FIFA ANOUNCE BALLON DOR NOMINEES

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FIFA have announced their shortlists for this year's illustrious Ballon d'Or, World Coach of the Year and other annual awards to be handed to the year's inspirational sporting heroes.

The winners of which will be announced on January 10, 2011 in Zurich. The gala will include for the second time the FIFA Puskas award for the most beautiful goal and the FIFA Fair Play award among a host of other team and individual accolades.

The eagerly anticipated World Player of the Year list has been dominated by those who shone in South Africa over the summer, enlightening the world during the FIFA 2010 World Cup. Holders Spain and semi-finalists Germany make up most of the 23-man list.

The contenders are:

Xabi Alonso (Spain)		Dani Alves (Brazil)
Iker Casillas (Spain)		Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)		Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon)
Cesc Fabregas (Spain)		Asamoah Gyan (Ghana)
Julio Cesar (Brazil)		Miroslav Klose (Germany)
Philipp Lahm (Germany)		Maicon (Brazil)
Thomas Mueller (Germany)		Arjen Robben (Netherlands)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany)		David Villa (Spain)
Xavi (Spain)		Carles Puyol (Spain)
Andres Iniesta (Spain)		Diego Forlan (Uruguay)
Lionel Messi (Argentina)		Mesut Oezil (Germany)
Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands)

My Top three are Wesley Sneider, Ike Casillas and Andres Iniesta

Winner of last months ABUS vs ALIS COMPETITION.The man that predicted the score 3-2 and gets a replica Liverpool Jersey.
Well Done Ahmed Nallah from Roodepoort

PAUL THE OCTOPUS DIES

FRANKFURT, Germany - Paul the Octopus, the tentacled tipster who fascinated football fans by correctly predicting results at this year's World Cup, died Tuesday.
Paul had reached the octopus old age of 2 1/2 years and died in his tank on Tuesday morning in an aquarium in the western German city of Oberhausen, spokeswoman Ariane Vieregge said.
Paul seemed to be in good shape when he was checked late Monday, but he did not make it through the night. He died of natural causes, Vieregge added.
After rising to global prominence during the World Cup in South Africa in June and July, Paul retired from the predictions business after the final between Spain and the Netherlands , the result of which he also forecast correctly , and returned to his prime role of making children happy.
The invertebrate was stepping "back from the official oracle business," Tanja Munzig, a spokeswoman for the Sea Life aquarium in Oberhausen, told AP Television News at the time.
"He won't give any more oracle predictions , either in football, nor in politics, lifestyle or economy," she said. "Paul will get back to his former job, namely making children laugh."
Paul correctly predicted the outcomes of all seven of Germany's World Cup games. He made his predictions by opening the lid of one of two clear plastic boxes, each containing a mussel and bearing a team flag.
After his World Cup soothsaying skills were revealed, the English-born Paul was appointed an ambassador to England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup. He had English roots, having been hatched at Weymouth Sea Life Center on England's south coast in 2008.
Imitators sprang up all over the world, including Mani the Parakeet in Singapore and Lorenzo the Parrot in Hannover, Germany.
The latest was a saltwater crocodile named Dirty Harry, who predicted Spain's World Cup final win and called the result of Australia's general election by snatching a chicken carcass dangling beneath a caricature of Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Paul became so popular in Spain that a northwestern Spanish town tried to borrow him.
In response to hundreds of requests to bring Paul to Spain, the Madrid Zoo asked Sea Life if it would be willing to make a deal to bring him in as a tribute to the Spanish team's victory, either temporarily or for good. But the German aquarium turned down that offer, too.
Paul also had an agent and his name was used to help endangered turtles on the Greek island of Zakynthos.
,,,
David Rising in Berlin contributed to this report.

