Formula 1, So Much For Ke Nako

Ke Nako Image: aysoworldcup

“Waka Waka ehe waka waka ehe”  that tune, the soundtrack of the time. The time for Africa it was said. Big things were going to go down, down South. Even bigger things expected of the continent as fortune, rather too optimistically, like a drop of ink in a glass of water diffuse its arrival announced by the din of the Vuvuzelas.

Ke Nako time for Africa. The much awaited time when the land of lions,elephants and giraffes would sit with pride, shake up the corporate world and  with heads held up high cease being the problem and   provide solutions to prevailing global situations. You see, the gloom in the world markets like malaria and Aids had been infectious. Spectating on from its perennial designate position- the sidelines- was Africa.


Lost to the audience catching on the on goings in the Euro zone and Americas was what the big deal was about being unemployed or having no home to rest your weary body. To some, it was just short of an ill placed joke the only amusing thing were the names being floated around Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, funny names for a bank they thought.

The pundits on the tube told us that this gloom, these social problems were born of the global economic meltdown. Problems that in the homes of the spectators were bread and butter issues. Not so though was hosting the world's most watched event, the world war without bombs: The FIFA World Cup. Thus every reason for the 800 million inhabitants of the mother Continent to sing along to Shakira's rendition of the tune they knew of so well 'Waka Waka' after all, it was Ke Nako.

Everything said it was Ke Nako. For once CNN , BBC (just to name names) spoke well of the dark continent. Nonetheless as they say, even good things come to an end. Some premature end this was as way before Barcelona,pardon me,  Spain were crowned champions of the South Africa 19th  edition of the FIFA World Cup, reality had reared it's ugly head disrupting the African hosted party.

The problem was not with the host as 'haters' had gone waxical about in the run up to the event, but with the caterers (multinationals from lands beyond keen to grab the marketing opportunity that big sport graciously offers) as sections of the party goers started to feel discriminated, served scrapings from the bottom of the pot or missing out on rations all together.

Forget the nonesence noise about the Vuvuzelas and the subsequent preemptive bans from European stadia , forget the ticket prices out of reach for the thousands whose homes had to make way for the multi dollar stadiums, think the young ones whose potato chips had to find their way from their grasp into dustbins just because they had been fried by the wrong brand.

All the same all taken in stride in lieu of the symbolism of the time. In South Africa, lay hope and hope is one thing hard to rubbish. Kenya started dreaming of the Olympics in a few decades just to sample some of the high of the moment. At the very least, the return of Formula 1 to South Africa. Such is the sense of family in Africa . Your brother is still your brother even if sibling rivalry best defines the relationship.

When Ghana failed to progress into the semifinals of the world cup in a fashion that typifies the African situation, the disappointment was shared from the cape of good hope all the way to Alexandria. When the 2011/12 Formula 1 calender was released just recently, the glaring miss was a difficult pill to swallow for Formula 1 enthusiasts across the continent. So much for Ke Nako

March 11-Bahrain
March 18-Australia
April 1-Malaysia
April 11-China
April 22-Korea
May 6-Turkey*
May 20-Spain
May 27-Monaco
June10Canada
June17-United States
July1-Valencia,Spain
July 15-GreatBritain
july 29-Germany
August 5-Hungary
September 2-Belgium
September 9-Italy
September 30-Singapore
October 14-Japan
October 28-India
November11-AbuDhabi
November 25-Brazil
* Subject to confirmation

**Coming Soon: Russia
***Hopefully this Africa- Kyalami circuit South Africa? Libya- rebirth of the Tripoli grand prix? Nigeria?

In the media blitz surrounding the African World Cup, a cornered Bernie Ecclestone had this to say:

"When we speak about the Formula 1 World Championship, we are aware that Africa is missing. We had talks a couple of years ago and almost reached a deal but at the moment they are so wound up with the football World Cup - there was not much point in talking."

