Kaka takes France Football’s Golden ball

Brazilian ace midfielder who steered Italian giant Ac Milan to European championship title single handedly won "France Football" player of the golden ball award with Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi getting the silver and bronze ball respectively.
Twenty five years old Kaka who joined Ac Milan in 2003 after a surprise move helped his side win the Serie "A" title the very season he joined. That year he scored ten goals. Since then Kaka is the Rosaneries most important player with a price tag on his head no one can afford. Currently world best attacking midfielder Kaka was heart broken when Ac Milan thrown away a three goal first half lead to surrender the European championship title to Liverpool. A season later and the same Liverpool for the final, Kaka steered Milan for their sixth title scoring one and setting up another in the 2-0 cup winning victory. Known as the handsome assassin Kaka not only helped the Italian giant win the title but also finished top scorer of the tournament with ten goals, out of which two are at the semi final clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford where his main contender Christiano Ronaldo reigns. The Ac Milan Vs Manchester clash could be viewed as Kaka Vs Ronaldo in which Kaka performed as a one man army while Ronaldo was shut out by Milan midfield general Gennaro Gatuso.
France Football runner-up European player of the season Silver ball winner twenty two years old reigning best player of the season Christiano Ronaldo played a major role in helping Manchester United muscle out Chelsea for the premier League title, in the mean time finishing third top scorer of the premier league season with 16 goals. Ronaldo's speed with or with out a ball is what made him the most feared dribbler in English soccer and the best product of current Portugese soccer talents.
Third came who is dubbed the future Maradona of world football, Argentinean Lionel Messi - currently the most important player of Spanish giants Barcelona as well as Argentina. Diminutive Messi is a living proof for those who think Physical trait is the number one asset in football. The way he handles the ball and glides through an army of defenders is brilliant and finds the back of the net almost from impossible angles. The nineteen years old Messi is now and then in injury; this has been pointed out as a factor for Barcelona's failure to win the Spanish title for a third successive season. Messi finished second runner-up of France Football European player of the year to collect the bronze ball.

Death group brings Italy, France & Holland together, Germany meet Croatia

The 2008 European soccer cup final draw brought world football arch enemies Italy and France in group three dubbed the death group while defending champion Greece feared that this time it may not be an easy ride even reaching the knock out stage.
To be hosted by joint nations Switzerland and Austria, the 12th European cup final brings together 16 nations in four groups to kick-off in June 2008 with the opening match featuring the host Switzerland against Czech Republic.
Though group three has been dubbed the toughest, all four groups are full of strong sides that booking a place in the group stage is no way an easy undertaking. The group winners and runner-ups are to go to the knock out stage.
Group "A" boasts host Switzerland, Czech Republic, Euro 2004 runner-up Portugal and world cup silver medalist Turkey. Though no one of the nations won the European title, every single clash is as if it is the end of the soccer world. Commit a single mistake, you pack home early. However, Portugal is the hot favorite to win the group with Czech presumed runner-up and Turkey the likely trouble maker.
The record three times European champion Germany is top seed as well as favorite to dominate group two that comprises of host nation Austria, cup final qualification surprise package Croatia and Poland. Since crushing England out of the cup final after the 3-2 victory at Wembley, no nation can afford to look down at Croatia. Forget not, Poland won the qualification group with out defeat; thus the group is tight making booking a quarter final place a heavy task. Though Germany and Croatia are favorites to win the group, Austria's mission is simply to battle for a single win against the favorites then make life harder for the group. Poland is the potential danger capable of surprise against any one of the group members.
The toughest group brought two former European champions and the defending world champions together. Though Romania may have no history of winning any major international titles, currently it has the strongest squad since the time of Georgi Haji, the East European Maradona. Holland this time is not to feature the strongest side, so it is the group underdog with Italy and France having an edge to win the group. Hate each other to the limit, the clash between Italy and France is already voted as final before cup final. Romania, a time bomb, is there to decide who should go to the next stage.
Three former European champions came together in group four with no clear favorite to top the group. Defending champion Greece, first ever champion Russia, under achievers Spain and Sweden are the group members with Spain still the hottest favorite to win the group. Greece has one thing special - history - that saw them win the 2004 title despite appearing with no single world class player. Considering Russia under well traveled Guus Hiddink, any thing is possible. Although group underdog, a clash against Sweden is a nightmare thus booking a quarter final place is not guaranteed for all four.

