The World Cup is all but over and after 60 matches we have seen some special performances and outstanding goals, so I thought I would pick my World Cup XI based on form at this tournament and not because of any player's reputation. So no Ronaldo, Rooney or Torres.
Goalkeeper
Manuel Neuer - Germany
Defenders
Sergio Ramos - Spain
Phillip Lahm - Germany
Carlos Pujol - Spain
Diego Godin - Uruguay
Midfielders
Thomas Muller - Germany
Wesley Sneijder - The Netherlands
Bastian Schweinsteiger - Germany
Arjen Robben - The Netherlands
Strikers
David Villa - Spain
Miroslav Klose - Germany
Coach
Joachim Loew
The players picked are due to their World Cup performances and based on what I have seen, people are going to disagree with me, but that is why there is always things to talk about when it comes to the beautiful game.
Keep it MINI.
Thursday, 08 July 2010
Here is a short blog on the World Cup so far...
I am so proud of Bafana Bafana, the lads did the Nation proud and sent the French scurrying like headless chickens after that super clash in Bloemfontein. I was delighted to see the grumpy and disorganized French crushed, but I could not help myself and wonder what would have happened if Katlego Mphela's strike against Mexico had struck the post and gone into the goal. If Bafana had won that opening match and then lost to Uruguay and recorded the win against France we might have been playing South Korea or Argentina this weekend. That has not happened and we can only dream about the potential clashes, but we can hold our heads high, the major thing now is to use this platform that Carlos Alberto Parreira has created and build on it. Qualifying for the AFCON competition and the 2014 World Cup are non negotiable, Bafana now needs to reestablish itself as a powerhouse of Africa and climb back up the rankings, our time to shine has come, so lets continue to deliver and I believe South Africa has enough quality local coaches to continue the rejuvenation of South African football.
Must win at Loftus...
Bafana bafana made us all very proud on Friday, but now the real test starts for Carlos Alberto Parreira's men, the World Cup hosts must beat Uruguay at Loftus to ensure they stand a chance of progressing from Group A. The draw against Mexico was not the end of the world and indeed may have been enough to settle the nerves of the side during such a big competition. Uruguay are a dangerous outfit with Diego Forlan their key player, but Bafana know that the South Americans are vulnerable at the back, so Mphela can exploit that on the day. We don't want to be left facing 1998 champions France in Bloemfontein needing a victory, let's face 2 time winners Uruguay and get the job done, they were flat against France during the 0 - 0 draw.
A win at Loftus will relieve the pressure ahead of the clash against Les Bleus. Mexico are expected to give France a go, but we will hope that the Central Americans lose to France and don't beat Uruguay. At the end of the day, the next two games for Bafana are crucial and 4 points from the matches will be enough to see the pride Mzansi make the knockout stage of the World Cup, should the other results go their way. Their fate is in their hands and the hopes of a Nation rest on the broad shoulders of Bafana. Good luck.
A win at Loftus will relieve the pressure ahead of the clash against Les Bleus. Mexico are expected to give France a go, but we will hope that the Central Americans lose to France and don't beat Uruguay. At the end of the day, the next two games for Bafana are crucial and 4 points from the matches will be enough to see the pride Mzansi make the knockout stage of the World Cup, should the other results go their way. Their fate is in their hands and the hopes of a Nation rest on the broad shoulders of Bafana. Good luck.
Feel it, it is here!
I am so excited about the World Cup! The last few months have been rather dull with FIFA inspecting stadia and chatting about tickets, it has been boring and all about the administrators, now it is time for the decision makers who sit behind desks to step aside and for the players to take center stage. It is time for South Africans to enjoy the games and the wonderful facilities that have been finished well ahead of schedule.
The world's best are steadily arriving and the excitement is building after months of blood, sweat and tears from the construction workers, police, teachers, nurses and men and women of South Africa. The time has come for Mzansi to once again show the world that we are going to host the best World Cup ever and do it in true African style, we will do the continent proud I have no doubts about that.
The African flavour with our vuvuzelas will give our visitors a special experience, one they will share will the rest of the world. I can't wait to see the games and to feel the passion of a nation, so let's get behind Bafana Bafana and enjoy sport's greatest show. So get your SA colours and put it on your MINI and show your pride and support for South Africa.
The world's best are steadily arriving and the excitement is building after months of blood, sweat and tears from the construction workers, police, teachers, nurses and men and women of South Africa. The time has come for Mzansi to once again show the world that we are going to host the best World Cup ever and do it in true African style, we will do the continent proud I have no doubts about that.
The African flavour with our vuvuzelas will give our visitors a special experience, one they will share will the rest of the world. I can't wait to see the games and to feel the passion of a nation, so let's get behind Bafana Bafana and enjoy sport's greatest show. So get your SA colours and put it on your MINI and show your pride and support for South Africa.
The wheel is round...
The sport of cycling has once again hit the headlines for the wrong reasons, this time the sport's golden boy "Lance Armstrong" is under fire after being named by the disgraced cyclist Floyd Landis who claimed that the 7 time champion paid officials to prevent his positive doping tests from becoming public and that the man who started "Live Strong" used performance enhancing drugs during his career. The thing is cycling is already in a bad way with the countless amount of so called "athletes" being busted for doping, they cannot afford to have Armstrong associated with any doping. Guilty or not, "the golden boy of cycling" is the face of the sport and if he goes down, the entire sport will come crashing down. A former cyclist told me that if they are not winning they are not doping. I ask you, where is the credibility, a lot will have to be done to fix doping in cycling. Good luck.
The greatest of them all?
Floyd Mayweather Junior steals the headlines whenever he opens his mouth. The boxer who is nicknamed "Pretty Boy Floyd" or "Money Mayweather" recently claimed he was the greatest boxer of all time and that he was better that the legendary Muhammad Ali. The 33 year old also predicted he would see off the veteran Shane Mosley in their Welterweight bout in Las Vegas.
The 38 year old Mosley retorted by saying that May the 1st would be Mayweather's first loss in 41 fights. The time for talking had come to an end and it was time for the fighting to begin, the much anticipated fight went all the way with only points separating the boxers after 12 rounds, Mayweather edging the fight with two judges scoring it 119 - 109 and the other 118 - 110.
If Mayweather is the greatest, well only until he fights Manny Pacquiao and wins can we credit him with that title.
The 38 year old Mosley retorted by saying that May the 1st would be Mayweather's first loss in 41 fights. The time for talking had come to an end and it was time for the fighting to begin, the much anticipated fight went all the way with only points separating the boxers after 12 rounds, Mayweather edging the fight with two judges scoring it 119 - 109 and the other 118 - 110.
If Mayweather is the greatest, well only until he fights Manny Pacquiao and wins can we credit him with that title.
Cage Fighting is hitting audiences hard!
The sport of cage fighting has come a long way since the underground "Fight Club" days where fights were held in smoky pubs and in abandoned warehouses, these days the sport (yes it is a recognized sport) is held in massive arenas in front of thousands of mixed martial arts fans and even has its own television program.