To me a dismissal rather than a note of hope “...so wound up with the football World Cup- there was not much point talking!”  with all due excuse me Mr Ecclestone. Nonetheless, in a miniscule way you have a point. You see too much talking has always been the problem. Talking in conferences, capacity building workshops and the likes. Maybe it's time for a hush and then some action. Till then for Africa Formula 1 back to the reserved seats in the sidelines as is norm.

Kolo Toure Doping Saga: In His Defense A Can Of Worms

Image Gunnersphere

Any parent would be proud to have two have nee two world beaters. Top athletes at the top of the game, rubbing shoulders with the best in their sport and sharing the occasional beer after a well fought out duel on the sporting arena away from the television cameras. Likewise it is a pride of a nation whenever those breed of the fruits of its soil fly the flag on the world stage. For a continent like Africa seen to be the world's basket case, it is always a joy when one of the brethren overcomes malaria, malnutrition, prejudice, poverty and its brothers and makes it.

Understandable it is therefore that Uruguayan hero Luiz Suarez draws disgust courtesy of his cheating hand that kept the goal that could made the Black Stars of Ghana the first African nation to make it to the semifinals of World Cup right here on African soil in the 2010 South African edition. What is even harder for the public to understand is how such unsporting behavior, such blatant cheating in the full light of the floodlights of  Soccer City stadium could fail to draw personal liability.

Maybe it's on account of such happenings and on the back of tales passed down generations- most notably the suspect manner in how Cameroon was officiated out of another milestone way back in  the 1990 Italy  edition- that the six month ban imposed on former Arsenal ' The Invincibles' team member, now former Manchester City captain, Ivorian national team automatic pick Kolo Toure; after his 'B' sample failed the doping test, has been met with muted reaction in most of Africa.

Arsenal fans remember the shock when Arsene Wenger chose the Sheik's petrodollars over the dedication, handwork and 'die-for-the-badge' attitude that Kolo Toure put in week in week out for Arsenal even when it became more apparent that age was catching up with the defender. For some it was good business as Kolo Toure had without doubt done his bit for Arsenal and it would have been selfish of Wenger's to deny the Ivorian the call of a new challenge and the well known perks that come with being a Manchester City player- probably not bad boy Mario Balotelli but definitely Kolo Toure deserved all that.

When Yaya Toure was spat out by super Barcelona after years of service comparable only to his brother, to well wishers, it was a football fairy tale when the Toure brother's reunited at Manchester City. Though Yaya's move was more about the money the Ivorian would be making as a Manchester City player bringing to fore what Arsene wenger labels as financial doping in football, it is the other Toure's doping calamity that has left a stink.

In a paper “Doping in Sport: From Strychnine to Genetic Enhancement, It’s a Moving Target” Gary I. Wadler then a associate professor of clinical medicine at New York University School Of Medicine notes “ Competition, at its most basic level, appears to drive athletes to do whatever it takes to win. Perhaps the need to win at all costs is a Darwinian response, an adaptive mechanism..” As a sports fan it is often hard to forget the pressure on the shoulders of our favored athletes.

Taking the case of Yaya Toure for instance, the noise has only quieted down on account of his impressive end of season form where his contributions to Manchester City's first cup in over half a century were taken to be worthwhile paybacks for the monies that he takes home as the game's top earner. No telling the pressure on his brother's shoulders when he chose to take, as he puts it in his defense, his wife's slimming pills

Doping is as old as sports Wadler quips “Even as long ago as the 3rd century B.C., the Greeks, inventors of democracy and the Socratic method, were known to ingest hallucinogenic mushrooms to improve athletic performance. In the Roman era, gladiators used stimulants in the famed Circus Maximus (circa 600 B.C.) to overcome fatigue and injury, while other athletes experimented with caffeine, alcohol, nitroglycerine, opium and even the potent stimulant, strychnine.”

On the day that Barcelona face Manchester United at Wembley in the 2010/11 Champions league final, it is worth noting one of the star attractions-super Messi- were it not for a defined medical reason could be said to have benefited from doping.

 The Messi legend goes that Barcelona acquired the services of a player who Wenger reckons that hisexploitss in the modern game could only elicit one responsee: Kneeling down- as the Catalan outfit were the only team interested in the young exceptionally gifted yet puny player (on account of a genetic deficiency in  growth hormone) , who could afford the treatment that the now 21st Century god of football desperately needed.  

