Bleacher Report - Articles by Tim Oates

Manchester United Land Serbian Duo

Tim Oates — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 00:02:41 -0500

Manchester United were the first big movers in the January transfer market in the English Premier League. Manchester United landed the Serbian pair Zoran Tošić and Adem Ljajić on the 2nd of January 2009. The combined fee is said to be £16.3m.

Zoran Tošić is a Serbian left-winger but can play either side. He has 12 caps for the Serbian national team. Tošić signs from Partizan. Tošić will be seen to be the long-term replacement for legendary Ryan Giggs. Tošić will wear the number 14 jersey. His nickname is Bambi, not due to his soft nature but his lean build.

Adem Ljajić who also comes from Partizan will be loaned back in a 12 month loan deal. Ljajić is a 17-year old attacking midfielder, he has been nicknamed "Little Kaka." Ljajić has made two appearances for the Serbian under 21 team.

With Nemanja Vidić being a real hit at Old Trafford, his fellow countrymen will be keen to follow in his footsteps.

Transfer Market Crystal Baller

Tim Oates — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 05:20:54 -0500

Step inside my lair, as I look deep inside my crystal ball for all the answers to whom your club will be buying in the January transfer market. The window of opportunity opens on the 1st January 2009 and will close at midnight on the 2nd February 2009. The window period has been extended due to the 31st of January falling on a Saturday.

Arsenal:

With Arsenal’s newly appointed captain Cesc Fabregas out for the season, it’s all about filling the void in central midfield left by the Gunner's creative genius.

The names flying around the crystal ball are Marcos Senna, Yaya Toure, Andrei Arshavin and Gökhan Inler.

Likely in: One of the trio of Yaya Toure, Andrei Arshavin and Gökhan Inler

Outrageous buy: Carlos Tevez; Alexandre Pato

Possibly out: Nicklas Bendtner, apparently Jose Mourinho’s a big admirer…I wonder if he’s watched him play.

Aston Villa:

Sheffield United defender Kyle Naughton will be going somewhere this January but where is anyone's guess. The crystal ball says Villa will get him for defensive cover as they push for a top four finish. A striker is needed.

Likely in: Kyle Naughton

Outrageous buy: Peter Crouch

Possibly out: Wayne Routledge to QPR

Blackburn Rovers:

For Big Sam it’s all about keeping hold of Roque Santa Cruz from City's greedy paws.

Likely in: Steve Finnan (Espanyol)

Outrageous buy: Bolton player

Possibly out: Robbie Fowler

Bolton:

I expect Bolton to be very busy, but no big names, lower league players. Fulham’s Jimmy Bullard is top of Megson’s wish list.

Likely in: Michael Kightly (Wolves)

Outrageous buy: Ryan Taylor (Wigan)

Possibly out: Nicky Hunt extended loan at Birmingham

Chelsea

Chelsea will be looking to bring in a stiker with the names like Adriano and Wagner Love coming up.

Likely in: Adriano and Valencia centre-back Miguel if Alex departs.

Outrageous buy: Andrei Arshavin, just because Roman Abramovich wants him.

Possibly out: Alex

Everton:

Striker, Striker, Striker! Although Cahill and a few part timers have filled the gap, the Merseyside club will be hell bent in getting a striker.

Likely in: Sylvain Ebanks-Blake (Wolves); Fabiano Santacroce (Napoli)

Outrageous buy: Michael Owen return to Merseyside

Possibly out: Andy van der Meyde—I kidding, no one wants him.

Fulham:

Roy Hodgson has a soft spot for Scandanavian players and he’ll be after Swede Rasmus Elm from Kalmar FF. On the other end of the scale he’ll be fighting tooth and nail to keep Jimmy Bullard and Brede Hangeland.

Likely in: Rasmus Elm (Kalmar FF) and Kagiso Dikgacoi (South African)

Outrageous buy: Al Fayed is unlikely to splash the cash

Possibly out: hopefully none

Hull City:

Phil Brown might have a losing battle on his hands as he inevitably loses Michael Turner. With Dietmar Hamann only picking up a handful of starting line-ups at Man City, Hamann might be on the Tiger's shopping list.

Likely in: Aruna Dindane (RC Lens); Dietmar Hamann

Outrageous buy: Fraizer Campbell

Possibly out: Michael Turner

Liverpool:

The rumours of an Alonso exit won’t materialise although Pennant and Agger might be walking out of Anfield. Shakhtar Donetsk defender, Dmytro Chygrynskiy, will be all that Rafa wants as he pushes for the title.

Likely in: Dmytro Chygrynskiy

Outrageous buy: Aaron Lennon

Possibly out: Jermaine Pennant and Daniel Agger.

Manchester City:

If you believed what you’ve read in the papers, I’d have to go through a page of names that city have been linked with.

Likely in: Fabio Grosso (Lyon) and Bafétimbi Gomis (St-Etienne)

Outrageous buy: David Villa; Iker Casillas; Gianluigi Buffon; Roque Santa Cruz;

Possibly out: Jo to CSKA Moscow

Manchester United:

Quiet times expected at Manyoo. Axel Witsel will be a great future signing. I expect a lot from Belgian footballers in the upcoming years.

Likely in: Axel Witsel

Outrageous buy: none

Possibly out: none

Middlesbrough:

Gareth Southgate might spend a lot of his January warding off suiters for Stewart Downing. Yet another Belgian prodigy in the Premiership in Steven Defour.

Likely in: Steven Defour

Outrageous buy: none

Possibly out: Adam Johnson to Real Madrid (jokes, my crystal ball isn’t broken) and Mido

Newcastle United:

The news that owner Mike Ashley is no longer selling the club might be advantageous to Joe Kinnear as stability returns to St. James Park. Fabricio Coloccini is to be joined in defence by fellow countrymen Lucas Mareque.

Likely in: Lucas Mareque

Outrageous buy: Juanito

Possibly out: Nicky Butt

Portsmouth:

Hold on to ‘em assets "Tone". If Harry sweeps for David James we might see a chain reaction of Yohann Pelé coming from Lens. Blaise Matuidi will be bought to fill the gap left by Lassana Diarra.

Likely in: Blaise Matuidi

Outrageous buy: none

Possibly out: Glen Johnson

Stoke City:

Southampton’s Andrew Surman is top of Tony Pulis' list. Watford need the cash so a bid by the Potters might be tempting.

Likely in: Andrew Surman (Southampton), Tommy Smith (Watford), Gary Caldwell (Celtic)

Outrageous buy: Manucho

Possibly out: none

Sunderland:

The crystal ball seems to be foggy since the the introduction of Ricky Sbragia. One thing's for sure, he’s not a fan of Diouf.

Likely in: none

Outrageous buy: none

Possibly out: Ross Wallace; El-Hadji Diouf; Pascal Chimbonda

Tottenham Hotspur:

Brace yourself cause this is a mind blower, Redknapp is said to be desperate to get rid of Roman Pavlyuchenko.

Likely in: Craig Bellamy, Fernando Cavenaghi, Stewart Downing

Outrageous buy: Andrei Arshavin

Possibly out: Aaron Lennon

West Bromwich Albion:

I’m sorry but I have no time for West Brom, they shot themselves in the foot when they sold goal machine Kevin Phillips. The crystal ball says not even a dabble in the transfer market will save this sinking ship.

Likely in: Brian Stock (Doncaster), Oscar Trejo (Real Mallorca)and Jay Simpson on loan from Arsenal.

Outrageous buy: none

Possibly out: Craig Beattie, Shelton Martis and Jared Hodgkiss

West Ham:

Zola really wants £7m-rated striker Giampaolo Pazzini from Fiorentina, and that is why so many players will be up for grabs to collect the sum for Pazzini. Craig Bellamy has talent but little in the way of loyalty so I’m expecting him to move to Spurs.

