In keeping with my arty theme this week, I am continuing to post about beautiful things. Art is beautiful. Football is beautiful. And when they come together they make for a good post ;}.
Firstly, Drogba and Kalou have picked pictures taken by BBC World Service listeners and BBC journalists for the BBC's Africa Kicks. You can watch a video on their thoughts about football's impact on Africa and you can also view the pictures they picked for the Africa Kicks Exhibition here: Gallery 1 - which aims to capture Africa's vibrancy , Gallery 2 - that conveys how football can be a life-changing and Gallery 3 -showcases how to Africa, football is more than just a sport. I think football is where African's find the freedom to just be because perhaps we take Art a little for granted as we produce so much in so many different forms so naturally that is has a mundane quality. Football ignites the senses while simultaneously pacifying the soul. It really brings us together. The photographs selected really capture our love of football.
While we are on the subject of football, BBC's African Footballer of the year shortlist has been revealed: Gyan and Ayew of Ghana, Eto'o, Yaya Toure and Drogba. I have voted for Gyan. He was just absolutely wonderful at the World Cup. Awesome to the possum. He lead Ghana and represented the continent first class first class he he he. You can cast your vote here.
Also, FIFA is giving $100K to the injured Togolese goalkeeper who was shot during the unfortunate events preceding the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year. I think this is an absolutely lovely gesture :).
I will leave you with a hilarious video of Gyan doing a celebratory dance and one of his Sunderland teammates joining in. Classic ;)
Showing posts with label Cameroun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cameroun. Show all posts
Wednesday, 17 November 2010
Tuesday, 16 November 2010
Art's Healing Power
I am finally keeping to my word and writing a post I promised to write ages ago. When I was flying home I read about this wonderful art festival happening in Luanda right now. Il Trienal de Luanda is a triennial arts exhibition started by one of Angola's sons, Fernando Alvim. It is the most renowned of its kind in Africa and features outdoor billboard paintings, formal exhibitions, television and radio debates, educational programmes, theatrical performances and more, with the proceeds from these events financing the finale in December. This celebration of art started on the 12th of September and goes on till December 19th so you still have time to catch it if you happen to be going to Angola any time soon. The point of the Triennial is to celebrate Angolan history and heritage, but also to help heal the wounds suffered from years of fighting. I think this is a great way to attract people to Angola, just as with them holding the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year
Fernando Alvim is also curator of the Sindika Dokolo Collection, which is the largest collection of contemporary African Art in the world. Artists from Algeria, Angola, Benin, Cameroun, Congo, Cote D'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Madagascar, Marocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia and Zimbabwe are showcased, as well as artists from around the world. I am particulary taken with this set of prints and this photo is so eerily involving. And I can't get over the fact that there is an artist called Nastio Mosquito ha ha ha ha ha ;}.
I have a love/ hate relationship with contemporary art. Some of it just seems so self-involved and important. I visited LACMA earlier in the year and the collection they had showing had me thinking: really??!!! Some of it you could put together yourself but as they say that is not the point, it's all about the experience. Whatever. I expect to be wowed by something I couldn't do myself. I need to see creativity and ability that I cannot produce to appreciate. A pile of boxes just doesn't do it for me I'm afraid...
Fernando Alvim is also curator of the Sindika Dokolo Collection, which is the largest collection of contemporary African Art in the world. Artists from Algeria, Angola, Benin, Cameroun, Congo, Cote D'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Madagascar, Marocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia and Zimbabwe are showcased, as well as artists from around the world. I am particulary taken with this set of prints and this photo is so eerily involving. And I can't get over the fact that there is an artist called Nastio Mosquito ha ha ha ha ha ;}.
I have a love/ hate relationship with contemporary art. Some of it just seems so self-involved and important. I visited LACMA earlier in the year and the collection they had showing had me thinking: really??!!! Some of it you could put together yourself but as they say that is not the point, it's all about the experience. Whatever. I expect to be wowed by something I couldn't do myself. I need to see creativity and ability that I cannot produce to appreciate. A pile of boxes just doesn't do it for me I'm afraid...
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
"Welcome To Lagos"
Finally started watching the BBC Docu-miniseries Welcome to Lagos that BIMBO had told me about a coupla months back. Was a little apprehensive going in, wondering how the Western Eye was going to interpret the images and the lives of the people in the slums. I was pleasantly surprised though. They really highlighted the ingenuity, resourcefulness, entrepreneurial spirit, camaraderie and optimism of the Nigerians who are moving from the rural areas at a rate of 600,000 a year, to one of the world's megacities, Lagos. Felt that the documentary kept riding the comparisons to the Western world a little - we get it, there is more that meets the eye, these people are diamonds in the rough once you get over the superficial.
