The Black Stars Are Shining Bright In The African Sky

Was a little worried about Essien not being able to play this World Cup.  Was even more worried when Sulley Muntari was omitted from the starting line-up due to his thigh injury, even though it was rumoured he would be fighting fit for Serbia.  However as my little one from Ghana promised me, the boys pulled through.  The Black Stars are the epitome of African football, African Pride and African survival.    They were so poised, not too ambitious but not too cautious, just right.  Just beautiful! Just beautiful! It was good to see Appiah playing for a bit too, I have missed him. You can see why this team was a finalist at the Africa Cup earlier this year. Algeria's 0-1 loss to Slovenia highlights the unfortunate fact that the Eygptians, the current Africa Cup champions should have been in South Africa.  They are in a difficult group with Germany who won 4-0 to Australia but I think they can pull through in second place for sure if they continue to play with such level heads.

All I have to say to the Serbian coach is maybe you should tie your player's octopus hands behind their backs because clearly they have issues controlling them ;}

Here is video of Gyan's penalty that gave Ghana the lead deservedly.  Pity he couldn't get that second goal, I think it was one of the best misses of the tournament if you can have such a thing :}



And here is a cute video I found of a little Afghan girl giving Ghana's football history.  She really knows her stuff!

A Happy Interlude: More Vanity Fair Pics :}

In order to mitigate the depression I fear I may fall into after Federer's defeat, I have decided to comfort myself and any of you who may be feeling the same way with World Cup excitement.  Here is some more eye candy from Vanity Fair:

I have nothing to say about stars in certain places except that when the Ghanaian and Camerounian flags were being designed, I don't think they had boxer briefs in mind ;}

Here is a harrowing South African football story, all the more so seeing as SA has been progressive with gay rights, being the 5th country to legalise gay marriage.

It is said that football unites everyone, and this was also the case with UN Chief Ban Ki-Moon during his trip to Uganda.  He was able to leave politics on the sidelines to play a little footie with President Museveni.

This sentiment is nicely epitomised by ESPN's World Cup advert.  I hope this means better US coverage than in 2006, both in terms of games and commentators!

Didier Drogba, Les Elephants And Eye Candy :)

Didier Drogba has been honoured with a place on Time Magazine's 100 list for 2010. Considering his influence not only in Cote D'Ivoire, but also in the world through football, this is not surprising.  You would think that seeing as I have bled blue since 1996 I would be a real Drogba fan but alas I am not.  I find him quite a petulant childish man on the field, and if he was not so talented a player I would not care for him at all.  I suppose it is the nature of the striker to have a bit of diva in them, but sometimes I think that he indulges this to ludicrous points that overshadow his football and puts a sour taste in my mouth watching him.

If we are talking Ivorians I love Kalou. He is such a clutch player and I love his little mohawk, love that he is silent but deadly.  His efforts are often overshadowned by his more flamboyant teammate, both at Chelsea and when representing Les Elephants, but he is a vital cog in the  machine on both teams :).  My love at Chelsea however is Essien.  He has such grace, such style, such power, and he's good looking to boot.  PERFECT :}.  My friend COMBINE (com-be-nay) will not be amused by my proclamation because she is convinced that she is his future wife.  Ha!

My second pet peeve is Drogba's hair. WHY? I know all these footballers like Cristiano Ronaldo, (with whom he features on the current Vanity Fair cover) like to experiment with perms, relaxers, length, gels, colour, braids and anything else they can think of, but really, I do not enjoy a lot of their hairstyles.  A little too prima dona and metrosexual for me these footballers.

However, I have come to respect and like Drogba off the field the more I have come to know about him.  This article shows how he is growing as a man, and how he knows that he can be a bit of a baby.  I also like his hyperawareness of his position in society and how his actions have a butterfly effect with quite grandiose consequences at times.  His devotion to charity and hospitals redeem his on-pitch antics.

I do believe that Drogba can lead Kalou, the Toures and the rest of the boys to victory at the World Cup. Les Elephants are set to trample all those put in front of them if he keeps his head.  They are in a difficult group though with Brazil and Portugal in the mix (this is group G with Korea DPR as well). Qualifying out of this group will be a herculean but not a sysiphean task. We will have sangomas, juju and mother Africa's protection on our side he he he ;}! He himself is cognisant of the weight on his shoulders and how he carries the dreams of Africa.  He is already championing for his team, letting everyone know they are a force to be reckoned with, and that 2010 is the year to present Africa to the world in a different and more positive light.  You can read his thoughts here.  You can also read what Ya Ya Toure has to say about Cote D'Ivoire and 2010 here.

Drogba is actually quite a soft spoken man for someone who hurls obscenities at referees and dives about in grass so much I'm convinced he is at least part fish.  Here is a video of who he feels is the most influential person in his life.



And here is some eye candy featuring footballers participating in the World Cup next month, including Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto'o of Cameroun and Sulley Muntari of Ghana. Unfortunately, they will not be so skantily clad when playing next month :(