Likely in: Savio Nsereko (Brescia)

Outrageous buy: Giampaolo Pazzini (Fiorentina)

Possibly out: Craig Bellamy, Nigel Quashie, Lee Bowyer, Luis Boa Morte, Calum Davenport, Danny Gabbidon and Jon Spector

Wigan Athletic:

Steve Bruce will be sweating over the future of Emile Heskey. Bruce’s top priority is Nicky Butt from Newcastle United.

Likely in: Nicky Butt

Outrageous buy: none

Possibly out: Antonio Valencia, and Marlon King to Hull City permanently.

One things for sure the economic "mumbo-jumbo"—this is the official terminology—will not be affecting the English Premiership as we go into the second half of the closest season ever at both ends of the table. If you are as fortunate as me to have a crystal ball at home, let me know what yours reveals.

The 2008 Nedbank Golf Challenge

Tim Oates — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:47:29 -0500

The 2008 golfing calendar is nearing its end and what better way to celebrate the year in golf than the Nedbank Golf Challenge in sunny South Africa.

The 2008 Nedbank Golf Challenge takes place from the Dec. 4-7 at the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City.

The stroke play event has prize money of $4.8 million (around R47-million) with the winner taking $1.2 million. Not bad to supplement your Christmas shopping.

The Gary Player Country Club is located about two hours' drive from Oliver Thambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

This event has has attracted the elite golfers from across the world, and no wonder. It seems more like a holiday than work for these golfers.

The Nedbank Golf Challenge has a very different feel and atmosphere to other competitions. It is one of relaxation and family time, but that doesn’t affect the sublime golf being played in the past few years.

Golfers and fans flock to Sun City each year to partake in this spectacular event. The resort has four hotels, two international-standard 18-hole golf courses and a water them park, The Valley of Waves.

Be warned, the Lost City Golf Course is noted for the 38 real crocodiles in the water feature of the 13th hole, so don’t go fishing for your lost balls, or it might cost you an arm and a leg.

The 2008 12-man field:

Sergio Garcia (2^nd World Ranking)

The past year has been the year that might have been for Sergio Garcia, who put himself in positions to win a number of significant titles with sublime ball-striking, only to be failed by the putter at the final few hurdles. It is surely only a matter of time before the Spaniard converts in a big way.

The explosive star returns to Sun City in a bid to win his third Nedbank Golf Challenge title, and his current form suggests that he might well pull off the victory.

Robert Karlsson (6^th World Ranking)

Making his first ever appearance at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, the 39-year-old Swede Robert Karlsson will come to Sun City on the back of his best ever season in Europe, having earned well over €2 million in prize-money and won two prestigious tournaments.

Lee Westwood (8th World Ranking)

England's Lee Westwood returns to compete in the Nedbank Golf Challenge this year for the first time in nearly four years and returns a dramatically improved golfer since when he tied for sixth after a last-round 80 in 2004.

Anthony Kim (9^th World Ranking)

The 23-year-old from La Quinta, Calif. has stepped up in a big way this year, showing evidence as to why he's being considered one of the top up-and-coming players. Anthony Kim will be making his debut in this year's Nedbank Golf Challenge.

Henrik Stenson (10^th World Ranking)

Unlike a number of Nedbank Golf Challenge participants, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson immediately took to the course and the conditions on his first visit in 2006.

With a second and a fourth place under his belt from the first two visits, he must surely start as one of the favourites to lift the crystal golf ball.

KJ Choi (16^th World Ranking)

First-time Sun City visitor KJ Choi is a stocky, 5-foot-8, 84-kg South Korean golfer aptly known as ‘The Tank’ for the way he relentlessly ploughs through golf courses.

Justin Rose (18^th World Ranking)

Ironically, the two men who dueled so magnificently for the Nedbank Golf Challenge title last year, good friends Trevor Immelman and Justin Rose, needed 11th-hour call-ups just to get their places in the starting line-up.

In 2008, there has been no such doubt, Immelman getting his invitation as defending champion and Rose getting the opportunity to go one better by virtue of another consistent year in which he consolidated his position among the golf world’s elite.

Kenny Perry (19^th World Ranking)

With three wins on the 2008 PGA Tour and a Ryder Cup winner’s medal, Kenny Perry is yet another pro who has proved that, with good planning, a repetitive technique and a strong mind, there’s no such thing as "too old" in golf.

Miguel Angel Jimenez (20^th World Ranking)

The amiable Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez will return to Sun City for his third Nedbank Golf Challenge appearance, looking to improve dramatically on his first two visits, when he finished last and second-to-last.

Trevor Immelman (22^nd World Ranking)

The defending champion at this year’s Nedbank Golf Challenge returns to Sun City a very different golfer this year; he returns as a major champion.

Rory Sabbatini (28^th World Ranking)

I got the feeling when walking around the course in last years event that Rory Sabbatini is one of those personalities that galleries either love, hate, or love to hate.

But no matter where you stand on the issue, one thing is certain: ‘Sabbo’ brings plenty of excitement wherever and whenever he tees it up.

James Kingston (68^th World Ranking)

Won the South African Sunshine Tour’s Order of Merit in order to qualify.

James Kingston has been a nearly man of South African golf for more than 15 years and is now looking to leave his mark.

This is a golfing experience for the whole family not to be missed. Pack your swimming costume and sun-cream and have some fun in the sun with the world's best golfers.

History of South African Sport: VII. Conclusion

Tim Oates — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:42:59 -0500

As I started this series I’ve decided to end with an appropriate story to conclude with.

It’s 1990 and just days since the release of Nelson Mandela. The world’s cameras are trained on South Africa and the changes that have begun to unfold. Edwin Bennett, sportsman and administrator, remembers:

His [Nelson Mandela] next big appearance was in the Eastern Cape. There was no hall or stadium big enough. He met people in an open field and after the celebration there were three rugby unions—one Coloured and the other two were the African black rugby unions. He just came in there and said, ‘From today on, you are one and that’s it’. And they had to get together the next day and form this one union. Later on they formed links with the white rugby union in the area.

And it happened, the same day, Bill Jardine called and said, Eddy, the old man is calling, I need to be there, and I took Bill to Nelson Mandela’s office. Nelson Mandela was there, and seated next to him was Bill Jardine and Steve Tshwete. Danie Craven and Ebrahim Patel came in- they were the two force now- SARU (South African Rugby Union) and the old SARB (South African Rugby Board).

And Nelson Mandela said, ‘What problem do you have? You don’t have a problem. From now on, I want one rugby union. Please go out and make the rugby union.’ And that was final. (Gilpin, 1999)

We all know what happened next. No South African can forget the images beamed around the world on the June 24 1995, when South Africa won the Rugby World Cup. Just look at where we had come from when President Nelson Mandela handed Francois Pienaar the trophy.

When reviewing this series I see that many negative outside factors have moulded sport in South Africa. Sport in its natural form is simple, so if we follow that rule across the world we can continue to grow the great history of sport in South Africa.

I leave you with this quote from former minister of sport Ngconde Balfour about the future of South African sport.

“ If we dream alone it is only a dream; but when we dream together it becomes a reality.” – Ngconde Balfour

Contents of the History of South African Sport series:

Introduction:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/66038-history-of-south-african-sport-i-introduction

Boxing:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/66049-history-of-south-african-sport-ii-boxing

Golf:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/67977-history-of-south-african-sport-iii-golf

Soccer:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/71869-history-of-south-african-sport-iv-soccer

Rugby:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/74135-history-of-south-african-sport-v-rugby

Cricket:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/79768-history-of-south-african-sport-vi-cricket

History of South African Sport: VI. Cricket

Tim Oates — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:18:31 -0500

Cricket came to South Africa during the Napoleonic Wars and with the British forces occupying South Africa. The first match recorded was in 1808 in Cape Town between two service teams, for a prize of one thousand rix-dollars.

