Amidst the incessant buzzing of the vuvuzelas, the first three days of the tournament are in the history books with a mixed batch of impressions and a couple of mild surprises. Concerns continue to float on and off the pitch,…
World Cup Predictions
The first ever World Cup to be hosted by an African nation, South Africa 2010, is on the verge of kick-off. In less than 24 hours, the home country’s Bafana Bafana will take on Mexico in the competition’s inaugural match.…
BarraBravas in Africa
A fascinating story has emerged during the past week concerning the arrival of Argentine supporters in South Africa, among them many leaders of supporter groups from various clubs in Argentina, effectively gangsters, referred to as Barrabravas at home. Incredibly, about…
Coaching Carousel
Jose Mourinho’s move to Madrid was not the only remarkable end of the season development. Last week Italy’s soccer federation unanimously selected Cesare Prandelli to succeed Marcello Lippi as Italy coach after the 2010 World Cup. This is an excellent…
Mourinho Arrives in Madrid
The word “saga” gets thrown around loosely among Anglo-American journalists, often in an effort to create a buzz about an unremarkable story, but the Mourinho episode during the past week correctly merits this designation. The “saga” ended today with the…
Inter Prevails, Celebration Tamed
Two excellent individual efforts by Diego Milito made the difference in Saturday’s Champions League final to complete Inter’s dream season and place the Italian club on course to match Barcelona’s unprecedented achievement in 2009. The moment of glory did not…