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Football Fanatics

I am not a fanatic of anything, let alone the round-leather games, whose players only entertain and then smile to the banks. Why should people bully and kill themselves over a “game”? The result of a game can go either way. So, it is important for the supporters of players to withstand the outcome of football matches, even when they are not happy about it.

Suleiman Alphonso Omondi, a 29-year-old Kenyan football fan was once reported to have committed suicide just because the club he supported (Arsenal) lost a match. This is not proper. Maybe psychoanalytic experts may help us explain why some people take football as a religion, and often allow their emotions to overcome their reason when watching the game. The losing players may weep, and react negatively on the pitch, and may even call the bluff of the referee, as Drogba (some Nigerian supporters call him Aderogba!) once did when Chelsea played with Barcelona. But players don’t kill themselves. Look at Kanu or Essien, win or lose, they always take it easy; gentle, cool, calm and collected. It is because they know it is a game.

The problem with fanaticism is that it leaves a bitter taste after a sweet experience. While the players play with one another and even exchange jerseys, knowing that losing a match is not the end of their career, their fanatic supporters fight against one another. Informed investigations show that some football fanatics don’t talk to their spouses for days, some go on sex strike, and some don’t even eat at home in protest of ‘their’ loss. This is still bearable. But ending one’s or other people’s life as a result of a football match is the most unthinkable.

In fact, If Drogba’s Chelsea did not win and Eto’o’s Barca won, what do you stand to lose? If there was no game called football or soccer would you not live your life? If your club does not win today, can it not win tomorrow? We must watch matches responsibly. In short, we should be enthusiasts and fans of football, and not fanatics of it.

§        Earlier version published in The Guardian (Lagos)

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Drogba, Eto’o and Gyan finalists for Africa’s player of the year

Fiifi Johnson

Strikers Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o and Asamoah Gyan have been named as finalists for Africa’s 2010 player of the year award.

Ivory Coast’s Drogba is a two-time winner and last claimed the honour in 2009. He won the English Premier League title with Chelsea last season, finishing as the league’s top scorer with 29 goals in 32 games.

Eto’o of Cameroon, Africa’s player of the year in 2003, 2004 and 2005, won an Italian league, cup and Champions League treble with Inter Milan in 2010. Gyan starred as Ghana advanced to the quarter-finals at the World Cup.

The winner will be decided by a vote of the coaches or technical directors of the 53 countries that make up the Confederation of African Football on Dec. 20.

(CBC)

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A woman vows to commit suicide unless Asamoah Gyan marries her

A young Ghanaian woman says Black Stars arrow head, Asamoah Gyan must requite her love for him with a march to the altar this December or she will commit suicide.

The lady, Obaa Yaa, has said that she is so madly in love with the Sunderland striker to the point that suicide is the only option if Asamoah spurns her love proposal.

The Madina-based woman was on Deloris Frimpong Manson’s entertainment programme, Delay on TV Africa over the weekend professing her ‘deep’ love for Asamoah, who would be profoundly surprised his new fame is also grabbing for him new friends. Obaa Yaa revealed that she is helplessly in love with the football star (and now music star) and she wants him to marry her by December 24 or “I will kill myself,” she said.

She is mesmerized by Asamoah’s haircut, skin tone and the excellent skill he exhibits not only on the football field but also on the music scene.

According to Obaa Yaa, she has been having sleepless nights and to prove her love to the footballer, she has even learnt the star’s after-goal dance moves as well as his jig in the video of Castro’s latest hit song African Gils in which Asamoah features.

Dark-skinned, bushy-haired and fat Obaa Yaa was insistent on “I love you so much” and “I will kill myself”, and was all dancing to “African Girls” on the show.

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Latest poll results

Who is your favorite for the African Football Player of the year?
Asamoah Gyan 58%
Didier Drogba 14%
Andre Ayew 11%
Samuel Eto’o 8%
Yaya Toure 3%
None of the above 6%

 

A. Djan has been dropped while M. Essien has been included in the FIFA World IX 2010. Does Essien deserve a place in the World IX?
Yes 25%
No

75%
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Gyan axed, Essien included

Gyan axed, Essien included

Nyarko Benso

The worldwide players’ union – FIFPro and FIFA have shockingly excluded Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan for the World XI 2010 but included his compatriot Michael Essien in the 55-man shortlist.