The oldest cricket club in South Africa is the Port Elizabeth Cricket Club, founded in 1843. Few clubs in the world can boast such a long existence. The first championship was held in Port Elizabeth in 1876 for the "champion bat." Competing teams were Cape Town, Grahamstown, King Williams Town, and Port Elizabeth. It was won by King Williams Town and the year after that too.

In 1888, Sir Donald Currie sponsored the first visiting team, England. Two test matches were played, England won both but South Africa became a recognized contestant in international cricket along with England and Australia. Sir Donald Currie also created the Currie Cup in 1888 that was a competition among the different states in South Africa, the first competition was won by Transvaal

In 1894 the first tour took place in England. South Africa gained their first test victory on the 4th January 1906 at the old Wanderers in Johannesburg against

England. The first overseas win or test series came against England in 1935.

The ‘timeless’ test took place in Durban against England from 3 to 14 March 1938. The game had to be abandoned, with England 654 for five wickets in the last innings, in order for the touring team to catch the mail-boat back to England.

In the 1963/64 tour in Australia, South Africa’s most talented cricketers emerged. The Pollock brothers, Peter and Graeme, Eddie Barlow and Colin Bland.

South African cricket was isolated from the rest of the world for 21 years because of the apartheid policies of the former government. Isolation came at a time when the country could fairly claim to be the top test-playing nation in the world after the Springboks had pummelled the powerful Australians 4-0 with ease.

Because of the policies of its government, however, South Africa had only ever played against Australia, England and New Zealand. When the country was readmitted to world cricket in 1991 it was able to face all opponents, and India was the first to welcome the ‘new’ South Africa into the international game.

Previously known as the Springboks, the Proteas, after an initial settling-in period, adapted surprisingly quickly to the demands of the international game in 1991. The South African side quickly established a reputation as a superb fielding team, a reputation soon backed up its the bowling attack and, after a period of maturing, its batting line-up. In very little time the Proteas became one of the elite teams of world cricket.

South Africa made their debut at the World Cup in 1992 and went all the way to the semi-final before falling victim to a controversial ruling on matches delayed by rain. In 1999 Australia and South Africa played in one of the greatest matches of all time as they tied their World Cup semi-final, with Allan Donald run out in the final over with the Proteas needing one run for victory.

The Australians went through to the final, having defeated South Africa by five wickets with only two balls to spare earlier in the tournament.

On the 11th of October 2000, Hansie Cronje, Proteas captain was banned from playing or coaching cricket for life after being found guilty for match-fixing. Hansie Cronje was tragically killed in a plane crash on the 1st ofJune 2002. He remains

a national sporting hero amongst South African cricket fans.

South Africa hosted the World Cup in 2003, and entered the tournament with high hopes of becoming the first nation to win cricket's biggest event on home soil. Unfortunately for the home fans, the Proteas disappointed, failing to reach the Super Sixes stage after yet another defeat that was hard to believe.

The Proteas hold the record of the largest successful run chase and the second highest team total in One-Day Internationals (438-9 in 49.5 overs), in an iconic match against Australia on 12 March 2006. This game is considered by many to be the greatest One-Day International ever played.

South Africa became the world's No. 1 ranked side early in 2007 but then failed to deliver once again in the 2007 Cricket World Cup. South Africa are regarded by many as the best team never to have won the Cricket World Cup.

South Africa’s domestic competitions are the Supersport Series, inter-provincial four-day cricket competition, MTN Limited Overs Cup, the inter-provincial limited-overs competition, played mostly under lights andthe Standard Bank Pro20 Series. As in many places in the world, Twenty20 cricket has brought many fans back to the game of cricket. Zimbabwe and the six South African provincial teams compete in the Pro20 series.

The conclusion of the series can be read at:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/79774-history-of-south-african-sport-vii-conclusion

History of South African Sport: V. Rugby

Tim Oates — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 04:45:26 -0400

The first rugby match played in South Africa took place on Aug. 23, 1862 on the Green Point Common in Cape Town. The teams were drawn from civilian and military players, who had learned to play the game at schools in England.

In 1875 the first rugby club was formed, Hamilton Club, followed by the Villager Club the following year. They played the code of rugby made famous at Rugby school in England. Through the years the game spread from the Cape to Kimberley, the Orange Free State, Transvaal and Rhodesia.

To form uniformity amongst all clubs, the South African Rugby Board was formed in 1889. As the game spread through the country, regions formed their own unions under the South African Rugby Board.

In 1891, the first international game was staged at Port Elizabeth against the British.

From 1892, provincial competitions were the Board’s Trophy and the Currie Cup. Only in 1957 were the two competitions separated, making the Currie Cup the premier inter-provincial award.

In 1896 South Africa recorded their first test victory against the British and the first game that the green jerseys were worn. The 1906 team became known as the ‘Springboks’, because of the springbuck on the badge. This was also the year that the now-famous green and gold kit was used.

New ground was broken in 1933 when Australia toured South Africa for the first time. The British Lions teams in 1955 played some of the best rugby that South Africa had ever seen, the interest in this tour brought a record crowd of between 95,000 and 100,000 to the test match at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

The 75th anniversary of the South African Rugby Board in 1964 saw England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia take part in a series of games.

The tour of Great Britain by Dawie de Villiers’s Springboks in 1969-70 was marred by political demonstrations; they even needed to use private planes due to boycotting.

The Craven Week began in 1964 in order to give schoolboys the necessary training of a higher standard than school and to scout players to move into provincial level. Many great Springboks have come through this system. It was estimated that in 1972 there were about 2,000 rugby clubs in the country.

Due to South Africa's political situation, we were banned from international competition, but we have returned from international isolation in 1992.

In 1995, South Africa competed in the World Cup for the first time. They hosted the finals and celebrated their inclusion in the competition in the best possible way by defeating New Zealand 15-12, becoming world champions.

Wearing a Springbok shirt, Nelson Mandela presented the trophy to captain Francois Pienaar, a white Afrikaner. The gesture was widely seen as a major step towards the reconciliation of white and black South Africans.

The Springboks join Australia as the only other national team to win the trophy twice in 2007, reinforcing the southern hemisphere dominance in the tournament with five out of six titles to date.

The Tri-nations was first staged in 1996, born of a demand for more regular competition between the southern hemisphere superpowers, which followed the success of the 1995 World Cup. In 1998 the tables were turned as the All Blacks failed to win a game and the Springboks beat Australia twice to become champions.

South Africa won the Tri-nations for the second time in 2004.

The Super 14 competition features 14 regional teams from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Transvaal won the first Super 10 competition, edging out Auckland 20-17 for the title. ASouth African team had to wait until 2007, when South Africa provided the two finalists, the Bulls and the Sharks. The Bulls scored a last-second win over the Sharks in the final.

The Currie Cup is the still the premier provincial rugby competition in South Africa. The Vodacom Cup has become an important competition on the South African rugby calendar. It takes place at the same time as the Super 14 competition, giving players that don’t make the grade in the Super 14 team, the chance to play at a high level.

Given South Africa's history, as with much else in South Africa, the organisation and playing of rugby has been entangled with politics, and racial politics in particular. Despite this, the future of rugby looks promising in South Africa.