Extreme Fighting Championships is taking off in a big way, thousands of South Africans are getting very excited by the phenomenon that is creating a massive platform for skilled mixed martial artists to showcase their fighting skills in the hexagon. Karate, Brazilian Jujitsu, Boxing and wrestling are some of the disciplines that make up this captivating sport.
The fighters are in tip top shape and train for months to prepare for their fights, the recent EFC Africa 03 event at the Coca Cola dome attracted 6000 people and featured 14 fights and saw 2 talented fights shed blood, sweat and tears in the hexagon.
There is no doubt the underground vibe is appealing to many and even though it is fast becoming mainstream it is capturing the imagination of thousands, it is just a matter of time before these events like its much bigger brother in the USA, the UFC is broadcast live and attracts tv audiences of millions.
Extreme Fighting Championships is taking off in a big way, thousands of South Africans are getting very excited by the phenomenon that is creating a massive platform for skilled mixed martial artists to showcase their fighting skills in the hexagon. Karate, Brazilian Jujitsu, Boxing and wrestling are some of the disciplines that make up this captivating sport.
The fighters are in tip top shape and train for months to prepare for their fights, the recent EFC Africa 03 event at the Coca Cola dome attracted 6000 people and featured 14 fights and saw 2 talented fights shed blood, sweat and tears in the hexagon.
There is no doubt the underground vibe is appealing to many and even though it is fast becoming mainstream it is capturing the imagination of thousands, it is just a matter of time before these events like its much bigger brother in the USA, the UFC is broadcast live and attracts tv audiences of millions.
The next Bafana Bafana coach has to be local...
I am very glad and relieved to hear that SAFA has confirmed that the next Bafana bafana coach will be South African. I think Carlos Alberto Parreira has done a fine job with the resources at his disposal, but it is time for a South African to take Bafana to the next World Cup.
I am not against foreign coaches, but I feel that local coaches who win 3 consecutive league titles deserve a chance to coach the National team at the highest level. I believe it is a two horse race between SuperSport's Gavin Hunt and Bafana assistant Pitso Mosimane, two superb candidates and two gentlemen capable of doing a superb job with the National side.
First priority is to qualify for the African Cup of Nations and then Brazil 2014, Bafana has no excuse this time and it is imperative that they book their plane tickets to those events, not as spectators but as competitors. Pitso and Gavin understand the local players and know how to get the best out of those players. Let's appoint the next coach before the World Cup and get the team performing.
I am not against foreign coaches, but I feel that local coaches who win 3 consecutive league titles deserve a chance to coach the National team at the highest level. I believe it is a two horse race between SuperSport's Gavin Hunt and Bafana assistant Pitso Mosimane, two superb candidates and two gentlemen capable of doing a superb job with the National side.
First priority is to qualify for the African Cup of Nations and then Brazil 2014, Bafana has no excuse this time and it is imperative that they book their plane tickets to those events, not as spectators but as competitors. Pitso and Gavin understand the local players and know how to get the best out of those players. Let's appoint the next coach before the World Cup and get the team performing.
Wayne Rooney is a football god
Let me start off by saying that I am not a Manchester United supporter and that I don't hate any of the clubs in the English Premiership. Dislike, yes I have a few, but in general I appreciate quality football be it English Premiership, PSL or La Lagia . One particular footballer doing special things right now, is Wayne Rooney, the England striker has been onfire for the Red Devils and has almost single handedly propelled the men in red to the top of the table with an amazing 33 goals this season and there appears to be no stopping the 24 year old dad who is on track for 40 plus this season. Rooney seems to have become more level headed and responsible, the Merseyside born hitman has also curbed his temper and is now starting to resmeble the ultimate striker. If Manchester United are to win the league title for an incredible 4th time, they win need Rooney to be fully fit and firing on all cylinders. But all accounts, Rooney could become the greatest ever England striker and possibly the greatest striker Manchester United have ever seen.
All Eyes on Tiger
The world has been captivated by the Tiger Woods saga and have been asking when and where the World number one will return to professional golf? The man who became the first sportsman to reach the magical (and unbelievable) 1 billion dollar mark in sport has had his fair share of "birdies" along the way, but he maintains the "dark" days of playing the field are behind him and that he aims to make his long awaited comeback at the Masters in April. Many feel that Tiger will get some abuse, while many feel he will be cheered on by the expected record crowd. Tiger has said he is nervous about the recpetion he will receive, but let's face it, he is world class and despite being out of golf for so long still tops the rankings by a massive margin. Tiger winning at Augusta is a brave bet for any betting person, but you can never rule out a Tiger, especially when he has a point to prove.
Super duper 15
I made my Super 14 presenting debut on Saturday and got a real buzz covering the rugby tournament I regard as the toughest in the world. I worked with former Springbok Warren Brosnihan and felt quite at home watching the 3 games. I then realized that I was doing the Bulls first up and that there were hundred of thousands of fans watching the game and that I had to sound intelligent and not like a bumbling idiot - no pressure Sias! Unfortunately the game did not go well for the defending champions, but my debut went smoothly as the short time we had flew by. I did not offend anyone and sounded slightly informative. The next New Zealand derby was relaxed and also moved on without incident. The Cheetahs were next and got spanked - I turned to Warren and asked how we remain positive when the side is so shite? "Bros" just said keep it simple and focus on the positives. Let's just say the wrap was short and seriously simple. The Cheetahs need to find some miracle or face being smashed down under, injuries are a factor, but when the team does not show any heart or determination, they cannot win. The Bulls and Stormers shouldn't lose any sleep just yet, but should be aware that complacency will be their downfall. The Sharks have won 3 on the trot now and will need to keep winning and hope some other results go their way if they are to make the play offs.
Show some balls ASA!
I must say I feel sorry for 19 year old Caster Semenya. The Women's 800m World champion has been barred from participated in the Yellow Pages series after some administrative bungling on the part of the IAAF and ASA. We all know what happened but why is there such a delay? Dr Ross Tucker who is one of the country's leading sports scientists says that the entire process is complicated and does take time and that the whole gender verification is not a straight formal identification of the necessary sex organs. Okay so we will have to wait for June for the results, but what if the IAAF know the results and don't know how to proceed? God forbid that there are any irregularities in the tests, but if there are then we could have a massive media fiasco on our hands and the end of a career for Caster. Let us hope that the results confirm that South Africa has indeed got a women's 800m World champion and lets get her back on the track where she can win more gold and get South Africa's first gold at the Olympics since 2004.
Too much spice is not always nice.
The Indian Premier League needs a rethink. The competition has too many games and takes far too long to reach its business end. The organizers must shorten the tournament and make it more interesting for the TV viewers. The glitz, glamour and big money is awesome, but it is getting stale.
I think the competition needs a new twist, something like substitutions during the match, so a foreign player for a foreign player and local player for local player. I would like to see a bonus hitting zone where a boundary counts double. Teams have a save, where they can recall a player after he has been dismissed, but it must happen within 30 seconds of the decision. I would also like to see incentives for big hitting with teams awarded bonus points for boundaries, while teams should be deducted points for extras and drop catches.
