Nick named Snarling dog, Brave heart, Ringhio or the latest one the Gladiator, Genaro Ivan Gattuso born in 1977 and he started his career with Italian side Perugia. He transferred to Rangers in Scotland at the age of nineteen then back to Italy to Salemitanta side before his final resting place Ac Milan where he made a name. Ac Milan paid a mere 8 million pound for the midfield worrier popular for his fierce tackling and hard work. In addition to became Milan’s icon Gattusso played for Italy in fifty occasions in which time he won the 2006 world cup final. Married to long time girl friend Monica, Christiano Ronaldo’s nightmare Gattuso has an only daughter Gabriella.

Ethiopian women shining at the marathon new season,
Ayelech takes gold in Hamburg

International Marathon season getting momentum, Ethiopian athletes in the weekend registered success after success in European capitals. Marathon now appears a discipline reserved for continent African particularly East African nations.
World 5000-meter bronze medalist Ayelech Worku made a point in Hamburg – Germany defeating her Kenyan contenders in the mean time setting her bets time. Crushing Kenyan’s group effort to dominate the race, Ayelech crossed the finishing line eight seconds earlier than runner –up Rose Nyangacha did “My only dream until the 40th kilometer mark was to better my personal time. Past the mark alone and in good form I said that I am going to win and it turned up true” said Ayelech after her astonishing 2:29:14 victory. Kenyan pre race favorite Nyangacha finished second 2:29:22 to claim the silver while her compatriots Betrice Emwanza claimed the bronze.
In the men’s event Kenyans swept the medal table with 2002 Boston and New York Marathon champion Rogers Rop claiming the gold Wilfred Kegan and Kiprotich Kitry took silver and Bronze respectively.
In Bresia –Italy Mulu Lema and Etaferahu Tarken claimed gold and silver. The two Ethiopian said to be beyond the expectations of their contenders that Latain Farkas of Bulgaria came third two minutes later. Mulu covered the 42 km in 2:45:35 to take gold
while Etaferahu took silver in 2:48:87.
The Men’s title went to Filmon Biot who crossed the finishing line in 2:13:05. Ethiopian Berhanu Agema finished second to win silver in 2:15:58 followed by Benjamin Kiprotich and Kipto third and fourth respectively.
Capital to Australia-Vienna unveils another Ethiopian Marathon rising star Martha Markos to second place. Little known Martha made strong effort to stay shoulder to shoulder with Romanian Luminata Talmes but at the final distance, Luminata came out stronger to claim victory in 2:32:41 while Martha made it in 2:35:45 followed by Susane Pamer of Australia.

Chelsea visits nothing to lose Arsenal at Emirates

Once his quadruple dream shattered at Anfield on Tuesday, the Portuguese “I am special “ manager Jose Maurinho travels to Emirates to day to decide his future. If Maurinho looses today, it means not only missing the title for third successive season but it may also trigger the already cooked Roman Abramovich’s canon to send him back home before the end of the season.
Forth place Arsenal, a point away from next season’s European Championship season, appears a wagon with out petrol. However, when it comes against so-called heavy weights, the players know how to regroup as real soccer force. For Jose Mourinho more of………..talk show presenter, it is pay back time for what he blubbered against Arsene Wenger and his squad. The Gunners only chance to a face saving is slaughtering unnecessarily fattened Chelsea with its bigmouth manager. Though Arsenal is with out any designated striker to torment John Terry led visitor’s defense, the squad easily offended when some one touches their beloved manager could easily become a force in one to devastate.
Trailing five points from league leaders Manchester United, Chelsea remains two matches one with the leaders and the other with Bolton Wonderers. To decide Manchester United’s ( yesterday played away derby match) fate at Stamford Bridge Chelsea need to call every single power today to return home with three points then plan about the big clash of the season at home. Wenger’s tip that he may change his mind to stay bind to his contract following the dismissal of his long time friend and club director David Deins, and Thierry Henry’s announcement to stay at Emirates if only Arsene Wenger stays, all the development in the club’s future could reflected in to day’s home clash. Only a pride not to loose a match at sacred Emirates to arch enemy Chelsea is what the driving force to the Gunners.

Ports mouth striker Lua Lua sinks Ethiopia-Forget qualification!

