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Bolivia & Great Britain

On July 27, 2012, all eyes of the world will be on London, host the Olympic Summer Games. Since then, the Parade of Nations has become one of the most beautiful events: 205 nations and dependencies with their Goodwill Ambassadors and sporting heroes -from the tiny island of Guam (where America’s days begins!), Africa’s South Sudan (globe’s newest country), and the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan to the United States of America and Bolivia, a country in the heart of the South American continent.

When Bolivia’s Olympic team, one of Earth’s smallest delegations, begins to march into the London Olympic Stadium, with its top athlete (probably will be Claudia Balderrama, a female race walker) carrying the national flag – the traditional red, yellow and green tricolor, I will remember two things: By the second half of the 1860s, Queen Victoria, among the most powerful women in history, abolished Bolivia from her world map after England’s ambassador to La Paz, the country’s capital, had been humiliated by Bolivia’s notorious dictator Mariano Melgarejo. Secondly, the South American country has not produced many of the globe’s foremost Olympian athletes, but it had one of the best Olympic leaders in the whole history of sport. His name: Jose Gamarra Zorrilla, who was lionized by several foreign governments, from Taiwan and America to the Soviet Union and Mexico.

Bolivia– Birthplace of Jose Gamarra Zorrilla

This landlocked republic of 10 million people, an independent country since the 1820s, is home to the Lake Titicaca– one of the natural wonders on the Planet- the ruins of Tiawanacu – remnants of a past civilization and called the «Athens of South America» – and also birthplace of prominent personalities: Grammy Award-winning artist Jaime Laredo (among the few Latinos to win the American award), who popped up in the 60s and 70s as one of the most respected violinists in the Western Hemisphere. Jaime Escalante Gutierrez, who was immortalized in the film «Stand and Deliver» and was awarded the Presidential Medal for Excellence in Education by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. Other noted personality was Bolivia’s literary magician Alcides Arguedas, among the most gifted authors writing in the Spanish language. To many Bolivians, America’s actress Raquel Welch Tejada, whose eternal beauty has become a «top secret», is a «Bolivian». Why? Welch’s father was Bolivian (Armando Carlos Tejada Urquizo, an Americanophile).

On the other hand, the nation’s capital, La Paz, is the world’s highest capital. This wonderful land, more than twice the area of California-The Golden State, is famed for its mountains of great beauty (where you can ski like at Insbruck, Austria!) and wild-life national parks, as well as its traditional dance and music. But at the same time, unfortunately, its history is known for its notorious dictators as Melgarejo… and its status as one of the two poorest and least developed places on the American mainland since the late 1890s—life expectancy is among the lowest in the developing world.

With this political backdrop, the country’s sport hadn’t a chance to develop an Olympian system until 1970. Yet despite all that, in the 1940s, this sparsely-populated land produced an outstanding all-around athlete called Julia Iriarte, —«Latin America’s Fanny Blankers-Koen» and considered to be the greatest Bolivian athlete of all time— who captured the attention of many Latinos when she picked up a total of eight medals in the multi-sport Bolivarian Games -a kind of South American Olympics-in the Peruvian capital of Lima in 1947: five gold ( 80m hurdles, shot put, discus throw, high jump, long jump) and three silver (50mts, 400m relay, and javelin throw). Despite a lack of professional training, this «super-woman» had the distinction of being one of the first women to win eight medals in a single international event.

A Sporting Revolution in Bolivia

By the early 1970s, Jose Gamarra Zorrilla was appointed chairman of the Bolivian Olympic Committee (COB), in a landlocked republic with a monumental indifference to sports. From then on, he, with a spirit of self sacrifice, worked whole his life to improve the sport in his motherland.

This rich-mineral country appeared to emerge from its worst Olympic history when Mr. Gamarra persuaded Bolivia’s head of state Hugo Banzer Suarez, who ruled between 1971 and 1978, to stimulate sport and to transform the republic into an «Olympian nation». Happily, he not failed to sell the idea to Banzer. At that time, the President appointed to his cabinet people from politics, diplomacy, and business rather than the military. On October 3, 1973, a government decree was promulgated, giving sport official status and guaranteed federal backing. In fact, Gamarra was inspired by France’s Baron de Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the Modern Games and whose ideas revolutionized the world toward the end of the 19th Century.

Against all odds, Gamarra, an economist-turned-sports leader, had tried to maintain the government’s interest in the cause of sport. However, it was a difficult mission: sport was not a top priority for Latin America’s military rulers with the exception of Argentina’s 1976-1982 military dictatorship. When the Uruguayan warlords came to power in the 70s and 80s, the country’s performance had declined in soccer global after capturing two FIFA World Cup tournaments -with a kind of sporting immortality following a victory over the host Brazilians in the finals in 1950– and two Olympic championships in the first half of the Twentieth Century, while Augusto Pinochet’s Chile sent symbolic delegations to the Games, and Mr. Alfredo Stroessner’s government was not able to host the 1982 Women’s Basketball World Cup in Paraguay, in the wake of being named as host in the late 1970s.

Immediately after assuming the presidency of the National Olympic Committee, Gamarra made quick steps to set up a new sporting system, sending athletic delegations to the Summer Olympics (Munich’72 and Canada’76) and Pan American Games (Mexico City’75). Nonetheless, one of his major projects was intensified government efforts to promote physical education and sports in public schools, changing attitude toward sport and paving the way to the nation’s Olympian future. Then, he helped La Paz to hold the 1977 Bolivarian Games, staging the greatest event in Bolivarian history. This Spanish-speaking republic had made some attempts to host the Games – a multi-sport event for competitors from six countries since 1938– in the mid-1950s and 1970.

Women’s Rights

Sport and women’s rights cannot be separated. For this reason, Mr. Gamarra encouraged the treatment of women as men’s equals: On the one hand, he sent several female athletes to the international competitions, creating more opportunities for women’s sports in the 1970s, the «United Nations Decade of Women». With a focus on the Olympics of 1980, for example, swimmer Maria Eguia competed at the 1979 Soviet Spartakiad, becoming the first sportswoman from Bolivia to participate in a major international event. While on the other hand, Gamarra named Julia Iriarte as the person to carry the Olympic flame into the Stadium at the Opening Ceremony of the 1977 Bolivarian Games. In this regional contest, Bolivia’s sportswomen won 15 medals in aquatics, athletics, basketball, bowling, fencing, tennis, and indoor volleyball.