EVOLUTION OF SIGNAGE

Where else will you see a sign like this accept our very own Oriental Plaza.I never even knew signs like this existed he he

MESSI WINS GOLDEN SHOE

Lionel Messi collects Golden Shoe title for top European goalscorer during 2009-10 season.By Paul Macdonald

Messi graciously accepted his European Golden Boot award in a presentation on Thursday evening, during which he lauded the contribution of his Blaugrana team-mates in helping him achieve the title.

The Argentine enjoyed a spectacular 2009-10 season, scoring 34 league goals in 35 matches and becoming the highest scorer to win the prize since Mario Jardel’s astonishing 42 strikes for Sporting Lisbon in 2001-02.

Speaking during the ceremony, Messi accepted the award and was appreciative of the assistance of his colleagues, to which he attributed his success.

Speaking to journalists, he remarked: “Without them, this would never have been possible.  I have to thank Pep Guardiola, because he was the first to allow me to get closer to the area. Every goal I scored was special, and every goal was important.

“I’ve enjoyed things since I was very young, but I’m a simple person. I enjoy having the ball at my feet, but I also enjoy being quiet at home with my family.”

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell also attended the ceremony and paid tribute to the gifted 23-year-old for what he has helped the club achieve since his arrival as an impressionable youngster 10 years ago.

He said to Messi: “Thanks for everything, for setting an example to the youth players at the club. You are a good person, which is more important to us than anything, and you will always be a part of this club.”

http://www.goal.com/

WHO IS PENALTINHO?Did Messi deserve it.....Or was there someone better.Watching him in the World Cup live was class.The ball sticks to his feet and the movement.Truely Sublime to watch

IM SO GLAD THE VUVUZELA IS BANNED

Europe's traditions are different...

By Zack Wilson

 UEFA have confirmed that vuvuzelas will not be allowed at any games under its direct jurisdiction this season.



The instrument, such a noisy and prominent part of the fabric of this summer's World Cup in South Africa, is viewed as an annoyance by many involved in European football and as such will be heard at neither Champions League nor Europa League stadia this season.

The ban also applies to qualifiers for Euro 2012, with UEFA informing its 53 member associations that the ban will be enforced for "reasons related to Europe's football culture and tradition", with administrators keen to hear songs and chants rather than mindless noise at grounds.

"The World Cup was characterised by the vuvuzela's widespread and permanent use in the stands," a statment on UEFA's official website reads.

"In the specific context of South Africa, the vuvuzela adds a touch of local flavour and folklore, but UEFA feels that the instrument's widespread use would not be appropriate in Europe, where a continuous loud background noise would be emphasised.

"The magic of football consists of the two-way exchange of emotions between the pitch and the stands, where the public can transmit a full range of feelings to the players. However, UEFA is of the view that the vuvuzelas would completely change the atmosphere, drowning supporter emotions and detracting from the experience of the game.

"To avoid the risk of these negative effects in the stadiums where UEFA competitions are played and to protect the culture and tradition of football in Europe – singing, chanting etc – UEFA has decided with immediate effect that vuvuzelas will not be allowed in the stadiums where UEFA competitions matches are played."
www.goal.com

Im so glad that Europe has banned this.Before the Word Cup many said that it was the culture of South Afrcica but after one game too many it starts to get irritating.
I was against the Vuvuzela from the beginning as I felt World Cup was about tradition and song and culture.The Vuvuzela was like a disturbed Hornets nest and you couldnt hear any chanting or singing from the Fans.
To me...............Thank God Europe has banned it...Now we can watch in peace.

PENALTINHO DIVES AGAIN

First Bipasha Bapasu then Paris Hilton and now Kim Kadeshan.
Is Penaltinho better than Messi

Kim Kardashian has dished out the ultimate revenge to ex Reggie Bush — by canoodling with the world’s top soccer player, notorious playboy Cristiano Ronaldo.