That is my ideal opinion, but then again it is about the TV audience and the money isn't it, so drag it out for as long as possible and cash in, come on, let's change it up a bit and capture our imagination once again, I challenge the IPL to spice things up again.
I think the competition needs a new twist, something like substitutions during the match, so a foreign player for a foreign player and local player for local player. I would like to see a bonus hitting zone where a boundary counts double. Teams have a save, where they can recall a player after he has been dismissed, but it must happen within 30 seconds of the decision. I would also like to see incentives for big hitting with teams awarded bonus points for boundaries, while teams should be deducted points for extras and drop catches.
That is my ideal opinion, but then again it is about the TV audience and the money isn't it, so drag it out for as long as possible and cash in, come on, let's change it up a bit and capture our imagination once again, I challenge the IPL to spice things up again.
Sachin Master Class
I don't think we will ever see an innings like the one played by Sachin Tendulkar in Gwalior. The "little Master" blazed his way to an unbeaten 200 to become the first man in the history of the game to score a double hundred in One Day Internationals, unfortunately at the expense of South Africa, but it was pretty special to watch despite the massive loss. What a privilege to have such a gifted cricketer playing in our lifetime, I mean Bradman, Viv and the many other greats had finished playing before SuperSport came along with its many channels and HD channel. The legends were not as "accessible" as the players these days and today we are spoilt for choice when it comes to sports coverage.
Tendulkar has played over 450 ODIs, scored 17 000 runs and boasts over 20 years of International cricket, the king of Mumbai also has over a billion fans in India alone and is closing on 37 years on the planet, a true legend of the game. The "Slashin Sachin" is also a shrewd businessman who cannot walk in the streets of Mumbai because he is like a flash mob magnet, but despite his records, millions of dollars and celebrity status, he remains humble and a lover of the gentleman's game, a magnificent ambassador for the sport of cricket.
Tendulkar has played over 450 ODIs, scored 17 000 runs and boasts over 20 years of International cricket, the king of Mumbai also has over a billion fans in India alone and is closing on 37 years on the planet, a true legend of the game. The "Slashin Sachin" is also a shrewd businessman who cannot walk in the streets of Mumbai because he is like a flash mob magnet, but despite his records, millions of dollars and celebrity status, he remains humble and a lover of the gentleman's game, a magnificent ambassador for the sport of cricket.
MINI Happiness
I think this is something only MINI drivers can understand, do you ever start grinning from ear to ear when you are driving your MINI? I often get this pleasant expression on my face when I change into 6th gear and cruise on the freeway or even when I am stuck in traffic, people around me wonder why, but I know the real reason and that makes me smile. My MINI, my happiness.
Super 14
The away teams dominated in this weekend's opening round of the Super 14, only the 7 time champions the Crusaders won at home.
The reigning champions the Bulls were impressive and laid down the law to the Cheetahs, Frans Ludeke's men look to beat close on the form they showed last season. The Cheetahs have some talent in their ranks, but lack the experience to pose a serious threat, the same can be said for the young Lions who really earned the respect of the Stormers, just when the match looked like it was heading for a one sided result Dick Muir's cubs fought bravely to give the star studded Stormers a run for their money. The Cape Town based side look a different entity with the addition of Bryan Habana and Jacque Fourie, the pair will lift the player around them and could unlock some quality finishers. The Sharks will have their work cut out, but with several experienced Springboks you can expect them to fire at some stage, the flyhalf area is a cause for concern, Monty Dumond unfortunately is all they have until Ruan Pienaar is fully fit.
At this early stage of the tournament, the Bulls caught my eye, the Stormers got my attention, while the Sharks made me glance twice and the Lions and Cheetahs made me watch a bit closer, a thrilling couple of weeks lies ahead.
The reigning champions the Bulls were impressive and laid down the law to the Cheetahs, Frans Ludeke's men look to beat close on the form they showed last season. The Cheetahs have some talent in their ranks, but lack the experience to pose a serious threat, the same can be said for the young Lions who really earned the respect of the Stormers, just when the match looked like it was heading for a one sided result Dick Muir's cubs fought bravely to give the star studded Stormers a run for their money. The Cape Town based side look a different entity with the addition of Bryan Habana and Jacque Fourie, the pair will lift the player around them and could unlock some quality finishers. The Sharks will have their work cut out, but with several experienced Springboks you can expect them to fire at some stage, the flyhalf area is a cause for concern, Monty Dumond unfortunately is all they have until Ruan Pienaar is fully fit.
At this early stage of the tournament, the Bulls caught my eye, the Stormers got my attention, while the Sharks made me glance twice and the Lions and Cheetahs made me watch a bit closer, a thrilling couple of weeks lies ahead.
Fly the Half
The Sharks are looking to recruit the talented former under 19 and 21 flyhalf Ishma-eel Dollie for the upcoming season. The Emerging Bok has impressed enough to be invited to Springbok coach Peter de Villiers' training camp and almost secured a contract with the Brumbies, but due to the Canberra based team having signed 3 flyhalves, Dollie had to sheepishly return to South Africa where the Stormers had tossed him aside.
My only problem with the Sharks luring young talent to Durban is why they are not securing young talent from KZN's finest rugby institutions and holding onto them? Is it because the University structure is lacking compared to Cape Town, Pretoria, Bloemfontein and Johannesburg? Surely considering how good the standard of school boy rugby is in KZN, there should be plenty rugby players knocking on the Sharks' door. Not necessarily at Super 14 level, but at under 19, 21 and Vodacom Cup level.
I think the Sharks Rugby Academy is doing a good job, but something needs to be done about the players leaving school and getting lost in the woodwork, lets harness the talent and start breeding some world class flyhalves.
My only problem with the Sharks luring young talent to Durban is why they are not securing young talent from KZN's finest rugby institutions and holding onto them? Is it because the University structure is lacking compared to Cape Town, Pretoria, Bloemfontein and Johannesburg? Surely considering how good the standard of school boy rugby is in KZN, there should be plenty rugby players knocking on the Sharks' door. Not necessarily at Super 14 level, but at under 19, 21 and Vodacom Cup level.
I think the Sharks Rugby Academy is doing a good job, but something needs to be done about the players leaving school and getting lost in the woodwork, lets harness the talent and start breeding some world class flyhalves.
Super 14 - 2010
The rugby season is round the corner and you can hear the naartjies being plucked off the branches of the cirtrus orchards and all but taste the biltong that is busy drying for the first weekend of Super 14 matches.
A mouth watering season lies ahead full of expectations and beliefs. The Bulls will once again be the team to beat, while the arrival of Habana and Fourie at the Stormers could just give their backline the venom it has been lacking for so long.
The Lions have "King"Carlos at their disposal and his riduculous talent will be something to witness if you get the chance, how the aging body holds up, well that is another story altogether.
The Sharks have a few Lions in their tank with Alberts and Ludik set to feature if the legal wranglings get resolved with the GLRU...but with John Smit leading the "school" if you like you can expect another strong challenge despite the current flyhalf crisis with Pienaar and Hernandez sidelined.
