Born Xavier Hernandez Creus on January 25, 1980 in Terrassa the diminutive 1.70 meter midfielder is one of the rare breed of modern footballers who have spent their entire playing careers with one club. When Xavi was voted best player of the tournament following Spain’s first ever European Championship title in 44 years many were surprised. At twenty-eight he is only just about to enter in the prime of his career. Two Premiera league, UEFA champions’ league, Super Cup and now the European crown, Xavi has seen every honor in the sport except the World Cup. Even that is just two years away and Spain is already the hot favorite.
Rome to revel with Trunesh Dibaba and Robles
Stunning the athletics world with an astonishing performances last month a go in Oslo, Norway, world and Olympic champion Trunesh Dibaba and Cuban 110m hurdle record holder Dyton Roble are expected for yet another hard to believe finish when 2008 IAAF Golden League athletics meeting resumes on Friday July11, 2008.
The willingness of the two athletes who set world records in the 5000 meters and 110 meter hurdle respectively in the new season is said to be a moral boost for the IAAF Golden League 2008 hosts Italy. In Romes Olympic stadium both athletes are expected to attempt an exceptional achievement.
The athletics world is waiting the smiling lioness Trunesh to once again perform a record breaking finish. Rome is home away from home for Dibaba who won in 2005 and 2006 and set the venue record.
Trunesh’s rivals and serious contenders are not expected from any other nation apart from her compatriots. As things appear to be a family matter of the Dibabas of recent, big sister Ejegayehu and rising star younger sister Genzebe are in the lining up. African Athletics championship gold medalist Meselech Melkamu is the real threat and may be get a new world record. Last year’s winner, Alaoui Selsouli of Morocco, is also there to battle against the four renowned Ethiopians.
Rome also expressed its delight at having world 110 meter hurdles record holder, Cuban Dayron Robles. The twenty one year old Dayron who set a new 12:87 record in Ostrava a hundredth of a second faster than Liu Xiang. Though Robles’ performance at Ostrava was just out of the blue, Rome believes he would be crowned. At the Olympic Stadium. American David Oliver is the main rival of Robles. Clocking 12:95 in Doha IAAF athletics tour Oliver has beaten Roble in Berlin clocking 13:19 to Robles’ 13:20. Last year winner American Anwar Moore is expected to rattle the Ronbles Vs Oliver showdown in Rome Olympic stadium Friday July 2008.
In other athletics news, one of the all time greatest German athletes discuss thrower Lars Riedel, announced his retirement in Berlin. The 41 year old Riedel, champion of five World Discuss meets was struggling with serious back injury that obliged him to stay away from the sport for the last two years. Lars Riedel’s last throw was in August and he came second with 61.34 meters.
Cameroon lead FIFA world ranking in Africa, Ethiopia lags at 108th
Following 2010 World Cup qualifying fixtures results, Cameroon passed Ghana to claim FIFA/Coca Cola World soccer ranking’s top spot while Ethiopia’s two wins and two draws in the campaign gave up its East African top spot and is down to 108th place. The Indomitable Lions are 13th in the world ranking. they lead their group table in comfort and with no loss so far and have jumped three spaces on last month’s ranking, adding 36 points. 16th placed on world table Ghana are not so dominating in their group, dropping 24 points to sit 2nd in Africa. Defending African champion Egypt who lost to Mali in qualification is third followed by Ivory Coast. With no defeat in the campaign and leading the group from afar Nigeria claims fifth followed by Morocco, Guinea, Senegal , Mali and Tunisia.
After months on top of East African Football, Ethiopia lost its place due to the so far poor performance in the qualification campaign. With only mathematical probability of qualification Ethiopia relegated 19 spaces to lag 108th in world ranking with 335 points-24 fewer than the last ranking.
Favorite to finish top of group eight, Rwanda leapfogged 23 spots to grab 87th in world ranking. Impressive in the qualification campaign, Kenya come zonal runner-up with 384 points. followed by surprise package Uganda (97) in world top spot with 370 points. Sudan 110th, Tanzania 115th, Eritrea 142nd, Djibouti 186th and Somalia bottom of the table at 197th. The table indicates that the two East African nations of Kenya and Rwanda appear to give special attention to the sport. The how is the question in need of an answer from the newly appointed Ethiopian Football Federation.
With a 100% record in qualification, Burkina Faso is one of the most progressive sides on the planet, leaping 47 places to parachute to 64th place. There are 207 registered federations under soccer world governing body FIFA and nine out of these nations are spot at 199th. The next ranking will be announced on 6th August.
Xavi voted best player of tournament, Ronaldo not on the list
Spanish and Barcelona star midfielder, twenty eight year old Xavi Hernandez is voted best player of Euro 2008. In a not so popular move, the UEFA technical committee headed by Andy Roxeberg voted Xavi best player of the tournament for his midfield role in helping Spain win the championship title after forty - four years. The nine man committee that also includes Roy Hodgson and former French national coach Gererd Houllier, announced a twenty-three best players short list that surprised even themselves for missing leading candidate for FIFA world best player of the year. Though the committee disclosed it did not include players who failed to reach the semi final stage, only exception Italian goal keeper Gian Luigi Buffon made it in to the list for his famous penalty save against Romania. The announcement was considered not so convincing was a field day for many soccer critics who said Xavi does not deserve the accolade for it was so hard to single him out from that most successful ball passing team and hardly an exceptional individual effort to help Spain win the title. “The committee voted Xavi for he epitomizes the Spanish style of play,” said Andy Roxeberg.
