Archive for January, 2010

CAF bans Togo from 2012 and 2014 Africa Cup of Nations

January 30, 2010 at 6:30 PM · Filed under BC First ·Tagged , , , ,

The African Football Confederation (CAF) have banned Togo from the 2012 and 2014 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations. Togo had pulled out of the on-going Africa Cup of Nations in Angola after their team bus had been shot at by a terrorist group in Cabinda, killing 3 of their squad members. The team’s goal-keeper who had also been shot is still in hospital in South Africa recovering from his wounds. The armed wing of the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC), which has been embroiled in a decades-long separatist struggle, had claimed responsibility for the attack. After the attack the Togo government had insisted that the team come back home despite some players wanting to stay on and play in honour of their teammates.

CAF state president Issa Hayatou told AFP the decision was based on “governmental interference”, which led to the team’s decision to pull out of this year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

The CAF rules do state that teams can be banned from two nations cup if they withdraw from the tournament. However there is provision within those rules for exceptional circumstances.  Togo will rightly feel that the decision is too harsh on them as their opening match was scheduled just 72 hours after that attack.

CAF’s strange decision comes at an even stranger time, just a day before it’s showcase event, the Final of the Africa Cup of Nations.

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Togo pull out of Africa Cup of Nations after brutal gun attack

January 10, 2010 at 1:31 AM · Filed under BC First, FIFA ·Tagged , , , , , ,

Adebayor, right, escaped injury Togo pulled out of the Africa Cup of Nations last night following the gun attack on the team bus on Friday in Angola, which killed at least four people. Their forward Thomas Dossevi voiced players’ criticism of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) for refusing to postpone the tournament’s start so that the squad could “bring our dead people home”. Reports from the newswire AP claimed that Dossevi had said Togo would have been willing to participate if a delay had been agreed.

According to Alaixys Romao, Togo midfielder, the players were at the airport waiting to return home, and were also encouraging other teams to pull out of the competition. “We’re waiting for the plane to return to Lome,” the Grenoble player told L’Equipe.

“We’re also talking to the other teams in our group to try to convince them to boycott the competition too.” Togo were due to kick off their campaign against Ghana on Monday.

Manchester City confirmed their striker Emmanuel Adebayor – the Togo captain – was returning home. “He is on his way back from Angola but we are not sure exactly where his flight is headed,” said City spokesman Simon Heggie. “The lines of communication between the club and Emmanuel have been open all day, we have spoken to his advisors and his girlfriend and he is coming home.”
Adebayor said that in the aftermath of the attack many of the squad’s players wanted to go home. “I think a lot of players want to leave. I don’t think they want to be at this tournament any more because they have seen their death already,” he said. “Most of the players want to go back to their family. No one can sleep after what they have seen. They have seen one of their team-mates have a bullet in his body, who is crying, who is losing consciousness and everything.”
Even though the Organizers have so far insisted the tournament will go ahead as scheduled, Togo’s coach, Hubert Velud, has strongly recommended it be called off. Angolan authorities, on their part continue to maintain that their country is committed to hosting a secure competition and said they would step up security.

The Front for the Liberation of Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC), the separatist group which which was earlier reported to have claimed responsibility for the attack, have now denied they carried it out. A denial statement from the group stated, “We vigorously condemn this barbaric act and repeat the commitment to strive for dialogue, reconciliation and peace in Cabinda.
The incident refocuses the attention on security issues while organizing sporting events on the African continent. FIFA will have to redouble its efforts to insure the World Cup in is made absolutely to safe for everyone involved – the players,organizers and the fans.

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Leeds United send Manchester United crashing out of FA Cup

January 3, 2010 at 11:21 PM · Filed under BC First, FA Cup ·Tagged , , , , ,

Jermaine Beckford’s 19th minute facile goal for Leeds United sent the Premier League Champions Manchester United crashing out of the FA Cup in the third round creating history of sorts. Never before has Manchester United Lost in the third round ever since Sir Alex Ferguson took over the reigns of the club 23 years ago in 1986. Last time Manchester United lost in the third round was in 1984.