I was happy to see that even though the focus was on the slums, images of the developed areas of the city were interspersed throughout the episode so as not to make Lagos seem like one big ghetto, as was done with Lusaka in the RED documentary. I also like how everything wasn't romanticised - we witnessed the daily city-wide power cuts and the lawlessness that happens in the dumps. I also liked how the man with the family found a way to give his wife and children what they needed either by fixing things or finding a way to refurbish what the rich threw away. It also shed light on how wasteful people get once they are not living from day to day and how many things that still have use get thrown away. It showed how recycling is already a way of life in Lagos. "Living Green" sometimes starts out of necessity.
I was really impressed with the cattle market. It showed how people apply their knowledge and are able to use every part of the cow, bar the hair, for something - horns for plastic, the contents of the cows digestive tract for fertiliser, blood for chicken feed and who knew you could eat the skin?! That and the fact that even in the slums there already is an transnational network with cattle herders travelling from Mali, Cameroun and Chad to come an trade. The awareness of the world around them shows how the people realise we are all interconnected, like the man said as the dollar goes up and down, life in the slum is affected. When cattle were not able to come in from Chad prices skyrocketed.
Here are links to the first episode:
I was happy to see that even though the focus was on the slums, images of the developed areas of the city were interspersed throughout the episode so as not to make Lagos seem like one big ghetto, as was done with Lusaka in the RED documentary. I also like how everything wasn't romanticised - we witnessed the daily city-wide power cuts and the lawlessness that happens in the dumps. I also liked how the man with the family found a way to give his wife and children what they needed either by fixing things or finding a way to refurbish what the rich threw away. It also shed light on how wasteful people get once they are not living from day to day and how many things that still have use get thrown away. It showed how recycling is already a way of life in Lagos. "Living Green" sometimes starts out of necessity.
I was really impressed with the cattle market. It showed how people apply their knowledge and are able to use every part of the cow, bar the hair, for something - horns for plastic, the contents of the cows digestive tract for fertiliser, blood for chicken feed and who knew you could eat the skin?! That and the fact that even in the slums there already is an transnational network with cattle herders travelling from Mali, Cameroun and Chad to come an trade. The awareness of the world around them shows how the people realise we are all interconnected, like the man said as the dollar goes up and down, life in the slum is affected. When cattle were not able to come in from Chad prices skyrocketed.
Here are links to the first episode:
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
"Merchants of Hope": The Disillusionment In The African Football Dream
Finally watched the Current TV documentary Soccer's Lost Boys. I am glad I waited till after the World Cup as it was depressing to see what happens to these boys who are sold hope by sketchy Africans and Europeans alike.
First and foremost I agree with a comment made that comparing this situation with those of the Lost Boys of Sudan is not equal. I know that documentaries like to be incendiary, but that was a bit much. I liked how one of the men who had been tricked into going to Morocco by an agent said that the people who deal in the African Dream are "Sellers of hope". When asked why people still fall for it, even though it is clear that nothing comes of it, he continued to say that that is what they do they are "Merchants of hope" that deal with "total disillusionment." These people prey of the hopes and dreams of young children who want to emulate their heroes Drogba, Essien and Eto'o and their families who are easily led to believe that their investment will be return exponentially. So "Sellers" or "Merchants of hope" I think would have been a better title.
Africans have to take responsibility for the inception of the disillusionment. Our stars need to not only come back and set up schools, football camps and better the communities they came from, they also need to speak up regularly about how they are the exception not the rule. They also need to talk about how they got to where they are, because when recruited, payment to an agent is not required, the club pays for the expenses. And even if things more often that not don't pan out, at least families are not left destitute. I happened to sit next to a young Zambian football player off to Germany and France to try his luck. I flew with him to South Africa and made sure he got on his connecting flight as he had never flown before. He had all his documents in an envelope and who to call if anything went wrong. That is how it is supposed to be done. These realities need to be revealed.