In many ways, he was also an extraordinary diplomat during Cold War. In the seventies, for example, this mineral-rich republic was invaded by foreign coaches at the request of Gamarra, seeking stronger preparation to the national athletes. Curiously, the country was like a virtual «Torre of Babel»: a host of coaches, advisers, and experts from America, USSR (what is now Russia), Ecuador, West Germany, Chile, Japan, Chinese Taipei, the People’s Republic of China, and Venezuela-living and working in peace and harmony. People who left lives of confort to set up an Olympian project in one of the globe’s poorest lands. Certainly, Bolivia had become the «darling of the Olympic Community».

A Tower of Babel: Americans, Soviets, and other Foreigners

Prior to the latter half of the 1970s, the future looked uncertain: From 1951 until 1973, the Latin American republic alone won five Bolivarian golds and did not compete in three Summer Olympics. During those troubled decades, had little to write about Bolivia and its champions. Although, the nation’s sportsmen and women were ill-prepared to compete against Peruvians, Colombians and Mexicans, the National Olympic Committee (NOC) participate for the first time in the Olympic-type Pan American Games at Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada) in 1967. In the regional tournaments, on the other hand, its competitors were absent for several decades or they finished in the last place –with the lowest time ever recorded in the South American competitions, from track and field to gymnastics and weightlifting. Nonetheless, in 1977 the country had a reason for celebration for the first time.

At the Bolivarian Games on home soil in October 1977, the host country made history after winning 71 medals (15 gold, 17 silver, and 39 bronze) and with outstanding athletes as Edgar Cueto (cycling), Betty Saavedra (women’s basketball), Walter Quiroga (shooting), and Antonieta Arizaga, regarded the greatest Bolivian ever to compete in women’s swimming. Astonishingly, there were wins in non-traditional sports for Bolivians: The delegation added golds in martial art (Jaen Young Kim Song) and boxing with the giant Walter Quisbert—defeating candidates of Venezuela, a powerhouse in judo and boxing. But this achievement was not simply a «miracle». For these Games, Banzer’s regime built one of Latin America’s best Olympian stadiums, while most of the nation’s athletes and coaches went abroad, with the goal of winning international experience. Since then, Mr. Gamarra, chairman of the Organizing Committee for the 1977 Games, was a key figure behind Bolivia’s performance.

Thanks to his innovative style and excellent diplomacy,Mr Gamarra, an American-trained economist, persuaded the anti-Communist Banzer -who reinvented himself as a democratic candidate in the 1980s and was elected president in 1997– to «establish sporting ties» with some Socialist nations. Results: The Soviet World sent six coaches to La Paz. That was one of the several memorable moments this sports leader had given her impoverished country. Gamarra absolutely did not know the word «fail». Some years ago, Banzer severed diplomatic and consular relations with the USSR and expelled 119 Soviet diplomats. During Cold War, the Kremlin had difficult ties with the Latin American continent (with the exception of Cuba’s Fidel Castro).

Although the Andean regime had had a rocky unstable relationship with Chile in the 1970s, a Chilean coach went to the Bolivian capital to work with the equestrian national team. Meanwhile, the women’s volleyball squad left La Paz for Santiago to play Chilean squads.

Since then, Gamarra found a good friend in the States. In the period 1966-1967, he served as a Bolivian consul in the U.S. During his sports administration, Washington had agreed to give Bolivia seven experts and one of them was Mr. Arthur Duran, who coached some of basketball’s top players in the mountainous country. To help the Andean nation to build its sporting system, Donald Howorth spent two years working with girls and boys. By mid-1978, the U.S. women’s junior basketball team made a short tour of La Paz to play the Bolivian national side.

But Gamarra also put his eyes on the island of Taiwan, a country hungry for international recognition after being ousted from the United Nations (1971) — At the time, the tiny Asian nation of Taiwan was an Olympian nation with some notable stars in international sports since the 1960s (among them Chi Cheng and UCLA-educated C.K.Yang). Within a few months, two Taiwanese coaches made a trip to the Andean capital to help train the swimmers and volleyball players of Bolivia.

Historically, the South American republic had never won a swimming medal in the international events during more than half a century, but the underdog Antonieta Arizaga became the first Bolivian (male or female) to accomplish that feat when she won the gold medal at the 1977 Bolivarian Games. Swimmer Arizaga was in a state of shock after hearing her name as the winner in the women’s 100m breaststroke. Then, her victory set off a wave of explosive celebration in the Bolivian delegation and her officials. The breaststroke specialist added silver in the 4x100m medley relay, which was not to be sniffed at (along with her fellow sportswomen Maria Eguia, Ruth Lino and Alejandra Garcia). But there were other athletic feats thanks to Chinese Taipei, a leaf-shaped island on the China Sea. At that time, the Andean government was one of only three South American states -Paraguay and Uruguay were the others– to maintain close ties to Taiwan rather than China.

Proud Years: 1978 & 1979

As early as 1978, Gamarra’s profile on the world stage was raised when he became the father of the First South American Games on Bolivian soil despite a military coup against Banzer and other troubles. Meanwhile, more than 100 medals were won by the host Bolivians, finishing in third in the medals totals by country.

One of the greatest moments in the history of Bolivian sport occurred in these Games. The basketball women’s squad came into their home nation’s South American Games as one of the most inexperienced teams in the continent, however, they made history when the national side won the silver medal following an emotional win over Argentina (74-56), capturing a ticket for South America at next year’s FIBA Championship in the Republic of Korea and Pan American Games in the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico. Before that win, the country had not captured a medal in any South American Tournament but soccer (1963).

The national basketball hero Betty Saavedra and her teammates celebrated like high school kids, after their victory over Argentina’s sportswomen. Aside from winning a silver medal, the delegation became the first Bolivian team to win a berth in the World Championships. That was why the victory was so special for them. In the final ceremony, the captain Saavedra received the trophy from Mr.Gamarra Zorrilla, a lifelong sports fan. Averaging 18 point a game, the smaller Saavedra (1,61m tall) had helped the national side win the VIII Bolivarian Games a year ago after being elected as one of the most prominent basketball players in the regional championship in the Peruvian capital of Lima.

After becoming the first Bolivian squad in history to winning an international spot, the women’s team won two matches on South Korean soil– against Malaysia and Senegal (African champs). Before that, they were into the «Group of Death» with Canada, Netherlands and the host country and were eliminated in the first phase.

To prepare for the VIII Pan American Games on Puerto Rico, Miss Guadalupe Yañez and her fellow sportswomen were on a tour of Taiwan in May, where also participating in the famous William Jones Tournament-all paid for by the Taiwanese regime. In a basketball world filled with giant players, the smaller Guadalupe Yañez (1,60m tall) became one of the four best players in the Puerto Rican event, alongside some of the most famous female stars as Carol Turney of Canada and Hortencia Marcari from Brazil. Her performance served as an inspiration for her countrywoman Maria Ortuno, the most outstanding athlete in the 1980 Junior South American Championship in the neighboring Peru.