The sixth instalment of the series can be read at:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/79768-history-of-south-african-sport-vi-cricket

History of South African Sport: IV. Soccer

Tim Oates — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 03:34:48 -0400

The South African Football Association (S.A.F.A) was founded in 1892. The first match that year was the start of the Currie Cup, a gold cup. Western Province beat Griqualand West. The tournament grew in stature as other provinces began to compete.

Soccer was played before SAFA was established. The Natal Football Association was formed in 1882 by five clubs. The game was supported mainly by the English-speaking section of the community and after the First World War by immigrants from Europe. Crowds of up to 20,000 spectators attended club matches in Johannesburg just after the Second World War.

A mutual spirit of goodwill has always marked the relationship between South African Soccer and Rugby, by providing Rugby grounds to play on. Not much has changed since, with many Premier Soccer League (PSL) teams still utilizing Rugby grounds.

The first overseas visitors to South Africa were English club Corinthians in 1897, they won all 23 matches. Many other club teams followed to play our national team due to the relatively low standard of Soccer.

In 1906 the first international match took place against Argentina in Argentina, South Africa won 4-1. 1907 saw the first black association formed; The Durban & District African Football Association.

After the Second World War many of South Africa’s foremost players joined the professional ranks in England and elsewhere. After being affiliated with FIFA in 1952, in 1976 we were suspended from International competition due to racial discrimination.

Eleven clubs from Johannesburg and Pretoria founded the National Professional Football League (N.F.L) in 1959. 40,000 people watched the 1960 final between Highlands Park and Durban City.

The National soccer league of South Africa was formed in 1985. For many South Africans the country's proudest sporting moment came when we won the Africa Cup of Nations on home turf in 1996—having failed even to qualify for the previous cup.

South Africa's most important club Soccer league came into being in 1997, the Premier Soccer League (PSL). Local competitions include the Nedbank Cup, Telkom Knockout and the MTN8.

Orlando Pirates are the oldest soccer team in South Africa and its support base extends across the country's borders. Pirates are the only South African team so far to have won Africa's premier club competition, the Champions League, a feat they achieved in 1995.

The more well known South African club team is Kaizer Chiefs. Spelt with a "z" not "s" like the British indie rock band who's name actually comes from the club in honour of ex-Leeds United and Kaizer Chiefs player, Lucas Radebe.

In 1998 Bafana Bafana appeared in their first FIFA World Cup finals, losing to the hosts and eventual winners, France.

Whatever Bafana Bafana’s performance, they will take part in the 2010 tournament—they receive an automatic qualification, because South Africa is hosting the event.

South Africa was announced as host of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in May 2004. The decision meant the Rainbow Nation would become the first African hosts of Soccer's show-piece event.

The fifth instalment of the series can be read at:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/74135-history-of-south-african-sport-v-rugby

Arsenal in South Africa: "Arsenal, Nidlala Ibhola!"

Tim Oates — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:10:33 -0400

The country that is bringing you the 2010 FIFA World Cup is football mad.

Before the kick-off to amateur games on Saturdays, you can observe many players and fans coming down to the local grounds. Being players, they are also very big soccer fans, so they are often wearing the shirt of the soccer team that they support. These players are aged from 16 to 35 years of age from different parts of Pretoria but with one thing in common: “their love for soccer or, is it football?”

You expect most of these soccer fans to be wearing local Pretoria based soccer team jerseys like Mamelodi Sundowns or SuperSport United. The odd Mamelodi Sundowns shirt is seen, but the large majority wear Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, and other jerseys. At the sides of the pitch the majority of the talk is about the teams in the English Premier League and who’s playing later that afternoon, with little mention of our own Premier Soccer League.

If you are born in Pretoria and are a rugby fan, you support the “Blue Bulls”, you don’t fanatically support London Irish, Saracens, or St Helens. That would just be unheard of.

So why do we support the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, and Liverpool?

The game of soccer (know in Britain as football) arrived in South Africa as a by-product of Britain's commercial and imperial expansion, brought and played by mainly white working-class Britons. Thereafter, it became hugely popular among the black population, encouraged by the schools and missions, and in the Transvaal, by the mines and the close-knit conditions of the African townships.

Arsenal is the favoured team in the African immigrant demographic. Liverpool is the preferred team in the white culture. There are way too many Manchester United fans—or "manyoo" fans, as I like to refer to them in South Africa. Manchester United has brainwashed our public with big branding and preseason tours. It’s very much a "if your not a 'Manc' you support A.B.U (Anything But United)."

Arsenal's flair and creative football with African players has started to rival the Manchester United supporters in South Africa.

When driving or walking the streets of South Africa you’ll see Arsenal shirts about, unfortunately it’s likely to be "fake". An Arsenal official shirt retails at around 600 Rand, which is a lot of money for the average South African to part with.

Unfortunately a South African hasn’t yet had the honour to play for the Arsenal men’s or ladies' team. But, ex-Gooners have made their mark in South Africa.

The Arsenal Supporters Club of South Africa has been in existence since the early 90’s, when the legendary Arsenal player George Eastham started it. In the days prior to satellite TV, Arsenal fans would meet on a regular basis to watch recorded games sent out from the UK and to pour over faxes containing the latest news concerning the Gunners.

Then when the first satellite dishes started appearing, the games were often watched in a foreign language and invariably not live. The supporters club has been officially recognised by Arsenal in the UK and are now known as Arsenal South Africa.

www.arsenalsa.co.za

The club meets for every live Arsenal game in Johannesburg. Thanks to satellite television almost all our games are now shown live. In fact, South Africa gets far more live football than the UK. In fact, this weekend, we received seven Premiership fixtures live and the other three games were shown delayed. We are truly spoilt for choice. So, if you don’t have an Emirates season ticket, the next best thing is having satellite television in South Africa.

Topper Brown, a former Arsenal player, became the coach of the Durban and Natal teams in 1955.

The black popular press reported that Natal Africans "indulged in some of the finest artistic soccer...ever seen. Their ball control, deft touches, the accuracy of their passing, and their ability to find the open gaps was indeed amazing." Thanks to this rare collaborative effort between black and white under apartheid conditions, newspapers declared, "Natal soccer is now the country's show-piece."

Sounds like Topper Brown was branding the Wenger style of football many years prior.

I was fortunate enough to do a thesis on "Globalised Football Fandom: Choosing English football over South African soccer" last year in Pretoria, where I live. I found the findings of the study fascinating and very beneficial for further studies into this subject. The statistic that stands out in this entire study is that 86% of respondents preferred watching the English Premier League to our South African Premier Soccer League. It was shown that Manchester United is the most supported English football team, with the best brand power.

The majority of fans started supporting an English Premier League team between 1996 and 1997. This is fascinating as the 1996-97 English Premier League season was the most competitive title in English Premier League history. It was eventually won by Manchester United, after Liverpool and Newcastle's failure to win in their penultimate games of the season and leaving Newcastle, Liverpool and Arsenal level on points.

I’ve had the great pleasure to watch Arsenal at Highbury in 2003. My greatest memory of watching an Arsenal game in South Africa was the 2005-06 Champions League Final versus Barcelona. A local “Irish” pub was overflowing with fans of both teams. A lucky few had seats, otherwise you were standing.

The atmosphere was electric, mimicking the feel of being in the stadium with rival fans singing and chanting. Apparently the commentary from the television was on full volume, I never heard a word. We might have been on another continents and miles apart but for 90 minutes we were right there, living and breathing every kick.

"Nidlala Ibhola" means you play soccer in the Zulu language. It’s a very simple expression, but one that Arsenal does best at and that’s why South Africa loves Arsenal.

Arsenal, you play soccer!

Shyam Parthasarathi and Maire Ofeire of the Arsenal Community got this series of stories going. If you live somewhere other than England and love Arsenal, we’d be fascinated in reading how your country supports Arsenal.