This reminds me of the article in Time's June World Cup Issue about Samuel Eto'o. During his conversation with the Time's reporter Eto'o made use of the word dream a total 14 times including when he said "My whole life is a dream, a dream come true, a dream I'll only wake up from the day I stop playing football." However this is the exception not the rule. Most of the time, the boys end up realising they are actually in a nightmare that they can't wake up from. The ones who are manage to make it to Europe are still likely to be met with disappointment. Eto'o went through a reputable sports academies in Cameroun: L'Ecole de Football des Brassieries du Cameroun and the Kadji Sport Academy, played for his country at the U-16 level and was recruited by Real Madrid. And the people who are read the article are not the people who are going to be bamboozled. This story needs to be told through channels that will reach those vulnerable to these get-rich-quick-through-football schemes as well.
Essien's journey is similiar, taking him to France first after representing Ghana at Youth level. Drogba was lucky to have family in France. Essien finished high school and Drogba was banned from football when he had to repeat a year of school. Unlike what Mr. Smith, the dubious Ghanaian Youth Coach said, these guys did not abandon their education to become the stars they we know and love. He should not be encouraging kids to do so in the name of their idols.
The exploitation continues in Europe, where those interested profiting from football and those interested in exploiting the precarious situation these boys find themselves in once they are no longer legal take advantage. Continuing the illusion of hope by making these boys play games hoping that they will be spotted by an agent, or locals taking advantage of the boys need to survive at whatever cost is just as despicable as the coaches and agents in Africa who pluck them from their families.
What I liked most about the documentary is that it showed that there are Africans and Europeans who have seen this problem and are doing something about it. You can find more information about the initiatives mentioned in the documentary below. There are also links to other initiatives going on and what Drogba and Essien are doing (Eto'o site is temporarily down btw):
The Right To Dream, The Craig Bellamy Foundation, Foot Solidaire, FIFA and Foot Solidaire, Win in Africa With Africa, 1Goal, Essien's Foundation, Drogba's Foundation, Eto'o's Foundation.
First and foremost I agree with a comment made that comparing this situation with those of the Lost Boys of Sudan is not equal. I know that documentaries like to be incendiary, but that was a bit much. I liked how one of the men who had been tricked into going to Morocco by an agent said that the people who deal in the African Dream are "Sellers of hope". When asked why people still fall for it, even though it is clear that nothing comes of it, he continued to say that that is what they do they are "Merchants of hope" that deal with "total disillusionment." These people prey of the hopes and dreams of young children who want to emulate their heroes Drogba, Essien and Eto'o and their families who are easily led to believe that their investment will be return exponentially. So "Sellers" or "Merchants of hope" I think would have been a better title.
Africans have to take responsibility for the inception of the disillusionment. Our stars need to not only come back and set up schools, football camps and better the communities they came from, they also need to speak up regularly about how they are the exception not the rule. They also need to talk about how they got to where they are, because when recruited, payment to an agent is not required, the club pays for the expenses. And even if things more often that not don't pan out, at least families are not left destitute. I happened to sit next to a young Zambian football player off to Germany and France to try his luck. I flew with him to South Africa and made sure he got on his connecting flight as he had never flown before. He had all his documents in an envelope and who to call if anything went wrong. That is how it is supposed to be done. These realities need to be revealed.
This reminds me of the article in Time's June World Cup Issue about Samuel Eto'o. During his conversation with the Time's reporter Eto'o made use of the word dream a total 14 times including when he said "My whole life is a dream, a dream come true, a dream I'll only wake up from the day I stop playing football." However this is the exception not the rule. Most of the time, the boys end up realising they are actually in a nightmare that they can't wake up from. The ones who are manage to make it to Europe are still likely to be met with disappointment. Eto'o went through a reputable sports academies in Cameroun: L'Ecole de Football des Brassieries du Cameroun and the Kadji Sport Academy, played for his country at the U-16 level and was recruited by Real Madrid. And the people who are read the article are not the people who are going to be bamboozled. This story needs to be told through channels that will reach those vulnerable to these get-rich-quick-through-football schemes as well.
Essien's journey is similiar, taking him to France first after representing Ghana at Youth level. Drogba was lucky to have family in France. Essien finished high school and Drogba was banned from football when he had to repeat a year of school. Unlike what Mr. Smith, the dubious Ghanaian Youth Coach said, these guys did not abandon their education to become the stars they we know and love. He should not be encouraging kids to do so in the name of their idols.
The exploitation continues in Europe, where those interested profiting from football and those interested in exploiting the precarious situation these boys find themselves in once they are no longer legal take advantage. Continuing the illusion of hope by making these boys play games hoping that they will be spotted by an agent, or locals taking advantage of the boys need to survive at whatever cost is just as despicable as the coaches and agents in Africa who pluck them from their families.