On the other hand, one of Gamarra’s last projects occurred in this year and in February 1980. Against all odds, he and Sergei Parlov, Chairman of the Sports Committee of the USSR and President of the NOC of the USSR, sign an sporting agreement in Moscow in behalf of sport in the former Spanish colony; Gamarra was the highest-profile Bolivian official to visit the Soviet Union since the two countries cut diplomatic ties in the early 1970s. Later on, the nation’s athletes were welcomed to Moscow to compete in the Spartakiad, a multi-sport event where more than 10,000 athletes from the republics of the USSR and 50 countries participated (Eastern Bloc states, USA, Western Europe, Japan, and many nations in the developing world); it was the largest multi-sport event on Earth in the 1970s.

While the United States of America secured its place in sports history when its hockey team -made up of highly gifted players– scored a major upset over the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid (NY), Mr. Gamarra encouraged three alpine skiers to participate in New York -the country’s first winter Olympic appearance since the mid-1950s, in a time when Brazil had not yet competed in the Winter Games. Billy Farwing Avaroa, Victor H. Ascarrunz, and Scott Sanchez Saunders were the members of the nation’s very small contingent of skiers in the States.

It was while Yañez and her fellow teammates competed in Puerto Rico after a tour of Far East, Mexico, and the States, that the country was on the brink of chaos. Between July 21, 1978 and November 1, 1979, there were five rulers ( and many attempted coups), among them Victor Gonzales Fuentes, Juan Pereda, David Padilla, Walter Guevara, and Alberto Natusch. Then, Lidia Gueiler Tejada -Raquel Welch’s relative– became President of the Provisional Council and Head of State, against a backdrop of violence. Two days prior to the Opening Ceremony of the Games of the XXII Olympiad, on July 17, 1980, the left-wing Gueiler government ended with a coup by General Luis Garcia Meza. In the meantime, thousands of people -including much-needed professionals– fled to neighboring countries -including Peru, Chile, Argentina–Western Europe and North America.

The Face of Bolivian Sport

With some international medals and training in the altitude of La Paz, runner Johnny Perez became one of Bolivia’s top athletes in the late 1970s. Thus, he had been seen as the first Bolivian with a real chance to go Moscow’80. By 1978, he revealed emotion upon hearing the Bolivian national anthem after capturing his third gold medal at the First South American Games. Perez was hoping to become an Olympian runner one day after missing the Montreal Summer Games in the mid-1970s. His dream was to compete with stars as Sebastian Coe of the UK, John Walker of New Zealand or perhaps with the world record holder Filbert Bayi of the African republic of Tanzania. Perez’s last opportunity to realize this dream came in 1980. However, he could not compete in the Games. All his work had gone down the drain. Thirty-two years later, Perez is still one of the nation’s most-loved sports heroes, especially in his hometown city of Sucre.

Despite his success in the national sport (for the first time international medals in equestrian, judo, swimming; agreements with West Germany, Mexico and other important countries on the world stage; a physical culture in the public schools), Gamarra had not a good year in 1980 when a new rule came to power.

Seeking to denigrate his Olympian career, the new left-wing government boycotted his administration, destroying one of the most ambicious sporting projects in the Spanish-speaking world. In complete violation of the Olympic Charter, the Andean ruler refused to recognise Gamarra Zorrilla as chairman of Bolivian Olympic Committee (COB). In fact, his sporting career came to a sudden end.

Latin America’s Greatest Olympic Leader

After Moscow’s officials made a visit to La Paz to lobby for Bolivia’s participation in the 1980 Summer Games, the National Olympic Committee had planned to send athletes. Nonetheless, the Andean government declined to compete at the 1980 Games, ending months of speculation and reversing most of Gamarra’s sporting policies. Since then, it was a revenge because Mr. Gamarra was a sports leader during Hugo Banzer’s anti-Communist dictatorship. From then on, things were getting worse for the nation’s sport.

During their Bolivian trip, the Soviet authorities offered to subsidize the sending of a national contingent (athletes, coaches, and officials). That offer was also extended to many developing countries, including Afghanistan, Costa Rica, Laos, Peru, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

Three years later, Bolivia’s left-wing leader Hernan Siles Suazo refused to send an athletic contingent to the IX Pan American Games, ushering a long period of decline.

Certainly, Mr. Jose Gamarra Zorrilla could have been president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), but he retired from the Bolivian Olympic Committee in 1982, following a sporting career that spanned more than 10 years, after raising money and lobbing for his project in Russia, Japan, Taipei, America, Switzerland, and in the Burned Palace (Bolivia’s Presidential Palace). Because of his unwavering support of the Olympic Movement, the IOC conferred him the bronze medal in the Olympic Order in 1978. He, who professed great love for the Olympism, once said: «Inspired by the Olympism philosophy, we in Bolivia have succeeded, thanks to the development of sport, in preserving the peoples’ health, encouraging their competitive spirit and forming their character through struggle, a balanced approach and discipline».

Few expected him to stimulate sport in the Andean republic under the military rule of Hugo Banzer Suarez –who came to power through a coup’etat in the early 1970s– and were even more who did not believe that the country would win continental medals and international berths as occurred as the women’s volleyball side qualified for the First Junior World Cup on Brazilian soil in 1977 after training with overseas coaches.

Misunderstood in his own country, Mr. Gamarra, which shared the staged with the world’s most powerful sports leaders, passed away in the early 2000s. In this Olympic year, 2012, a tribute to an extraordinary gentleman which made much for Olympism despite a number of adverse circumstances, evoking the Olympian spirit of Baron Pierre de Coubertin. If Britain had Harold Abrahams, Bolivia had Mr. Gamarra. No Bolivian has brought greater honor to his nation than Mr. Gamarra.

Born on the fourteenth of august 1973 (17/08/1973), weighs between 70 to 74kg, and between 1.7m to 1.75m tall.

Okocha started his professional career with CCB Lions, from where he was transfer to Enugu Rangers. From Enugu He got a transfer to Eintracht Frankfurt in 1992/1993 season. Okocha made his first international debut for Nigeria in May 1993 against coted’ivoire in a qualifier match decided n Abidjan and He distinguished himself by scoring Nigeria’s only goal in a game Nigeria lost by two goals to one (2-1). In another world cup qualifier against Algeria in Lagos Okocha scored a text book free kick to level up Algeria who were a goal up. His great performance ensured a four one (4-1) victory over the Algerians. The way he was carried shoulder high by ecstatic fans showed that he was indeed the hero of the day.

