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Africans at Euro 2008
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THERE are so many players of African origin playing in the 2008 European Championship they could form a very handy team of their own. France, unsurprisingly as a former colonial power with a long tradition of using African-born talent, has by far the biggest Afrocontingent.
Patrick Vieira and Patrice Evra could have played for Senegal, Claude Makelele and Steve Mandanda were born in Kinshasa, Sidney Govou is the son of a former Benin international, and Lassana Diarra has roots in Mali. The list doesn’t end there as both Samir Nasri and rising star Karim Benzema are of Algerian origin.
Nasri has been nicknamed the ‘new Zidane’, as the greatest of France’s players of African origin grew up like him in the south of France in an Algerian family. The latest addition to the French squad is Bafetimbi Gomis, who hesitated between France and Senegal, before scoring a double on his debut for the Blues last month. Other countries have players with African links too.
Portugal has used its connections to its former colonies astutely. One of Portugal and world football’s all time greats was Eusebio, who was born in Mozambique at a time when it was still a Portuguese colony. In the current squad Nani and Miguel have ties to Cape Verde, while Jose Bosingwa was born in DR Congo. Switzerland has Johan Djourou, of Ivorian origin, and its own star who could have played for Cap Verde, Gelson Fernandes.
There are many Moroccans in Holland, and two of them, Ibrahim Afelly and Khalid Boulahrouz are in the Dutch squad for Euro 2008. Ghana fans may look out for a familiar sounding name in the German squad: the Real Betis winger David Odonkor. Finally Sweden has Henrik Larsson, who has ties to Cape Verde, and the goalkeeper Rami Schaaban, who almost played for Egypt. There would have been several more Afro- Europeans if Belgium, which has many players of Congolese origin, had qualified.
All the same it’s still quite a list, and one strong enough to form a pretty competitive team. This line-up, in a 4-4-2 formation, would give many of the teams at Euro 2008 - or at the next Africa Cup of Nations in Angola - a competitive game.
Mandanda (France, DRC), Miguel (Portugal, Cape Verde), Djourou (Switzerland, Ivory Coast), Boulahrouz (Holland, Morocco), Evra (France, Senegal), Nasri (France, Algeria), Vieira (France, Senegal), Makelele (France, DRC), Nani (Portugal, Cape Verde), Benzema (France, Algeria), Larsson (Sweden, Cape Verde). |
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Rio Ferdinand to assist charities in Nigeria |
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ENGLAND defender Rio Ferdinand has pledged to assist charities and act as an inspiration to young children in a visit to the Nigerian city of Lagos.
Ferdinand, 29, has been promoting education through football and making plans to build an academy. He completed a twoday tour of Lagos at the invitation of the state governor Babatunde Raji Fashola. After visiting some of the city’s orphanges Ferdinand said: “I came here to inspire children, I feel obliged to give them hope that they can become important people, not only in football but in life as well. As a parent, I’ve got a young family now and it puts it all in perspective really. It makes it worthwhile to come to a place like this to help.
Some of these kids are just clinging onto life and not sure of what happens tomorrow.” Ferdinand visited some of the homes on Friday June 6 and was so moved by their conditions that he vowed to help them improve.
“I want to help attract wealthy business people to put money in all these charities and schemes just to give these kids a chance.” Governor Babatunde Fashola said Ferdinand’s visit to Nigeria would help launch the Lagos Street Soccer Championship. “This government aims to inspire the young by mentoring and bringing them close to role models like Rio Ferdinand,” Fashola told BBC Sport.
“Engagement of young people in productive ventures such as sport would take children away from vices like drugs and violence.” It is a line the Manchester United ace agrees with: “There are huge talents here that can be as big as Yakubu Ayegbeni or bigger than Kanu Nwankwo, they just need someone to inspire them and make them believe in themselves. With what I have seen, I can help build an academy here that will see the best of Nigerian talent realise their dreams of being a professional footballer. The power of football here is unbelievable, everyone I see here are either Manchester United, Arsenal or Chelsea supporters.
Everyone’s got football shirts on.” Ferdinand had the rare chance of meeting the traditional ruler of Lagos, King Rilwan Akiolu who bestowed on him the title of “Chief Fiwagboye”. During the ceremony, at his palace in Lagos, King Akiolu told the surprised defender that Fiwagboye literally means character maketh wealth. “To be honest, I was a little embarrassed to be named a Chief, I’m not sure I’m worthy but it is something to be proud of really,” Ferdinand said.
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Adebayor to support African grassroots football |
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EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR has promised to support the development of African football to a higher pedestal. The Arsenal striker said: ‘I will do all within my reach to assist in the development of African football for the future’.
Adebayor who recently received the BBC African Footballer of the Year 2007 crown at an awards gala in Lome said the future belongs to the youth, hence supporting them will aid in giving a reasonable meaning to their lives.
Sheyi, as he is affectionately called, said it is on this ground that he has organised a tour of three West African countries dubbed ‘tour of hope’ in his quest to become an agent of hope and positive change in the lives of the millions of African youths. Adebayor who revealed this vision in an interaction with the media in Lome said the tour consists of Ghana, Togo and Nigeria with the focus on orphans and street children. ‘These children are the potential future leaders and should be accorded all the necessary support and guidance to enable them realise their goals.’
After receiving the BBC award, the Adebayor visited Ghana the next day where he paid a courtesy call to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. He expressed shock at the rousing welcome accorded him by the people of Kumasi. Whilst there, he took part in an Under-15 game and then unveiled his educational fund’s plan, which he set up to assist the needy in the society.
Adebayor said he would replicate a similar gesture in Warri, Nigeria when he ends his tour with a participation in the Testimonial game for former Super Eagles captain Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha scheduled for June 26.
Adebayor was the first ever Togolese winner of the BBC African footballer of the year award. He beat Ghana midfielder Michael Essien and Ivorian striker Didier Drogba to the title.
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Man Utd to play Pompey in Nigeria |
Manchester United will play their fellow premier league side Portsmouth in Nigeria in July.
THE match between the Premier League and European champions and the FA Cup holders will give thousands of Nigerian football fans the chance to see their heroes in person. The precise date and venue have yet to be determined, although the game will take place in Abuja.
United will fly in after the completion of their preseason tour to South Africa, which takes place between 19 and 26 July.
“Sir Alex (Ferguson) and the team are always keen to visit new places,” United’s Chief Executive David Gill told a news conference.
“This match will give an opportunity for our many fans in Nigeria to see the team in the flesh and will provide a climax to our summer tour.
“Our own research has shown Nigeria is home to our fourth largest fan base - some 13.6 million supporters - so this is an opportunity for us to say thank you to those fans.”
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp revealed the plan after his side’s triumph in the FA Cup.
Pompey have several star African players, notably Nigeria’s Nwankwo Kanu and John Utaka.
United may have the Angola star Manucho with them by the time of the game.
He has been on loan to Panathinaikos, but is hopeful of moving to Old Trafford, once he has a work permit for the UK. The match will be a preview of the Community Shield, the traditional curtain- raiser to the English season, which is played between the League Champions and the winners of the FA Cup.
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