FIFPro and FIFA unveiled the list yesterday, with the winner to be revealed at the FIFA Ballon d’Or gala in Zurich on 10 January 2011. This comes even though Gyan was one of the most consistent and impressive performers for both club and country for this year.

Essien, who failed to play active part of the entire year because of injury, missing the African Cup of Nations and World Cup was named in the list.

The 50,000 professional footballers belonging to the players’ unions across the world that form FIFPro, received voting forms in a secret ballot to nominate their peers for inclusion in their World XI – choosing the best four defenders, three midfielders, three forwards and goalkeeper of 2010.

World champions, Spain, lead the way with the most players in the shortlist with ten, followed by nine from Brazil, eight from Argentina, six from England, four from Germany, three each from the Netherlands and Italy, two from Portugal and one each from Uruguay, Wales, France, Bulgaria, Serbia, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Ghana, the Ivory Coast and Cameroon.

Spain’s Primera Division attracted the most nominees with 18, followed by England’s Premier League with 17 and Italy’s Serie A with 15. Four nominees came from Germany’s Bundesliga and one from France’s Ligue 1. The final FIFA/FIFPro World XI will be announced at the FIFA Ballon d’Or gala in the Zurich Kongresshaus on 10 January 2011.

During this televised gala, the winner of the FIFA Ballon d’Or for the best player of 2010 and the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year 2010 award will also be revealed. Meanwhile, the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football award and the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women’s Football award will be presented for the first time, while the FIFA Puskas Award for the best goal of the year will be announced for the second year running. The FIFA Presidential Award and the FIFA Fair Play Award will also be presented during the gala.

The 55-player shortlist in full: Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus FC), Iker Casillas (Spain, Real Madrid C.F.), Petr Cech (Czech Republic, Chelsea FC), Julio Cesar (Brazil, F.C. Internazionale), Edwin van der Sar (Netherlands, Manchester United FC)

Defenders: Daniel Alves (Brazil, FC Barcelona), Gareth Bale (Wales, Tottenham Hotspur), Michel Bastos (Brazil, Olympique Lyonnais), Ashley Cole (England, Chelsea FC), Patrice Evra (France, Manchester United FC), Rio Ferdinand (England, Manchester United FC), Philipp Lahm (Germany, FC Bayern Munchen), Lucio (Brazil, F.C. Internazionale), Maicon (Brazil, F.C. Internazionale), Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid C.F.), Alessandro Nesta (Italy, AC Milan), Pepe (Portugal, Real Madrid C.F.), Gerard Pique (Spain, FC Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Spain, FC Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid C.F.), Walter Samuel (Argentina, F.C. Internazionale), John Terry (England, Chelsea FC), Thiago Silva (Brazil, AC Milan), Nemanja Vidic (Serbia, Manchester United FC), Javier Zanetti (Argentina, F.C. Internazionale)

Midfielders: Esteban Cambiasso (Argentina, F.C. Internazionale), Michael Essien (Ghana, Chelsea FC), Cesc Fabregas (Spain, Arsenal FC), Steven Gerrard (England, Liverpool FC), Andres Iniesta (Spain, FC Barcelona), Ricardo Kaka (Brazil, Real Madrid C.F.), Frank Lampard (England, Chelsea FC), Javier Mascherano (Argentina, FC Barcelona), Thomas Muller (Germany, FC Bayern Munchen), Mesut Ozil (Germany, Real Madrid C.F.), Andrea Pirlo (Italy, AC Milan), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany, FC Bayern Munchen), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands, F.C. Internazionale), Xabi Alonso (Spain, Real Madrid C.F.), Xavi (Spain, FC Barcelona)
Forwards: Dimitar Berbatov (Bulgaria, Manchester United FC), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Chelsea FC), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon, F.C. Internazionale), Diego Forlán (Uruguay, Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Higuain (Argentina, Real Madrid C.F.), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, AC Milan), Lionel Messi (Argentina, FC Barcelona), Diego Milito (Argentina, F.C. Internazionale), Arjen Robben (Netherlands, FC Bayern München), Ronaldinho (Brazil, AC Milan), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid C.F.), Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United FC), Carlos Tevez (Argentina, Manchester City FC), Fernando Torres (Spain, Liverpool FC), David Villa (Spain, FC Barcelona). Ghanasoccernet

Kofi Owusu Aduonum (The Ghanaian Chronicle)

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Is the West the Best?

