya walichofanya Azam Fc, bali wote waka elekeza nguvu zao za kuwa wale ambao wata shangiliwa na mashabiki waki ingia uwanjani!
Hakuna kitu kama hilo katika mpira, ata mmiliki wa TP Mazembe hakufukuza makocha kama tulivyofanya sie katika vilabu vyetu, bali, aka elekeza nguvu zake kuiboresha vifaa vya klabu na mwishoni, aka kuta mafanikio yaliopo leo na zina onekana dhahiri kabisa.

Kuna siku nili enda uwanjani ku angalia mechi kati ya timu mbili kongwe za Tanzania, na nika fanikiwa kuwa na baadhi ya "wazee wakubwa" wa klabu mmoja kati ya hizo mbili, na ghafla mmoja wao aka soma kikosi kitakacho cheza, na mwishoni kusema, leo mwalimu ka taja kile tulichomwandikia! Ni pale nika kaa, na ku ji uliza, "je huyu aliopo kwenye kiti cha benchi la ufundi, ni kocha au ni mtumishi ambaye ana fuata ana cho ambiwa na ma bossi wake?

Je ni wapi umeona kwamba Mwenyekiti wa timu fulani anampangia kikosi kocha? Na ni viongozi hawo ambao hawa cheleweshi kumfukuza kocha kwa kusema "hatujafurahishwa na matokeo." Itakuwaje umfurahishwe na matokeo wakati nyie ndio mnao panga timu?
Ki binafsi, kila siku nawa ambiaga marafiki na wadau wa soka, kwamba kama kuna timu ambayo ita fanikiwa kufanya vizuri ni Azam Fc, lakini, ghafla nae waka anza kufuata nyanzo za wapinzani na kumfukuza kocha wao. Na haikuchukua miezi kadhaa, kabla kumrudisha kazini na uongozi huo huo waliemfukuza!

Viongozi wa vilabu ya Ligi Kuu Tanzania, pamoja na viongozi wa TFF, wanatakiwa wachunguze maamuzi
zao kabla za kuzitangaza katika vyombo vya habari, na baadaye kusikitika.
Mara nyingi uamuzi wa kijinga unaofanyiwa na hao viongozi, unaiathiri timu kwa njia tofauti, na kusababisha kiwango cha mpira kushuka. Kuwa fungia wachezaji kwa utovu wa nidhamu, kuihujumu timu, kutoelewana na mwalimu na viongozi, haya ni mifano ya maamuzi yanayofikiwa na viongozi wa vilabu vyetu. Waki ulizwa kuwasilisha ushahidi, wana beza kwa kusema, hayo ni masuala ya klabu na hatuweki hadharani!

Ninakumbuka, niki enda ku angalia mechi fulani na nika fanikiwa ku ingia ku keti chumba cha kubadilisha
nguo na wachezaji, ghafla nika ona mchezaji mmoja wa kigeni aka ambiwa leo huta anza kwasbabu tuna shaka kwamaba utaihujumu timu. Kuna habari zime tu fikia kwamba umepokea kiasi fulani cha fedha na utaihujumu timu, kwa vile uta anzia benchi. Na hayo maneno ni dakika chache kabla ya mchezo ku anza, je fikiria hali ya Kocha wakati huo. Je ni nini kitakacho kichwani mwake, ata badilishaje formeshen ya timu, na hakuna ata kiongozi mmoja aliewasilisha malalimiko kwa mwalimu, badala yake, waka chukua uamuzi mikononi mwao. Na si kitu cha ajabu, kwamba ni mchezaji huyo huyo ambaye alipotoka benchi na ku cheza, aka sababisha magoli mawili kilichoipa ushindi timu yake.

Tatizo la uongozi kushindwa kufanya kazi kwa utaalamu ambacho kina sababisha matatizo kadhaa. Mfano mmoja ambao ni tatizo kubwa sana, ni jinsi viongozi wanaishughulikia swala la uhamisho wa wachezaji na mikataba yao. Swala hilo nitali fafanua zaidi katika article lifuatayo, ambacho kita tolewa wiki ijayo.

Pamoja tujenge, na kuendeleza mpira wa Tanzania!

Nothing Like My First Trophy

"There is no feeling like winning it for the first time, that feeling never comes again. I made sure I lived up to it, and that feeling has never come again."
Wayne Rooney on his first Epl Title.

These are the words that echoed at the back of my mind when I went upfront to lift the first ever Champions trophy for Predators Fc, the first one for everyone in the team, this was a dream come true. That feeling of walking towards the stage, everyone clapping, singing, screaming the team name, and seeing my father sit there with a smile applauding something no one was yet to do since his glory days ended, shall never be forgotten ever!