Electric FC wins Union knock out title

Two times Ethiopian premier league champion Electric FC won the one week two groups Union knock out championship held in Adama town.
Organized under the run away league Union, the one week tournament took place in the host town Adama bringing together 10 clubs. All Addis Ababa premier league clubs Saint George, Ethiopian Coffee, Electric, Ethiopia Banks, Nyala FC and Insurance appeared in the tournament with hosts Adama Kenema, Shashemene Kenema, Oromia Prison Police and Methara Sugar from Oromia. As the Southern People's regional state's Football Federation showed staunch support to the Ethiopian Football Federation, Oromia region appeared committed to the Union's cause.
When Electric crushed out pre tournament title favorites Saint George with a 1-0 quarter final victory followed by 2-0 win over Oromia Prison Police, many suggested no one could stop the side under head coach Gulelat Ferde from the title. Though Union Cup champions three weeks back Ethiopian Coffee were expected to dominate the event the team's performance was below par. Many said head coach Kifle Boltena is yet to form a strong side capable of contending for future premier league titles, if there is one at all. Coffee reached the cup final after an important semi final penalty shoot out victory over Ethiopia Banks - one of the capital's strong side.
Having number of young talents ready to prove themselves, Electric took the initiative to play positive football while opposite numbers Coffee were more to a defensive play almost through out the game. Very few goal trials from both sides, the regular ninety minutes closed with a goalless draw followed by the penalty shoot out. Coffee lost two while the champions missed one to take the knock out title with 4-3 score line. "I believe Electric deserve the title for they came up with the most entertaining squad of the tournament with high spirit to win. Now I feel we are in the same class with Saint George and Ethiopian coffee to contend for any title" remarked Yigzaw a long time supporter of Electric.
With no clear picture to develop about the nation's football future, the Union's stand to organize such tournaments might help clubs check themselves out and get ready for whatever comes in mid season. At normal circumstances the Ethiopian premier league season usually kicks off in mid October.

Tanzania hosts 31st CECAFA soccer annual championship Ethiopian premier league new season starts

The Ethiopian premier league season kicks-off Sunday bringing together fourteen league’s clubs some never heard of before. The incumbent Ethiopian soccer governing body under pressure from all sides to call a national assembly, it turned out amazing to start new season bringing in new clubs out of no where. Eleven of the premier league clubs now under the Union umbrella, there appear fourteen sides for the new season two rounds championship.
Including suspended season champion Awasa Kenema there are Defense Force, Harar Brewery, Mugher Cement, Trans Ethiopia and Air Force plus eight new comers to the premier league. The how and why of their promotion to the upper echelon yet to come clear, Baher- Dar University, Addis Ababa Police, Ethiopian Water Works, Southern Police, Guna Trade, Finchaa Sugar, Omedla and Fasil Kenema are the new comers already kicking off the season’s fixture.
In the mean time the Ethiopian national team traveled to Tanzania to take part in the 31st edition of East and Central African annual soccer championship (CECAFA).Bringing together eleven East and Central African nations the zonal championship now with new USD 4million sponsorship with Gateway TV kicks -off Wednesday with the hosts Tanzania clash against Kenya for the tournament opener.
The tournaments three times champion Ethiopia drawn in group three with Zanzibar and Sudan the opening match against Zanzibar on 17, December. Comprised of twenty players most of them from clubs those stood loyal to the incumbent Ethiopian Football Federation, the national squad is full of young and inexperienced players winning the title for the fourth time is a far cry.
Amidst boiling home pressure EFF selected the players two weeks before the tournament kicks-off excluding those who play in clubs that are members of the run away league union.Just a week from the kick-off the federation called some eight senior players from the union member clubs to join the squad under three head coaches Kemal Ahmed, Tsegaye Desta and Melese Shemena. According to news sources among the absentees are the nation’s number one striker Coffee’s Tafesse Tesfaye is due to injury while Saint’s and national team  central defender Degu Debebe for personal reasons.
It is recalled invited guest Zambia took last year championship title defeating Sudan at the final clash while host nation Ethiopia failed to reach the semi final stage in front of sale out home crowed.