Can Everyone Please Stop Joking About Newcastle United?

Tim Oates — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 01:26:53 -0400

Normally it takes a bit of a thought process to come up with a good joke. Lately Newcastle United have been giving us ammunition, so let's fire at will. Hope you enjoy the collection of jokes, I even got a stab at Spurs (again).

Newcastle United have made a size-able sum available to buy new players.
They're opening Joe Kinnear's swear-box.

Newcastle United's trophy room has been broken into and contents stolen.
Police are currently looking for a man in possession of a black and white carpet.

Newcastle United have cancelled their nativity play this year, although they've got 11 donkeys they can only find one wise man and the Messiah has gone missing.

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has received an offer to buy the club from a Nigerian source.
He received an email which read:
"Dear Friend,
My late husband was foreign minister of Nigeria, and on his death he deposited USD15,000,000 in a bank account. In order to recover this money I need to deposit these funds for a short time in a European bank account. Please send me your bank account details as you are a kind man...!"

Joey Barton has just been appointed the manager of Newcastle United.
He says he wants to make a serious assault on the Premiership.

Newcastle United had negotiated a new sponsorship deal with a leading dog food manufacturer until someone pointed out that having the word "Winalot" emblazoned on their shirts would be stretching the truth a little too far.

What does a Newcastle United fan do after his team has just beat Real Madrid in the champions league?
Turn his playstation off and goes off to bed.

My mate has just called to ask if I want any tickets to watch a couple of comedy acts on 21st December.
I asked, “Who's appearing?”
He said, “Newcastle United and Spurs.”

“Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your captain speaking, we are about to land at Newcastle Airport, passengers are reminded to set their watches back 25 years...”

Newcastle United FC have apparently set up a call centre for fans who are troubled by their latest form.
The number is 0800 10 10 10
Calls charged at peak rate for overseas users.
Once again the number is
0800 won nothing won nothing won nothing.

Six players were named in a drug scandal at Newcastle United.
Shearer Cort Dyer Given Bellamy Speed.

Kevin Keegan today announced he will bring some new faces into Newcastle United.
Peter Beardsly has asked if he can have one.

History of South African Sport: III. Golf

Tim Oates — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 06:45:09 -0400

South Africa has the weather, the courses and the players. The country has produced some of the best in the game, including multiple major winners Bobby Locke, Gary Player, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, and a host of others that regularly challenge for titles around the world.

Golf was first played in South Africa in 1885 on Waterloo Green, Wynberg, near Cape Town. The first club to form was the Cape Golf Club (now the Royal Cape Golf Club.) In the USA, the game was only introduced in 1887. The first national championship was held in Kimberley in 1892, and the first Open Championship in Port Elizabeth in 1903.

In 1910, the South African Golf Union (S.A.G.U.) was formed. The South African Ladies Golf Union (S.A.L.G.U.) was formed in 1914.

The first great boost for South African golf was in 1959, when the Commonwealth Golf Tournament took place at the Royal Johannesburg Club.

Bobby Locke got South African golf on the world map, won 13 tournaments, the British Open four times and won the South African Open at the tender age of 17.

In 1970, female golfer, Sally Little posted the best individual score at the World team Championship in Madrid.

Gary Player, a nine-time major winner, will forever be associated with two of the greatest players in the history of the game, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Together, those three took golf to another level, pulling millions of new fans to the game with their great battles down the years.

Ernie Els is undoubtedly one of the most popular golfers in the world. He is also one of the best. His apparently easy-going appearance has earned him the nickname "The Big Easy." Although Els says that perception is not quite right, he admits to feeling big pressure, just like everyone else. Ernie’s big wins have come as the victor of the U.S. Open in 1994, 1997 and The Open Championship in 2002.

Retief Goosen is a quiet man—the only real noise he makes is by his achievements on the golf courses of the world.

He has been a regular top 10 ranked player for some time and, like Els, he fares well wherever he plays. Goosen captured the US Open title in 2001 and 2004, he is also a two-time winner of the European Order of Merit. The man who stopped his three-peat was Ernie Els.

The Els-Goosen pair won the World Cup of Golf for South Africa in 2001, but more recently it was another South African pair that did the trick. Rory Sabbatini and Trevor Immelman won at Kiawah Island in 2003 to give the country two victories in the last three times the competition has been held.

Trevor Immelman seems to be battling with Ernie Els for top South African golfer with his 2008 Masters win.

A very healthy local tour has been established, known as the Sunshine Tour.

An event that stands out in the minds of many is the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City. The first golf tournament to offer a first-place prize of $2 million USD, it has since gone on to be a destination of choice for those among the world's top golfers invited to contest it towards the end of each year.

The country boasts fantastic courses in a wonderful variety of stunning settings, and the golf tourism industry is just starting to hot up.

What's the difference between Spurs and a triangle?

Tim Oates — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:40:14 -0400

A triangle has three points.

So every Arsenal fans idea of a good joke involves taking the piss out of Tottenham. But lately, it’s just got a little too easy. These are a few new ones for our North London neighbours.

What do Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes and Michael Jackson have in common?
They both wear gloves for no apparent reason.

A little lad in a London primary school gets to take his pet kittens into class.
The teacher says to him, "they are very nice, what do they like to do?"
The little lad replies, "they like to watch Tottenham Hotspur, miss."
Teacher; "ah, that's real cute."
A few weeks later, she asks the little lad what his kittens are up to.
He replies, "they are watching Arsenal, miss."
The teacher says, "but I thought you said they were Spurs fans?"
"They were, miss, but now their eyes have opened!"

Darren Bent £16.5m
David Bentley £15m
Luka Modric £16.6m

Spurs being bottom of the Premiership after seven games...........PRICELESS !

A young boy goes to Social Services and tells them he has no where to live.
"What about your parents?" asks the social worker.
"No, they beat me," says the boy.
"What about your Grandparents?" says the social worker.
"No, they beat me even harder!" says the boy.
"Well... where do you want to stay then?" replies the Social Worker.
"Tottenham" says the boy "They don't beat anyone."

A little boy gets ten pounds for his birthday and rushes down to the sports shop to buy the new football he has been desperate for. He gets the ball down from the rack and gives the shopkeeper his ten pound.
"Sorry son", says the shopkeeper. "This ball costs twenty pound, but you've only got ten pound."
Thinking quickly, the boy looks up at the club balls and says, "Ok. If you blindfold me and I guess the ball, will you let me have the ball for ten pound?” The shopkeeper curiously agrees and blindfolds the boy.
First up he gives the boy an Arsenal ball. "Ok, says the boy placing his ear to the ball. I can hear the blasting of two cannons. This must be an Arsenal ball."
"That was a lucky guess", said the shopkeeper. "Lets try another one." So he hands him a Millwall ball. "Ok," says the boy placing his ear to the ball again. "I can hear a pack of rampant lions. It must be a Millwall ball."
"Goodness me," says the shopkeeper. "If you get the next one right I'll let you have the ball for nothing," and passes him another ball. Again the boy puts the ball to his ear and after a few moments he says, "That's a Tottenham ball."
"I don't believe it," shouts the shopkeeper. "How on earth did you get that one? I suppose you heard a cockerel crowing?"
"No," said the boy. "It's going down."

My old man's a Spurs fan. He is that disappointed with their recent bad form, yesterday he nailed his season ticket to a tree in the park.
He had second thoughts today and went back to collect it.
Someone had nicked the nail.

I wondered why my 2008 Tottenham Hotspur calender only went up to September, I thought I'd been ripped off.