It was in London, United Kingdom in January 2012 that I had a dream of us lifting the trophy in the coming tournament to be held during August in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. I was with my best friend, who I shared a flat with during University days- Ali D, that we were having lunch at home when I told him of this dream of mine. He simply looked at me and said: "We got to do it this time round, no excuses bro!" Since then, the only thing in my mind was to go back to Dar, play this and win it! Yes, this had to be our year, no matter what!

Predators Fc, has had a very rich history, which goes back in 2006 when the team was formed by a group of school friends, who hired a Coach to train them, the Late Peter, and paying him meant we had to save money at school. Its not like our parents never gave us money, but its because we wanted to do it with passion and show our love for the game. Fridays at 3pm we would all report for training and go through intense training, sometimes playing only 30 minutes of football, always put us off; but hey! it was for our good.
From then on, the team participated in various tournaments, however, it was yet to attain the success it always treasured. We played in 3 finals from then and were yet to win any and of course 2 semi finals! As we progressed, few of our players went abroad for studies and that meant we had lost important talent and we had to replace them with others, difficult, but not impossible.

The 10th of June 2012, I landed in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, after being almost a year away from home, it was nothing short of emotional. I had lost my Grandmother when I was in Uk, and going back home was never going to be the same.
As soon as I got home, I was told that there is a mini tournament commencing the next day and the players had registered themselves, we didn't have our full team, but we gave it a shot. Too bad, we were kicked out in the group stages. There was only claim going around in the streets, "Predators are finished, they have lost the plot"

We regrouped ourselves and managed to get a few training sessions before the tournament drew closer, some players went to the gym, and then come to the ground for training. There was this feeling of dedication in the team, probably it was our year. You never know!
As the tournament drew closer, there was hype around the community, everyone buying jerseys, getting their players registered, facebook was full of statuses and it was buzzing! We handed our registration forms with the following players:
Ali Dewji, Allyzain Ismail, Nabeel Meghji, Mohammed Jawad Kassam, Ali D, Zaheer Rahim, Haani Virjee, Murtaza Haji, Muzammil Sadak, Zuheir Sachedina, Ali Rehemtullah, Suhail Meghji, Mohammedali Dhanji and Ali Abdulrasul.

The eldest in our team were Ali Rehemtullah and Nabeel with an age of 25, and the youngest were Ali Abdulrasul, Alizain and Dhanji- 18 years.

The groups were out and we were grouped alongside Real Madrid, Barcelona and Extreme. Fair group on paper, but Barcelona were our rivals, and there was nothing sweet like gaining revenge on them after they knocked us out in 2009. We were wary of Real Madrid's threat as well, a youthful team with great spirit.
Well, our first game was against Extreme, we won 2-0, not the best of games, but sometimes you have to win it rough.

The following fixture meant we played Barcelona, who drew with Madrid in their opening fixture. There was so much hype about this game, our rivalry and honor was at stake, we were down by a goal in the first five minutes. Dead! It is here, where I remembered Roy Keane in his game against Juventus in 1999, despite knowing that he wont play in the final due to suspension, he spearheaded the team to victory. For us, we couldn't afford a loss, because our next fixture wasn't easy. There I was, pulled the arm band higher, and began the search for a point at least. I always end up having a good game against Barcelona, I don't know why, since my first game as a stand in captain in 2009, I always cherished playing against them. I put in probably my best performance of the tournament, and in the last minute we got an equalizer! Safe, but not sound.

Our next game was Real Madrid, stadium full, spirit not very high as we thought its going to be an easy game. We had a quiet first half, and we had made wholesale changes to the squad. The biggest shock being our top goal scorer, Ali Rehemtullah being on the bench. We soon paid up for that, but it all started with Mj making the worst mistake a Captain would ever make. I jumped to head the ball, and won it clearly, only to be given an elbow on my chin, by the striker, there i was down!  For some reason, the ref didn't stop play until one of our players fiercely kicked the ball out of the stadium. I sat on the pitch bleeding, and no one cared! I stood up, looked for the guy and screamed: "Watch what you do on the field, not too long before I teach you a lesson." That resulted to a brawl between the two teams and just when I was having a word with the linesman, they scored. Come on ref, where is the fair play? Meh! We were a goal down. I thought I would pull a Roy Keane again, got in with my blood-stained jersy, and got the game going. It wasn't too long before a tackle by one of our players was exaggerated by theirs, and our player was sent off! What! Why! During that instant, a player from each side fought and there we were, other two red cards. I lost my head, marched to the ref and said: "What you think you doing? You been sent to do this?" This invited a fight, and I was pulled aside, benched! Our goalkeeper was sent off and so was Haani! We asked Ali Rehemtullah to play in goal. Eventually we lost 2-0! The second goal, was just a mirror image of the first one. Anyway, that meant we had to wait for the next game between Madrid and Extreme and pray for a draw to see us through.