The 1994 nation’s cup was another sterling performance for Okocha’s career has his performance enable Nigeria to lift the trophy for the second time. He was as selected as the member of the tournament best eleven (11).

Three month months later Okocha was with the Nigeria’s squad after inspiring Nigeria to her first ever world cup appearance. Although his performance was slow down by a foot injury as He could only play ninety (90) minutes against Italy and He was voted the man of the match in the game which sent Nigeria packing from the world cup that year. However these feats were enough to earn him a place at the Africa footballer of the year in 1994.

In spite of Okocha’s achievement in 1994, in December 1994, he was sacked alongside two of his club mate; Ghanaian Tony Yeboah and ex German international Maurizio Gaudino, for an accusation the coach Jupp Heynckes define as gross indiscipline and insubordination. The trio went their separate ways Tony Yeboah and Maurizio Gaudino departed for Leeds United and Manchester City of England Respectively. Okocha shifted base to Turkey with Turkish Champion fernerbache in a lucrative two year contract worth $4million.

Notably the highlight of his stay at Frankfurt was the 1993/1994 season when one of his goals was adjusted the goal of the season. The goal was vintage, Okocha, as he displaced four opponents including the goalkeeper (please don’t ask the name of the goalkeeper) over and over again, before flashing the ball to the net.

Okocha chose Fernerbache ahead of other offers from Spain, France and even Germany because of his desire to play alongside his national team colleague Uche Okechukwu, who had joined Fernerbache to a second position finish in Turkish championship.

Okocha tasted international glory again when He came in as a substitute in Nigeria one zero (1-0) win over Uzbekistan in the return leg of Afro Asia Cup, before the afro Asia cup, He featured for Nigeria in the US Cup and scored in the three two defeat (3-2) defeat by the United State. Okocha’s great exploit got a Turkish citizenship and lots of publicity in1997 for his contribution to the progress of Turkish football. Okocha won the Turkish championship in 1996/1997 season scoring 16 goals in 33 matches and getting a place at the UEFA Champions League, he finished as one of the highest goal scorer in 1995/1996 and 1996/1997 with 14 and 16 goals respectively.

Okocha enriched his international career by winning by winning Africa’s first ever Olympic Gold medal in soccer with Nigeria U-23 team in Atlanta in 1996 scoring a twice taken penalty against Mexico in the quarter finals.

Okocha’s exploit at France 98 world cup where he rattled and dazzled against Spain, Bulgaria and Denmark. Jay Jay was marked the player of true class every time he got the ball, he made thousand of spectators shift on their seat contemplating what magic he would spring next. It was no surprise that he was nominated into the team of the tournament, even though as substitute.

France 98 coordinating president and the present UEFA president Michel Platini describe Okocha as one of the few pure number 10 remaining in the world football.

PSG manager Alain Giresse got romance with Jay Jay when he started the move that resulted in Nigeria’s only goal against Bulgaria at the Parc De Princes in Paris which incidentally is PSG home ground. The match ended 1-0 in favor of Nigeria. Okocha became the French record transfer and became the most expensive Africa player in the last Millennium with $18million transfer from Fernerbache to PSG.

Okocha got married in 1997 to Nkechi, and his first child was given birth to when the world cup was going on in 1998. the name of the child he named Daniella. He also has a son.

He was the continent best player at the France 98 world cup, he became the second best in Africa in 1998 when the Africa footballer of the year award was given to Hadji Mustapha of Morocco.

Okocha featured in the Nigeria/Ghana 2000 nation’s cup, a superb player scoring two of Nigeria’s 4-2 demolishing of Algeria. Okocha was red carded in the quarter final tie against Senegal. He missed the semi final match against South Africa and was on target for Nigeria in the final against Cameroon, scoring Nigeria equalizer goal riffling home a rocket shot, the match ended 5-3 on penalties the Cameroonians won.

At the 2002 nations cup Okocha passes and skills must not be written off as it posses threat to the opponent although he was denied of goal, his passes and skills were felt in the matches.

With the departure and dismissal of Super Eagles key players, another team was constituted, and Jay Jay Okocha was entrusted with the captainship role. Okocha captained Nigeria to the Korea Japan 2002 world cup, although it became Nigeria’s worse world when Nigeria was grouped alongside Argentina, England, and Sweden. Nigeria finished at the bottom of the table in the group but Jay Jay Okocha’s experience and skills earn him a move to Bolton Wanderers of England.

Okocha haven mentored players like Ronaldinho, and Everton Play maker Mikel Arteta at PSG, helped Bolton from relegation contender to UEFA cup contender. He was given the captainship responsibilities after his superb first season at Bolton.

Okocha was in the premier league best five in his second season at Bolton. Players like Sorensen of Aston Villa Ray Palour and Dennis Bergkamp of Arsenal will not forget for hia free kick and great skill. He help Bolton to her first Carling cup final and to the sixth position for the first time in decades.

His performance was superb as he led Nigeria to the Tunisia 2004, scoring the CAF nations cup 1000th goal in a 4-0 demolishing of South Africa. He drive home spectacular free kicks that ensure Nigeria qualify ahead of Cameroon in the quarter final. He was nominated for the Africa footballer of the year in 2004. He was the second best player in Africa on two occasion consecutively-2004 and 2005 respectively. He was the BBC Africa footballer of the year in 2004 and 2005 respectively.

Okocha was released from Bolton alongside Fadiga, N’Gotty and Matt Jensen. He decided to move to a Qatar on a lucrative one year contract half of what Tranbzonspor had offered him. He decided to move to Qatar ahead of Wigan, Reading and Everton.

Okocha came back to England as he was signed by a lower division who are now doing well in the premier league (Hull City). Although injury has been a major set back for Jay Jay, he was with the Hull City side defeated by Chelsea in the Carling Cup. Hull City remained the only club Okocha did not score. Hull city promoted to the premier league last season. He inspired Hull City to their promotion to the premier league and left the club after their promotion. With the departure of Okocha from the national team it will be difficult to find a replacement to fill that big shoe of Okocha. Although young players like Lukman Haruna and Rabiu Ibrahim are showing great class, demonstration and the potential to be the next Super Eagles play maker. It took eight Years to find a replacement for Green Eagles Mudashiru Lawal. Osaro Obaifo, John ENE Okon, Friday Ekpo could not replace Lawal on till the arrival of Austin Okocha. How long will it take to find a replacement for this great player called Okocha who bow out of football as a player on June 27, 2008 said Waidi Akanmu?