The Cheetahs will be without Jacques Louis Potgieter who has joined the Bulls and could find themselves the whipping boys of the competition, the men from bloem lack the cash to draw big names and will have to rely on the abundance of talent from Grey Colleg and Shimlas to get them through.
My pick once again has to be the Bulls with the Sharks reaching the semis once again, I would like to see the Sharks get a bit more killer instinct and finish off teams the way the Bulls have in the past, but this season don't write off the Lions just yet, they could well be the surprise packgae of the competition and hopefully restore some much needed pride to rugby in Johannesburg and Gauteng.
A mouth watering season lies ahead full of expectations and beliefs. The Bulls will once again be the team to beat, while the arrival of Habana and Fourie at the Stormers could just give their backline the venom it has been lacking for so long.
The Lions have "King"Carlos at their disposal and his riduculous talent will be something to witness if you get the chance, how the aging body holds up, well that is another story altogether.
The Sharks have a few Lions in their tank with Alberts and Ludik set to feature if the legal wranglings get resolved with the GLRU...but with John Smit leading the "school" if you like you can expect another strong challenge despite the current flyhalf crisis with Pienaar and Hernandez sidelined.
The Cheetahs will be without Jacques Louis Potgieter who has joined the Bulls and could find themselves the whipping boys of the competition, the men from bloem lack the cash to draw big names and will have to rely on the abundance of talent from Grey Colleg and Shimlas to get them through.
My pick once again has to be the Bulls with the Sharks reaching the semis once again, I would like to see the Sharks get a bit more killer instinct and finish off teams the way the Bulls have in the past, but this season don't write off the Lions just yet, they could well be the surprise packgae of the competition and hopefully restore some much needed pride to rugby in Johannesburg and Gauteng.
AFCON Poser
It is a shame that Bafana Bafana is not at the African Cup of Nations, actually it is a disgrace. The World Cup hosts should have been in Angola to compete with the rest of Africa's elite, but instead Gabon and Benin are there. The competition would have been perfect preparation for Carlos Parreira's side, instead they are off to Brazil for a month to play in some league that will put the players outside of their comfort zone, but will it adequate preparation? I think not.
My suggestion is to get the players together and simulate World Cup scenarios, so play at the World Cup venues with packed crowds and run them through every scenario possible with International teams made up of former International players, up and coming player and players not featuring in the 2010 showpiece. Club commitments might be a problem, but still it will surely be better than a month in South America?
That said Bafana impressed during the Confed and should be up for a good showing again when the world comes to town, but then again anything can happen in football, let's just hope it is a successful run for Bafana.
My suggestion is to get the players together and simulate World Cup scenarios, so play at the World Cup venues with packed crowds and run them through every scenario possible with International teams made up of former International players, up and coming player and players not featuring in the 2010 showpiece. Club commitments might be a problem, but still it will surely be better than a month in South America?
That said Bafana impressed during the Confed and should be up for a good showing again when the world comes to town, but then again anything can happen in football, let's just hope it is a successful run for Bafana.
Tweaking the Imran
It is hard to believe that for two tests South Africa dominated England, but still find themselves 1 - 0 down in the 4 match series with one to play. Many feel the declaration timing on both occasions was a little late, while many are pointing fingers at the South African bowling attack.
My personal take is that there was nothing wrong with the timing of the declaration and that the problem lies in the bowling attack and the lack of a wicket taking spinner. I think Paul Harris is a super bowler, but he does not turn the ball enough to be effective at test level. "Harry" is a professional and wears his heart on his sleeve, but he does not a "flipper" or a "doosra" that potential could unsettle the world's top batters. I understand that he is a finger spinner and that having deliveries like that in his armoury is not always possible, but the fact of the matter is that JP Duminy turns the ball a lot further than the Titans spinner.
I think the selectors could go two ways for the future, either develop Duminy into a top spinner that bats in the middle order so that you can slot in another batsman or anther spinner like Johan Botha in the place of Harris. The other option is turning (if you'll excuse the pun) to Imran Tahir, the former Pakistan A and Middlesex, Easterns and Titans leg spinner who has recently qualified to play for South Africa. Get him in the mix and tell him to bowl millions of overs, he is a wicket taker despite lacking form at the moment and will produce the goods or at least provide Graeme Smith with a wicket taking option, please just sort out his paperwork! Then you have Duminy from one end and Tahir from the other, it will add some much needed variation to the attack. Nice to know there are options out there, now it is up to the National selectors to give the right guys the opportunities to prove their worth.
My personal take is that there was nothing wrong with the timing of the declaration and that the problem lies in the bowling attack and the lack of a wicket taking spinner. I think Paul Harris is a super bowler, but he does not turn the ball enough to be effective at test level. "Harry" is a professional and wears his heart on his sleeve, but he does not a "flipper" or a "doosra" that potential could unsettle the world's top batters. I understand that he is a finger spinner and that having deliveries like that in his armoury is not always possible, but the fact of the matter is that JP Duminy turns the ball a lot further than the Titans spinner.
I think the selectors could go two ways for the future, either develop Duminy into a top spinner that bats in the middle order so that you can slot in another batsman or anther spinner like Johan Botha in the place of Harris. The other option is turning (if you'll excuse the pun) to Imran Tahir, the former Pakistan A and Middlesex, Easterns and Titans leg spinner who has recently qualified to play for South Africa. Get him in the mix and tell him to bowl millions of overs, he is a wicket taker despite lacking form at the moment and will produce the goods or at least provide Graeme Smith with a wicket taking option, please just sort out his paperwork! Then you have Duminy from one end and Tahir from the other, it will add some much needed variation to the attack. Nice to know there are options out there, now it is up to the National selectors to give the right guys the opportunities to prove their worth.
Barney's Bok Balance...
There has been a lot of talk of late about the future of John Smit in the Springbok side, much of the chat has been about his so called impending retirement. The fact that Smit was being phased out by being moved to tighthead and that Bismarck du Plessis was by far the Springboks and the coach's number one choice for number two, led many to believe that "Smitty" was being put to pasture.
Another conversation of late has been the shaky Bok scrum and that the poor referees were to blame for the dodgy scrums, but there was a moment where "Barney" proved that his best spot is at number two. The strong Italian scrum buckled under the pressure of the Boks front row with BJ Botha, Smit and "the Beast" firing on all cylinders.
The emotion shown by Boks after that scrum told the world that the scrum was never in trouble and that a simple switch back to number two for the former Pretoria High School Head boy gave the scrum its balance. I think people need to get off John Smit's case, he has been and will be the country's most successful Bok captain and forget about the retirement talk, he has to lead us to the world cup in 2011, where he will prove that he still has what it takes to lift the William Webb Ellis trophy for a second consecutive time.
Another conversation of late has been the shaky Bok scrum and that the poor referees were to blame for the dodgy scrums, but there was a moment where "Barney" proved that his best spot is at number two. The strong Italian scrum buckled under the pressure of the Boks front row with BJ Botha, Smit and "the Beast" firing on all cylinders.
