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.

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. 

Down Memeory lane: FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010: Netherlands vs Spain

Stand UP for the C.H.A.M.P.I.O.N.S. Image courtesy of thestar.blogs.com

The final match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, the wizardry of Spain vs the Orange of the Netherlands, should go down as one of the greatest finals.

Yes: The entire 120 Mins.

For on that day at Soccer City Johannesburg, the world was treated to a festival of what soccer/football is, can be and what it ought not be.

Yet, in those short 120 Mins, the extravaganza managed to squeeze in one of the most taxing quagmires facing Sepp Blatter and all those involved in governing the world's most watched event and most followed sport... 

Should goal line technology be introduced? Does a third referee 'big brother', you might call him, have a place in the centuries old game. A game in which Sepp Blatter reckons  that  "human error is part of ?

These questions, still beg for answers.

All considered, little wonder then; that in spite of the Netherlands  making it a hat- trick of World Cup final disappointment, the second ranked footballing nation- according to the latest FIFA world rankings, felt like, and were treated as winners by the jubilant euphoric Dutch population on their return from the finals.

Thinking about it, it is an open secret in the round world of football, the immense influence that the Dutch brand of 'Total Football' has had on the game of the winners on the night- Spain.

World Cup Quote of the day

"I bought one and went to test it, " offered former Lyon man Juninho. " The ball requires a little practice, but it is delicious, It's a poor excuse"

Brazilian Juninho lambasting those vocal about the love-to-hate Jabulani ball. Among many things including Brazil's & France's failures at the World Cup.

***Keep checking for A.S.I Sportswire's soon to be published FIFA 2010 South Africa Souvenir e-book, that will be available for FREE download on this site***

More articles on FIFA 2010 World Cup

• Clash of the Titans: Netherlands vs Spain

2010 World Cup Kick's Off: African Dreams Realised, Mandela to Miss Opening Ceremony

2010 World Cup Kick's Off: African Dreams Realised, Mandela to Miss Opening Ceremony

On the eve of South Africa 2010: 24 Hrs to the Start Of the World Cup.

 1 Day, 54 mins to the the start of The 2010 FIFA World CUP in South Africa

There will be so many words said and written about this World Cup. Already it has a stellar cast of superlatives each aimed at exhaling its uniqueness. As you might as well know, History, is at stake fellow fans.

And as with every record of history, it is fair to the Victorious side. This World Cup is no different.

To Africa, a stage to show case the strides its people have taken. To play host, literary so, to the World.

To the world, the 2010 South Africa World Cup, offers a chance to show viability. The chance to flourish even in unfamiliar
territory.


To all involved, its the hypnotizing allure of standing tall and be celebrated by the whole world that is on offer. To catch a sniff of that moment if you can. You can be what ever you want to be .... be a fan, be a hater, be a journalist, be a security guard, be a referee...After all, it is a world cup. The most watched event in Humanity. South Africa 2010 will have an estimated 40, 000, 000, 000 viewers cumulatively by the time the tournament winners are known one month from tomorrow, June 11th 2010.

As the teams prepare, coaches patch up the nitty gritty,  players try to get into the right frame of mind, team psychologists make use of their science, medical staff work miracles to keep injuries away..Basically all that goes into making sure that a set of 11 capable and ready players turn up on the pitch, the twelfth player is also getting ready.

"You don't swear at them, do you?.......That's the answer to that. In this day and age I think it's important to show the referees some respect. You don't use any language because then you'll be booked and the whole team suffers. You don't want to fall into that trap.''

Steven Gerrard, advising his England teammates on matters of fair play. In particular reference to Wayne Rooney's temperament.

Kind words from the man who shoulders the responsibility of leading the England team not only out of the dug-out when they face USA in their first match at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, but also to glory replicating the success of the 1966 English World Cup side. That is, if reports emanating from South Africa are true.

Though FIFA denies its existence, it is emerging that the Brazilian referees officiating over the England- USA match, have been handed a list of swear words in English (rumored to be about 20 words), In my opinion a short list, but as referee Roberto Braatz  explained,

"We can't do this in 11 different languages, but at least we have to know the swear words in English."

Earlier his colleague linesman Altemir Hausmann had note that as referees they new they had to endure a bit of the lash- back from the tension of the matches, as Wayne Rooney demonstrated on Monday sometimes action needs to be taken when certain thresholds are broken.