Did You Know…

Like Un Yong Kim (South Korea), Sheik Fahad Al-Sabah (Kuwait) and Joao Havelange (Brazil), José Gamarra Zorrilla was one of the best Olympic leaders in the Third World. He played a major role in promoting the values of sports in Bolivia and Latin America. José dedicated his life to fight against indifference to sports and the deplorable condition of the athletes in Bolivia. His country is one of the Third World`s poorest countries. Furthermore, Bolivia has had a record 194 attempted coups. However, under his leadership, several international congress and events were organized in La Paz, Cochabamba, Oruro and Santa Cruz de la Sierra. José was president of the Organizing Committee of the La Paz Bolivarian Games (1977) and for the South American Games in Bolivia (1978). As president of the Bolivian Olympic Committee (1970-1982), he led Bolivia to the best result ever in its history: 106 medals in the South American Games. He headed the Bolivian delegation at the Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. Many South Americans consider José Gamarra Zorrilla as the greatest South American Olympic leader of the 20th century.

This country had great sportspersons: Mario Martinez (tennis), Alan Saunders (nordic skiing), Milton Coimbra (football), Maria Ortuno (basketball), Giovanna Morejon Irusta (athletics), Ramiro Benavides (tennis), Anthony Iglesias (diving), Johnny Pérez (athletics), Scott Sanchez Saunders (nordic skiing), Oswaldo Morejon (track and field), William Arencibia (taekwondo), Erwin Sánchez (football), Ricardo Ramos (nordic skiing), Guadalupe Yañez (basketball), Betty Saavedra (basketball), Juan Rodrigo Camacho (athletics), Marco Etcheverry (football), Katherine Moreno (swimming), Roberto Nielsen Reyes (equestrian) and Billy Farwing Aranoa (nordic skiing).

Bolivia sent 7 sportspeople to the Winter Olympic Games in 1988. The South American skiers were Manuel Aramayo, Guillermo Avila Paz, Jaime Bascon, Jorge Bejarano, Enrique Montaño, Pedro Tichaver and Luis Vizcarra.

Julia Iriarte is the greatest Bolivian athlete of all time. Why? She won 5 gold and 3 silver medals at the 1947 Bolivarian Games in Lima, Peru. She became the star of the Games. Her gold medals were in the 80m hurdles, discus throw, shot put, long jump and high jump. Her homecoming was a huge success . After she was invited by president Enrrique Hertzog to the Government Palace (Palacio Quemado). She also won five gold medals in the South American Athletics Championships in La Paz in 1948. Under her coach, George Voeg , she broke several national records during the 1940s. Unfortunately, she did not compete at the 1948 Olympic Games in Helsinki (Finland). She was born in Cochabamba, Bolivia on December 20, 1919 to Placido Iriarte and Clara Velasco.

Bolivia participated at the 1979 Spartakiade of the Nations of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

From 1980 to 1984, the Bolivian government destroyed the sport. The South American athletes were not allowed to compete in the Olympics in 1980. Many sportspeople who had trained for years for the Games felt great frustration. Among these athletes were: Johnny Pérez (track and field), Luis Dario Vasquez (fencing), Mary Rojas (athletics), Walter Quiroga (shooting), Linda Spents (track and field), Isidro Guarachi (boxing), Walter Quispe (boxing), Edgar Cueto (cycling), Jean Young Kim Song (judo) and Antonieta Arizaga (swimming). Ironically, the USSR -host Olympic nation- subsidized Third World’s Olympic teams (Tanzania -one of the Africa`s poorest countries- sent 41 sportspersons). For political reasons, Bolivia also did not participate in the 1983 Pan American Games in Caracas (Venezuela). For the first time since 1971, athletes from Bolivia did not took part in a Pan American. Unlike athletes from Haiti, Nicaragua, Chad and Sierra Leone ,Bolivian athletes had problems to go to Olympics Games in 1984.

Johnny Perez took part in the 1978 South American Games in La Paz, Bolivia, winning three gold medals in athletics, in 1,500m, 5,000m and 3,000m steeplechase.

The La Paz Olympic Stadium is one of the most modern in Latin America and the Caribbean. Among the athletes who have competed in the Olympic Stadium are Romario de Souza Faria (soccer/ Brazil), Joao Carlos de Oliveira (athletics /Brazil), José Luis Chilavert (soccer /Paraguay), Tito Stenier (athletics /Argentina), Edith Noeding (track and field/ Peru) and Carlos Caetano Bledron Verri (soccer/ Brazil).

Giovanna Morejon Irusta finished 16th in the 20-kilometer walk at the 2003 World Athletics Championships in Paris, France.

Katherine Moreno was one of the youngest swimmers at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul.

The Bolivian team won the silver medal at the South American Basketball Championship and qualified for the World Women’s Basketball Championship in 1978 in Seoul (South Korea). Bolivia qualified for a world tournament for the first time.The heroines were: Janeth Blanco Saavedra, Betty Saavedra Zaconeta, Daysy Chucatini Torrico, Liceo Rojas Arteaga, Norma Zambrano Siles, Elizabeth Navia Ledesma, Guadalupe Yañez Heredia, Tania Claros Vargas, Antonieta Gudmanson Torres, Judith Quiñones Miranda and Vania Claros de Justinino.

Bolivia sent only one athlete (Fernando Inchauste Montalvo/ kayak) to the Summer Olympics in 1960.

From 1971 to 1979, 500 Bolivian athletes participated in international tournaments and competitions.

Like Hortencia Maria de Fatima Marcari (Brazil) and Carol Turney (Canada), Guadalupe Yañez was one of the best basketball players in the 1979 Pan American Games in San Juan de Puerto Rico.

Erwin Sanchez was one of the most important football players in Bolivia in the 1990s.

From 1975 to 1977, more than 25 foreign coaches helped to train Bolivian sportspeople in preparation for the international competitions (Olympic Games, Bolivarian Games, Pan American Games and South American Games). The coaches were: Bornj Wangemann (athletics/ West Germany), Mike Lucero (basketball/ USA), Paul Gonzalez (basketball/ USA), Stanislav Golubkov (boxing/ USSR), Heriberto Diaz (cycling/ Mexico), Pedro Escobar (equestrian / Chile), Stanislav Spyra (fencing/ Poland), Walter Madel (fencing/ West Germany), Eduardo Virba (football/ West Germany), Dale Cutler (gymnastics/ USA), Donald Howorth (gymnastics/ USA), Pedro Ortega (gymnastics/ Mexico), Jasuhido Takasuka (judo/ Japan), Benigno Marquez (wrestling/ Venezuela), Karol Czarkoswki (weightlifting/ Poland), Wu Yu Yung (swimming/ Taiwan), Yadwiga Czarkoswka (swimming/ Poland), Adolfo Coronado (swimming/ Ecuador), Francis Conway (shooting/ USA), Nicolay Durnev (shooting/ USSR), Cselaw Gajdamovicz (volleyball/ Poland), Tien Heing Hisch (volleyball/ China), Chiu Chiao Chi (volleyball/ Taiwan) and Lin Chou Nou (volleyball/ China).

