It’s the biggest games since … well, last week I guess. Arsenal vs Manchester United. Like Celtic vs Rangers, Real Madrid vs Barcelona, Milan vs Juventus, Kaizer Chiefs vs Orlando Pirates. On Saturday it’s Sir Alex Ferguson versus Arsène Wenger yet again, this time in the classic FA Cup semifinal showdown at Villa Park.
Manchester United this week sought to put an end to the bid speculation surrounding the club but City traders were not convinced and are continuing to bet on a takeover. American sports tycoon Malcolm Glazer, who owns more than 16% of the club, said that he had “no current intention to make an offer for Manchester United”.
Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello finished fastest on a sizzling and spectacular opening day of practice in Bahrain on Friday ahead of Sunday’s inaugural Bahrain Grand Prix. World champion Michael Schumacher dominated the morning’s first session but his Brazilian teammate Barrichello claimed the fastest time in the second hour.
”The Mail & Guardian surely has the right to decide for itself what position it wishes to take on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But its editorial (‘Time to reject Sharon’) calling on all Jews to speak out against ‘Sharon’s policy of mindless reprisal’, and to press for peaceful solutions, is sinister and may even be read as a veiled threat.” Milton Shain speaks out.
”Since the procurement of strategic crude oil stock by the government’s Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF) in 2001/02, there have been a number of uninformed views expressed on the matter by the Mail & Guardian, among others. nfortunately, writing on the oil business is dogged by a complete lack of understanding of the industry.” Mohammed Riaz Jawoodeen responds.
When Angola turns down a peacekeeping job it is like a plumber who advertises ”no job too dark or too dirty” saying no to fixing your drain. The Angolan military prevailed in one of the continent’s nastiest and longest wars and came out the other side ready to project that country’s influence in the region.
Ludicrous though it sounds, Thierry Henry has serious competition in the popularity stakes at Highbury. Arsenal’s player-of-the-year accolade may appear to be a formality, but there is a groundswell of support for a young spark from Côte d’Ivoire whose efforts have been startling.
Perhaps the greatest compliment that can be paid to Shaun Wright-Phillips is that he is no longer known as “Ian Wright’s son”. Manchester City’s wing once dropped the “Wright” from his double-barrelled surname, but his first England cap should prove to him he has finally succeeded in making a name for himself.
By 5am quite a crowd had gathered outside the Stade Gerland. When the ticket office opened, it took a mere two hours for Olympique Lyonnais to sell out the tickets for their Champions League quarterfinal against Porto on Wednesday. The lucky ones skipped off, clutching little rectangles of paper as if they were gold bullion.
What a glorious smorgasbord of football! What Fifa-sanctioned friendly delights! The star-spangled Wednesday action featured all the glitterati, the galacticos, the gloryboys. But it all meant nothing. Friendly internationals are just a waste of time. Just look at Sweden 1 England 0.