Kardashian jetted to Madrid for a romantic meal with Ronaldo, who’s worth about $130 million, to watch him play for Real Madrid team last week.
The newly single reality star and the Real Madrid were spotted “kissing and laughing” as they dined at at Madrid’s La Dorado restaurant before driving back in separate cars to his gated community.
The buxom brunette and New Orleans Saints star Reggie Bush ended their three-year relationship last month.
She and Real Madrid star Ronaldo, 25, have texted daily since having dinner in Spain last week.

“Kim likes Cristiano, but they are both busy with work, which will keep them apart a lot of the time. They are just having fun together,” says a source.
Courtesy of NY Daily News

ETV VS AWB

Swoosh0018 doesnt dabble in politics ,but with all the crap happening in SA regarding the Malema and Terblanch incidents i felt that I should put this on. Theres different view points. From a sports perspective though people a re panicking and worrying that these incidents would hamper the World Cup.
Last night I was watching ETV and seen this clip what a thing.
I want to know was wrong and who was right and from Swoosh0018's perspective will it affect the World Cup

*PLEASE AND COMMENTS DEEMED RACIAL AND UNSATISFACTORY WILL BE REMOVED. PLEASE STRUCTURED DEBAE HERE

CYCLING FOR A CAUSE

PILGRIMAGE: Imtiyaz Haron (24) and Nathim Cairncross (27) will cycle to Saudia Arabia.

JOURNEY TO WISDOM

TAKING only a change of clothes, a tent and a pair of open minds, two young men from Athlone will soon cycle thousands of kilometres to Saudi Arabia to perform their pilgrimage to the holy land of Mecca.
Nathim Cairncross (27) and Imtiyaz Haron (24) hope their seven-month pilgrimage will inspire other young people.
“There is a lot of wisdom to be gained and life lessons that can be learned when travelling,” says Nathim.
“Most young people have the desire to travel, but often depend on air travel. We would like to promote alternative means of transportation, and also, promote Africa as a continent.”

“People have misconceptions about Africa. There is so much in Africa to be proud of – why focus on travelling to Europe or America?”

Walking would have been too slow, and a motorbike not ideal – but a bicycle was perfect. Imtiyaz has worked in adventure sports for two years, which is how the idea of cycling to Mecca was born.

From Cape Town, they will journey to Pretoria, then through Botswana, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania and Zanzibar to Kenya. In Mombasa, they will be faced with the choice of taking a ship to Yemen or continuing overland, via Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt, where they would cross the Suez Canal into the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This is a distance of between 13?000 and 14?000 kilometres.
Each day will bring a new adventure; the men will sleep in tents or mosques if they cannot find accommodation, but have heard people are willing to host travellers.

They are prepared, having spent lots of time in the saddle, but they are also concentrating on general fitness training. All that’s left is carbo-loading.
“But there is no rush, it is not a race,” says Imtiyaz. “We will also become fitter as we go.”
Themselves inspired by others, they feel the time is right for their mission, as they are without the obligations of marriage and family.
Nathim and Imtiyaz have used their own savings to fund the trip, but would gladly welcome any sponsors.
They would in particular appreciate filming equipment with which to document the trip.

“Life is about action. There is a time for ideas and theories, but action is where the sweetness of life can be found,” says Nathim.
Nathim and Imtiyaz will leave from the Islamia College Mosque on Sunday 31 January, and they promise to send People’s Post snapshots of their trip.
For more information phone Nathim Cairncross on 073?000?6384, or email nathimcairns@gmail.com.
Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

The fifth pillar of Islam, it is a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in a lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so.