What I liked most about the documentary is that it showed that there are Africans and Europeans who have seen this problem and are doing something about it. You can find more information about the initiatives mentioned in the documentary below. There are also links to other initiatives going on and what Drogba and Essien are doing (Eto'o site is temporarily down btw):
The Right To Dream, The Craig Bellamy Foundation, Foot Solidaire, FIFA and Foot Solidaire, Win in Africa With Africa, 1Goal, Essien's Foundation, Drogba's Foundation, Eto'o's Foundation.
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
World Cup Lessons
So sad...we have to wait another 4 years to experience World Cup fever again :(. But have no fear, a little nostalgia will prolong the feeling just that little bit longer...Well just two days longer, the Final was only on Sunday...
So what have we learned over the last month? Have no fear I am here to tell you :)
World Cup fever does have an antidote. His name is Suarez. And he got what he deserved.
Karma is something not to take lightly. If you trifle with it, there will be vengeance. Uruguay learned this. And if you think about it Algeria did too after their equally dodgy qualification to the Finals.
The Hand of God is alive and well and still wielding its power in football, albeit it in a twisted form, as demonstrated by the Green and Suarez.
Africans are not very good at using their own juju. It seems to have helped the Europeans more. Sure Cote D'Ivoire were in the group of death and South Africa really didn't have a chance but what was Cameroun's excuse? And Algeria should have played better after denying Egypt, the African champions the chance to shine.
The next time we have a World Cup in Africa it should not be held in one of the coldest countries on the continent during "winter". We need to take advantage of the heat like South America do to stop European teams from winning!
Do not underestimate the power that Mr. Boateng's loins has had on football and will have in the future. Watch out the English Premier League!
The Black Stars are the light in African skies!
It is easy to pick what team you are on sometimes. When it comes to Twilight (I know, my love of film takes me to very strange places) it's easy - Team Jacob. However when your fever has been mollified it can be hard to think logically when your mind is clear. I know, what an oxymoron.
The more you listen to Waka Waka, the more you realise how cartoonish and stereotypically useless the song is and wonder more and more why Wavin' Flag was not the official song...
Footballers are hot! ;} See here, here, here and here for proof he he he...
Nike and Coca Cola know how to market and create great adverts.
Paul the Octopus is amazing! Is it terrible to wonder whether his football prophesising is also an indicator of how tasty he is?
Footballers know how to cry appropriately - either due to the emotionality of losing quite terribly ala Gyan, of winning ala Iker Casillas or when appreciating the importance of the Word Cup ala "The People's Rooney". Federer crying after losing the Australian Open because he couldn't tie Sampras' all-time Grand Slam record not so much. His scant of tears of joy when he later won the French for the first time to equal Sampras and that fact that when he actually became the all-time great a month later at Wimbledon he didn't even cry wasn't good either!
Spain have something in their water. In the last two months Pau Gasol won the NBA Championships, Nadal has won the French and Wimbledon back to back for the second time and La Roja have won the World Cup!!!!
Whatever anyone may say i.e. the constant referral to how even though South Africa, a proxy for Africa, may be developing there are still problems - cue pictures of slums and little boys playing football in raggedy clothes, South Africa should be proud of the World Cup they hosted. Having travelled the world some, this is true everywhere. It may manifest itself differently, but whether you are in the West or the East, the North or the South of this planet, there are always disparities between the rich and the poor, but for some reason Africa is constantly being berated for this difference and in other places, the media is perfectly happy to hide them. Which by the way makes it all the more shocking when you stumble upon these things, especially in the West.
South Africa 2010 will be remembered as the World Cup of firsts.
FOOTBALL IS THE BEST GAME ON EARTH!!!!!! And even though the Americans are to be commended for continuing to learn to appreciate the game, they have a long way to go in the media. Even Paul who is an octopus gets it! Come on! I do have to say having watched a coupla matches at bars, it is clear that the public are getting into it. However, this article REALLY annoyed me. What kind of nonsense is this???!!! And to make it worse its written by a woman who is perpetuating the stereotypical view that women do not understand sport and couldn't care less. Silly silly woman! Which leads me to my next point...