With America’s enthusiasm for wine, it seems only natural that vineyards would be a popular investment, and who better than recognizable names to go on those wine labels. Some of these well-known personalities are naturals to be partnered in the wine industry, and some might surprise you. But make no mistake, from the lush greenery of Napa Valley California to the beautiful rolling hills of Italy and southern France, vineyards can be a fascinating and challenging past-time or a full-blown industry for their owners. Here are just a handful who are participating:

Francis Ford Coppola, successful film director, has taken to the wine business like a true Italian, with the Rubicon Estate Winery in Napa Valley, (renamed Inglenook in 2011), and does some directing up there as well.

Gérard Depardieu, French movie star, has approached his career as vintner with as much enthusiasm as he would a starring cinema role. After purchasing Chateau de Tigne, Anjou, in Loire Valley, France (where else?) he has put his acting career on the back burner as he oversees his beloved vineyards.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie purchased a vineyard called Chateau Miraval in Provence, France, touting their Brangelina Rose wine; but since their split, who got the vineyard is up for grabs.

Mike Ditka, legendary football coach to the Chicago Bears, for whom it was only fitting that he partner in winemaking to serve at his steak restaurants; located in Mendocino County, California, they specialize in full-bodied red wines to be enjoyed with red meat and pork chops (Mike’s favorites). Like many celebs who simply lend their name (and their money) to vineyards, «Iron Mike» is not out picking or stomping grapes, but he does enjoy input (and tasting) from time to time.

Legendary football player Joe Montana, who partnered with longtime Beringer winemaker Ed Sbragia, created a joint venture called Montagia, (Montana, get it?) located in Napa CA.

Dan Marino, another football great, lends his name to his signature label Vintage 13 Marino Estates, in Washington state along the Columbia River. Turning out award-winning full-bodied reds, the vast vineyard is called Passing Time, and what better way than sipping your own private label after getting beat up for 17 years as the quarterback for the Miami Dolphins.

Martha Stewart announced a collaboration with the American winery Gallo to produce value-marketed wines to be sold at Kmart. Now, Martha herself doesn’t play an active role, but her name has worldwide appeal, and Martha does everything with good taste, including her moderately priced wines.

Dan Aykroyd, actor, comedian and all-around talented guy, owns and operates Dan Aykroyd Vineyards in Canada, his homeland, which produces moderately priced hearty reds and several white varieties, with Aykroyd himself an enthusiastic participant. (Yes, in spite of the climate, Canada turns out some first class wines.)

Mario Batali, celebrity Italian chef, owns a vineyard in Tuscany, Italy (where else?) named La Mozza, where he rolls up his sleeves and approaches winemaking with the same zeal as his cooking in New York City and Las Vegas.

Michael Chiarello, another celebrity chef and restaurateur in Yountville, CA actually lives on his family vineyard, features his fine wines at his restaurant Bottega, and like a good Italian, is a hands-on vintner; his small winery, Chiarello Family Vineyards, produces five estate wines from the 20-acres which he personally oversees.

Madonna, pop singer, took a different route by purchasing a vineyard in the Leelanau Pennisula of Michigan, where her parents (the Ciccones) operate this small vineyard due north of Traverse City, which bears their name. Not a place you want to live in the winter, but it produces excellent grapes in the albeit short summer months.

Fess Parker, old Davy Crockett himself, left Hollywood in the early 1970s to pursue a career in the wine and hotel business after a successful albeit short career as a raccoon hat-wearing pioneer and did very well for himself. The vineyard, in Los Olivos near Santa Barbara CA, lives on, still maintained by his family (but do they wear coonskin hats?).

Sting (popular British singer and lead vocalist for the rock group Police) spends much of his time at his vineyard Tenuta il Palagio, located in Tuscany, Italy. Sting and his wife Trudie actually make their home on the estate, which was old and deteriorated before Sting lovingly restored it and no doubt serenades those lucky grapes to help them grow. Taking an active role in turning out fine wines, he tells those vines, «I’ll be Watching You,» and no doubt he is.

Of course, no list would be complete without Thomas Jefferson, third president of the U.S. Not only was he America’s first foodie but a major collector and importer of fine French wines. Until the early 1800s, most Colonists were making and drinking hard apple cider but Jefferson was a major contributor to America’s love affair with wine. While Jefferson himself never was actually in the business, he served and oversaw his imports with great care and was certainly a connoisseur of fine wines, preparing America for its wine revolution to come decades later, and we thank him.

So next time you’re in a wine shop, you might want to take a few minutes to peruse the shelves, ferreting out some overlooked celebrity offerings. You just might be pleasantly with surprised new discoveries.

Creating beautiful, functional architecture and installation art out of fabric is a phenomenon of the modern age. It is only in the past 100 years that fabric has been used for large structures such as bridges, domes, as well as canopies, shelters, and buildings. Unlike materials such as stone or wood, fabric is flexible and dynamic, adding an extra dimension to artistic works. Artists and architects all over the world have chosen to use fabric for its unique, expressive features.

1. Colombia

At a busy roundabout in Cucuta, Colombia, a pedestrian bridge constructed from bamboo and fabric was installed in 2009. Likely the largest bamboo and tensioned fabric structure ever built, the bridge has become well-known, even winning an Award for Excellence from the Industrial Fabrics Association International. A defining part of Cucuta’s urban landscape, the bridge is popular with the city’s residents.

2. New Zealand

Artist Anish Kapoor creates art for both permanent and temporary installation. One of his most stunning permanent pieces resides at ‘The Farm’, an outdoor art gallery near Auckland, New Zealand. The bright red fabric sculpture is 84 meters long, weighing in at over 90,000 kilograms. It consists of two 25 meter steel ellipses, one aligned horizontally and one vertically. These are connected and covered by PVC coated polyester fabric that weighs 7,200 kilograms on its own. A special cut was made in the hillside to hold the sculpture. When it is looked through, the sculpture gives the viewer a kaleidoscopic way to see the surrounding countryside.

3. South Africa

The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa was constructed for the 2010 football World Cup. Port Elizabeth is called the ‘Windy City’ because of its location on the coast, and the fabric stadium was built specifically to protect fans from the local elements. It is a handsome, open-air structure with translucent fabric sides, meant to allow natural light through to the inner space. The fabric is Teflon, because it is easy to maintain and lasts a long time. 22,000 square meters of Teflon were used.