If you follow African football, you would that West Africa has dominated the sports for a number of centuries.

The BBC Piers Edwards asked important question last week: Why has West Africa dominated African soccer for decades?

This is what he wrote in his introduction:

“The BBC shortlist for the 2010 African Footballer of the Year has underlined West Africa’s dominance of such awards – because around three-quarters of winners of both the BBC and Confederation of African Football (CAF) accolades hail from the region.

Great names stand out: Jay-Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria), Abedi Pele and Michael Essien (Ghana), Ivorian Didier Drogba, and Roger Milla and Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon) to name but a few.

Liberia’s George Weah, meanwhile, is the only African to be crowned FIFA World Player of the Year.

Weah also won the BBC award in 1995 and this year, another West African will join him – with Drogba and Eto’o joined on the shortlist by Yaya Toure, Asamoah Gyan and Andre ‘Dede’ Ayew.

And it’s not just a matter of a few talented individuals – look at the results and you will also see that West Africa’s footballing pre-eminence is unquestionable:

Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana are Africa’s only ever World Cup quarter-finalists; Nigeria and Cameroon are the continent’s sole winners of Olympic gold, while Nigeria and Ghana share six FIFA world titles at U17 and U20 level”

I would like us to debate question here on TalkAfrique. Please use the space below to provide why you think West Africa has such dominance in African soccer.

 

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Thank you, Sir

Gyan celebrates his second goal against Stoke with teammate Jordan Henderson
Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan has thanked manager Steve Bruce for handing him the opportunity to impress in the 2-0 win against Stoke City on Saturday.
Gyan’s two-goal haul earned a vital three points for the Black Cats, following the 5-1 derby defeat by Newcastle United the previous weekend.
“I waited patiently, and he gave me my chance, and I feel I proved myself,” Gyan told BBC Newcastle.
“We came back from a big defeat and we’ve put smiles on everybody’s face.”
Gyan’s contribution was made all the more important given the absence of the club’s top scorer, Darren Bent, with a hamstring injury.
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has started with Bent and Gyan in a front two just once since the latter joined the club from French club Rennes in August, in a 2-1 Carling Cup defeat by West Ham United.
With Bent now ruled out for three weeks, Gyan is set for an extended run in the side.
However, the Ghanaian is disappointed he will not be able to forge a partnership with the England international.
“I was a bit disappointed, Darren has done so well for the club, and I was given a chance to play with him, but he had a few problems [with the hamstring injury],” Gyan continued
The Ghana international has made nine appearances since arriving on Wearside, scoring four goals.
(BBC Sports)
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And the winner is……..

Ghana's hitman Asamoah Gyan (left) and Ivory Coast's striker Didier Drogba (right)

FIFA has released nominees for 2010 world player award.  Chelsea’s and Ivory Coast’s no-nonsense striker Didier Drogba, Cameroon’s most decorated African player of all time, Samuel Eto’o and Ghana’s hitman Asamoah Gyan of Sunderland are among the nominees. Surprisingly, there are no English nominees, neither is Luis Suarez of Uraguay

Samuel Eto'o of Cameroon

World Player of the Year nominees: Xabi Alonso (Spain), Daniel Alves (Brazil), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Diego Forlan (Uruguay), Asamoah Gyan (Ghana), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Julio Cesar (Brazil), Miroslav Klose (Germany), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Maicon (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Thomas Muller (Germany), Mesut Ozil (Germany), Carles Puyol (Spain), Arjen Robben (Holland), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Holland), David Villa (Spain) and Xavi (Spain).

World coach of the year nominees: Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea), Vicente del Bosque (Spain), Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United), Pep Guardiola (FC Barcelona), Joachim Loew (Germany), Jose Mourinho (Inter Milan/Real Madrid), Oscar Tabarez (Uruguay), Louis Van Gaal (Bayern Munich), Bert van Marwijk (Holland) and Arsene Wenger (Arsenal).

The winners will be revealed in Zurich on 10 January.

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