It is a myth that women do not understand nor care for sport. This is because a. sport is full of men in their prime flexing their muscles and being men which is thoroughly entertaining when coupled with the highs and lows of playing whatever game they are playing and b. you just need to be patient if the woman has been denied the opportunity to love sport and teach. This is proven by the video below, which contains a lovely woman I know, but shall remain nameless, showing what World Cup fever can do to ESPN viewers and also by the fact that I have officially turned one of my roommates into a Nadal, basketball and football loving woman over the past year! Oh an the fact that my blog has been dominated by sports commentary for most of its short life ;)
We are ready for Brasil 2014 already he he he...
So what have we learned over the last month? Have no fear I am here to tell you :)
World Cup fever does have an antidote. His name is Suarez. And he got what he deserved.
Karma is something not to take lightly. If you trifle with it, there will be vengeance. Uruguay learned this. And if you think about it Algeria did too after their equally dodgy qualification to the Finals.
The Hand of God is alive and well and still wielding its power in football, albeit it in a twisted form, as demonstrated by the Green and Suarez.
Africans are not very good at using their own juju. It seems to have helped the Europeans more. Sure Cote D'Ivoire were in the group of death and South Africa really didn't have a chance but what was Cameroun's excuse? And Algeria should have played better after denying Egypt, the African champions the chance to shine.
The next time we have a World Cup in Africa it should not be held in one of the coldest countries on the continent during "winter". We need to take advantage of the heat like South America do to stop European teams from winning!
Do not underestimate the power that Mr. Boateng's loins has had on football and will have in the future. Watch out the English Premier League!
The Black Stars are the light in African skies!
It is easy to pick what team you are on sometimes. When it comes to Twilight (I know, my love of film takes me to very strange places) it's easy - Team Jacob. However when your fever has been mollified it can be hard to think logically when your mind is clear. I know, what an oxymoron.
The more you listen to Waka Waka, the more you realise how cartoonish and stereotypically useless the song is and wonder more and more why Wavin' Flag was not the official song...
Footballers are hot! ;} See here, here, here and here for proof he he he...
Nike and Coca Cola know how to market and create great adverts.
Paul the Octopus is amazing! Is it terrible to wonder whether his football prophesising is also an indicator of how tasty he is?
Footballers know how to cry appropriately - either due to the emotionality of losing quite terribly ala Gyan, of winning ala Iker Casillas or when appreciating the importance of the Word Cup ala "The People's Rooney". Federer crying after losing the Australian Open because he couldn't tie Sampras' all-time Grand Slam record not so much. His scant of tears of joy when he later won the French for the first time to equal Sampras and that fact that when he actually became the all-time great a month later at Wimbledon he didn't even cry wasn't good either!
Spain have something in their water. In the last two months Pau Gasol won the NBA Championships, Nadal has won the French and Wimbledon back to back for the second time and La Roja have won the World Cup!!!!
Whatever anyone may say i.e. the constant referral to how even though South Africa, a proxy for Africa, may be developing there are still problems - cue pictures of slums and little boys playing football in raggedy clothes, South Africa should be proud of the World Cup they hosted. Having travelled the world some, this is true everywhere. It may manifest itself differently, but whether you are in the West or the East, the North or the South of this planet, there are always disparities between the rich and the poor, but for some reason Africa is constantly being berated for this difference and in other places, the media is perfectly happy to hide them. Which by the way makes it all the more shocking when you stumble upon these things, especially in the West.
South Africa 2010 will be remembered as the World Cup of firsts.
FOOTBALL IS THE BEST GAME ON EARTH!!!!!! And even though the Americans are to be commended for continuing to learn to appreciate the game, they have a long way to go in the media. Even Paul who is an octopus gets it! Come on! I do have to say having watched a coupla matches at bars, it is clear that the public are getting into it. However, this article REALLY annoyed me. What kind of nonsense is this???!!! And to make it worse its written by a woman who is perpetuating the stereotypical view that women do not understand sport and couldn't care less. Silly silly woman! Which leads me to my next point...
It is a myth that women do not understand nor care for sport. This is because a. sport is full of men in their prime flexing their muscles and being men which is thoroughly entertaining when coupled with the highs and lows of playing whatever game they are playing and b. you just need to be patient if the woman has been denied the opportunity to love sport and teach. This is proven by the video below, which contains a lovely woman I know, but shall remain nameless, showing what World Cup fever can do to ESPN viewers and also by the fact that I have officially turned one of my roommates into a Nadal, basketball and football loving woman over the past year! Oh an the fact that my blog has been dominated by sports commentary for most of its short life ;)
We are ready for Brasil 2014 already he he he...