Everyone was talking about the incident involving me,, trust me, news travels faster than sound! Everyone knew about this, and we had those spice-lovers who added every inch of salt and spice they could. I was quite frustrated, for years we had been undone by refereeing decisions. 2009, a free kick was awarded as a penalty to the opposition, despite their player admitting it was out side the box. 2010, we were 2-1 up against bitter rivals, and the game was added an extra 8 minutes, for reasons known to God and the last minute saw our goal keeper catch the ball from a corner. Their player came forward and punched the ball from our goalie's arm, oh they got a penalty! The ref said it was our player who handled the ball! I mean, wth! I had enough and when I walked into the disciplinary meeting, I let it all out. Stunned! Did I just accuse someone wrongly? Well somehow yes! The following action was taken: I was suspended for a game, our goalkeeper for the rest of the tournament and a further three months and Haani, for one game! Shame! What a let down I was!

Luckily, we went through and we faced Extreme in the Quarters, I was banned, Ali Rehemtullah went in goal and Muzammil had to travel.  Muzammil had travelled from Kenya and was looking forward to play for us and its sad that he had to leave early! He has that talent, only 17 and that boy could run! Now what? Emergency signing, Muzz Alidina! Our legendary player! I remember asking him to play, he had just arrived from Canada a week prior to the quarter finals. More like he was sent in as a saviour! Classic player, and he made his mark when he set up the firs goal of the game! We saw it easy, and there we were in the Semis!

Who do we face? Al Ahly! 9 time champions, and an unstoppable force! We have played them thrice, won the first game, and lost the other two. One being in the finals in 2010, and the other was in the mini tournament held a month ago where they emerged champions.

I decided against playing, it was time I taught myself a lesson and led as an example. I talked to Ali D, a few friends and the Manager. We all thought it was a right decision. Four hours before the game, everyone had come to my place. We had a nice gathering, with a chocolate fountain right in front of us, we just galloped strawberries with it, a few cold drinks and ice cream. Not a good meal before a game is it? Well, we were having the time of our lives, especially Ali Abdulrasul, he almost took the fountain home!
As kick off time approached, we went to the ground, everyone motivated and with high spirits! It was time to change our tactics, every team that played Al Ahly, would defend their lives for the whole game. This time, we went all attack. Ah! A game that shocked everyone. We were all over them, Ali Abdulrasul and Dhanji stealing the show! We had to make a change and we sent in Zuheir, a player who has always given 100% to the club! He came in with a swollen knee, but still played. He lasted 30 seconds! Just when he was about to cross the ball, he tore his ligaments. Crutches on, Zuheir is done for the year and Haani took his place.
The game ended a stalemate and we went on to penalties. The video is attached here for you to view it!
I still remember Ali Rehemtullah telling me, I promise to save you XYZ's penalty, guess what, he did!
I still remember every second of the penalty shootouts, standing there with our arms around each other, we kept predicting the outcome. The most nervous moments were when Haani and Suhail went to take their penalty. It took Haani ages to  get to the spot, and Suhail stood there like he was waiting for tea to be served!
When Al Ahly missed their penalty, I turned to Muzz and asked him to go and win it for us, he refused, so did Allyzain and Dhanji. Now what? Ah Remti was there! Nothing better than seeing him score the penalty. I was shocked, we had actually done it!!
My best penalty? Easy- Zaheer and Ali! They whacked the ball!
We were through to the finals!

This game, our three youth players, Dhanji, Ali and Allyzain were at their best. They left everyone amused, I had a chat with our community soccer coach, and he was full of praises for them! Loyal soldiers they were, and what a difference they made!

In this video, the first penalty by Al Ahly wasn't recorded.
Penalty Takers:
Mansoor                                                     Zaheer
Sudi                                                            Nabeel
Imran                                                          Ali Abdulrasul
Jawaad                                                       Haani
Aziz                                                            Suhail
Nassor- Missed                                          Ali Rehemtula    

As the finals drew closer, we would have frequent gatherings, dinners and most important the hour talks of what we would do if we won! Jokes! Been in 3 finals, lost all. Not that excited anymore!

It was on a Friday, and we all met for the Juma prayers at mosque, then we had a meeting with the organizers, all the talk of discipline was being talked about. Wanna know why? We were playing Real Madrid! That elbow, that red card to my players, the fights, taunting facebook statuses, REVENGE!!

Two hours before the game, we met at Salilabbas's place, someone who gave everything for the team. He and Irfan Dhalla supported us throughout the tournament, they watched every game of ours and celebrated with us when it was meant to. Not forgetting Danish, Mohammed Hameer, and Ebuzer! A few Fifa 12 games were played and everyone was seated with only one thing in their mind- the trophy! Okay lads, time to go to the stadium! Car after car, and it seemed like President's motorcade! In the stadium, and now we were warming up.

As we warmed up, the stadium was suddenly filled with people, everyone was excited, everyone's family was there, my 78 year old Grandfather came! Massive moment in my career, it was time to prove the haters wrong, and do it for the first time ever!