So dicey is this doping in sports affair that even the definition of what doping is remains problematic. Others argue for the need to demonstrate intent on the athletes part which as Wadler notes is problematic as “notion that we can actually assess one’s intent, both qualitatively and quantitatively” is futile leaving room for the use of  “surrogate measure, the testing of bodily fluids, especially urine, has become a marker for assessing intent.”

That said, did Kolo Toure INTEND to gain unfair advantage by taking his wife's slimming pills? Qualitatively? As one of his fans, probably not. Quantitatively? The 'B' sample says it all. Worth noting is that in the eyes of his fans, probably the qualitative measure counts more than any quantitative measure thus the n muted repose and overwhelming public opinion in his support. Nonetheless, those six months ought be enough to hit the gym.

My father oftened told me the truth is often simple. The simplest of explanations oten bear the truth. Though Kolo Toure's defense was as simplistic as they come, as Wadler notes “ It’s a struggle between the manipulators versus the investigators and each side’s armaments grow more advanced each day.”

FIFA ELECTIONS Time For Sepp Blatter To Go?

On June 1st  one month after the world marks Labor day; as Kenya marks 48 years of internal self-rule following her gaining of independence from the United Kingdom; on the day that Arsenal battle Manchester United at the Emirates in one of the game's most passionate rivalries, in Zurich, another contest will be decided.

FIFA Headquarters in Zurich  Image: Hoogen Sport

Incumbent Sepp Blatter for the first time in 12 years has a credible challenge in the head of the Asian Football Confederation, Bin Hammam, for a post that almost became synonymous with the 74 yr old  Swiss; The FIFA presidency. In this match-up, the upcoming FIFA elections are finally generating the ad o that befits the influence of the what could easily be termed to be the world's most powerful autonomous body save for the United Nations.

Being The Godfather of a game popularly thought to have originated in the English midlands thereabouts a century ago, that  today is a global movement  is a momentous issue. Sample this, at the mere threat of a ban from participation in FIFA sanctioned football events, otherwise larger than life Presidents tuck in their tails, tow the line lest they are made to look like mere tribal chiefs.

The appeal of football borders on religion. As it was once said, religion is the opium of the poor; football happens to be the dope of the masses. Every week thousands congregate in stadia across the globe, millions more via live television and a couple more on the Internet just for the fix.

This global popularity of the beautiful game makes that the FIFA presidency surpass simple sports management, touch on the geopolitical and even has a say on how the world revolves and rotates.
It is said that  money makes the world go round. As you already know, what a ready market the football family is. Sponsorship deals, advertising and merchandise make football a multimillion industry.

Thus, a Don Corleone reference of the FIFA presidency serves especially taking note of the numerous occasions  where the workings of FIFA have been too Sicilian. No doubt the appeal of football has much to do with the well oiled structures and pristine organization running from the FIFA congress headed by an elected president right down to the grassroots. In places like Nyamira; places that you and I have never heard of through branch chairmen of affiliate local national football associations of the 120+ countries FIFA member countries.

An impressive reach that FIFA has nonetheless, some say the workings of FIFA are too much of a one man show especially so as over the four term reign of the incumbent. They argue as much as the different confederations are the roots that hold up the tree, it appears that the stem, roots and branches suck the roots and not the reverse where the roots feed the top.

While local affiliates and regional groupings like UEFA  bear the difficult task of  running the game,  bringing the masses to the games and keeping them there; when it comes to the major decisions they are just but lame ducks. Take the case of the football debate that has refused to go away- goal line technology. Going by the tones of the discussions, one may be mistaken to think that were it not for Sepp Blatter, goal line technology would have been a forgone conclusion.

Or the recent proposal by none other than Sepp Blatter to have the 2018 Qatar World Cup in winter to avoid the sweltering heat of summer in the Arabian desert. Lest you forget, loud grantles are still being heard in the football world over the decision to award the 2018 World Cup to Qatar and 2022 edition to Russia. It is such decisions that may have spurred Bin Hammam to suggest a term limit :“I genuinely believe eight years is enough for every president to focus on football....after that, he’s looking after everything else other than football.”

