Dissecting AVBs Depature From Tottenham on 'Mutual Consent'

I am of the red persuasion when it comes to matters soccer in the north of London. Naturally, I should be over the moon with the news coming out of the white corner. Andre Villas Boas has been shown the door. No telling the imprints of Tottenham Hotspurs chairman David Levy’s boot(s) on his backside. Mutual consent is cited in the press release by the London club. 

I wonder why they bother to put that in there: Mutual consent. As if, so late in the day, there is a contrary alternative. Besides, the familiar cry of vultures explained the moving shadows over AVB’s head in last night’s presser. Five nil to Liverpool at White Hart Lane, and you and I knew too well of the aroma wafting in from the kitchen clouding  the press box. It was not the whiff of burgers and fries meant to feed the angry hungry lot at White Hart Lane that Sunday evening; AVB’s goose had been cooked.

Dynamos Overcome in form CAPS United to Claim The Harare Derby

Twelve hours after Mayweather's cheque day, 30,000 are in their blue, and green with white. 5 dollars a ticket, US dollars, in Mugabe's Zimbabwe.

This is the Harare Derby. Dynamos FC host CAPS United. 21st Century Romans are gathered at the colloseum to cheer on the gladiators. As far as Derbies go, on the box next to fans, its a check.
Now for the controversies, the immortalization of players and finally, the bragging rights. For CAPS United, the new crop, most just an year thereabouts playing for the Green and Whites,a chance to correct the record: CAPS fans wait 53 months on for a victory.

A fast paced game. At 8 minutes, 5 or so half chances shared evenly between the two Zimbabwean sides. Dynamos FC's Pakamisa is already candidate for Villian having missed a sitter. The swahili translation for his name would be something like Cat (paka) Mass (misa-as in the type of mass that takes place in cathedrals)...Just saying.

Gabaleko Inspires Western Stima Past Tusker to KPL U-19 Glory As Questions Linger Over Kenyan Youth Football

2013 KPL Under 19 Champions Western Stima

Three minutes past the hour before noon, the shrill of the center referee's whistle pierces the chilly Nairobi air at Tusker's Ruaraka ground.

If Thika superhighway, that leads to this KPL under 19 tournament final is clogged with traffic, it probably Nairobians going about their business, least bothered.

Contrast this come sunday with the sea of red and green heading out for the 'mashemeji' derby gyrating and dancing to the African orchestra of isikuti, tingiti and vuvuzela; you get a sense of the place of youth football in Kenya.

The sizable crowd would probably be an upgrade--a handful-- if either of the youth teams that face off in Kenya's biggest day on the football calendar on Sunday-- AFC Leopards 'ingwe' or Gor Mahia 'Kogalo' -- had made it to the final.

But it is two corporate sponsored sides that fight it out for the 300,000 prize money: Tusker sponsored by the Diageo majority owned East African Breweries Limited and Western Stima bank rolled by the Nairobi Securities Exchange listed Kenya Power and Lighting Company.

As is the trend with the senior league, the crowd pullers are the mismanagement bedeviled community sides. Ingwe at least made it to the semis losing out to Tusker. A feat if the happenings at the unveiling of the DSTV/GOTV sponsored tournament are acknowledged.

As is everything, the youth are the roots that yeild the fruits. KPL and DSTV did their part in watering the roots by harnessing collections from DSTV Top 8 tournament to finance the KPL under 19 tournament. Not enough by the organizers own admissions, but nonetheless a noble take more so in light of the troubles of Europe's NextGen Series.

On the other side of the scale, the clubs were left exposed. With no functional football academies, it is widely reported that the scramble was on to sign talent on loan from  for the pitiful spattering of football academies that dot the city.

Even Western Stima who lead the final with a goal at the break, field a side largely drawn from Kenyan secondary school powerhouse Kakamega High school team The Green Commandos. Six players we are informed. Yes, it is currently the school holidays in Kenya but what about the preceding weeks at tournament kick off when school was in session?

What consideration for the future of these young lads. Is it a simple "Go play a tournament. Hope you get signed by a Kenya Premier League side on a pitiful contract"---- Keep in mind that the majority of these players are in their final years of O level study with months to national examinations of great bearing on their futures-- If there is a contract, who advised the young lads? Who guided them through the complicated contract process? If any are below the legal age, were their guardians involved?----

What a skewed trade off! What choices to bestow on these young shoulders. What a gamble on our Nations future!

This begs questions on football structures in Kenya. What exactly is the arrangement between the school and KPLC? What of the players welfare? Therein lies a whiff of child labor dare we say.

More questions. Consider this: Come the final, and the trend repeats itself as senior coaches on the touchlines puppeteer the junior coaches.

Now, that is damn worrying! Elementary youth football development places an absolute on the qualifications and pedigree of professionals who handle such precocious talent.