The emotion shown by Boks after that scrum told the world that the scrum was never in trouble and that a simple switch back to number two for the former Pretoria High School Head boy gave the scrum its balance. I think people need to get off John Smit's case, he has been and will be the country's most successful Bok captain and forget about the retirement talk, he has to lead us to the world cup in 2011, where he will prove that he still has what it takes to lift the William Webb Ellis trophy for a second consecutive time.
Picking a team
I was watching the Springbok squad announcement for the year end tour and was thinking that some players were rather lucky to be there and others very unlucky not to be there, but then I thought how do you pick a squad? Do you go for players purely on form? Or do you pick a player with potential who might not be on form right now, but one you know can perform when the time comes?
In South Africa we have some unbelievable talent, but not all of those talented players are going to be great Springboks, some will be very good provincial players, but will never be able to step up to International level. Some may surprise everyone and make that transition comfortably, especially if they have the talent and composure.
In the past some players have been given a chance to prove themselves and failed dismally, but a fortunate few have gone into the side raised eyebrows and then gone onto great things, that is just the chance you take as a coach. You are asked to put your faith in someone and hope they repay the favour when called upon. But before I delve to deep into how tough a coach's job is, I think it is fair to say that there are some exciting prospects in the 37 man squad who will play against Saracens and Leicester, but the match day core 22 of the Tri Nations remains largely intact and ready to pulverize France, Italy and Ireland.
In South Africa we have some unbelievable talent, but not all of those talented players are going to be great Springboks, some will be very good provincial players, but will never be able to step up to International level. Some may surprise everyone and make that transition comfortably, especially if they have the talent and composure.
In the past some players have been given a chance to prove themselves and failed dismally, but a fortunate few have gone into the side raised eyebrows and then gone onto great things, that is just the chance you take as a coach. You are asked to put your faith in someone and hope they repay the favour when called upon. But before I delve to deep into how tough a coach's job is, I think it is fair to say that there are some exciting prospects in the 37 man squad who will play against Saracens and Leicester, but the match day core 22 of the Tri Nations remains largely intact and ready to pulverize France, Italy and Ireland.
Champions League
The Indian Champions League in India has been brilliant! Well done to the Diamond Eagles and the Cape Cobras for putting on a great show. It was great to see the talent on offer in the Eagles and Cobras squads take on some of the world's best cricketers. South African cricket is clearly in good hands and has the depth to continue to be world beaters. Someone like 20 year old Rilee Rossouw is one to keep an eye on; the Eagles batsman scored 123 runs in the competition and should be knocking on the National side's door very soon. JP Duminy is the master of T20 cricket and finished with the most runs in the competition - 224. Another player that should be in the Proteas' mix come the tour by England is Ryan McLaren, the Eagles all rounder is a massive talent and should at least be called up to the squad for the ODIs. Time will tell, but there is no doubt in my mind that McLaren and Rossouw will feature in the South African team sometime soon.
Why another Brazilian?
It boggles the mind why SAFA would turn to the man that deserted Bafana Bafana 18 months ago. The same guy who recommended Joel Santana as his replacement and who recently got fired from his coaching job in Brazil; Carlos Parreira might have won a World Cup, but is he really the man for the job? I don't think so, for me a local coach would have been perfect and someone who understands the local players. Gavin Hunt would have been my first choice with Clive Barker and Jomo Sono as technical advisors, but I am not a chief decision maker at SAFA. Clearly the leadership of South African football has not learnt their lesson. Let's hope Parreira is willing to consider Benni McCarthy and Nasief Morris for the upcoming friendlies against Japan and Jamaica, the team needs a victory and so does the Nation.
Down and out
South Africa did not choke against England, they were outplayed. It is as simple as that. A lack of preparation and game time contributed to the 22 run loss and the exit from the tournament. The Proteas did have a grueling season before their break, but 2 and a half months is a very long break. I am surprised that the team did not have a series against their neighbours Zimbabwe before hand to get some game time under their belt.
A warm up match against the Lions and the West Indies is far from proper preparations and it was clear in the bowling department. I don't think the answer is too change the side or fire the coach, but maybe relook the role some of the senior players play in the side.
Many feel AB de Villiers should take up the gloves permanently with Mark Boucher being phased out of ODI cricket and kept on as a test specialist, while Albie Morkel should be moved up the order, while a Ryan McLaren be looked at as potential all rounder. Faf du Plessis from the Titans should be looked at in a big way with Imran Taheer the leg spinner also considered for the Proteas mix. A new approach not a new coach should be used to lift the South Africans back to the summit of world cricket.
A warm up match against the Lions and the West Indies is far from proper preparations and it was clear in the bowling department. I don't think the answer is too change the side or fire the coach, but maybe relook the role some of the senior players play in the side.
Many feel AB de Villiers should take up the gloves permanently with Mark Boucher being phased out of ODI cricket and kept on as a test specialist, while Albie Morkel should be moved up the order, while a Ryan McLaren be looked at as potential all rounder. Faf du Plessis from the Titans should be looked at in a big way with Imran Taheer the leg spinner also considered for the Proteas mix. A new approach not a new coach should be used to lift the South Africans back to the summit of world cricket.
Admin
I think it is time for SAFA to make a big call and appoint someone who can work with Joel Santana. This person needs to be a Director of football type who can look at the challenges faces Bafana Bafana and where they are going wrong. This person needs to have some idea of how local football works in South Africa, but must also have experience coaching at International level.
The new appointment should be able to communicate without a translator and make the difficult calls as well as answer the tough questions. A person who comes to mind is someone like Eddie Lewis, the former Manchester United man and current Moroka Swallows adviser would be great. Another possible candidate would be a Gordon Igesund who is a world class coach and someone who should be coaching Bafana today. It is time to pay our local coaches more and to reward them with the Bafana job, SAFA needs to forget about shelling out millions for foreign coaches.
The big picture is that Bafana are in danger of an early exit at the World Cup and that we need to look at the PSL and development structures to see what needs to be done to ensure that the country can produce future International stars.
The new appointment should be able to communicate without a translator and make the difficult calls as well as answer the tough questions. A person who comes to mind is someone like Eddie Lewis, the former Manchester United man and current Moroka Swallows adviser would be great. Another possible candidate would be a Gordon Igesund who is a world class coach and someone who should be coaching Bafana today. It is time to pay our local coaches more and to reward them with the Bafana job, SAFA needs to forget about shelling out millions for foreign coaches.
The big picture is that Bafana are in danger of an early exit at the World Cup and that we need to look at the PSL and development structures to see what needs to be done to ensure that the country can produce future International stars.
Finally!
Athletics South Africa president Leonard Chuene has admitted he lied about the Caster Semenya gender tests and all but conceded that he and his organization are in fact a bunch of bumbling idiots. His administration is to blame for the media speculation, humiliation and criticism that the 18 year old Semenya has had to endure. The entire saga has been handled poorly to say the least and could have been avoided before the World Championships even started.