Understandable comments from the man hoping that the democratic fever causing dis-ease in the Middle East  catches on in Zurich as the audit on the impact that spreading the game to Africa in 2010 South Africa will have on the African game turns unhealthy outcomes. While the Brazil 2016 World Cup edition forecast looks gloomy, not forgetting only trace net gains from the 2002 South Korea and Japan edition on the Asian game.

Keen to ride on the disgruntled voices from the smaller footballing nations like the 40 votes rich CONCACAF region, Bin Hammam the head of one of Sepp Blatter's nobler projects- The FIFA GOAL Beaureu project is promising to increase disbursements to member nations to as much as half a million dollars. Peanuts if you ask me considering the colossal funds FIFA has a say on.

Being of this world, FIFA is not immune to some of the evils that embarrassingly still remain a problem in the 21st Century. While the 'say no to racism' ,'fair play' campaigns and the like are pleasing to the ear, they have been noted in some quarters to be largely political slogans. Corruption is still a vermin in FIFA like in any political organization (remember the aftermath of the host awarding process of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup editions). Bin Hammam being the good politician he is, is promising to rid FIFA of corruption.

On this task and the more immediate one that takes place in Zurich on the 1st of June, I wish him luck With the immediate future of the global economy in Asia's hands, a new world will indeed open up if the 46 Asian votes in the FIFA congress manages to push their man through. Some possibility but as they say in Korea, 'You think flowers and the sun don't exist just because you don't see them?'

Li Na, China's Proud Daughter, Asia's Leading Light, A 21st Century Tennis First

If she was a world beating athlete- almost invariably conditioned in the high altitude training camps that dot the western slopes of the Great Rift Valley thereabouts the equator, my current locality-she would have been received by scores of jubilant fans, proud ululating relatives, the odd placed politician keen to enrich their personal brands, a gourd of Mursik and Isikuti dancing troupe.

Li Na Celebrating her win over Venus Williams in  2008 Beijing  Olympics Women's Quarter final. Image : Xinhua/Wang Yuguo via xinhuanet.com

She would be carried shoulder high, hoisted politician style on a top- of-the- range four wheeler, she would occupy herself with waving to fans as the vehicle caravan slowly snakes through city streets on the journey to her rural home

Once the long caravan- replete with Matatus full of singing folks from the village who had made the several hour journey to the airport to welcome home the world beater- nears the precincts of her home town, 'her people' would join the parade and in a slow march of jubilant dance she would be lead to the awaiting feast: A tented affair in an open field complete with a shaded raised dais for the Mheshimiwas-VIPs.

The oxygen thin air of  higher altitudes would be thick with the aroma of Nyama Choma –meat roasted over open fire- courtesy of the scores of slaughtered bulls, sheep and goats. The village feasts and fetes their all achieving daughter. The bigger the feat, the bigger the feast.

Speeches. Tearful parents, proud coaches and once again the rot of a politician ridding on the moment. Bellies full with Pilau- a Swahili coastal spiced rice and meat delicacy- minds planted with dreams and hearts full of joy. A beautiful day. A historic moment shared and witnessed by all.

Highly unlikely though that the feted athlete would be a tennis star in this part of the urban global village . A middle-long distance runner perhaps. Even more unlikely that this jubilant affair- most recently accorded to 2010 IAAF Male Athlete of The Year David Rudisha following his Usain Bolt style world record breaking exploits over 800 meters in 2010- awaits Li Na in far off Wuhan, China.

Yes, China is celebrating. Asia celebrates too. Tennis celebrates even more. In Li Na, a beginning timed to perfection. With the 21st Century still in the bud, it is an exciting time as is the case every other 100 years or so. A period with an 'anything can be achieved' mentality.