Friday, 2 July 2010
The Hope of Africa - The Black Stars
Africa kicks off the Quarter Finals with Ghana playing Uruguay. Tieing Senegal and Cameroun, they are the third African team that has been able to go this far in the World Cup. I think they can go the distance. Not because of sentimentality, although that is definitely a factor, but because the boys want it. They realise the importance of this and have taken to the World Stage with such aplomb. People have been saying they are young, and this has shown in their unnecessarily flourished play and unwise choices, but I think they have been learning as the tournament has progressed and have learned to check their egos. At this level it is no longer about talent and tactics. It's about desire and passion. I just hope they are able to overcome their injuries that have been plaguing them since the Africa Cup earlier this year.
I think the game with the USA showed this. I personally think that the US underestimated the Black Stars, even though they had beaten them in the group stages of '06. My roommate disagrees, but I think that the starting line-up reflected this. I don't think that the US coach really thought about who they were playing. The commentators on ESPN were going on about how Ghana hadn't scored in regular play and had only advanced on penalties and so this proved that they couldn't go the distance. The USA had been wronged in the group stages but were able to come through, but you can't win the World Cup by drawing, you have to find the win, no matter how. And that is what Ghana did. They came out guns ablazing and within minutes were up 1-0. I know there was the controversial penalty that gave Ghana the win in 2006 but the one given to the US in 2010 was bogus, there was not enough contact there what was that???!!!
The USA are almost there when it comes to competing in the World's favourite game, but to really be a force in world football you have to play for the love of the game first, and to win second, not the other way around. There is too much pressure put on results in American culture, instead of finding joy in the process. You need to enjoy football because it is the most heart wrenching game played. You have to be able to get past the bad calls, the divots on the pitch, and the amount of work it takes to get the ball in the net. And the only way to do that is to enjoy playing for the sake of playing. It's not about how much money that you throw at it, how many training camps for young players you have, it's about understanding what football means and loving it. It's not something that can be learned, you need to have it coursing through your veins. I do not remember ever not loving football. It is just the way. You see it and you love it. No one has to convince you.
I have come to the conclusion that the reason that Ghana has come this far is because they are young, full of passion, have nothing to lose and have a player that is the fruit of Mr. Boateng's loins. This theory is made all the more credible by the fact that the other team I am impressed with that is in the Quarter Finals is Germany. And they are young, full of passion, have also made a coupla silly mistakes and also have a player that is the fruit of Mr. Boateng's loins. Prince and Jerome are brothers! I rest my case ;}! Unfortunately the boys are feuding over the injury that caused Ballack to miss the World Cup.
The Black Stars have to win tomorrow not only because my heart can't take any more drama, but also because innocent people may suffer the consequences. When the score was 1 all at full time I called one of my best friends, R4L and she knew why I was calling and purposefully sent me to voicemail. So I left her an awful message berating the Black Stars and threatened to abstain from all things Ghanaian, meaning I would not speak to her again if they lost. Luckily they got it together and Gyan scored within minutes of extra time and all was well. We later buried the hatchet. Got a call from Ghana from OXFORD SHIRT and told her to slap about a coupla Ghanaian boys to let them know that even though the Black Stars got through, I was not impressed by the need to go into extra time to get the job done. Now it is at the point where if there are any more shenanigans, R4L, OXFORD SHIRT and COMBINE (who is in South Africa and could have direct contact with the team if she wanted because she is one of the most resourceful people I know) will suffer the consequences. And my little one FOOLISH FOOL, who always tells me that the Black Stars will make it will be demoted to village idiot status! There is no more room for error. I want an African team in the Final and if my sangoma who is on probation at the mo manages to get it together we hopefully get the first African win to boot.
The only way is to dream big. By stifling our potential in order to make small triumphs and self-protect we ultimately only limit ourselves and deny the world progress. Yes it is a risk, but when you dare to achieve success at a greater level, the impact is infinite when you succeed.
We should not underestimate what this game will do for Africans not only in football, but in our lives in general.
GHANA GHANA!!!! MAY THE BLACK STARS LIGHT CONTINUE TO SHINE IN AFRICAN SKIES!!!!
Here is a video R4L found of the Black Stars celebrating after their Round of 16 win. Hopefully we will all be like this again soon!
Wednesday, 30 June 2010
World Cup Update: Group Stage Oustings
Many apologies for my absence. I have been watching and having heart attacks that have then been cured by moments of pure euphoria from World Cup Fever highs and lows. You have no idea how much the internet is a part of your life until it disappears for a significant period of time!!!