It worries me that Chuene has come out and said sorry; because that could mean that there is more bad news on the way. Should the tests come back reflecting Semenya has male characteristics, not only will ASA have egg on their faces but also the entire country. Those politicians who leapt to the defence of Semenya and used her situation as a political springboard will also be left looking rather silly.
Personally I hope that Semenya gets a positive test result and that she can move on from this debacle and focus on winning more gold for South Africa. It is time for ASA to be revamped, sweep out the dead and incompetent wood and bring in fresh saplings who can take Athletics in this country to the next level, because it is in desperate need of support not scrutiny.
The ICC Champions trophy gets underway this Tuesday at SuperSport Park in Centurion when South Africa host Sri Lanka. So far Australia are the bookies favourites followed by South Africa and India. The Proteas have not won a major ICC trophy since 1998 and are long overdue to win some silverware. The current squad has always looked good on paper and has played some sensational cricket in the past but has often flattered to deceive on the field when it mattered most.
The recent loss to Pakistan in the T20 World Cup proved that South Africa has not yet left the chokers tag behind. This Champions trophy in their backyard will be the perfect opportunity to end their trophy drought and loosen the tag that has haunted them for so long. The biggest threat for Graeme Smith's men will be Australia, but a semifinal showdown or final showdown is the likely meeting place as the Proteas have Sri Lanka, New Zealand and England in their group and considering that the Black Caps and England have been in poor form the Proteas should be on their way through along with Sri Lanka.
Unfortunately things are not so simple and that stranger things have happened in cricket. My prediction: South Africa to reach the final.
It worries me that Chuene has come out and said sorry; because that could mean that there is more bad news on the way. Should the tests come back reflecting Semenya has male characteristics, not only will ASA have egg on their faces but also the entire country. Those politicians who leapt to the defence of Semenya and used her situation as a political springboard will also be left looking rather silly.
Personally I hope that Semenya gets a positive test result and that she can move on from this debacle and focus on winning more gold for South Africa. It is time for ASA to be revamped, sweep out the dead and incompetent wood and bring in fresh saplings who can take Athletics in this country to the next level, because it is in desperate need of support not scrutiny.
The ICC Champions trophy gets underway this Tuesday at SuperSport Park in Centurion when South Africa host Sri Lanka. So far Australia are the bookies favourites followed by South Africa and India. The Proteas have not won a major ICC trophy since 1998 and are long overdue to win some silverware. The current squad has always looked good on paper and has played some sensational cricket in the past but has often flattered to deceive on the field when it mattered most.
The recent loss to Pakistan in the T20 World Cup proved that South Africa has not yet left the chokers tag behind. This Champions trophy in their backyard will be the perfect opportunity to end their trophy drought and loosen the tag that has haunted them for so long. The biggest threat for Graeme Smith's men will be Australia, but a semifinal showdown or final showdown is the likely meeting place as the Proteas have Sri Lanka, New Zealand and England in their group and considering that the Black Caps and England have been in poor form the Proteas should be on their way through along with Sri Lanka.
Unfortunately things are not so simple and that stranger things have happened in cricket. My prediction: South Africa to reach the final.
All is not lost
All is not lost. So the Springboks lost in Brisbane, does it really matter in the grand scheme of things? Maybe, they could have wrapped up the Tri Nations with a point; the fact of the matter is that they have not won there since 1993.
Let's face it the Boks were outplayed, no excuses. Slippery balls and bad refereeing were not to blame; the world champions were just not good enough on the day. If was not for 3 sensational try saving tackles the Boks could have been by a far greater margin. Let us not put a sugar coating on it and rather focus on this weekend's game.
A must win for the Boks and a chance for John Smit's team to show they have the BMT and can win big games on the road. Too much has been said about the Boks struggling to travel and that they miss the boerewors and pap too much, the onus is on them now to quash that ridiculous stigma and wrap up the bloody Tri Nations.
They are good enough and have been the best side in this year's Tri Nations - no doubt. They must forget about the Wallabies, who by the way are going to be the team to be apart from the Boks at the 2011 World Cup and wrap up the points we need to end or competition hoodoo. Let us not strive for one point or two, but all 4 on the day at a sold out Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.
Let's face it the Boks were outplayed, no excuses. Slippery balls and bad refereeing were not to blame; the world champions were just not good enough on the day. If was not for 3 sensational try saving tackles the Boks could have been by a far greater margin. Let us not put a sugar coating on it and rather focus on this weekend's game.
A must win for the Boks and a chance for John Smit's team to show they have the BMT and can win big games on the road. Too much has been said about the Boks struggling to travel and that they miss the boerewors and pap too much, the onus is on them now to quash that ridiculous stigma and wrap up the bloody Tri Nations.
They are good enough and have been the best side in this year's Tri Nations - no doubt. They must forget about the Wallabies, who by the way are going to be the team to be apart from the Boks at the 2011 World Cup and wrap up the points we need to end or competition hoodoo. Let us not strive for one point or two, but all 4 on the day at a sold out Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.
Springbok Team
I am glad to hear that Springbok captain John Smit is not thinking of retiring anytime soon. The 50th Bok skipper says he wants to defend his team's title at the World Cup in 2011 and only then will he consider calling it a day on his illustrious career. The former Pretoria Boys High scholar who has over 88 caps has been instrumental in the success of the Boks, maintains that he still has two years left in him at International level.
The Pietersburg or Polokwane born Smit has proved that a successful team needs a strong leader in order to achieve true greatness. Smit has proved on numerous occasions that he is capable of getting the world's top ranked team to dig deep when it matters most. I think people underestimate the role of the captain in the team's play and Bok supporters have taken for granted Smit's leadership qualities because the Boks have been playing like a well oiled machine since he has been in charge.
Smit's move to prop from hooker has been pretty smooth and indeed a stroke of genius from the Bok coaching staff. It has allowed him to prolong his career and in turn lead the Boks to more success, good thing Smit did not listen to Jake White when the World Cup winning coach said he should retire because he could only go backwards from where he currently was. Smit has since been on his own winning way. Long may it continue.
The Pietersburg or Polokwane born Smit has proved that a successful team needs a strong leader in order to achieve true greatness. Smit has proved on numerous occasions that he is capable of getting the world's top ranked team to dig deep when it matters most. I think people underestimate the role of the captain in the team's play and Bok supporters have taken for granted Smit's leadership qualities because the Boks have been playing like a well oiled machine since he has been in charge.
Smit's move to prop from hooker has been pretty smooth and indeed a stroke of genius from the Bok coaching staff. It has allowed him to prolong his career and in turn lead the Boks to more success, good thing Smit did not listen to Jake White when the World Cup winning coach said he should retire because he could only go backwards from where he currently was. Smit has since been on his own winning way. Long may it continue.
Another Caster
I am glad the IAAF has hit back at ridiculous politicians who have jumped on the Caster Semenya band wagon to gain exposure for their political careers. I need not name the politician who referred to "red soxes" and is certainly no longer a youth. What a joke - the matter is not a political one; it is purely a sporting one and is a monstrous administration bungle on the part of Athletics South Africa. The tests were requested by the IAAF before the event and then leaked because some idiot faxed it to the wrong person.
