AC to MC...?

Just saw Sports Centre on ESPN. It seems that AC Milan is considering an offer from Manchester City for their star player Kaka for 175 million pounds!

That's a lot of money and I'm sure Kaka is worth his huge price tag, but Manchester City?! Is Kaka serious? Or has Kaka gone Koo Koo?

No disrespect to Manchester City, but if you are a star player of high pedigree from a World Cup winning country where football is breathe in like the fresh air, or is treated like a religion-a top club with a rich history, tradition & champion pedigree would be a more logical & suitable choice.

Europe is not short of clubs that fit the bill above-Real Madrid, Barcelona, and of course Manchester United are huge clubs with all those mentioned qualities.

I wouldn't even blame Kaka should he choose to head to Liverpool or Arsenal or even Chelsea, but Manchester City?

Again no disrespect to Man.City, but just because you have tons of money & is currently the richest football club in the world doesn't mean that you can buy success by luring the world's best through your chequebook.


Look at Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas. He's currently one of the best midfielders in the world, yet he has not accepted big money offers from Real Madrid or his native Barcelona.

Look at Liverpool's Stevie G -another outstanding player. Why is he still staying at Merseyside Red when Chelsea & Real Madrid were clamouring for his signature few seasons ago. The money that was offered was unbelievable, yet Stevie stayed with Liverpool.

And why is Paul Scholes & Ryan Giggs are still at the very same club since they were 11 years old? Again money is not the issue. It's playing for the RIGHT club.

Pictures courtesy of: Google Images

Brave Gesture

Mali international & Sevilla striker-Frederic Kanoute was fined by the Spanish Football Federation for revealing a T-shirt that expressed support for Palestine during a match.


Kanoute lifted his Sevilla jersey over his head after scoring in his team's 2-1 Copa del Rey win over Deportivo La Coruna. Kanoute, who was born in France, is a practicing Muslim.














Kanoute's action, which has been interpreted as a response to Israel's recent attacks on Gaza that have killed nearly 700 people, was met with a yellow card from referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz.


Lahoz said in his post-match report that he'd cautioned Kanoute for raising his shirt over his head in accordance with federation rules, while also noting the message of the striker's T-shirt.


Raphael Schultz, Israel's ambassador in Madrid, told Radio Marca on Thursday that Kanoute's gesture "had gone beyond his profession and FIFA rules to this respect."


"I saw the match and the T-shirt bore nothing more than the name of Palestine. It was not an incitement against Israel. I don't think it extolled violence," Schultz said.


Meanwhile, Palestine embassy official Mahmoud Aluanen told the same station that Kanoute "has shown himself to be a very brave person to support our people at a public event."


"Sportsmen are human beings and cannot contain their feelings. They have all the right in the world to express their opinion about matters which contravene human rights.


"I'm sure that all Palestinian children, those who love football, will be happy about this gesture," Aluanen added.


The incident came a day before Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas paid a visit to Madrid for talks with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and King Juan Carlos.



My Opinion:

It was a very brave gesture from Kanoute, despite the fact it was against Spanish football regulations.


Yes, yes-sports & politics should not & never ever mix, but you must admit what is currently happening in Palestine goes beyond human rights. Innocent people especially children are dying senselessly.


You don't need to be a genius to figure that one out.


So while all the world leaders & the UN Security Council are "content" & "powerless" while sitting their butts down, with fingers up their a**e, and no action is being taken, the simple & brave gesture of a professional footballer should be applauded & saluted for reminding us that in the mix of our celebrations & happiness, we should spare a thought for those unfortunate ones in the Middle East.



Frederic Kanoute-I salute U...


Picture & news source:

http://news.bbc.co.uk