History of South African Sport: II. Boxing

Tim Oates — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:19:49 -0400

The origin of professional boxing in South Africa can be traced to the second half of the 19th century when miners, brokers, speculators, and financiers were lured to the diamond and gold-fields.

Between 1927 and 2001, 35 South African fighters won a total of 49 world boxing titles. The number of South African world champions peaked in the 1990s. The country had six world champions in 1995, five the following year, and six in 1997. In 1998 the number stood at eight, and in 1999 at five world title holders.

Before the advent of more than one world body, Vic Toweel was South Africa's only world champion, winning the bantamweight title in 1950.

South Africa has, however, also produced multiple title holders. Among these was Brian Mitchell, who won the World Boxing Association title in September 1986 and the International Boxing Federation title in 1991 in the junior lightweight division.

Dingaan Thobela won three titles: the World Boxing Organisation and WBA lightweight titles, in September 1990 and June 1993 respectively, as well as the World Boxing Council middleweight title in September 2000.

Jacob "Baby Jake" Matlala is the only South African boxer to have won four titles in three different divisions: he won the WBO flyweight title in May 1993, the WBO light flyweight title in November 1995, as well as the junior flyweight titles under the International Boxing Association in July 1997 and the World Boxing Union in February 2001.

Vic Toweel, a 23-year-old wood carver from Benoni, became world champion in May 1950 when he convincingly outpointed Manuel Ortiz in Johannesburg. Toweel won most of the 15 rounds to become South Africa's first world bantamweight champion.

Brian Mitchell, probably one of the best South African boxers of his era, won the WBA junior lightweight title in 1986 - and defended it a world record 12 times before retiring in 1991.

As South Africa was isolated internationally because of its apartheid policies, Mitchell became a true "road warrior," defending his title almost exclusively abroad. He finished his career with 46 wins, one loss and two draws. His 12 successful defences of the junior lightweight title remain the record in that division to this day.

Mitchell is now a successful boxing trainer with a stable of promising young boxers. He has guided at least two boxers to world titles, including Namibian Harry Simon and South African Cassius Baloyi.

Thobela's amateur career saw him win 80 times and lose just three bouts. The Rose of Soweto, as he is affectionately known by his fans, became the first South African to win a WBO belt when he beat Mauricio Aceves in 1990.

He made two defences of his WBO junior lightweight title, relinquished it in 1991, and fought for the WBA version of the title, which he won in a rematch against Tony Lopez at Sun City in 1993. Their first encounter in Sacramento in the same year had been controversially declared a draw.

Gerrie Coetzee was one of the fastest heavyweight boxers South Africa ever produced. Coetzee first won the national lightweight title as a 13-year-old amateur when he punished 16-year-old Hennie Colyn. In his 192 amateur fights, Coetzee lost only seven, three of these against his sworn enemy, Kallie Knoetze.

Coetzee became national heavyweight champion at 21 when he fought Mike "The Tank" Schutte, who was disqualified in the sixth round for dirty tricks, giving the title to Coetzee. 20 years after Coetzee won the WBA heavyweight title, with a 10th-round knockout of Michael Dokes, South Africa again had a boxer it could call heavyweight champion of the world.

Southpaw Corrie Sanders shocked the boxing world when he knocked out the highly regarded Wladimir Klitschko early in the second round to win the WBO version of the title. At age 37, Sanders' biggest win came late in his career.

South Africa’s latest boxing success was Cassius Baloyi who captured the Vacant IBF Super Featherweight Title in 2005 with a TKO over Manuel Medina.

The third instalment of the series can be read at:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/67977-history-of-south-african-sport-iii-golf

Technology Accessed Sport

Tim Oates — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:41:57 -0400

The choices sports fans have to access and view sports have fascinated me for sometime. Sports have benefited from the rapid changes in technology.

Today, sports and media are major players in some of the most profitable sport-entertainment companies in the world. Sports and media have an overwhelming presence in the United States of America, and therefore a great opportunity for media companies to profit from this society. Other countries seem to being playing a game of catch-up.

One has to wonder whether worldwide sport would have been experiencing such popularity in sport if it wasn’t for the technological developments in sports media. Would sports be occupying as much time as it does today if it wasn’t for media technological inventions?

The types of sport media mediums seem endless. From television, print media, radio, to newer mediums such as the Internet, blogging, podcasts, cellphones/mobile phones, streaming video online.

The presence of the sports/media relationship in our society at present is amazing but exciting no limits in future of sports media is mind blowing. Sports-media mediums have brought the sporting event to your living room, bedroom, car, cell phone, iPod, and computer screen.

Unlike movies or television programmes, sport isn’t scripted and therefore anything can happen. Live is everything and reruns don’t count. You can prolong a movie but sports wait for no one.

Agger off to Real Madrid?

Tim Oates — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:03:04 -0400

The dust has settled in the Bernabéu after the mad transfer activity. Madrid is known for its bullfighting, but this seems to be transcending onto the football pitch as Real Madrid try to sign other clubs' players, with much distress to the ‘raging’ club.

We saw the rage and blood boil in Sir Alex Ferguson as Real Madrid tried to lure Manchester United’s Ronaldo. Real Madrid received some of their own medicine as the new bull in town, Manchester City lured their prize asset, Robinho from them.

Will ‘matador’ Rafael Benítez be swept away as Real Madrid come charging in for Daniel Agger?

Real Madrid seem very keen to buy the Danish and Liverpool centre back in the January transfer window.

"He [Agger] is a player we have been looking at for a long time and it is likely we will bid for him in January. He is a world-class player and without doubt he would fit into our plans," Real Madrid vice-president José Ángel Sánchez is quoted in The Times.

"We already had plans about buying Agger this summer, along with some other players, but the Robinho situation took so much attention and demanded so many resources from the club that we had to drop the plans about putting a bid in for Agger and other players that we had in mind.

"What we need is a defender and a striker, and, at the moment, Agger is on top of our list."

In an interview with Danish television Agger denied that he had clashed with Benitez over his performance in a nervous goalless draw in the first leg of the Champions League qualifying clash at Standard Liege. Liverpool won the second leg 1-0.

"Of course there are things that Benítez was not satisfied with after Liege, but it is a big lie to say we had an argument," Agger said.

"I certainly hope it is only football reasons why I am not playing. I'm happy at Liverpool I have no problem in this club. The manager has just said that the team is playing very well and that is why I am not playing.

"I want to stay here and fight for my place in the squad. I'm not satisfied with the fact that I'm not playing but I have to cope and accept it."

So why would Liverpool give in to selling such an asset?

Could Martin Škrtel be the reason? Škrtel became Liverpool's most expensive defender, with the fee surpassing the previous record for, guess who, Daniel Agger in January 2006. Škrtel was signed for £6.5 million, eclipsing the price of £5.8 million paid for Agger.

Martin Škrtel is known as a no-nonsense centre-back. Now if you look deeper into the word "no-nonsense", this means that the player is sure to receive many yellow cards and it’s only a matter of time before he gets his marching orders for a quick shower. I believe Škrtel makes untimely tackles in areas of the pitch where it would be better to 'jockey' the player or pass the player on to the covering defender.

Škrtel was a competent ice-hockey player back in his youth. Now I’m not saying that’s a sport he should have stuck to. He is a very decent Liverpool reserve defender and a starting line-up centre back outside the top top four, Manchester City and Portsmouth.

I probably wouldn’t have to be writing this piece if it weren’t for the, dare I say the words, metatarsal injury Agger suffered. Agger suffered a second metatarsal injury in January 2008 that ruled him out of the rest of the season and caused him to undergo surgery on his foot.

The only season that one can judge Agger’s performance was the 2006-07 season where he made 42 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 4 goals. In that season Liverpool won the FA Cup and where runners-up in the UEFA Champions League. In this, the 2008-09 season, Agger has played two games.