4. United States

The work ‘Surrounded Islands’ was created in 1983 by Christo and Jeanne-Claude, a married couple who design environmental works of art. The islands surrounded were in Biscayne Bay, near the coast of Florida. 603, 850 square meters of pink polypropylene fabric was used to cover the coastlines of 11 islands. The fabric was left in place for two weeks so the public could admire the artwork. Before the islands were surrounded, workers for the project spent about a year cleaning up rubbish from each land mass and its surrounding waters.

Asian Handicap Soccer Betting is very popular among Asian countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong and Thailand. Lately, it has become more popular in Europe and US. Gone were the days where punters place their bet through telephones with their local bookies. There are still people resorting to the traditional ways of betting but more and more people, especially the younger generation who is well verse of the internet, has shifted to online soccer betting.

In Asian handicap soccer betting, the question to ask is «How many goal will Team A beat Team B» rather than «Home Win, Draw or Away Win». The stronger team will give goal handicap to the weaker team. This eliminate the disadvantages of the weaker team, so both team will start the game on «equal» condition. The goal handicap given are based on criteria such as current team performance, home ground advantage, starting eleven and injury to star or important player.

Let’s look at the 2 examples of Asian handicap soccer betting.
1) Manchester United vs Barcelona
Let’s say Man Utd gives Barcelona 0.5 goal handicap.
To get the outcome of your bet you will have to take the final score and subtract the handicap given.
So if the final score is Man Utd beat Barcelona 2-1. We subtract 0.5 from Man Utd 2 goals, so the outcome is Man Utd beat Barcelona 1.5-1.

2) Brazil vs Colombia
Let’s say Brazil gives Colombia a 1 goal handicap.
The final score is 3-2. When we subtract 1 goal from Brazil 3 goals the outcome of Brazil vs Colombia is 2-2. Therefore, you neither win nor lose your bet.

Football is one of the finest sporting activities fancied globally. The fun of the game is heightened, especially by the numerous leagues and championships. Anti-sports citizens in a country magically fall in love with the football game when they see their fellow countrymen adorned in their national colors determined to play enthusiastically for their homeland. The most succinct part of the football game that can break the heart of supporters and football enthusiasts is the taking of a penalty kick. In fact, it is one of the most high-pressure situations that sometimes leave an entire nation glued to the screen of a television set! When a team gets that opportunity to win via penalty shootout and is missed, the pain that ensues is very unbearable. The aftermath pain or guilt is normally placed on the player who kicked the penalty, the coach who selected the penalty kicker, and sometimes on the entire team. However, when a football team plays a football game and the team loses the match on penalties, who should bear the ultimate blame?

Generally, penalty kickers are ultimately blamed for missing penalty kicks. The furious supporters vent their rage on the player and sometimes extend it to their innocent family members. Such was the case of the recent Senegalese and Liverpool star, Sadio Mane. After missing the all-important penalty kick against Cameroon, angry supporters ransacked his house and that of his relatives, destroying their property and other belongings. As a result, his family members had to seek refuge from the security personnel in the country for fear of loss of their lives. A similar situation happened in Ghana when the captain of the Black Stars failed to bury the game by scoring the last- minute penalty kick against Uruguay to take the team to their first semi-final in the 2010 FIFA world cup. The player and his family were hooted at, bitterly insulted and humiliated by some angry Ghanaian supporters. Unfortunately, some players had to pay with their lives as it happened to Andre Escobar of Colombia for scoring an own goal in the 1994 World Cup! These untold pains vented on penalty kickers are very disgusting, inhumane, cowardice and a misunderstanding of the essence of the sporting activity.

Football, like any other sporting game, is supposed to be a recreational activity. It is aimed at bringing unity amongst people and cultures. The nature of the game’s competitiveness, demands that one team wins and the other loses. This is part of the rudiments of the football game. Thus, when a team misses a penalty kick by one of their players, the blame and guilt must not be vented on the player, neither should it be placed on the shoulder of anyone. Winners of penalty kicks are just fortunate and lucky persons. Scoring a penalty kick is not a yardstick to evaluate the football skills and expertise of a player. After all, some of the world’s greatest footballers of all time have missed important penalty kicks. Classic examples are that of the Italian Roberto Baggio, who missed a penalty kick decider in the 1994 world cup as well as the French, Michel Platini’s penalty miss against Brazil in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Did the penalty kick miss of these iconic figures in the football sporting game make them less talented or skillful in the game? Certainly not! It would be unjust and an act of betrayal on the part of supporters of teams and nations to be furious against penalty kickers, coaches, or the entire football-playing teams.

It must be reckoned that players who missed penalty kicks already bear personal guilt which imposes heavy burdens on them. For instance, Roberto Baggio still can’t forgive himself of the penalty kick he missed in the past two decades and over! Ghana’s captain Asamoah Gyan has vowed not to take penalty kicks as a result of the deep scar his penalty miss at the 2010 World Cup has left in his heart! Therefore, why should supporters and fans of the football game aggravate their pain by taking injurious actions against the lives, personalities, families and possessions of penalty kickers, their coaches as well as their entire teams?

Supporters of the game must always remember to exhibit the spirit of unity, solidarity, and communalism to the entire team and support them in thick and thin moments. Of course, true and patriotic supporters of the football sporting game must rejoice with their teams when they win and more importantly weep with them, as it were when their teams lose. The aftermath pain and guilt that comes as a result of the heartache of a penalty miss must be borne by all- the playing team and supporters. This would help in deepening the essence of the football sporting game as a recreational activity aimed at fostering unity amongst the diverse people and cultures of the world.

I love football. Every year I eagerly await the fall season not just for the cooler weather and the change of color on the leaves of the trees, but also because it means the start of the football season as well. Anticipation builds inside me at the thought of watching my team take the field once again and make a run for the top spot in their division.

I’ve been a fan of the game, and the same team, for decades. I have watched the players, the teams, and even the football industry evolve and change over time. American football has remained one of the most exciting and beautiful games in all of professional sports. For all its appeal, just how and where did American football originate? All sports have their beginnings and what I found out left me appreciating the game even more.

During the early 1800’s a popular game known as rugby, where a football is kicked at a goal and run over a line, had its beginnings at the famous Rugby Boy’s School in England. Around the same time in America, the emergence of a game called «ballown,» similar to Rugby, was played by a group of students from Princeton. East coast prep schools like Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, and Rutgers College also competed in football-type games. At that time these early games resembled the more traditional «mob football» style played in England. The rules were simple with large numbers of players trying to advance the ball into a goal area usually by any means necessary. By 1855 manufactured inflatable balls were being used as football evolved into a kicking and running game.