During our dinners, Haani would always come up to me and say, Mj I will score the winner in the final. I am going to prove that I didn't deserve the red card! Fair play to him, he wanted to prove a point.

We stuck to the same team, and that meant Haani and I were on the bench. Poor game, boring and not entertaining at all!
The half time team talk was all bollocks, we had to win this. I made the famous Fergie remark: "That's the closest you will come to the trophy when you walk out of the tunnel, see it carefully, because you won't win it with this performance." 1999 Champions League Final.

As the second half resumed, we had a few chances here and there. Haani was disappointed not to play and he came to me and said, Mj will I even play. Ah you know what! Get in boy! Ali Abdulrasul made way for him. Guess what, second touch of the ball, this guy lashed a screamer, Goal! We actually scored in a final! Now this is ours. I went in for the final 5 minutes, my first touch and the crowd was screaming, you know why, they thought I was going to punch someone hah!

Final whistle blew, we had done it for the first time ever! I ran to Ali Rehemtullah, he won us this tournament. Goalkeeping was at another stage, another class!
Then, it was the famous ring dance that followed, and the promised celebration that Ali D and I made sure we did, the Lingoti!
Predators Fc were Champions!
I can't describe this moment, you really had to be part of us to experience this!
All those issues, yet we won!!
Our families were proud, our friends, my siblings dropped in texts that would surely make you smile and weep!

That feeling! You won't experience again!

One thing was sure, my Grandmother was my best support, she didn't live to see this moment, but she surely was smiling in heaven when she saw the trophy rise high!
Facebook was crazy, so was I!
We had done it!!

After the presentation ceremony, we all went for dinner! Bring the bill please: $200! You serious? Ah we won this bro! There, we paid it up, only to be given a discount and a free meal the next day!

The journey towards success has never been an easy one, and it took us 4 years to actually win what we always dreamt of. Its all down to the players, supporters, parents and of course those who worked behind the scenes in making sure we had everything we wanted before our games!
Thank you everyone! Jah bless!

I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.
Michael Jordan 

Kick Out- Racists or Racism?

The past few weeks have been terrible for football, from the controversial refereeing decisions to the racist abuse received by the players from supporters and not forgetting the introduction of diving into the sport which was once known for the last man standing contest.
This week however, I will like to address the issue of racism, which has of course caught the public eye and made football a hated sport for many. 

Racism- according to Dictionary.com is defined as hatred or intolerance of another race or other races. However, in today's world the word Racism is used very lightly and in the slightest of issues, calling someone blind, funny, bold headed, or any other adjective is now termed as Racism. Hence, just because you hit someone's bag with your knee or made fun of his hair style- you're regarded as a Racist. Probably its time the word Racism or Racist are defined well enough to educate the public about its use and to force them to avoid using it.

The issue of racism in football is nothing new, it has existed since 1930's when Dixie Dean- Everton striker was racially abused by a supporter at half time in London. He decided to take matters in his own hands and punched the offender, there was no action taken against Dixie. 

From then on racism was rampant, Steve Mokone was abused by his manager at Coventry City, Roger Verdi had to change his name from Rajinder Singh Birdi, Paul Canoville, Gareth Crooks, Cyrille Regis  were all subjected to abuse from the crowd whilst playing for their respective teams.  

In 1988, football was put to utmost shame when a banana was thrown at Liverpool player John Barnes by the Everton fans who then chanted "Everton are white". Other players to have been racially abused are Stan Collymore, El Hadj Diouf, Jason Euell,  Dean Howell, Patrice Evra, Dider Zokora, Anton Ferdinand, Danny Rose and Chek Tiote.

John Barnes Back Heels A Banana Thrown At Him.

The above incidents have brought the footballing world to shame, and more so has made this world an insecure place to live in. Times have come when people are judged by their skin color, and their nationality- something that is against Humanity. Everyone, despite their race, color, age, gender, religion or any ethnic related issues are supposed to be treated equally.
After reviewing the above incidents, I realized that the problem is not with the game, but the problem lies within ourselves as humans. We are to be blamed for the racism existing today not only in the footballing world but the world as a whole. It is the absence of good morals and improper upbringing of our future generations, and the ignorance showed by the elders of the society.

Good Morals and Upbringing:  
In today's world, most of the young generation have failed to show good morals. The days whereby you would pop in at your neighbor's to say hello, lift shopping bags for the elderly, assist a mother to take the baby wheelchair up the staircase, give a smile to the person walking by- are no more there. Everyone is busy with their own world, with making money, chasing lust and selfish desires- little do they realize the damage it has caused to the world. Very few of us would take a stand in a racial related incident, few of us would sit next to a different color person on the tube, train or bus- barely because we consider ourselves the "Mighty" ones. Good morals come as a result of religion, something that has been fading all over the world. Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism do not support racism and have always encouraged good relations amongst fellow human beings. If every parent took the initiative to spend a little few hours with the child and explain him or her that all humans are to be treated equally, then it is no doubt that this world would be a better place to live in. 