By Teresa Fischer

THE POWER OF THE CHAMPAL

THE POWER OF THE CHAMPAL aka Sandle.
In Cape Town they were on the feet of the badaams and in India we see the power of the Champal

PENALTINHO FINALLY GOES

I was in Sandton yesterday at the Markex show when I got the news about Penaltinho.And obviously I have to have my say....
For the Mancs...Look the lity was unhappy, throwing tantrums and as I mentioned Fergie didnt even greet him properly after they won the title. Fergie should thank his lucky stars. For that World Record Transfer fee he can now by quality and some BIG NAMES. Penaltinos absense will also give the other teams renewed hope of clinching the Preiership now. At times the lads goals were vital to the MANCS cause.
Madrid under Perez have taken Galacticos to new heights now. Rumours are rife that Villa is the next target. What is happening to football. Madrid want to prove a point to Barcelona. Riyad Loonat ,you must be ecstatic.
But will the Curse of Madrid F#4king up BIG NAME PLAYERS still stand. It reamins to be seen!

As for PENALTINO most MANCS Ive spoken to are happy. They already mentioning names like Ribery and Benzima. For now reports are indicating that Penaltino has shacked up with Paris Hilton..with Paris saying they are an item

BODI & ABDULLAH ON AUCTION

http://indianpremierleague-ipl.blogspot.com/

Bodi and Yusuf Abdullah are amongst the players on auction in IPL. Great thing for the community

IS KAKA JOINING MAN CITY

Manchester City have launched football's most astonishing transfer bid – a world record £100m cash offer to Milan for Kaka, which City were highly confident last night would succeed in bringing the Brazilian to Eastlands.

Will Kaka go. Will City succeed. Is the footballing World gone bonkers. Maybe Kaka will go, then Panaltino will say...Kaka is there so Il go. Its like if someone tells you.......UBG is modelling for GUESS, Then everyone will want to model for Guess

PENALTINO CRASHES FERRARI

SPORT SNIPPETS

Some points to discuss in the sporting World.
Firstly , Azee, Seth,Killa, ZK and the Rugby lads. Whats your guys viewpoint on the Curry Cup.

Im not a big Rugby Fan ,when it comes to Domestic Rugby. But is the Curry Cup about pride. I remember how it used to be marketed back in the Day. Is it likethe FA Cup for our local lads.

Your owes favourites??I see Jeremy Mansfield on 94.7 is taking Big bets with the Cape Radio Stations.

But Seth will the Lions bring back Gold?That is the question

-Another interesting Development is the spat that is going to court between Ingesund and Ethygral. Ingesund claims Mohsin called him a Donkey. Is that defamation of character. IF that was the case, I should have F#4ken taken Mr Bhairooa and all the other teacher legends from school to court for calling us Donkeys. Fans used to scream "Donkey" for Tony Adams. I think it all started when Ingesund met Rooney in July, where the latter said in an astute Irish accsent. "DONKEY"

PRAYER ROOM AT EWOOD PARK

Killa just send me some top news. Hows this

Prayer room opened at Ewood Park
8:00am Tuesday 12th August 2008

A PRAYER room has been created at Ewood Park to allow Blackburn Rovers fans to worship on matchdays.
It is hoped the move will help to attract new supporters from all faiths and backgrounds.
The new multi-faith prayer room has been opened in the Blackburn End for the new season.
It is one of the first such facilities to open at a Premier League football stadium.
The move has been praised as “commendable” by the Lancashire Council of Mosques and The Dean of Blackburn Cathedral.
It has been built in the lower concourse area, where supporters buy snacks, drinks, place bets, and watch Rovers TV, by taking away space from one of the toilet blocks.
Rovers’ managing director Tom Finn said the specially sound-proofed facility was designed to provide existing staff and supporters with a quiet space for prayer and reflection, as well as encouraging fans from all faiths and backgrounds to attend more games.
Bolton Wanderers already have a quiet room in one of the stands at the Reebok Stadium and last season every team in the Scottish Premier League made facilities available to allow Muslim players to pray before and after games.
Adult Muslims are required to pray five times daily, as part of their religion.
At Ewood Park supporters wishing to use the facility, who are located in other areas of the stadium, will be able to gain access to the multi-faith room by asking a steward. Stewards will then escort supporters to the room.
Mr Finn said: “We welcome all fans to Ewood Park, whatever their backgrounds. We acknowledge that we live in a diverse society and therefore need to accommodate the needs of people from all walks of life.”
Salim Mulla, the senior vice chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, said the creation of the facility was “commendable”.
Mr Mulla, who is also the vice chairman of the Blackburn with Darwen inter-faith council, said: “This is a fantastic gesture by Blackburn Rovers and shows that the club has got a very good understanding of the needs of the Muslim community.
“There is a large Muslim community in East Lancashire and I am sure that this move will encourage more Muslim people to go to matches.
“What they have done is very positive and should be commended.”
Bosses at Blackburn Rovers said they did not want to reveal the exact contents of the room but fans who attended the friendly against NEC Breda on Saturday reported seeing prayer mats, as well as copies of religious texts.
Dean Christopher Armstrong, from Blackburn Cathedral, said: “As everyone knows, Blackburn has two cathedrals, one here in the centre of town and another at Ewood Park!
“Blackburn Rovers have to find ways to appeal to a wider community and already offer many superb facilities.
“The club is to be congratulated on its open-mindedness and recognising the spirituality of all of its fans. It is crucial that inter-faith projects like this are allowed to succeed.”
Multi-faith prayer rooms are already in place in the Royal Blackburn Hospital, all local town halls and even most motorway service stations.

