One man will dominate Gothenburg on Wednesday. If his abominable abdominals hold up. Didier Drogba, the Olympique de Marseille striker who so effectively destroyed Newcastle in the Uefa Cup semifinal a fortnight ago, should be back to haunt Spanish favourites Valencia in the final.
Think Thailand and what comes to mind? Paid-for sex? Plentiful drugs? But Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra would rather the mention of his country evoked images of world-class football. To help us get the right idea he announced this week that he wanted to buy a significant stake in Liverpool Football Club.
If South Africa wins the bid to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup, ”major economic spin-offs can be anticipated,” Absa said on Friday. In a media statement Absa economist John Loos said: ”One can expect some immediate support for the rand with markets anticipating a flood of investment into South Africa.
South Africa is the favourite to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup, according to an online bookmaker. Centrebet is accepting bets on the outcome of Saturday’s election in Switzerland where the 24 members of international football’s executive committee will cast their votes.
By participating in a sting operation involving dozens of its citizens, the South African government was seeking to ram home the message that the country is no longer a breeding ground for mercenaries. Instead it has created a rod for its back, as two odious regimes in Africa play fast and loose with the legal mores that underpin the South African Constitution.
The phrase ”Don’t kick a man when he’s down” has always seemed a little pointless to Lemmer. Kicking a man when he’s down is just about the only practical time to kick him once you get Oom Krisjan’s side of 40. So Lemmer can quite understand the government’s decision to add to the Prince-sometimes-still-known-as-Gatsha’s woes while it can.
Legal steps have followed North West University’s controversial appointment of its new vice-chancellor last week. These come in the midst of an already troubled merger process. The new institution came into being on January 1 following the merger of the former Potchefstroom and North West universities.
The mood was subdued at Turf Moor as Mick McCarthy shrugged off a victorious end to the league season proper and turned his attention to the play-offs. “We haven’t achieved anything yet, but it’s good to finish third,” said the Sunderland manager with a sigh. But Sunderland must rise above automatic disappointment.
Can you imagine what it’s like at Chelsea, where they’ve got 13 midfielders? You can play like a bloody Brazilian on ballet shoes and still get jerked off at half-time, as the actress said to the bishop.Chelsea’s embarrassment of riches makes for some very unhappy players.