Led by England based striker Lumanwa Lua Lua, Democratic Republic Congo defeated visiting Ethiopian national side to lead group ten in comfort. Shuttled back from 2-1 victory over European Champion cup finalist Liverpool on Saturday, Lua Lua reached the capital an hour before the kick off to score the final goal from a spot kick. Calling in South African based Orlando Pirates striker Fikru Tefera to lead the front linehalf baked Ethiopian side failed to grab a single away goal that may be a great deal at the end of the day. The defeat sent Ethiopia to bottom of the table with only three points from three matches. This meant Ethiopia is once again to be absent from the nations cup final for nearly three decades.
The host pressured the visitors from the very start knowing that a return leg in Addis may not be an easy task. The more the pressure from Congo, Ethiopian defense line snapped to open the gate from which restless striker Moputo Mobungu exploited the situation to help the home side took the lead. According to daily Addis Zemen sport, the hosts took full domination of the first half that a one-goal lead does not show the whole picture. Back from the dressing room, Ethiopia squad led by currently Defense Force head coach Asrat Haile did nothing to impress the host’s goalkeeper. Less than one-month preparation for the most talked about nation’s qualification campaign first leg encounter, it appears nothing surprising failing to return home with some thing to show.
DR Congo, hottest favorite to win the group went in further attacking spree to capitalize the lead that came true at the final minute of the game when goal scorer Mobungu drove in to the goal area to be chopped by frustrated Ethiopian defense. Lua Lua converted from the penalty spot to seal the match in 2-0 victory. Many soccer funs here in the capital rather admired the Ethiopian side to return home with a defeat in two goals margin.
The home victory steered Democratic Republic Congo to first place in-group then with seven points from three matches with Libya coming second with four points followed by Namibia third with three points then Ethiopia forth with three points but for the goal difference. EFF appeared no more interested with the qualification campaign even though it tried to play a comedy seeing off the national side to Kinshasa handing away some amount of money as incentive to do what in the first place was not there.

commentry

Underdogs up…

It is surprising that premier league new comers the likes of Tikur Abay Transport and Insurance FCs finished in the upper half of the league table while financially and organizationally better-muscled sides dwelling in the bottom half some even voted favorites to relegation. Stronger financial muscle meant signing best players as well as coaches capable enough steering their respective sides to better position. Yet the truth turned just to the opposite.
Tikur Abay Transport FC by far the most surprise package of the premier league first round campaign is currently fourth on the table. Led by head coach Tsegaye Desta (the most traveled coach in Ethiopia) Tikur Abay had a slump start of the season many considered it candidate for relegation. Tsegaye signed seasoned players whose experience at the premier league could help the side survive for another season on top flight. In addition to a record six home win out of six matches, Tikur Abay won one and drawn three out of nine away matches. Only five away defeats for a premier league new comers with limited finance, head coach Tsegaye Desta and his squad calls for thunderous admiration. However, it is not yet into the second round Tikur Abay the only representative of Amhara region, is expected to do the same in the second round nine home matches.
Last season relegation survivor Adama Kenema FC is the other side with first round success story. Adama’s financial constraint meant hardly to sign new faces with premier league experience. Nevertheless, the youngest premier league club head coach managed to build a strong side with only very few popular personalities in the squad. With no defeat at home the side finished sixth on the table with twenty points. Of the eight home matches, Adama won five, draw in three while of the seven away matches only two draws and five defeats. Having weak striking force, the side scored only seven goals while conceding eleven goals. Adama is not yet to win a single away match meaning it needs strong commitment to go out and win matches far from home. It appears more to psychological than in-infield performance that Adama losses in away matches. Hard work appeared at hand to the head coach in order to stay away off the relegation zone.
For the first time in recent time former Ethiopian Coffee popular head coach Seyoum Abate appeared to settle drown and plan for Insurance FC well being. Famous for his coaching ability yet notorious for handling players and those around the sport, Seyoum had been in the cold for more than a season before he suddenly called for the senior and Junior national side only to get booted out after a short duration then joined Insurance for his fourth spell. Things appeared in amazing progress since Seyoum’s arrival and the club finished the first round eighth on the table collecting nineteen points. Though only five wins in 15 fixtures seems far cry from something to be proud of, considering the squad’s collection and Seyoum’s late arrival, it is a big step forward in building the side that once regarded as Argentines. The first round two final matches’ victory over Electric and Defense Force helped Seyoum to clinch 8th place. Despite having week defense, the side still managed wins that are impressive and a moral boast to the second round that kicks off next week. Conceding twenty-three goals is more than proof that Seyoum has a weak back line in need of serious attention. Forget not that the club’s namesake Insurance Corporation is popular for the strong support to the club.
The three Ethiopian premier league first round surprise packages need to work extra hard to stay midtable for that is only place safe from relegation. Forget not second round is when ever side plays each game as a matter of life and death.