RONALDINHO TO MILAN

What a thing. Everybody now saying that the Scudetto will be coming to Milan. I just spoke to Cisse now. Thats what he said. But No Champions league for Ronaldee..That will be a shame

The Brazilian had always stated that the Rossoneri was his preferred destination, despite Manchester City offering more money, and he was pleased to end all the speculation.A deal worth around €21m to the Blaugrana was sealed after talks between the Catlaan club's president Joan Laporta and Milan's vice-president Adriano Galliani took place this week."At last I have signed for Milan," Ronaldinho told La Gazzetta dello Sport after the deal was announced as being official."It has been a long time in coming, but finally the deal has been done. The facts show that I always wanted to go to Milan."Ronaldinho has had two troubled seasons at Camp Nou, but he was not willing to give his side of the story and explained that he was only focussing on his new club."Now is not the time to speak about Barcelona. I just want to enjoy this new chapter in my life, in which I promise to work hard and give my best to Milan," he added.-goal.com

PENALTINO PICKS UP GOLDEN BOOT

Barclays PLayer of the year & 30 goal( 1000 pounds donated to charity for each goal scored.)

Add to that Pfa player of the year & Football Writers player of the year.

This info sent in by The Chavel

I thought Tores was going to get it.

The Golden Boot is special. It means alot to any footballer. There were many greats in the past who snapped up this award. Rush, Lineker, Mainly strkers. Is this the first Midfielder in years to snap up this award. ?

WEEKEND ROUND UP

What a weekend.I thought Il just put up the breaking news and the most POPULAR news that emerged from this past weekend.This piece of news has been the talking point this weekend, AND OVERSHADOWED ALL THE OTHER NEWS THIS WEEKEND. IT WAS EXTREMELY POPULAR IN THE UK and made all the front pages.