A new century, a new way of doing things seems to be the overriding mantra: Just ask Pres. Obama and you will understand why just the other day, on the tails of the state visit by his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao, Pres. Obama in his State of The Union Address bravely urged America to wake up from the slumber. To out-innovate, out-think and basically outmaneuver the likes of China lest the 21st Century is claimed and she joins the list of Fallen Kings.

In many ways, Li Na's triumph over world number 1 Carolina Wozniacki in the Australian Open women semi-final embodies the bright light that the orient east has been so far this 21st Century. The tournament-burdened by the floods that have wrecked parts of Australia affecting harvests in the worlds largest food exporters-represented some welcome news from down under.

When the man expected to bring that bit of cheer, Raphael Nadal, bowed out at the quarter final stage under the double assault of a tender hamstring and compatriot Roger Ferrer, as the Chinese say it almost got as dark as the bottom of a lamp.

Current tennis world number one, Nadal, having claimed 'The Old World Triple'  in 2010: Italian Open, French Open and Wimbledon was expected to one better than tennis great Bjorn Borg by laying claim to four major tournaments at the same time.

When 28yr old took to the court in Melbourne Australia few expected the moment ahead. Especially with her loss of the first set to a confident Caroline Wozniacki,  who just days earlier had spoke of her fine form, not only warning her rivals but also effectively stating it would take extraordinary effort to beat her. Only the very good had a chance if any.

What chance did Li Na have? The girl who at 9 (one more over the lucky Chinese number) made the switch to tennis from badminton. Her coach at the time advised that her aggression, power, quick reflexes and arm strength would be more lethal in the tennis court. He current coach cum husband, Jiang Shan, snores too much she tells us.

In the high of the proverbial 15 mins of fame, she does that: A dose of humor. A joke that many might find slighting . Yet I am informed, that is the Chinese way. A high A dose of humor to spice life. A  people with a funny bone not troubled at laughing at thy self.

Li Na though  typifying a humorous people embodied sport. Commenting on the ever evolving monster- doping- writer George Will gets to the heart of sports in the following words : “A society’s recreation is charged with moral significance. Sport - and a society that takes it seriously - would be debased if it did not strictly forbid things that blur the distinction between the triumph of character and the triumph of the chemistry”

Li Na's courage, determination and as she offers; a strong mind is the character that George Will so exalts. Li Na  rescued a game that hang on one match point to claim a 3-6 7-5 6-3, victory over a grueling two and a half hours of gripping tennis action in Melbourne. Notwithstanding, the lessons learned over a injury plagued tennis career that begun in 1999, the year Li Na turned pro.

Though she is yet to win the 2011 Australian Open- thanks to the awaiting challenge of Grand Slam final experienced Kim Clijsters- in her triumph, Li Na  became the first Chinese/ Oriental Asia woman to reach the finals of a major tennis tournament. A historic match that the host of Chinese and Asian talent she hopes to inspire to the highest levels of the sport should draw inspiration from.

Li Na : Tennis Career Snapshot

Highest World Ranking:  : SINGLES- No. 7 as at 31st January 2011
                                      : DOUBLES- No 54 as at 28th August 2006

1999: Turned Professional.  


2000: Top player in ITF circuit with 52 wins that year-she currently holds 19 ITF single titles. Li Na capped the success with admission into WTA circuit where Li Na won her first WTA doubles title in June at Tashkent.

2002: April, Dinan, France against  Zuzana Ondraskova Li Na losses in what is to be her her last match before a 25 month hiatus. It's unclear if it the two years were spent studying at university, or was occasioned by unnamed health conceern.

2004: Li Na becomes the first Chinese woman to win a WTA event when she triumphs over Martina Sucha- backed by Chinese support- in the September Guangzhou tier III tournament.

2008: Following a rib injury that kept Li Na of the tennis court for close to six months, Li Na returns to win the January 2008 Mondial Australian Women's Hardcourts, making this her second out of four career singles WTA titles.

2009:  US Open quarter finals losing to the World number 1 Serena Williams 6–4, 6–7(1), 2–6. She had bowed out at the same level in the Grand Slam stage  both in 2006 and 2010 at Wimbledon.