European soccer league champions Inter Milan, Celtic, Lyon & PSV

European soccer league season reached to the final stage already in some nations champions crowning. Though the league season is not yet finished, the stronger sides already claimed titles with some rounds to go. Surprisingly those sides who claimed titles are defending champions of their respective leagues.
Italian defending champion Inter Milan won Serie “A” back-to-back title despite having five matches. Crushing Inter’s dream of winning the title with out defeat, AS Roma slumped in mid week at the hands of Atlanta to help Inter take 16 points lead. Inter Milan’s 15 Serie “A” title including last season’s courtesy of Italian court, happened at Sansiro in front of excited home fans for the first time since 1977. Club owner Massimo Morrati junior announced manager Roberto Mancini’s four years contract extension. This is the first ever-real championship title for Morrati Junior, whose father Morrati senior enjoyed it in 13 occasions before his death.
In Scotland thanks to a last minutes goal from 28 years old Japanese Nakamura, Celtic retained the title, its 41st in the Scottish league history. The 2-1 win over Kilmarnock on Saturday gave manager Gordon Strachan back-to-back title in just two seasons of his presence. The season seem married to Celtic for most of the award goes to their cabinet. Best player of the season award went to Nakamura while Strachan crowned best manager of the season’s accolade.
In French, the same old champion crowned again with rounds to go. The fifth time defending champion Lyon took the title fro the sixth time with 17 points lead. Former Liverpool and French national side managers Gerald Houllier at the helm, Lyon appeared a side too strong to any one side in the 16 teams’ French league.
After a surprising final day fixture in which both sides won their respective matches PSV Eindhoven took Dutch soccer season for third successive season for a single goal difference against archrival Ajax. Each sign won twenty-three matches, lost five and drew in six to add up to 75 points. At the final count former European champion, Ronald Koemen led his side for a single goal advantage that stood 35 Vs 34 after the plus minus. The season ended as the most evenly contested recent time season although it was only between the two run away league leaders.

Saint Kaka sent the Devils to hell

Talk show darling Maurinho said Chelsea the side of Europe

Combining blistering pace with tactical brilliance the six time champions Ac Milan bulldozed out Manchester United from May 23rd Europeans Champions league cup final in Athens. What so ever Manchester praised as the season’s surprise package, on Wednesday night at Sansiro, it appeared the Devils some how wrinkled with holy water that takes away their magic.
Ricardo Kaka, three goals in two matches against Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad, triggered the slaughter just eleven minutes into the game volleying in home the opener as well as the nightmare after ward. Man of the match Genero Gatusso beside him, Caca never has a fear to go forward to torment the Devils strong hold. Having back, Vidic could not help the visitors for the mid field was nowhere to the usual stand off. Gatusso suffocated Ronaldo out of the game then sliding and stumping on every one of United players the Arab Sat TV Commentator called him the Gladiator with an extra lung. Thirty-four years old Clearance seeding was unbelievable in the midfield helping his side to full domination and superior ball possession. Thanks to Gabriel Henze’s maddening moment, Vidic’s unsuccessful clearance created the chance to Seedorf’s superb legwork to score the heart-breaking goal twenty-seven minutes into first half. Ac Milan could have simply appeared to the clash with out goalkeeper Dida considered the lucky spectator who happened to watch from close with no pay for ticket. Dida did nothing for Rooney. Ronaldo, Giggs, Scholes and Carrick all were missing in action. “It was a dream first half for any manager,” said Carlo Anchelotti who had been in sky seven when Gelardino hammered in the last nail on the visitor’s Coffin. “We were never up to the match “said Ferguson on his way out.
On Tuesday it was Maurinho’s second Champions league semi final journey to Anfield to witness while history repeat it self. Hardly a tactician Maurinho comes only with a single plan with out contingency that is a goal less draw. Taking back Essain rather than pressuring Liverpool’s center field was the Portuguese’s grave mistake. When Daniel Agger’s law drive gave the home side the dearly awaited lead, Chelsea went off guard to throw every ball from any direction for Didier Drogba who had been between two Liverpool defenders at any moment. Under European tactical genius, Rafael Benitez Maurinho appeared a lost kid who knew nothing what could happen next. Chelsea did exactly that loosing 4-2 after a penalty shoot out heralding Maurinho’s down fall from mountaintop. It would be time whether he could bounce back once again if thrown out from Stanford Bridge may be tomorrow.
The 2007 European Champions league cup final turned out the carbon copy of the 2005 big clash that recorded in soccer history book as the most surprise come back of a aside to win the title from three goals down. Ac Milan, of all concerned has not forgotten what happened then that stunned the soccer world. What better time and place for sweat revenge?