Cameroun and Nigeria are a disgrace. Both clearly have no idea what African Pride means! Not even going to say anything about their pathetic ultimate performances that had them eliminated!
Algeria did well to draw in their last game so they did better than I had expected.
Even though Bafana Bafana are still boys, they were at least able to prove that they are looking to grow into men by beating France, who are now officially demoted from their exalted status as Africa in Europe after their backstage antics and lack of unity and ubuntu!
Cote D'Ivoire were unlucky, Portugal's 7-0 win, better than the Brasil's scoreline against North Korea, was a one off event that made it an uphill battle. They played a great third game and should be proud of how they played. This is a lesson though: leave nothing to chance, always come out with guns blazing so you don't find yourself trying to climb too steep a mountain...When the job is already Herculean, there is not need to compound matters and make it Sisyphean!
My theory about wearing green and having a bad game have been further substantiated by all of these teams bowing out, all were wearing at least some green in their last battle!
The excuse of the overall lacklustre African performances at the World Cup is pressure. UNACCEPTABLE! Talent is nothing if you cannnot use it when put to the test. Will this always be the fate of African teams? Is this an allegory for Africa's role in the global millieu? That we have the potential to do amazing things and develop, even with scarce resources, as individuals but when our mettle is really tested collectively all we can do is fall short of even our OWN expectations??!!!
The only thing I am happy about is that Zidane has been avenged - Italy were knocked out of the groups stage and will not be able to defend their title. Karma??????
Cameroun and Nigeria are a disgrace. Both clearly have no idea what African Pride means! Not even going to say anything about their pathetic ultimate performances that had them eliminated!
Algeria did well to draw in their last game so they did better than I had expected.
Even though Bafana Bafana are still boys, they were at least able to prove that they are looking to grow into men by beating France, who are now officially demoted from their exalted status as Africa in Europe after their backstage antics and lack of unity and ubuntu!
Cote D'Ivoire were unlucky, Portugal's 7-0 win, better than the Brasil's scoreline against North Korea, was a one off event that made it an uphill battle. They played a great third game and should be proud of how they played. This is a lesson though: leave nothing to chance, always come out with guns blazing so you don't find yourself trying to climb too steep a mountain...When the job is already Herculean, there is not need to compound matters and make it Sisyphean!
My theory about wearing green and having a bad game have been further substantiated by all of these teams bowing out, all were wearing at least some green in their last battle!
The excuse of the overall lacklustre African performances at the World Cup is pressure. UNACCEPTABLE! Talent is nothing if you cannnot use it when put to the test. Will this always be the fate of African teams? Is this an allegory for Africa's role in the global millieu? That we have the potential to do amazing things and develop, even with scarce resources, as individuals but when our mettle is really tested collectively all we can do is fall short of even our OWN expectations??!!!
The only thing I am happy about is that Zidane has been avenged - Italy were knocked out of the groups stage and will not be able to defend their title. Karma??????
Monday, 21 June 2010
Simbas, Trampled Elephants and Possibly Fading Stars?
NOT A GOOD WEEKEND FOR AFRICAN FOOTBALL AT ALL!!! :(
First the Camerounians teased us by going a goal up and then ultimately losing, repeating the headless performance of their fellow West Africans the Nigerians. They are clearly not Indomitable Lions, but Simbas like Simba at the beginning of The Lion King - proud without having done anything and not ready to step up when challenged. Then Ghana got a little blinded by their own light and didn't give the Socceroos the respect they deserved by playing an overly flourished game that ended in them squandering chances and drawing with a penalty by Gyan. And then Les Elephants got trampled by the Selecao, not the other way around. Didier Drogba's goal may have been the first against Brasil from an African team at the World Cup, but that does not take the sting out of the loss.
I really hope that this week is a better week. May the teams who are out of contention go out with a bang to regain some dignity and those with a fighting chance please fight! My Sangoma is currently on probation, if things don't improve I may have to fire someone!
First the Camerounians teased us by going a goal up and then ultimately losing, repeating the headless performance of their fellow West Africans the Nigerians. They are clearly not Indomitable Lions, but Simbas like Simba at the beginning of The Lion King - proud without having done anything and not ready to step up when challenged. Then Ghana got a little blinded by their own light and didn't give the Socceroos the respect they deserved by playing an overly flourished game that ended in them squandering chances and drawing with a penalty by Gyan. And then Les Elephants got trampled by the Selecao, not the other way around. Didier Drogba's goal may have been the first against Brasil from an African team at the World Cup, but that does not take the sting out of the loss.