Benitez has to dance to Reds owners’ tune

Nick Webster

He, who pays the piper, calls the tune.
If Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett want to hear Rafa Benitez ‘Whistling Dixie’, the Spaniard better put his lips together and blow.
That the business world of football is changing is no surprise to anybody. However, the speed of that change often catches traditionalists on the hop. For instance, who would have predicted five years ago that the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea — the cream of the English game — would be under American or Russian ownership. 
The last ten days at Anfield have seen these ‘new rules’ enforced in a soap opera scenario that would put Brook side to shame. When Benitez threw his pacifier out of the stroller over the possibility of being denied cash to finance January transfer targets, I’m sure he was thinking that the American duo would simply dust it off and pop it back into his mouth. Instead, Hicks and Gillett decided that ‘tough love’ would be the order of the day.
Rafa was put firmly in his place and if reports are to be believed, the man who masterminded the ‘Miracle in Istanbul’ came dangerously close to losing his job after calling out his paymasters in public. I guess you could say that what we have here is a classic case of a failure to communicate that also includes chief executive Rick Parry.
With all the bluster, it’s sometimes hard to read between the lines. But I believe what Rafa basically wants is Javier Mascherano neatly tied up in a bow and sitting under the Christmas tree, plus a couple of other inexpensive baubles. The problem that Hicks and Gillett see is that they have already spent a tidy sum on Ryan Babel and Fernando Torres. The thought of spending another $32 million on the Argentine without a guarantee of Champions League football snapped the wallet shut tighter than a gnat’s chuff. No decisions will be made until the result of the final ‘winner-takes-all’ Champions League Group A match against Marseille.
Adding to the confusion are rumors that Hicks and Gillett might not be on the same page when it comes to management and that the fans are unhappy with the way the pair have treated the Spaniard.
On the first count, Hicks stated that he and Gillett are still tight and that talk that he is about to sell up is false. “I am not selling any of my shares to anybody. I’ve not idea why anyone would think that. It was rubbish,” he said.
On the second count, the fans certainly revealed their feelings during the week, marching to Anfield en masse before the clash against FC Porto and demonstrating their vocal support for Benitez in a way that only Liverpool fans can. With the players also backing the gaffer, Rafa can claim to have the hearts and minds of what we’d like to think are the two most important ingredients in any club.
With the owners basically being the absentee type though, there is only ever going to be one factor that stirs their emotions — the bottom line.
Look, as much as the ‘bean counters’ (that’s what hard-nosed businessmen are at the end of the day) profess their love for our sport and clubs, there is always one question it boils down to: Where is the cash? If you really think it’s the welfare of the club that takes precedent, I suggest you jump in the Arctic Ocean for a minute or two to wake up.
I’m not sure about Hicks’ devotion to the Reds but Gillett has publicly stated that he fell in love with Liverpool after watching a DVD of that famous night in Turkey when the impossible happened. Did I tell you that the Saints are my favorite NFL team? Yeah, I had some gumbo once at the Farmers Market at Third and Fairfax. I love the Miami Heat — Rum Runners are delicious. The Yankees are awesome — their hats are cool. What I’m saying is the passion is tenuous — it’s as deep as a paper cut. If a better offer comes along ... see ya!
It’s funny because it doesn’t seem that long ago that supporter was lambasting Sir Jack Walker at Blackburn Rovers for changing the rules of the game. At least Jack loved his club. His passion for Rovers was second to none. He never answered to shareholders.
Today’s owners are more like Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis — ‘just win baby’ I think what we’re finding out is that the supposed riches these new owners bring, come with a price. As Barry the Baptist said in Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, “when you dance with the devil, you wait for the song to stop.”
My message to Rafa and other clubs under foreign ownership is the following: the music is still going strong, but it won’t always be your favorite tune.