Ignorance by the elders of the society:
As a child, everyone has a role model that they look up to, someone who inspires them, someone they try to imitate and they love dearly. In the present generations, when elders of the society have turned out to be racists, ill mannered and less caring- it is of no surprise that the generations to come will be nothing but worse. Take an example, when a child looks up to John Terry- he or she would basically be influenced by everything JT does and he will make sure he does everything he can to be like JT. Therefore, the root cause is the elders of the society who have failed to live up to the standards. When you look at the likes of Ron Atkinson who had to resign as ITV after making a comment whilst on air against Marcus Desailly (then Chelsea player) by labeling him as what is known in some schools as a f******* lazy thick n*****. As a child you are bound to be intimidated by such high profile individuals, and would practice some of the behavior in your daily life. 

The Famous JT and Anton Ferdinand Incident

Various institutions, societies, players, individuals and members of society have since then stood up and taken the initiative to fight racism. The Kick Out campaign, the laws and a 6 point plan have been the latest initiatives the Soccer body has taken. However, the question remains? How can we combat racism?

The answer to this is simple- we dont need a steward per fan, rather we need good morals from every fan. The society needs to educate the young generation about racism and that every human being is equal. Schools, institutions, football academies, homes, religious centers need to start taking up the initiative to promote the divine message of Human Equality. 
If a plant is watered in the right manner and straightened since its growth stage, then it is bound to grow straight and give the fruits when its a tree. The absence of water and proper care would result to a dead plant/tree. The responsibility starts from home and needs to continue in schools and societies. Remember: "Charity begins at home."

The issue however comes up to what happens to those footballers and fans already involved in this horrendous act? 
The fines set out by the FA are just hilarious and do not bring about any change to the public. If a player earns 100,000 a week, and is then fined 80,000, what difference does it make to him? It doesn't really have an effect because he knows that the coming week he is going to earn it back, oh and not forgetting the image rights, brand loyalty and all those deals that could total up to almost a budget of an African country. 
Its time the fines are of a realistic amount and the ban of matches should not be a mere 4 or 8, but almost half a season, perhaps that could knock in some sense to the players and the public. In order to teach the fans a lesson, its time the football federations hand out "play behind closed doors" punishments. This was handed out to italian teams in the past, and did bring in some sense to the Italian supporters, well probably not to the maximum, but it surely did make a difference. 

It is time the FA steps up and make bold decisions, keeping aside the interest of the National team and the league's interest. It is quite sad to see that Suarez was banned for 8 games, whilst JT was handed a 4 match ban. To top it up, Barton was handed a 12 match ban because he kicked Aguero. Decisions like these just make you wonder how the FA works.

We could do everything we can, wear kick out t shirts (which some players did snub), wear badges, hold banners and workshops; but the fact remains that our grassroots need a change. Our lifestyle needs a change, our attitude needs to be better and the smiles on our faces need to be wider. That's if we want a better world to live in....

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.
Adios.
Mj Kassam

EPL Week 1: Shocks and U-Turns

A summer full of games, from the Euros to the Olympics was enough to keep the footballing world busy, however, the wait for the EPL was unbearable. I would always look at the fixture and say to myself: "Two months, one month, three weeks, two weeks, one week, days, hours and finally Kick Off!"

The opening day of the EPL was finally here, new faces, new teams, new managers and new stadiums as well. Southampton, Reading and WestHam were back in business and this sounded very interesting.

The opening fixtures had a lot in store for us though, as there were plenty upsets and shocks that gave us a snapshot of what to expect in the coming days. 

West Brom, Fulham, Swansea, Newcastle, Everton, West Ham and Come back Specialists Man City all started with wins whilst Arsenal and Sunderland shared points. The top 4 were less impressive, with United dropping points at Everton!

The question therefore was: What have we learnt in the first week of the EPL? 

The underdogs as they may be seen, are no longer the team to less worry about. They need to be given the same amount of attention and preparation as any other team in the EPL. If there is any example we needed, then Southampton gave us a perfect one. 

Its going to be a long season, full of challenges, upsets, and goals. Our only hope is that there is no sacking of Managers as it was the case last year, I believe  managers need time to gel the team together and it does require a lot of patience from the fans and the owners. 

Supporters need to be patient much more than before as the new boys will need a few games to gel in, whilst the new managers will try out their tactics in every different way possible.

Therefore. make sure you stick to your team, support it with everything you can and possible have the last laugh come the end of the season...