I really hope that this week is a better week. May the teams who are out of contention go out with a bang to regain some dignity and those with a fighting chance please fight! My Sangoma is currently on probation, if things don't improve I may have to fire someone!
Friday, 18 June 2010
False Redemption Comes In Green :(
I AM NOT A HAPPY PUPPY! Was already upset with Nigeria, but the optimist in me was hoping that their first loss and/ or the fact that this is an African World Cup would spur them to success. And when Uche scored in the 15th minute, I was duped into believing that this was possible. There they were flying like the Super Eagles they can be, and I was hoping that Nigeria would soar to victory.
But their flight was shortlived and they came crashing down after Kaita was red carded for a very stupid loss of composure on his part. They then went from Super Eagles back to Mediocre Pigeons when Greece scored their FIRST GOAL EVER! at the World Cup and then into Headless Chickens when Obasi missed a chance to take Nigeria ahead and then Greece scored AGAIN!!!! At least I can take solace in the fact that Mikel was spared the embarrassment of being part of this underachieving squad!
And to make it worse France decided to join in with a complementary Poulet Sans Tete performance and lost 0-2. Will both of my teams in Group B fail to qualify??!!!
At this point I only have unwavering confidence in Ghana and Cote D'Ivoire, South Africa are definitely out. Cameroun and Algeria could surprise me but right now I am so riled up I cannot put too much into that, my heart can't take it! :( Knowing me I still will anyways. It seems I am a glutton for punishment...
But their flight was shortlived and they came crashing down after Kaita was red carded for a very stupid loss of composure on his part. They then went from Super Eagles back to Mediocre Pigeons when Greece scored their FIRST GOAL EVER! at the World Cup and then into Headless Chickens when Obasi missed a chance to take Nigeria ahead and then Greece scored AGAIN!!!! At least I can take solace in the fact that Mikel was spared the embarrassment of being part of this underachieving squad!
And to make it worse France decided to join in with a complementary Poulet Sans Tete performance and lost 0-2. Will both of my teams in Group B fail to qualify??!!!
At this point I only have unwavering confidence in Ghana and Cote D'Ivoire, South Africa are definitely out. Cameroun and Algeria could surprise me but right now I am so riled up I cannot put too much into that, my heart can't take it! :( Knowing me I still will anyways. It seems I am a glutton for punishment...
Monday, 14 June 2010
The Dominated Lions :(
Cameroun off to a disappointing start. Where was Eto'o? There is nothing more to say about that :(. All we can do is try to sustain the glow the Black Stars created yesterday to keep positive for Les Elephants tomorrow.
The World Cup has taken over this blog, which was not my intention so today I am going to make the effort to remember there is a whole world out there...
The World Cup has taken over this blog, which was not my intention so today I am going to make the effort to remember there is a whole world out there...
Thursday, 10 June 2010
It's Raining Sports!
Nadal has transitioned to grass seemlessly, winning his first match at Queen's Club decisively. He is also the first player to qualify for the ATP World Tour Finals in London as well!
The Lakers won at Boston yesterday and now lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is going to be awesome!!!
And these are the teams I will be following to see how they fare in the first round. Of course all African teams are included, plus ones I have attributed an African connection to over the years and teams to keep an eye on for sentimental and/ or potential threat reasons. This culminates in following almost half the teams in the draw ha ha ha! They are listed in order of preference in each category too ;}
Africa: Cote D'Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroun, Nigeria, Algeria, South Africa
Africa around the World: Brazil, France
Teams to Keep an Eye on: Spain, England, Argentina, Portugal, Germany
The Lakers won at Boston yesterday and now lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is going to be awesome!!!
And these are the teams I will be following to see how they fare in the first round. Of course all African teams are included, plus ones I have attributed an African connection to over the years and teams to keep an eye on for sentimental and/ or potential threat reasons. This culminates in following almost half the teams in the draw ha ha ha! They are listed in order of preference in each category too ;}
Africa: Cote D'Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroun, Nigeria, Algeria, South Africa
Africa around the World: Brazil, France
Teams to Keep an Eye on: Spain, England, Argentina, Portugal, Germany
Wednesday, 2 June 2010
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!
Thursday, 20 May 2010
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 :(
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 :(
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