The first leg of the champions league qualifiers against Standard Liege, which ended 0-0. His second game was in the Carling Cup against Crewe where he scored from a freekick outside the box to win 2-1.

Agger has made a big impact at Liverpool! Are we forgetting his 'goal of the month' in August 2006 where he run unchallenged toward the Kop-end goal and scored from 35 yards against West Ham in a 2-1 win. This was named Liverpool’s Premiership goal of the season.

Agger won the PFA player of the month award in September 2006. The character of the man was shown after he received some criticism in the first leg UEFA Champions League semi-final versus Chelsea in a 1-0 defeat. He answered his critics with a goal in the home leg and a clean sheet. Liverpool advanced to the UEFA Champions League final on penalties.

Watch this space as Liverpool and Real Madrid do battle in the media ‘bull-ring’. In closing there is one name that pops into my mind, John Arne Riise. He was brilliant, don’t waste away another star.

Will Sparky Light The Fireworks?

Tim Oates — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 02:09:01 -0400

Affectionately known as Sparky, Mark Hughes was looking for a new and tougher challenge in his managerial career. At first he must have questioned his choice in Manchester City Football Club when the promises of Ronaldinho didn’t materialise and Dr ‘Tax-sin’ Shinawatra’s problems.

How football can turn. New owners and Robinho eclipsing Ronaldinho. But, top four finish, give me a break!

Lets see Sparky’s Pyrotechnic choices he has at his disposable and is it enough to create a big bang? A monstrous rocket in the form of Robinho that forms the centre piece in the fireworks display, here’s holding thumbs it ignites.

The Black Snake in the form of Elano, no one expected it to turn out so well. The ever-reliable sparkler in the form of Dietmar Hamann. There are flares in the form of Micah Richards and Richard Dunne that can rescue you from any situation.

Shaun Wright-Phillips takes the form of Firecrackers, remember how you could light them and fit them through the smallest crack. Every display needs a Cherry bomb with that explosive core, presenting Michael Johnson. It’s a good idea to have a Catherine Wheel or Joe Hart in goals, spinning around and cart-wheeling for the ball.

Sparky is the right man for the job and will have to bring these individual firecrackers together, making sure each goes off at the right time.

Is it enough to rival the elaborate and explosive pyromaniacs that are Fergie, Scolari, Wenger and Benitez?

Remember you can’t go shopping for new fireworks on Guy Fawkes Night, you’ll have to wait for New Years eve and that may be too late.

The poster might read, “The mighty Abu Dhabi presents the Sparky Extravaganza at Eastlands”. But Sparky will need time to spark a revolution. Let’s be honest, his display is one you invite friends, neighbours and the kids to have a good time, it’s too soon to take on the world.

The Missing Three Lions

Tim Oates — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 05:48:03 -0400

Male lions are found in prides, but some are forced out by more dominant males and spend their life as nomads. Nomads wonder in the wilderness, sometimes joining up with other prides for short periods of time, continuously searching for their previous dominants.

England's National Football team has had its fair share of lions roaming the hallow Wembley turf. Some have been more successful than others. There’s been times in England's National team's history when a player could get a call-up to the national squad easier than picking up some fish and chips at his local "chippy."

There are three currently playing ex-Three Lions that have literally fell off the "Serengeti."

Steve Guppy, Leicester City, remember him? The days of Martin O’Neill and the miracles he performed at the foxes. Guppy played for England on the 10th of October 1999

versus Belgium.

Guppy followed Martin O’Neill up to Scotland, where he joined Celtic, later returning to the foxes. In 2005, he crossed the "pond" to play along side teenage sensation Freddy Adu at D.C. United in the MLS.

The less said about his time there the better.

He returned to Stevenage Borough, where he became the first ever person to win medals at both the old and new Wembley Stadium. Guppy achieved league cup honours with Leicester city at the old Wembley and won the FA Trophy with Stevenage Borough in the new Wembley in 2007.

Where is Steve Guppy today?

You can find him donning the No. 7 shirt for the Rochester Rhinos as their player and assistant coach. Rochester Rhinos are a New York team that play in the USL First Division, the second tier of the American soccer pyramid.

Seth Johnson hit his hights in November 2000, when he played against Italy for England. Jonhnson was a Derby County player at this time, and the sudden rise to fame was noted by Leeds United, who signed Johnson in 2001 for ₤7 million.

Johnson returned to Derby County in 2005 after a dismal time at Leeds United. Where is Johnson today? He is currently without a club after being released by Derby County on the 1st of June 2007.

So after roaming the lonely plains of football, Johnson age 29, will probably announce his retirement with no one even batting an eyelid.

Michael Gray was a player that made some history on his debut for the Three Lions. As a First Division player, Gray was picked by Kevin Keegan to make his international debut for England as a substitute in the match against Hungary on the 28th of April 1999.

Gray was having a very successful stint for Sunderland, as they won promotion to the premiership that campaign as champions of the then First Division. After being plagued by injury and poor form, Gray has since played for Celtic, Blackburn Rovers, and Leeds United.

Gray has now reunited with his former Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy at Wolverhampton Wanderers. The closest he has got to an England player since is a disagreement he had with Wayne Rooney in 2006 at a restaurant. Gray not being the dominant male in the pride anymore, was "kicked out" the restaurant.

Lions begin to age and weaken if they have not already been critically injured whilst defending their pride. Once ousted from a pride by rival males, male lions rarely manage a second take-over.

The Sheffield Zulus: Harlem Globetrotters of Football's Past

Tim Oates — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 01:25:54 -0400

So you’ve heard about the Harlem Globetrotters, a basketball extravaganza that travels around the world exhibiting athleticism and comedy. Now surely that couldn’t happen in football.

I discovered this fascinating story last year while working on a thesis; it comes from Sheffield, England courtesy of South African "Zulus."

In England, when the thought of being paid to kick a football was merely a dream, a team of "South African Zulus" made a name for themselves at Bramall Lane, a ground in Yorkshire’s Sheffield. The Wednesday, later known as Sheffield Wednesday, played their important matches here. Unlike an open park, it was ideal for football in those early days because perimeter walls and turnstiles helped to control the crowd.

On a dark November afternoon in 1879, a large group of spectators turned up to watch a football game with a difference. The "Zulus" rose to this unique occasion, and with some cunning moves overcame a strong Sheffield Players’ XI, then one of the top clubs in England, 5-4.

Dressed in black jerseys and stockings, decorated with beads and feathers, these highly experienced footballers (who also used assegais and shields as part of their act) performed tribal dances before each game. These authentic items had been shipped from the battlefields of the Zulu War in South AFrica to Britain aboard the H.M.S. Shah.

The victorious team, which was of course not real Zulu Impis, but white men dressed up, lined up as follows: Ulmathoosi (H. Hinchcliffe), Cetewayo (T. Buttery) captain, Dabulamanzi (J. Hunter), Sirayo (G. Herring), Methlagazu (A. Malpas), Umcilyn (A. Ramsden), Ngobamabrosi (G. Butcher), Magnenda (S. Earnshaw), Jiggleumbeno (T. Cawley), Muyamani (G. Ainley) and Amatonga (S. Lucas).

The Sheffield Zulus developed a system of charging for playing, and the proceeds benefited British widows and orphans of soldiers killed in the war, which had started 10 months earlier. Further games took place in Chesterfield and Barnsley, with Scotland also on the agenda.

Although the players of this famous outfit did change, they remained unbeaten until 1882, when they were forced to disband by the Sheffield Football Association (FA). Had they continued to receive remuneration for their clowning, these men would have been barred from participating in any future league or cup games.

