Category Archives: Hot Stars, Cold Sands
Unprecedented Achievement!
I have written in the past about Lionel Messi. Like any other football fan, analyst or pundit, I am short of words to adequately describe this ‘littlel genius that God bestowed on us in the football community.
Blessed with unbelievable close control, Messi has the ability to dribble his way out of any midfield. He has mesmerized the best holding midfielders in the world and left many a defender grasping at thin air in the wake of his blistering run at goals all over Europe. His vision in creating something out of nothing can only be matched by another great, Diego Amando Maradona.
A New Beginning
Let me begin by thanking God almighty Who has kept us all alive to witness another year. Notwithstanding the challenges of life, we all must have one thing or the other to thank God for and this must be reflected with an attitude of gratitude and appreciation. In this regard, I say Happy New Year and it is my prayer that this year would be far better than the last in every facet of our lives.
That said, I think the year started on a positive note football wise with the Super Eagles playing out an enthralling draw with Catalunya. That result is more significant when one considers the fact that a makeshift Super Eagles actually gave as much they as they got to a Barcelona side (without Messi) and almost won the match had Uche kept his cool when through on goal. This was in every sense different from what we got the last time we played this aspiring and would be Nation.
World Record of Cards!
An unbelievable but true event took place yesterday in a football match involving Teniente Farina and Libertad, two local teams in Paraguay’s Junior League when a total of 36; yes, 36 red cards were issued to the 22 players on the field and others on the bench. What could be watched from the video of the fracas is better imagined than seen.
According to Daily Independent, a UK based publication “within moments, players from both sides became involved in a mass brawl in which flying kicks and punches were thrown”.
A Joy to Watch!
That Lionel Messi is the best player of his generation is no longer in doubt. If there’s still any argument about this, it should have been laid to rest with his three consecutive triumphs as FIFA best player of the year. That alone is a feat unmatched by any of the past great talents that graced the game. And this become more glaring when considers that the past two decades produced the electrifying Luis Nasario De’ Lima (a player some referred to as the Phenomenon), majestic Zinedine Zidane, sometimes unplayable Ronaldinho and unbelievably brilliant Ricardo Kaka.
Other greats include the pair of Brazillian geniuses Rivaldo and Romario. Who can forget the mercurial Lusi Figo who for me remains the best winger to have ever played the game?