Led by iron fisted coach Luis Aragonese, Spain is also voted best team of the tournament and brought nine of the twenty three players while semi finalist Russia came second with four, followed by runner-up Germany with three. The tournament surprise package Turkey has one player, Hamid Altintorp, and two each from under achievers Holland and Portugal. Edwin Van der Sar and Wesley Sneijder from Holland and Pepe and Jose Bosinguia from Portugal. The absence from the list one of the tournament’s revelations- twenty three year old Bastian Shewnstaiger was hard to believe. Andrei Arshavin, who steered Zenit St. Petersburg to the UEFA championship is the one most admired among soccer fans.
Chelsea’s new boss given millions to spend, Aragonese joins Fenerbache
Days after European soccer fever’s climax, club football, is now back in the headlines with the usual talk of pre season transfers of managers and players alike.
Currently the biggest transfer news is Brazilian Filip Scolari’s move to English premier league side Chelsea and Luis Aragonese’s two year contract agreement with Turkish side Fenerbache amidst the whole of Spain begging him to stay until South Africa 2010 in two years time.
Wrapping up his four year contract with the Portuguese Football Federation, Scolari, who led Brazil to a record fifth world championship title signed a contract with Chelsea that binds him to Stamford Bridge until 2011. The charismatic and passionate manager who helped Portugal reach World Cup semi final and runner-up of Euro 2008 now faces a special challenge in club football with one of the world’s richest clubs Chelsea. Owner Roman Abramovich has signed Scolari just to bring him home Europe’s most coveted Champion’s league Cup and in order to achieve this dream he has given Scolari 250 million pound to sign players for the new season. The Brazilian did not waste time to use money. The first a call to current world most famous player Christiano Ronaldo to join him at Chelsea. Ronaldo being in limbo between two great clubs, owners Manchester United and buyers Real Madrid, Scolari relieved Barcelona by signing Portugal ace midfielder Deco for eight million pounds for two years. The buying and selling spree at Stamford Bridge is long awaited and now it appears to open with Deco’s coming and the going out of Frank Lampard and Dider Drogba, both to Ac Milan, is said in final phase.
In the meantime, while title winners Spain and the Spanish Football Federation begging him to stay, Aragonese the man who won European championship title as a player and a coach said thanks but no thanks. Hard disciplinarian and arrogant Aragonese walked out of the national hot seat just days after Spain claimed the title for the second time in forty four years, to join Turkish side Fenerbache for two year contract. Denying a place in his squad Spain ’s most famous and all time biggest scorer Raul Gonzalez, substituting Fernando Torres despite the players frustration shown clearly on his face, gluing Cesk Fabregas to the reserve bench are some of best examples as Luis Aragonese’s pure trade mark. Asked why he stood firm the old fox told reporters that since the Spanish people did not give him his due respect on many occasions he is to go out with pride and self respect. Old fox Aragonese is said to be replaced by former Real Madrid manager Vicente del Bosque.
Popular coach Asrat linked with Electric FC
All time most successful coach in Ethiopian football, Asrat Haile, popularly known as Goradew, “the sword”, is said to reach to the final phase of agreement to join Electric FC after four years and a knock-out title with Defense Force FC.
Considered a strong believer in both discipline and physical training, the former Saint George and Ethiopian national side no nonsense defender is one of the very first Ethiopian club coaches to mushroom in early eighties . Asrat made a name as the nation’s best club coach when leading his Saint George to consecutive league titles, producing some of the finest talents for the national side. Steering the Ethiopian national senior team to win East and Central African zonal championship title held here in Addis Ababa, Asrat had been in temporary retirement before he joined promoted to Defense Force.
Formerly with Saint George, Agricultural Marketing and Defense Force, Asrat did not deny new link with Electric FC. In a statement to Inter Sport weekly, Goradew disclosed that he is speaking with the club manager.
Asrat’s appointment means the departure of long serving Gulelat Ferde who led the side to its last premier league title five years ago. Never, ever to look for another club, home grown former defender Gulelat had been relegated to assistant position under two foreign coaches the Italian Pettreli And British Ken Norton. Gulelat assumed back the head coach position with one of Ethiopian most popular attack players Elias Guhar assistant at the start of the season to lead the side to fourth place while Asrat’s Defense Force finished eleventh.
In a club notorious for failing to hold of up-coming youngsters, Asrat could face a shortage of players. Add to that his reputation as an ardent advocate of hard physical training, the probability of finding ideal players to build a strong side in time for the new season could be difficult. First time with Electric FC, the coach who helped an average side Defense Force to the knockout title is expected to bring home the premier league title for the third time. Mean while, Electric goal keeper Samson Tefera has left the club to join defending champions Saint George and midfielder Mesoud Mohammed is rumored to sign for Ethiopian Coffee.
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