New York - Talk show-diva Oprah Winfrey's touch does not just work for traditional books.
More than 1 million copies of financial adviser Suze Orman's Women & Money have been downloaded since the announcement last week on Winfrey's television show that the e-book edition would be available for free on her website, www.oprah.com.
"I believe Women & Money is the most important book I've ever written," Orman said in a statement released on Saturday by Winfrey. "So this was not about getting people to buy the book, but getting them to read it, and that was the intention behind this offer."
According to Saturday's statement, more than 1.1 million copies of Orman's financial advice book were downloaded in English, and another 19,000 in Spanish. The demand compares to such free online sensations as The 9-11 Commission Report, which the federal government made available for downloads, and Stephen King's e-novella, Riding the Bullet.
Winfrey's book club picks on her popular television show are publishing's swiftest and surest path to the top of best seller lists, resulting in tens of thousands more sales for authors whose titles are selected.
The publishing community has endlessly debated the effects of making text available online, with some saying that free downloading is a valuable promotional tool and others worrying that sales for paper editions would be harmed. The Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers each have sued Google for its plans to scan and index books for the Internet.
The offer for Women & Money, originally released a year ago by Spiegel & Grau, a division of Random House, Inc, has not kept people from buying the traditional version. As of Saturday, the book ranked No 6 on Amazon.com. The paper edition of The 9-11 Commission Report, published in 2004 by WW Norton and Co, was a best seller for months.
"I can tell you that with respect to the 9-11 Report, the free download did not seem to hurt sales at all," Norton publisher Drake McFeely told The Associated Press on Saturday. "There were people who wanted it quickly, in a less convenient form, and that was clearly a different market from the people who wanted the traditional book."
He said free downloading of books does concern publishers, but "if Norton had been given the opportunity for an Oprah Winfrey plug, and part of the deal was making the book free online, we would have gladly taken it."

BREAKING NEWS

FATTI RONALDO IS FINISHED.
RONALDO FROM AC MILAN has been injured, and this time it looks like the players career is over. Ronaldo tore tendons in his knee and the fat man is no more.

Lots of people argue about Ronaldo.I think he waned away since he joined Inter and picked up all those injuries. He got back to his best in spasms for Madrid.......Will he be missed I ask.

Secondly speaking of Inter and being a Juve man, I obviously hate Inter, We Liverpool will F#$k them up next week. I am positive of that. Ibrahimovic is an obvious threat, But we will be there Dadas, Trust me

Well we watching the game at CAFE NESCAFE FORDSBURG. The MANC game as well as the Liverpool Game.
So Join us there. We have a good panel lined up by the looks of It.

Wait for the anouncement

'DIC set for Liverpool takeover' February 14 2008

Dubai International Capital are reportedly close to completing their takeover of Liverpool after agreeing a fee for the club.
According to The Daily Mirror, the Dubai International Capital group - the investment arm of the Dubai government - have reached an 'outline agreement' with current owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett to buy the club for around £460million.
The Mirror claims that 'sources in New York' have confirmed that a deal is in place, and could be completed by the middle of March.
DIC failed in their initial bid to buy Liverpool when Hicks and Gillett took over in 2007, but are now prepared to effectively double the American's money for the club.
Hicks and Gillett recently completed a £350million refinancing deal on the money they borrowed to buy the club, which left Liverpool saddled with around £105million of debt.
While Rafa Benitez has had his disagreements with Hicks and Gillett, the takeover might not be the best news for him after all.
Reports earlier this week suggested that DIC were not convinced that Benitez was the right man to take Liverpool forward, having been less than impressed with his public rows with the current owners.
(the last line is just to make the fans anti –DIC)

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW

ARIVADECI WENGERS YOUNG BOYS, TIME TO GO HOME. BRING ON INTER, LET THEM WALK THROUGH THE GATES OF ANFIELD. Am I happy with the draw Yes. At the end of the day you have to play everyone sooner or later. Inters European pedigree has flaws. I think Liverpool and Rafa can exploit these flaws. Inter are a good outfit,Ibra and co will be hard to contain no doubt. But we will prevail.Roma against Madrid.If I were Riyad Loonat Il go to Rome.Rome wasnt built in a day. As for the MANCS, Lyon can do it for Us or they cant. They are the most unpredictable European Outfit. And could very yet produce the surprise of the around. As for Faaiz Oz and Co for pumping their mouths , The Mighty Milan stand in their way. When you up against the BIG SHOTS OF EUROPE its like David meets Goliath


Celtic VS Barcelona
Lyon v Man Utd
Schalke 04 v FC Porto
Liverpool vInter Milan
Roma v Real Madrid
Arsenal vAC Milan
Olympiacos v Chelsea
Fenerbahce vFC Sevilla