We can't picture an Arsene Wenger, Pep or Jurgen Klopp shouting out instructions at a youth tournament. Spectator? Yes. Back room consultations between the coaches of the two set ups? Yes. Puppeteer-ing? NO!

Suck it up you might say. TIA you might add. Justify your banter by throwing about known names in world football like Victor Wanyama of Celtic, his elder brother UEFA Champions league winner Macdonald Mariga and Dennis 'the menace' Oliech.

Forgetting the sound family support that makes Mariga and Wanyama the success they are. Contrast that with the bountiful talent not fully exploited in Oliech's case, troubles that could be traced here.

It is our prayer that the talent of Western Stima's Laban Gambaleko on display here gets to shine in such cathedrals such as Old Trafford and  Santiago Bernabeu.

That the likes of Micheal Olunga, Charles Adika, Kevin Okoth, Vitalis Okumu and Micheal Abor do not seep into the cracks into football abyss.

Granted, the world of football is filled with heart wrenching tales of shattered dreams and destroyed lives. We just need not to fodder it. We shouldn't parry it on through acts of commission or omission.

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To the KPL fraternity, time for a full time Under 19 league? Maybe a PPP model involving the Ministries of Edcation, Ministry of Sports and companies who have already shown a hand in youth sports like Brookside Milk and  Airtel would do the trick 

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To Kenyan universities, the cue has been set by the likes of Kenyatta University and Nairobi University through offering sports scholarships.

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Western Stima run away with the under 19 KPL title thrashing Tusker 4-0. Laban Gabaleko our player of the tournament. At 6 '2 the strikers skill and technical acumen is on point. A goal and two assists in the final capping a fine performance. As expected, the lad is still raw on the edges but he packs a full one with all the right ingredients to make a lethal striker. 

Goals

Laban Gabaleko (20)

Charles Adika (60)

Kevin Okoth (76)

Micheal Abor (79)

Montolivo Shines But Fiorentina Battle back To Claim Draw Against Milan in Champions League Spot Battle

I understand lunchtime kick offs aren’t a familiar tradition in Serie A . Fiorentina hosted Ac Milan in one of the few deviations from the norm and in the warm Florence sun, the opening exchanges were pretty much a Sunday football local team affair. Misplaced passes, lethargic runs and a rather quiet crowd content to while away the Sunday afternoon. Except, of course, when Montolivo got on the ball.

That man, Montolivo, the story of how friend turns foe. How hero turns villain. Of how allegiances swiftly change in football, with a flip in circumstances. For his case, it was a change of jerseys. First, the Italian international hustles Pizzaro on the ball.

 Deep into his own half and facing his own goal, Pizzaro appears to shrug off Montolivo’s undue attention and as he makes the turn to change defense into attack, an unfortunate slip gifts the ball to Montolivo. An onrushing keeper and a composed Montolivo combine to give Milan the opener. He celebrates. The jeers from the stands quieted.

Fast forward to the start of the second half and ten man Fiorentina are playing with much purpose. Adversity has a way to bring out the best in a man. To a man, Fiorentina felt hard done by the referee. Card after card as Ac Milan played to the gallery. It all culminated some seven minutes, give or take, to the end of the first half when last man Nenad Tomovicgot sent off after El Shaarawy  rather easily tumbled in a tussle for the ball.

However, with the constant jeers from the partisan crowd, it was the the other man facing adversity who shinned like a diamond. A brief spell of control by Milan. Montolivo works his way to the right wing, under pressure; he unexpectedly makes a low cross into the area. It’s only his teammate, former Arsenal man Flamini, anticipating. The Frenchman delicately side foots the ball into the bottom left. Goal two for Milan. Flamini’s first of the season.

‘Milan sinks Fiorentina in Florence’. ‘Fiorentina’s Champions League hopes dented by Milan’. At this point, I imagine those would have been the headlines on the back pages of Italian dailies. Two goals down, ten men, a stefan Jovetic  substituted at the end of the first through injury and an in form Ac Milan, there seemed to be no way back for Fiorentina. That, until

65:14 Ljaijc with an expected weaving run down the right into the box is clipped, or appears to have been clipped, penalty. The Serbian sends Abbiati the wrong way; Goal and Fiorentina have a life line. 2-1

72:01 In swinging cross from the left and Juan Cuadradodelightfully controlled it, skipped past Mattia De Sciglio got hacked down. Unlike the first, this one’s a clear penalty. Pizzaro dispatches and with that, villain turns hero.

2-2 it is, game on we thought. The remaining 28 mins were a typical Italian affair. Counter attacking football with a psychological edge. More yellow cards and exaggerated fouls. Milan had a shout for penalty that was turned down. In the end, a deserved 2-2 draw. We are pretty sure Florence is celebrating.