The IAAF also expressed it concerns over the whole saga before the event and asked ASA to exclude her from the 800m race. I don't agree with excluding her from the World Championships or future events, because she is still a woman until proven otherwise, but I feel that administrators have messed it up for our very own World Champion. Administrators in this country get far too much exposure and do too little to improve the sports they represent.
The other concern I have is, why is Caster Semenya being made an example of when in the past there have been many dodgy looking women who have competed in events and won medals? One name comes to mind, and she looks 10 times manlier than Caster, her name is Jarmila Kratochvilova. I hope for Caster's sake this matter is resolved soon so she can go on and dominate world athletics.
The IAAF also expressed it concerns over the whole saga before the event and asked ASA to exclude her from the 800m race. I don't agree with excluding her from the World Championships or future events, because she is still a woman until proven otherwise, but I feel that administrators have messed it up for our very own World Champion. Administrators in this country get far too much exposure and do too little to improve the sports they represent.
The other concern I have is, why is Caster Semenya being made an example of when in the past there have been many dodgy looking women who have competed in events and won medals? One name comes to mind, and she looks 10 times manlier than Caster, her name is Jarmila Kratochvilova. I hope for Caster's sake this matter is resolved soon so she can go on and dominate world athletics.
Brilliant Boks
I don't think there is a coach in the history of sport that has ever been unhappy with his side winning. Out of all those coaches I don't think any of them would have been bothered by the way their side won. On Saturday the Springboks claimed a win that was certainly not pretty. The third win on the bounce for the Boks and if the records are correct their 9th in 10 tests so far.
The match was tough, players put their bodies on the line and both sides will know that that were in a Tri Nations match after 80 minutes of brutal rugby. I don't think coach Peter de Villiers is too concerned with the fact that Jacques Fourie did not touch the ball or the fact that Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen had to look for work, I think he will be more concerned about the time his players get to rest. The team will have a two week break to mend any bashes and bruises before departing on the 24th of this month.
3 tests in 3 weeks is hard work and P Divvy will be hoping his side heal up very quickly as they embark on what is potentially a Tri Nations winning trip to Antipodes. The World champions are sitting pretty on 12 points with the All Blacks second on 4 and the Wallabies on 1. A win on the road could be all it takes for the Boks to lift the Tri Nations trophy again.
One area of concern is possibly the lack of tries, but in the end a point is a point, if your team has someone who can slot penalties from every angle of the park, then who cares if you only score 1 try in your victory? I certainly don't.
The match was tough, players put their bodies on the line and both sides will know that that were in a Tri Nations match after 80 minutes of brutal rugby. I don't think coach Peter de Villiers is too concerned with the fact that Jacques Fourie did not touch the ball or the fact that Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen had to look for work, I think he will be more concerned about the time his players get to rest. The team will have a two week break to mend any bashes and bruises before departing on the 24th of this month.
3 tests in 3 weeks is hard work and P Divvy will be hoping his side heal up very quickly as they embark on what is potentially a Tri Nations winning trip to Antipodes. The World champions are sitting pretty on 12 points with the All Blacks second on 4 and the Wallabies on 1. A win on the road could be all it takes for the Boks to lift the Tri Nations trophy again.
One area of concern is possibly the lack of tries, but in the end a point is a point, if your team has someone who can slot penalties from every angle of the park, then who cares if you only score 1 try in your victory? I certainly don't.
Steyn
Morne Steyn carved his name into the record books on Saturday with his 31 points against the All Blacks to hand the Springboks a well deserved win over a vulnerable looking New Zealand team. The Blue Bulls number 10 kicked superbly and his pin-point accuracy is exactly what is needed from an International flyhalf. Look at Dan Carter - deadly from anywhere and can run when needs to, but his sole job is to score points for the ABs.
Steyn may not be the most attacking number 10, but his kicking game is up there with the best. This means that the likes of Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen will have to rely on opportunist try scoring opportunities instead of a ball down the line. But if you get 15 points from the boot each time, does it matter if the ball doesn't go down the line everytime?
Steyn is still the best option at 10 and will continue to win many more games for the Boks if the pack keeps going forward. There is no doubt in my mind it will.
Steyn may not be the most attacking number 10, but his kicking game is up there with the best. This means that the likes of Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen will have to rely on opportunist try scoring opportunities instead of a ball down the line. But if you get 15 points from the boot each time, does it matter if the ball doesn't go down the line everytime?
Steyn is still the best option at 10 and will continue to win many more games for the Boks if the pack keeps going forward. There is no doubt in my mind it will.
Safety
Formula One has been dominated of late by the power struggle and the egos in the hierarchy of the sport battling it out for F1 supremacy, but this weekend that all took a back seat as the motorsport world watched in horror as Felipe Massa was airlifted to a medical facility after crashing into a tyre wall. It then emerged that it was in fact a spring from Rubens Barrichello’s car that struck Massa and caused him to slam into the tyres.
All of a sudden another big talking point reared its head – safety in Formula One. Many drivers have come out and expressed their concern for the current safety standards in the sport. One of the former drivers said accidents are bound to happen when you hurtle around a track at speeds in excess of 200km/h. In my view this is a dangerous sport and when you take part you are fully aware that there is a remote chance you might not finish the race. There are risks with every sport, hockey players hit with balls, rugby players with neck injuries and footballers who break their legs – it is just a part of sport, no matter what precautions you take, accidents sometimes happen.
It does not what measures are implemented, there is always a chance of something going wrong, so if the FIA introduce bulletproof windshields, it does not mean that there won’t be crashes or accidents; it will make the chances of being struck by debris a whole lot less. The drivers know there is a risk involved but they driver because they love the sport no matter how risky it is.
All of a sudden another big talking point reared its head – safety in Formula One. Many drivers have come out and expressed their concern for the current safety standards in the sport. One of the former drivers said accidents are bound to happen when you hurtle around a track at speeds in excess of 200km/h. In my view this is a dangerous sport and when you take part you are fully aware that there is a remote chance you might not finish the race. There are risks with every sport, hockey players hit with balls, rugby players with neck injuries and footballers who break their legs – it is just a part of sport, no matter what precautions you take, accidents sometimes happen.
It does not what measures are implemented, there is always a chance of something going wrong, so if the FIA introduce bulletproof windshields, it does not mean that there won’t be crashes or accidents; it will make the chances of being struck by debris a whole lot less. The drivers know there is a risk involved but they driver because they love the sport no matter how risky it is.
Open to Offers
I heard a disgraceful story over the weekend regarding one of the world’s leading golfers. The player in question just happens to be one of Africa’s favourite sons and is admired for his easy swing. The story that was told to me by a reliable source involved the player demanding a $850 000 appearance fee to play in a tournament here in South Africa, an amount larger than the tournament purse! I was horrified to hear this, in my opinion when money is in abundance then why ask for a ridiculous sum to play in your own country?