Nevertheless, the Zulus were under no illusions about the right to receive payment for playing football, just like any other working man.

Further troubles in the Lancashire area led to a review of the amateur game. During a Special General Meeting on July 20, 1885, the FA finally relented to this popular uprising, leading to the birth of professionalism.

The fact that the Zulu nation (which put up such a gallant fight against the British army’s invasion of its territory) indirectly had a hand in the history of professional football in England may not be generally known, but it is important to document in the light of so much that has happened between South Africa and Britain in football terms since T. Buttery (Cetewayo) captained the Sheffield Zulus.

When the real Cetewayo, King of the Zulus, went to London in 1882, it was too late for him to witness these events. In any case, he was too busy enjoying the beautiful surroundings of his Kensington house. And dressed in tailored European clothing, the King was taken sightseeing, and even lunched with Queen Victoria.

Fifty years after Cetewayo’s visit to England, his nation was able to boast its very own football club when Zulu Royals United (later known as Amazulu), were formed. Since that date, the club became the pride and joy of millions of Zulus who live in the province of KwaZulu-Natal.

But when Sheffield Wednesday made their first-ever tour to South Africa in 1992, I wonder how many South Africans were aware of the fact that the English club had forgotten their Zulu "roots" of 113 years earlier. Wednesday failed to visit KwaZulu-Natal, their itinerary took them instead to the Cape and Gauteng.

Perhaps the ghosts haunted Wednesday thereafter, because the 21st century opened with their relegation from the English Premiership. Interestingly, Amazulu also fell from the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) a few days later. So the next time you think about the advent of professional football in England, give the underrated story about the Sheffield Zulus some credit.

The "Dark Ages" of Football

Tim Oates — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 08:20:06 -0400

Like the ball with which it is played, football is on a roll. It's the sport that has embraced the global community, where agents have a major stake in the footballing world. Football is a global business.

“Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em”, is the global view on football agents.

The transfer market involves who went where, and for how much. But it’s the agents that are behind the deal.

A football agent is a person who negotiates the employment and endorsements deals for a footballer. In turn, the agent receives a commission that is usually between ten and twelve percent of the contract, although this figure varies.

In addition, the agent often handles public relations matters for his or her client. Examples of some of the largest sports agencies in the world are IMG and Octagon.

Agents can deal with all aspects of an athlete's finances, from investment to filing taxes. But, the only thing I’m interested in at this stage is the dealings with players transfers.

Football has become a magnet for the new entertainment-hungry media, eager to exploit a vast audience. Money was pouring into the game in the 1990’s, as the figures showed. There was a steady surge in revenues, allowing clubs to lure some of the finest names in the world.

The salaries are not the sole reasons for these players to be interested in a club, but it is true that "money is what makes the world go round". Money may not be the root of all evil, but its ability to persuade is becoming very apparent.

These are the “Dark Ages” for football. Currently undergoing something of a financial crisis, clubs across Britain, Europe and South America are losing money, making redundancies and, in some cases, going out of business entirely.

Much of the blame for this situation has been targeted at the increasing wage demands made by players during the 1990s. This phenomenon has, in turn, been attributed to the growing influence of players' agents, encouraging players to demand inflated salaries so that their own percentage fee rises.

The transfer market is a game where the rich get richer, because they can afford the high-priced players that attract the fans and investors. Many of the rest dig deep into debt as they seek to emulate that strategy, gambling that their hired superstar will lift them into the top bracket.

So, is there any hope for the smaller clubs? Well, homegrown talent is the best way to go, but soon they too will be persuaded to sell their talented players to the big boys at the top—as was the case with highly talented Southampton FC and England youth player, Theo Walcott, who moved to Arsenal for an astronomical amount.

Why is it that the top players earn so much and are sold on the transfer market for ridiculous prices? The players’ response is that their careers are short, and ask why they shouldn't earn as much as other entertainers, such as actors.

Another theory is that footballers do not know any other trade, as they would have started their working careers fresh from high school and going back to school at the age of over 35 seems a little ridiculous.

But does that justify the price tag of 45.62 million pounds for French midfield genius, Zinedine Zidane, in his world record transfer from Juventus to Real Madrid in 2001?

How much of a part did his agent play in the persuasion of the deal?

Football has become a big business. What’s wrong with clubs milking their own worth like any other business? In this world we talking about big money for top players, and these are just normal human beings like you and I.

But they go to work on a football pitch, bring home goals for a living, have gigantic piggy banks, and love every minute of it.

Wouldn’t you? I know I would.

If everything that has been said or written about agents were true, each and every one of them would be a parasite with criminal tendencies and a willingness to sell not only their own grandmothers, but to break into old people's homes in order to steal other people's grandmothers and sell them, too.

But surely they can't be all that bad?

Welcome to the “Dark Ages” for football.

English Premier League Transfer Market Awards

Tim Oates — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:44:31 -0400

Welcome to the Annual EPL Transfer market Awards, held each year (hence annual) after the madness of the silly season.

"The Who" Award: Not to the band or anyone out the top four.

Winner: Liverpool

Reason: Diego Cavalieri (undisc. from Palmeiras), David Ngog (£1.5m from PSG), Emmanuel Mendy (free from Murcia Deportivo), Vito Flora (free from Botafogo), Peter Gulacs (nominal from MTK Hungaria), Albert Riera (undisc. from Espanyol).

Acceptance speech: Rafa Benitez went on to say they couldn't be as bad as Bellamy and Voronin.

"Dodgey" Award: For being just that

Winner: Manchester United

Reason: For Uncle Alex picking up Dimitar Berbatov at the airport without Spurs permission, then shortchanging them with giving them Frazier Campbell to replace him because there is no time to get anyone of quality.

Acceptance speech: Broken Scottish mumbling that no-one understood.

"You've Finally seen the light" Award: For finally realising you aren't at the right club.

Winners: The Chelsea square of Sidwell, Wright-Phillips, Shevchenko, and Tal Ben Haim.

Reason: Shame, it just wasn't the club for you.

Acceptance speech: Shaun Wright-Phillips accepted the award via satellite with highlight of his first game back at City and his two goals.

"The False Announcement" Award: For thinking a player had signed for you when in fact they hadn't.

Winners: Chelsea for Robinho and Man U for Aaron Ramsey.

Reason: Chelsea website offering Robinho shirts and Man U announcing they'd signed welshmen Ramsey.

Acceptance speech: Peter Kenyon received the award wearing a No. 7 "Robinho" shirt and said he was selling them from the the boot of his car for a man city match ticket.

"What were you thinking?" Award: For not using that grey matter between your ears.

Winners: West Brom

Reason: Giving Kevin Phillips to Birmingham for free. He's a red hot goalscorer in the Premiership.

Acceptance speech: The invitation was lost in the mail. We didn't know where West Brom was. PS—Phillips has already scored three league goals for Birmingham.

"Chain Reaction" Award: For creating a domino affect.

Winners: Spurs, Blackburn, Aston Villa

Reasons: Gomez went to Spurs so Robinson went to Blackburn so Friedel went to Villa..... now say it fast.

Acceptance speech: Light entertainment was provided by a World Record dominoes attempt. Don't ask me what happened, no one really cared.

"All that and a bag of chips" Award: For Being the talk of the town.

Winners: Man City

Reason: For making the most "awesomeness" last day of the silly season. Abu Dhabi group buys City and, well, what can I say? ROB-IN-HO.

Acceptance speech: Blue Moon was played. No one from City was present as Man U thought they had this award in the bag.

Thank you for attending the EPL Transfer Market Awards ceremony. In closing, don't forget Peter Kenyon will be selling Chelsea Robinho shirts from his car boot.