As you might as well know, during the England's World Cup preparation match, against a local South African side, Platinum Stars, Rooney earned a yellow for his barrage of abuses aimed at referee Jeff Selogilwe.

Talking to reporters after the match he said,

"Rooney insulted me,"..... "He said, 'F*** you' ".........."He must learn to control his temper. He could get sent off in the World Cup, especially if he uses this kind of language."......

Meanwhile....

Africa Hopes: Nigeria and Ghana Stars Bullish about their team Prospects in  2010 World Cup.

After a series of  heartbreak after heart break for African supporters in this years World Cup with the sequential loss of  the Chelsea trio, Ghana's Micheal Essien & John Obi Mikel of Nigeria with Didier Drogba hoping for a speedy recovery from his broken arm; two eminent footballers from the continent have spoken separately offering hope with their bullish Sentiments.


Ahead of Nigeria's first tie in the 2010 World Cup against Lionel Messi's Argentina, a recall of World Cup history is necessary. The last time Nigeria and Argentina were in the same World Cup group, 1994 USA World Cup, despite being debutant, Nigeria went on to top the group. Nwankwo Kanu. Nigeria's Olympic hero drawing from his 33yrs of experience and  his 4 previous games against Argentina is expecting a tight one

"You know, it is always very close any time we play them at the top level. It is either 2-1 or 1-0. I expect that on Saturday, it would also be close, but victory will be Nigeria's."

 2010 coppa Italia, Serie A & Champions league hand treble winner with  Inter Milan, Ghanaian midfielder , Sulley Muntari is backing the Ghanaian team to go all the way in the 19th edition of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Despite the blow to Milovan Rajevac side by losing former African football player of the year in Micheal Essien, Muntari echoed the feelings of his fellow Ghanaian team mates when he recently spoke to his club website.

"After what we did in 2006, expectations are sky high, we want to get out of our group and get to the semi-finals or even further,"

Arsene Wenger in his assessment of the World Cup withheld the commonly held notion that Ghanaian team is the Brazil of Africa. Muntari seems to agree with this tag as he promises that the soccer from Ghana will not only enthrall & to cap it all off; is fit for a World Cup semi- final breath at the least if not good enough to replicate the fortunes of the under 20 side who are the current World Champions.

Sports news

Hello and welcome to A.S.I sportswire the home of athleticism , skill and intelligence. Here, your thirst for sports news will be quenched, your understanding of the game will be broadened by the depth of our analysis of sports events and notwithstanding our quest to entertain our readers.
At this moment, we would like to request for your patience as our engine is still revving up.However, being who we are: lovers of the game, addicts of the adrenaline rush and believers in honor, glory and victory , we have prepared snippets of the latest in the world of sports. Indulge.... 

Soccer:

Full coverage of the FIFA 2010 South Africa World cup starting with the ongoing friendly matches. Today France struggled to a 1-1 draw with Tunisia while England needed two own goals to see off a struggling Japan 3-1.  

Formula 1  

The Turkey Aftermath: The Redbulls  appear to have the faster machine early on in the season.Probably in testament of the dominance of the Redbull car, Mark Weber claimed his sixth straight pole in Turkey. However, Mclaren seem to be the team that is getting the right balance between man, machine and management . Proof ? Starting the race behind the Redbull of Mark Weber, Lewis Hamiliton claimed his first win  leading the 1-2 finish for Mclaren in Turkey. Lewis Hamilton is top of  the driver's standing for now with his team mate, fellow compatriot & defending world champion, Jensen Button, pushing the Mclaren inter-team rivalry a notch higher. Meanwhile karma visited the Redbull team- another freak accident snatched the much coveted maiden, victory, from the hands of Mark Weber.Turkey wasn't bad for every one though, as all time great Micheal Schumi managed his highest finish since his return to the sport missing a podium finnish with a fourth place.

Rugby: 15's:

Twickenham; England power over Barbarians 35- 26 as they prepared for their tour of New Zealand and Australia.

Rubgy 7's

Season curtains close as Samoa win the Edinburgh league and the season as well. Samoa, the newly crowned circuit champions, who won the final match 41-14 were led by three try hero Mikaele Pesamino. Pesamino  took his personal tally for the season to fifty six. Wales did a "Mclaren" on Kenya when they came from behind to claim the bowl title 26-10. Kenya the second ranked seven a side team in Africa behind South Africa, had taken the battle to Wales via two quick tries by Humphrey Khayange before wales responded in kind.