Tiger Woods is being paid $3 million to play in the Australian Open, the organizers feel the fee will be justified, any tournament involving the world number one and you can count your bottom dollar that the galleries will be packed, but for this foreign based player to ask for R10 000 000 for a competition in his country of birth is simply shocking.
I wish the player who I was told about would ask for a much lower fee and then donate it to a worthy charity, the press would love it and he would not be perceived as a greedy sportsman that hasn’t won a Major in a long time.
Tiger Woods is being paid $3 million to play in the Australian Open, the organizers feel the fee will be justified, any tournament involving the world number one and you can count your bottom dollar that the galleries will be packed, but for this foreign based player to ask for R10 000 000 for a competition in his country of birth is simply shocking.
I wish the player who I was told about would ask for a much lower fee and then donate it to a worthy charity, the press would love it and he would not be perceived as a greedy sportsman that hasn’t won a Major in a long time.
Money Crazy
I am not the biggest fan of Rafa Benitez, but I have to agree with the Liverpool boss on this occasion. The Spaniard has lashed out at big spending Real Madrid and Man City saying that it is becoming more difficult to compete in the transfer marker due to the millions being spent. The Reds have splashed out 17 million pounds on Glen Johnson, while “Citeh” have spent money on Gareth Barry and Roque Santa Cruz, while Real have spent nearly 200 million pounds on Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Kaka. Man City have been linked with big money moves for John Terry which included a 300 000 pound a week deal and 25 million pound move for Samuel Eto’o.
Salary caps and transfer caps should be put in place by Uefa to protect the leagues around the world. The gap being created between the haves and have nots is becoming ridiculous, clubs are being separated because of their bank balances and not because of their performances on the park. It has become ridiculous and irresponsible for clubs to shell out millions for players, how can you price a player at 80 million pounds? It has to stop now, otherwise the league will be dominated by a handful of teams with millionaire investors.
Many will argue though that at the same time it adds to the glitz and glamour of the league. The big wages and price tags all make becoming a professional footballer an even more attractive prospect for young footballers. So despite creating gaps between teams, it makes more people sit up and notice the beautiful game and who these players are commanding these massive pay cheques.
Cap the salaries and limit the foreign players per team, let’s remember it is about football not the money, it is a game for the masses after all.
Salary caps and transfer caps should be put in place by Uefa to protect the leagues around the world. The gap being created between the haves and have nots is becoming ridiculous, clubs are being separated because of their bank balances and not because of their performances on the park. It has become ridiculous and irresponsible for clubs to shell out millions for players, how can you price a player at 80 million pounds? It has to stop now, otherwise the league will be dominated by a handful of teams with millionaire investors.
Many will argue though that at the same time it adds to the glitz and glamour of the league. The big wages and price tags all make becoming a professional footballer an even more attractive prospect for young footballers. So despite creating gaps between teams, it makes more people sit up and notice the beautiful game and who these players are commanding these massive pay cheques.
Cap the salaries and limit the foreign players per team, let’s remember it is about football not the money, it is a game for the masses after all.
P Divvy
It is rather sad to see the amount of media attention our Springbok coach is getting when his side played like demons to win the series against the British and Irish Lions 2 – 0 with one to play. Unfortunately our coach has decided to take the media on and so far he has lost badly. As the series stands the media lead “P Divvy” 2 – 0 with one to play.
The coach’s comments about Schalk Burger’s suspension were something to savour, like a meerkat trapped in a dingy hole, the coach scrambled, backing Burger by saying he did not see anything wrong and then came out with his famous ballet collision sport comment.
The next faux par was the statement which “P Divvy” denied getting congratulations from Lions coach Ian McGeechan. The Lions media liaison stating categorically at a press confederence on Wednesday that “Geech” congratulated P Divvy after the game in the tunnel and outside the press conference.
I think that SA Rugby must be pulling out their frazzled hair after the latest revelations. Unfortunately the series is going to go down to the wire with “P Divvy” expected to lose. Coaches should know that their team’s actions speak louder than any words that they could mutter at a press conference.
The coach’s comments about Schalk Burger’s suspension were something to savour, like a meerkat trapped in a dingy hole, the coach scrambled, backing Burger by saying he did not see anything wrong and then came out with his famous ballet collision sport comment.
The next faux par was the statement which “P Divvy” denied getting congratulations from Lions coach Ian McGeechan. The Lions media liaison stating categorically at a press confederence on Wednesday that “Geech” congratulated P Divvy after the game in the tunnel and outside the press conference.
I think that SA Rugby must be pulling out their frazzled hair after the latest revelations. Unfortunately the series is going to go down to the wire with “P Divvy” expected to lose. Coaches should know that their team’s actions speak louder than any words that they could mutter at a press conference.
Greatest of them all
Life is good for the world greatest tennis player of all time. The multimillionaire has just added 850 000 pounds to his bank balance, not to mention the endorsements and bonuses. The 27 year old has returned to the summit of men’s tennis after a brief absence. The Swiss player has also set a new record for the most Grand Slam titles claiming his 15th at Wimbledon on Sunday in his 7th consecutive final at SW19. This newly wed’s wife is pregnant and expecting in a few weeks. It can’t get any better for Roger Federer who is regarded by many as the best ever to play the game.
Who can doubt that now that Federer has triumphed for the 6th time at Wimbledon and won on every surface that tennis is played on. The Swiss master proved yesterday that even when some opponents play the best tennis of their lives that they cannot beat the master of the tennis.
Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Andy Roddick and Novak Djokovic are world class players, but until they win 15 Grand Slam titles, they cannot be regarded as the best. They may beat Federer, but still have a long way to go to surpass the magical 15 major mark. Nadal will have to overcome his injury worries, while Murray will have to overcome the pressure of his fellow Brits at SW19, while Andy Roddick found out in the final that his best was not good enough and Novak Djokovic will have to become more consistent at Grand Slams if he is to go on and win as many as the “Fedexpress.”
I think Pete Sampras summed it up the best, “In my book, he's the greatest of all time. He has his critics and people point to Rafael Nadal beating him, but for me he's the greatest. He is a legend and an icon.”
Who can doubt that now that Federer has triumphed for the 6th time at Wimbledon and won on every surface that tennis is played on. The Swiss master proved yesterday that even when some opponents play the best tennis of their lives that they cannot beat the master of the tennis.
Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Andy Roddick and Novak Djokovic are world class players, but until they win 15 Grand Slam titles, they cannot be regarded as the best. They may beat Federer, but still have a long way to go to surpass the magical 15 major mark. Nadal will have to overcome his injury worries, while Murray will have to overcome the pressure of his fellow Brits at SW19, while Andy Roddick found out in the final that his best was not good enough and Novak Djokovic will have to become more consistent at Grand Slams if he is to go on and win as many as the “Fedexpress.”
I think Pete Sampras summed it up the best, “In my book, he's the greatest of all time. He has his critics and people point to Rafael Nadal beating him, but for me he's the greatest. He is a legend and an icon.”
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