Enjoy your week,

Mj Kassam

Great Managers vs Good Managers

The irony of modern football is that players get paid ridiculous amount of money for a transfer, their wages total up to almost half of the budget of a developing country, and when the team wins a trophy they get all the credit. However, when the team does no good, the first person to be questioned is the Manager/Coach, and he ends up getting the axe.
This season we have seen numerous coaches get the axe or quit the job, AVB, Dalglish, Guardiola, Mick McCarthy, Alex McLeish, Steve Bruce etc.
Today, we shall look football from a different perspective, hence, we shall focus on the Manager's job and what defines a great Manager/Coach. Is it the spending power, the no nonsense attitude, the silent approach or the anti media attitude.

Whilst many soccer fans believe that the financial power available to a manager makes him one of the best, or perhaps one of the successful ones, the EPL has proved that this is untrue.. Swansea's boss has managed to build his team with the cost of one of Andy Carroll's legs and yet attain 11th position in the league, just separated by goal difference with West Brom at 10th. The same applies to Norwich manager who has maintained a good record in their debut season in the EPL while Sunderland have done a great job as well. The highlight however has been Everton's David Moyes who has been working on a tight budget for 10 years now and yet maintain top league positions. Despite Man City winning the Premier League, it is quite clearly seen that the amount of money they spent didn't guarantee them success as easily as they thought. For a team who spent almost 400m and manage to win the league title on goal difference may not be the greatest achievement ever, however, that doesn't seem to concern the City fans, as long as its won, its won! On the other hand we have the likes of QPR, who spent large amount of money in the January transfer window, yet managed to just about fight relegation.

One of the reasons why AVB was sacked was because he used his broomstick in the wrong way. He tried sweeping heavy materials with his broom stick, hence eventually losing out. Every manager has the hunger to see changes soon, however, AVB was expecting them a bit too soon. He tried kicking out the old players not thinking that they would be of huge importance in the coming games. Patience in attaining success is always a virtue, and this is what defines Arsene Wenger. He has always been patient with his youth team who play one of the best football in England despite failing to win a trophy for 7 years now. Maybe its because he lacks experience in his squad, but one thing's for sure, when it comes to patience and building stars for the future, Arsene is the man!

The owners of the club play a huge role in the success and stability of the club, however, it is very unfortunate to see that there only exist a handful of great owners who offer the required support to the Managers and the players. Clubs like Aston Villa, Chelsea, Norwich, have had their managers sacked whilst they never offered them the support and or the time to settle with the team. The decision by Wolves to sack McCarthy was awful and so was that of appointing Alex McLeish as Villa boss. It is sad to see that Benitez had one of the toughest times with the owners of Liverpool during his time, but Kenny had the best of owners. The decision by the club to sack him wasn't received well by the supporters, he probably deserved a bit more time. Mark Hughes was quoted saying that the main reason he left Fulham was because the owner was reluctant to spend money; he was happy as long as the team is in the EPL. It is owners as such who are the reason to the decline of football and high profile managers, however, all of this goes unnoticed.

The media has been one of the reasons as to why managers face a lot of pressure and sometimes loose out the job because of their retaliation, however, if there's one man who could make the media bewildered was Jose Mourinho. He would make comments that would leave the media speechless, although they would try to create something from nothing; he would never ever bow down to them. He is one manager, the media love and hate at the same time. He makes their work harder by posing brain storming questions in his press conferences, but sometimes makes it even easier when he puts in a comment or two that makes the media go wild. Perhaps this was one of the reasons he was successful in England, although it should be remembered that he had a strong spending power.

All these are however external forces to a Managerial job, they vary from place to place and may be better at many clubs, however, I personally believe that a great Manager is defined by his personality and ability, both on and off the pitch as a leader, mentor, teacher, parent and a manager. He is the guardian of the players, and he shall lead the way he wishes them to follow.

When you talk about personality, it refers to the Manager's set of principles that govern his decision making process. Great managers stick to their words, principles and values, and do not allow any nonsense or pardon when its something that's against their principles. In short, a great manager is a "Man of his words."
This is what has defined \Sir Alex Ferguson's 25 years at Manchester United, his ability to make decisions that might seem unfair to many, but if it is against his principles and values, he shall take the necessary measures. Eric Cantona was banned for three months by United before the FA imposed an additional six months for kicking a Crystal Palace fan. It didn't end here, he managed to kick out Roy Keane because he abused the youth players, even though many argue that it was a wrong decision by Fergie.Wayne Rooney was left out against Blackburn in New Year's eve, which saw United crumble to a 3-2 defeat, which could be one of the reasons of United's failure to win the trophy. Sir Alex's principles and values have been of great value in the 25 years in his club, highlighting the importance of discipline. His counterpart however, has been the opposite. Mancini said Tevez shall not play for City again, nor will Balotelli, but when the ship was sinking, Mancini called the servces of Tevez and Balotelli. This may have won City the title, but it has certainly made him a loser when it comes to his personality and him being "a man of his words." Not only that, but many a times there were disputes in the dressing room and the training ground showing the lack of man management in him. Yes, it is never easy to handle a dressing room full of stars, but, Jose Mourinho did that at Madrid. It's not only Sir Alex who has made bold decisions as such, Arsene Wenger has made huge decisions in the past as well. When Gallas, Adebayor and Toure tried creating a rift in the dressing room, he got rid of them immediately. Who wouldn't want to keep hold of their stars? but, hey, when it comes to principles- you've to be firm as a rock. This is what has defined Wenger and Sir Alex's managerial supremacy in the past decade!