Manchester United were unable to respond despite throwing the kitchen sink at the League One club. Both teams created almost equal number of breath taking chances but Beckford’s goal remained the difference between the two teams till the end. The final few minutes, when Leeds just about held on rebutting wave after wave of Manchester United attack, were arguably the most exciting moments of the entire season. Leeds fans were seen either deliriously shouting their guts out or praying fervently for it is not everyday that Manchester United are humbled in their own home ground, Old Trafford.

FA Cup games have a charm of their own as here is an opportunity for the ‘Davids’ of lower leagues to slay the ‘Goliaths’ of the Premier League. That is exactly what Leeds united did today. Teams from lower leagues come here in pursuit of a dream to beat the Premier League giants while Premier League teams take the field to defend their reputation. Leeds United will be celebrating their dream win with a unabated fervor as the rivalry between the two clubs is so legendary that it is popularly known as ‘War of the Roses’ alluding to the strong enmity between the historic counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire dating back to the 15th century. Though Leeds will not like to be called minnows but they were definitely Giant killers today.

After the game Sir Alex Ferguson said,”Leeds had far bigger appetite than us,” Though unhappy with the stoppage time allotted at the end of the match, he for once, offered no explanation or excuses for his teams surprise defeat, “Human beings can always surprise you but we didn’t expect that today. We didn’t start right, Leeds got their goal and it was something to hold on to.”

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Will Carlo Ancelotti have to run naked for Chelsea to win the race?

January 2, 2010 at 7:50 PM · Filed under Chelsea, Chelsea FC, English Premier League, EPL, Football ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

With the party season, coming to an end on New Year’s Eve, the one question everyone wakes up with on New Years’ Day as they scramble to get their newspaper and hurriedly turn to the sports page is, ‘Who will my club sign in the January Transfer window?’ If you are a Chelsea fan, chances are you have a goofy smile on your face as you read Chelsea’s announcement that will be willing to splurge as much as  £40 million to spruce up their attack in January Transfer window. Chelsea who are precariously perched on top of the table midway through the season are desperate to shore up their attacking line up as they will be without the services of their African players Michael Essien, Solomon Kalou, and most importantly Didier Drogba who is in devastating form. He has scored 14 goals in his 18 outings for Chelsea. Drogba’s influence will be missed both on and off the pitch while he competes for the Ivory Coast in Angola, and it was the forward who had addressed the huddle at the final whistle on Monday.

“Drogba is not only a very good player, he’s a very good man,” Anceloti added. “Of course, we’ll miss something with him away. He scores goals for us, and he’s also a strong personality. We will have to do more than our best to make up for his absence.”

The Daily Express reported, that Chelsea were set to try and bring Valencia super-striker David Villa to Stamford Bridge. However, the talented Spanish striker won’t come cheap. The deal would cost the current league leaders some £40 million, with Villa set to net a whopping £10 million in wages every year, making him the highest paid player in premier league history.

The desperation to sign a world class striker can probably be explained by the suspension of the FIFA-imposed ban on Chelsea to sign any new players by the Court of Arbitration for Sport until a final decision is made in case of the south-west London club inducing Gaël Kakuta to breach his contract from the French club Lens. Chelsea have also been linked to Sergio Aguero and bizarrely to Italian world-cup winning footballer Luca Toni who has recently made a 6-month loan move to Italian club cub AS Roma ending the speculation of him coming to Stamford Bridge.

The thing to ponder however is not ‘Who will Chelsea sign?’ but whether Carlo Ancelotti be running naked as he had rhetorically announced he would if Chelsea were to buy any new players in the January transfer window (did I see you raise your left eyebrow!) or whether Roman Abramovich will buy a player just to see if Ancelotti is a man of his word and whether the Italian manager will be stripped of his managerial duties if Chelsea fail to win. What ever the case, Ancelotti better make sure he’s in good shape.

PS: In case, Chelsea aren’t signing players to protect us from the ghastly sight of a naked Carlo, may be Carlo will be nice enough to delegate to Chelsea’s favourite poster boy, Michael Ballack! (wink, wink)

Happy new year! :) ktbffh

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