Since there weren’t many rules established, violence and injury were common due to the roughness of the game. The increasing brutality of the game became such a public concern because of so many injuries and deaths, that some universities banned it. President Theodore Roosevelt even threatened to ban the game and urged Harvard, Princeton, and Yale to help make changes or lose the sport. Eventually the Intercollegiate Football Association was formed by representatives of Harvard, Columbia, and Princeton to establish a new code of rules mainly based on the rugby games.

The man responsible for shaping American football as we know it today was Walter Camp. He enrolled at Yale in 1876 and led the IFA’s rules committee. He proposed reducing the number of players from 15 to 11. He helped establish the line of scrimmage and the snap from center to quarterback. Camp also proposed that teams be required to advance the ball a minimum of five yards within three downs. More changes were instituted like the reduced size of the playing field, scoring rules, and game time. By 1887 a paid referee and an umpire were mandated for each game and tackling below the waist was allowed. In 1889 officials were given whistles and stopwatches. The forward pass, one of the most important changes in the game, didn’t become legal until 1906.

Although the rules were changing, football continued to be played violently in the style of the earlier mob games. Changes had to be made to make the game safer. These changes were discussed on December 28, 1905 by sixty-two schools who met in New York City. Eventually the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) was formed as a result. Over a century later college football continues to thrive as one of the most popular collegiate games. After the demise of the IFA, the American Professional Football Association was formed in 1920. The association was later reorganized and in 1922 renamed the National Football League.

Who can don’t forget the eccentric Colombian soccer player Carlos (Pibe) Valderrama? Pibe or the child turned into firstly now not customary for his chic play, but more for his hairdo. A teen with wild long blond permed hair coupled with a mustache become frolicking around on the Colombian and later world soccer fields. He failed to score a lot but his dribbles and sharp passes turned world well-liked. His trainers and coaches noticed in him a traditional striker, which he became now not. He changed into an excellent midfielder who most of the time misled his opponents by using taking part in the ball like it used to be glued to his footwear. Pibe Valderrama desired to have the liberty to play his game from the midfield. At Deportivo Cali, Pibe Valderrama eventually discovered a listening ear from the membership manager and this was once the beginning of an amazing soccer or futbol career.

In 1987, Pibe Valderrama played inside the Copa The united states and became chosen above gamers like Maradonna as participant of the match, resulting from his wonderful and unselfish play, continually launching one of his group mates with flawless passes normally leading to an aim. It became no surprise that 3 years later, Pibe Valderrama went to Italy to play his first of 3 World Cup tournaments with Colombia. He by no means transformed his hair vogue. In its place, he proudly walked and ran round with perm and dyed hair.

1994 turned into the most important 12 months in his career when he played the area Cup within the USA. He become pleasantly surprised about the undeniable fact that the stadiums were jam-packed with enthusiastic soccer watchers considering soccer seriously isn’t the #1 sporting activities there. Additionally, the standard of the grass impressed him: best and lower quickly to make certain that the ball would greater roll on the field, which changed into outstanding for his uniqueness – the pass.

End of the 80’s, Pibe Valderrama went, like many different South American soccer players, for the EU adventure. After a wonderful video game at Wembley (UK), he was offered a contract with the aid of Montpellier, an average club within the French most excellent league. Besides the fact that he before everything struggled with the eu activity, it was due to his Polish educate that he acquired to overcome this challenge and in 1990, Pibe Valderrama helped Montpellier to win the French Cup with the in shape in opposition t Sainte Etienne being the spotlight of the tournament.

In these days, it become the Spanish competition that attracted soccer gamers from world wide. Therefore, Pibe Valderrama tried his success by using playing for Factual Valladolid. Lamentably for Pibe, he did not make it and after 1 year inside the Spanish competition, he again to come back to Colombia and later to the united states to finish off his profession. Pibe Valderrama performed his final activity for the Colombian nationwide workforce in France through the World Cup in 1998. He performed a whopping 111 video games in whole for his united states. After an occupation of 22 years, Pibe bade farewell to his fans in 2004 through enjoying his final legitimate soccer online game. In front of Estadio Eduardo Santos is his statue in bronze, some thing no other soccer player has ever achieved.

Pibe Valderrama has misplaced his eccentric hair and his drooping mustache has made manner for a distinctive graying little beard, but his eyes are still laughing truly. He has under no circumstances misplaced his love for soccer. He lives in Florida at the moment where he works at the soccer academy.

Outright Odds: 8/1

Group A Winners: 4/9

Former national favourite and Tottenham Hotspur diving enthusiast Jurgen Klinsmann takes control over the next generation of German players who are keen to end 16 years of hurt and win the World Cup for a fourth time on their own soil.

Klinsmann has thrown the traditional playing style manual out of the window. Gone is the patient, tight gameplay, his teams are sent out to play a «fast-paced, attacking and very aggressive» game which has significantly improved their goal tally. However, this strategy, along with a number of inexperienced defenders (none have played at a World Cup finals before) has seen a once resolute back line concede almost as many goals as the team score at the other end.

The current squad is void of any true superstar names, with only Michael Ballack offering real world class status. Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski and Bastian Schweinsteiger hope to prove there is life after former heroes Lothar Matthaus, now-manager Jurgen Klinsmann and Andreas Moller.

While there are question marks over the defence, Schweinsteiger forms part of an outstanding midfield alongside Ballack and the more experienced Sebastien Diesler and Torsten Frings. These players will have to work hard to ensure their untested defence (bar veteran goalkeeper Oliver Kahn) does not get caught out and that a sufficient supply line meets their equally World Cup virginal strikeforce of Kevin Kuranyi and Podolski.

As always, host nations will have their critics about how ready they are to perform on the biggest stage of all after playing only friendly matches for over a year. Germany did participate in last year’s Confederations Cup which offered a decent level of competition. The Germans finished third but a 2-2 draw against Argentina and narrow 3-2 defeat against World Cup favourites Brazil suggests they are on the right track. Strikers Kuranyi and Podolski also rattled in five goals between them.

German sides appear to relish being criticised and seen as the «underdog», yet are always there or thereabouts at the business end of the tournament. Indeed, they were dumped out of the 1998 tournament in the quarter-final stage by Croatia, their worst result at the World Cup since 1958, but reached the final four years later.

Klinsmann’s side has learned to accept their limitations but combat this by working for eachother as a team. Rudi Voller lead his much-criticised Germany team to the final of the 2002 World Cup so the message here is, never write off the Germans, especially on their home turf.

Recommended Bet:

Expect Klismann’s side to come out all guns blazing during the tournament and with home advantage they should ease through the group stage. A much criticised German side reached final four years ago, so why not this time as well?

Germany to win Group A @ 4/9

E/W Germany to win the World Cup @ 7/1