There has never been a perfect manager, everyone is bound to make mistakes. Whilst Sir Alex has made horrible gambles on his side selections, Wenger lets go his stars easily, Liverpool have had Benitez sell of Alonso in the worst situation ever, Chelsea have had their own problems to sort with AVB and now Di Matteo.

Much can be said about Managers, and many reasons may be presented/brought forward describing the reasons to their success, I don't deny them, but I believe that the most influential factor remains to be the Manager's personality and his ability to make bold decisions.

Cheerio!

PS: My apologies for the one month dormancy, was tied up with a lot of work!
Happy Reading :)

Interview with Emmanuel Okwi- Setif vs Simba Sc (Highlights Included)

Simba Sports Club qualified to the next round of the CAF Tournament a courtesy of Emmanuel Okwi's injury time stunner, that gave them an away goal and was enough to send them through!

Mjfotty had the chance to interview Emmanuel Okwi after the game, and this is what he had to say:

Emmanuel Okwi (Right) with Team Captain Juma Kaseja in Algeria

Mjfooty: You have been playing for Simba for quite long now, how special/important was this game for you?

Okwi: This game was really important to us because I believe it was time for us to qualify for the group stages after a very long time, and this was our chance to do so.

Mjfooty: Arabian teams have always been tough opponents for Tanzanian clubs. Is there any reason or is there a jinx that you finally managed to break?

Okwi: I think its because they are more organized than Tanzanian teams and they are financially better.

Mjfooty: Having won in the first leg, you all seemed to be favorites to go through. Was there a different approach to this game than the first leg?

Okwi: Yes! Our opponents had an attack attack motion from the start which was different from the way they played in Dar es Salaam. The early red card somehow affected our plans as well and the weather was too hostile.

Mjfooty: Juma Nyosso's sending off was a massive blow for the team. How did you guys cope up with that and especially the goal that they scored before half time

Okwi: It was very difficult from then on, but I thank my team mates for the never say die attitude that they showed today.

Mjfooty: What did the manager say to you all in half time? Did he change his tactics?

Okwi: He just told us to keep possession, keep tight and not let in other goals.

Mjfooty: What did it feel like when Setif scored two goals in quick succession in the second half. Did you think its was all over?

Okwi: For a second I really thought it was all over, but then I said to myself all we need is one chance. I asked God for it and He gave it to me.

In Action (Previous Games)

Mjfooty: You were marked very closely today, and were seen to be taking shots from long range. Was that an instruction from the coach or your personal approach?

Okwi: It was a personal approach. Setif didn't give us any chances of getting close to their goal, so I decided to start shooting from far.

Mjfooty: As soon as it said 5 minutes added time, what was the first thing that went through your mind?

Okwi: I thought we needed to create a chance and score one goal which would be enough to sail us through.

Mjfooty: The goal was sensational. Was there a technique applied or was it just luck? 

Okwi: Well, it was a combination of both; technique and luck.. I believe sometimes you need luck to score classic goals.

Mjfooty: Were you shocked when it went it? Because it took your team mates long to come over and celebrate?

Okwi: It really took everyone by surprise, including myself.; but it was a special one for the team.

Mjfooty: Your goal takes Simba through to the next round, which makes it even more special. Is that the best goal you have ever scored?

Okwi: Well, It should be one of my best goals but I would rank it as my second best goal.

Mjfooty: Lastly Okwi, is there any message you wish to convey to the fans of Simba Sc and those who came to the ground to support the team?

Okwi: I want to take this opportunity to thank all our fans, Tanzanians at large for their prayers and support, especially those who came to the ground. May God Bless them All.

Mjfooty: Thank you for your time Okwi! 

Congratulations Once Again and Have a safe flight back to Dar!

Okwi: My pleasure Mj! Thanks :)

Highlights Of The Game:

Football: One World, One Family!

Football is the world's most famous and most viewed sport in the 20th century, at times with over a million viewers per match. It is not only known for its publicity and the celebrity status that it possesses, but also for the rivalry, competition, fights, goals and drama it produces week in week out.

The stories regarding various footballers who have had sex scandals have given a very bad image to the football world. Celebrities have let down their people/followers and companies have cancelled their contracts with players who have been hit by the scandals. Furthermore, its not only sex scandals, but racism is on the rise and has worsened the situation.

For many of us, Football is just about winning, chanting, celebrating and enjoying whilst for others it is a sport which means entertainment and for investors it is seen as a money making business. However, football is much more than that, football is one world; it is one nation which cares for everyone, whether a footballer or a one day baby!

The footballing community serves the humanity as a whole; it shares sympathy with the world, celebrates with the world and gives people another reason to live for. It can be argued that football doesn’t show support to humanity, nor to issues concerning the society and that all it focuses on is related to football only and nothing else.

Football has never hidden its love for the community and the betterment of the people. This can be clearly seen when Everton Fc wore t shirts which read “We’re Still Looking For You” in support of the search for Madeleine Mccann. Everton took the initiative to launch a campaign for the search of Madeleine.

Tim Cahill with a Madeline Mccann Tshirt

Various teams make a point to visit orphanages, hospitals, care centers and health institutions to offer their support and show hospitality to the less fortunate ones. Players take time off during festive seasons and take gifts for the patients as they spend some valuable time with them to make them feel comfortable and cared for. On the other hand, various players have set up youth camps, academies and charitable institutions in Africa to help accommodate and cater the homeless children. Craig Bellamy, Drogba, Adebayor, F. Kanoute are a few ambassadors of football to humanity.

Arsenal's visit to a hospital in Christmas 2005

Footballers have gone to the extent of hosting matches and give away the income to flood victims, less fortunate and those struck by natural disasters.

France 98's Zinedine Zidane (C) controls the ball against an European selection during a charity soccer match for the victims of flooding after heavy rains in the Var and a winter Atlantic storm called Xynthia, at the Beaujoire Stadium in Nantes August 8, 2010.

Despite the fact that matches do bring about fights, disputes, rivalries and differences between teams and players; the footballing world put their differences aside and become one single unit. Everyone shares the grief together, offers support together and care together.

When the football world loses a member of their family, or if any of the members comes under a difficult situation, whether it’s in regards to health or wealth, the football nation comes to a standstill. The loss/difficulty is felt by everyone even though they may have never faced each other on the field. Humanity overcomes the personal ego and everybody mourns the death of their fellow member and offers support to their fellow member who falls under a difficult situation.

The death of the likes of Mark Vivian Foe in 2003 was a clear example that there is no way the love of football can overcome the sense of responsibility towards fellow human beings. France requested FIFA to cancel the Finals due to Foe’s death, a request which was however denied. This gave football another chance to show its other side, France won the game and didn’t celebrate their victory as their captain Dessailly took Cameroon’s captain Rigobert Song with him to the stage and held the trophy together. He didn’t lift the trophy as its usually down, rather he held it down as a sign of respect.

Its not about winning, its about care and support! RIP Foe!

Recently, the incident of Fabrice Muamba and the announcement of Eric Abidal’s liver transplant shocked the footballing world. Everyone stood up to show their support and spread the message to create awareness for their fellow brother.

In regards to Muamba, the incident brought about flashbacks of Foe’s death on the pitch, players were seen mourning whilst the stadium had gone silent for a while as Fabrice was fighting for his life on the pitch. Suddenly there was a roar in the stadium, fans of both teams chanted Fabrice’s name as he was carried away by the paramedics. For once, a stadium that had divided supporters based on their teams, had become one and joined the cause for supporting Fabrice. Players of different teams tweeted about #pray4muamba and some took the initiative to visit him at the hospital. Teams in the Premier League observed a minute of silence for prayers for Muamba and held a minute of applause. The likes of Madrid, Everton, Sunderland, Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs had shirts printed with messages of support for Muamba. This clearly outlined the fact that football is not restricted to any physical boundaries, no matter where it is played nor who plays, as long as they are serving the footballing nation they shall be part of us!

Eric Abidal’s liver transplant was received with sympathy and grief as he prepared himself to go under the knife for the second time in a year. Eric- who was diagnosed with Liver cancer last season, made a remarkable comeback in the 2011 Champions League Final and ended up lifting the trophy for Barcelona. Despite the fact that he plays for Barcelona, local rivals Real Madrid showcased their support for Abidal as they printed shirts with messages of support for the player. Once again, personal differences and rivalry was put aside to pave way for humanity to prosper!

You may be our rival in soccer, but you are a brother of ours in the world!

To the world, football may seem as a money making scheme, an arena full of personal grudges, egos and rivalries that reach to the extent of personal attacks in the media, but the fact remains, that the other side of  football which hasn’t been given much attention certainly highlights the true personality of footballers.

Much can be said, everyone has a right to their opinion, but it should be remembered that: “We drink football, we eat football, we sleep football” means that we drink with the world, we eat with the world and we sleep with the world!

Together we shall stand to support our fellow human beings, because “Football is not just a matter of life and death, it’s more than that” -Bill Shankly.