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Mashindano ya Judo yaota mbawa Send to a friend Sunday, 17 April 2011 20:49

Imani Makongoro
MASHINDANO ya Taifa ya Judo yaliyopangwa kufanyika jana kwenye Uwanja wa ndani wa taifa jijini Dar es Salaam, yameota mbawa kufuatia Chama cha mchezo huo hapa nchini (Jata) kukabiliwa na ukata.

Mashindano hayo yaliyokuwa na lengo la kupata wachezaji wa timu ya taifa ya mchezo huo kwa ajili ya kuiwakilisha Tanzania katika mashindano ya Kanda ya Tano Afrika Mashariki yanayotarajiwa kufanyika jijini Dar es Salaam mapema mwezi ujao na yale ya Afrika yatakayofanyika mapema Septemba nchini Msumbiji.

Katibu Mkuu wa Jata, Kashinde Shaban, aliiambia Mwananchi kuwa kutokana na mipangilio ya pesa mashindano hayo yamesogezwa mbele hadi mwishoni mwa mwezi Mei.

"Awali mashindano hayo yalipangwa kufanyika jijini Dar es Salaam na kushirikisha timu za Bara na Visiwani ili kupata timu ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania kwa ajili ya mashindano ya kimataifa.

"Aprili 14 wenzetu wa Zanzibar walitutumia barua ya kuomba mashindano yafanyike visiwani siku ya Aprili 16, tulishindwa kutokana na mipangilio ya kifedha ingawa timu ya bara ilikuwa tayari na hadi leo hii inaendelea na mazoezi.

"Tuliamua wao wafanye mashindano ya kwao huko ambayo yamefanyika jana kwa ajili ya kupata wachezaji wazuri ambao watachuana na hawa wa Bara mwezi Mei kwa ajili ya kupata timu ya taifa ya Judo," alisema Shaban.

 

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Penalti za Ronaldo, Messi zatoa sare Send to a friend Sunday, 17 April 2011 20:41

MADRID, Hispania
BAO la penalti la Cristiano Ronaldo lilitosha kufuta lile la awali wa Lionel Messi huku wachezaji 10 wa Real Madrid wakilazimisha sare 1-1 dhidi ya vinara wa ligi ya Hispania, Barcelona kwenye mchezo wa kwanza kati ya mechi nne zitazochezwa katika siku 18.

Ronaldo alimchambua kipa Victor Valdes dakika ya 82, akifunga bao lake la kwanza dhidi ya Barcelona baada ya Daniel Alves kumwangusha kwenye eneo la hatari Marcelo na kuamriwa penalti hiyo.

Messi alifunga bao lake la 49 msimu huu kwa makwaju wa penalti dakika ya 53 na kuwafanya wageni hao kuongoza kwenye Uwanja wa Santiago Bernabeu baada ya beki wa Madrid, Raul Albiol kupewa kadi nyekundu kwa kumwangusha David Villa kwenye eneo la penalti.

Bao hilo la penalti kwa nyota huyo wa Argentina ni la kwanza kufunga dhidi ya klabu anayofundisha Mourinho.

Madrid imepata pointi yake ya kwanza katika michezo sita iliyocheza dhidi ya mahasimu wao, lakini bado wamebaki nyuma kwa pointi nane huku mabingwa watetezi wakiwa wamebakiza mechi sita.

ìHatujawa mabingwa bado tunahitaji pointi 18, ili kufikia hilo,î alisema kocha wa Barcelona, Pep Guardiola.

Madrid walikuwa kwenye hali mbaya kwenye moja ya mechi nne za ìclasicosî dhidi ya mahasimu wao wa kihistoria baada ya Albiol kutolewa nje jambo lililomwacha kocha Jose Mourinho kwenye wakati ngumu wa kubadili mbinu ya uchezaji dhidi ya Barca.

ìKumi na mmoja dhidi ya 10, hapo hakuna ujanja tena. Ususaini unapocheza dhidi yenye uwezo mkubwa wa kumiliki mpira na bora duniani,î alisema Mourinho, ambaye ameshawahi kucheza dhidi ya Barcelona akiwa na wachezaji pungufu alipokuwa kocha wa Chelsea na Inter Milan.

ìNilijaribu kuwaanda kucheza wachezaji pungufu dhidi ya Barcelona.î

Hata hivyo matokeo hayo bado hayawezi kuwazuia Barcelona kusaka taji la tatu la ligi, Madrid watashuka tena dimbani Jumatano kwenye Kombe la Mfalme mjini Valencia wakiwa na kumbukumbu ya kipigo cha mabao 5-0 walichokipata Novemba kwenye Uwanja wa Camp Nou.
Vigogo hao wa Hispania bado watakuwa na mechi mbili nyingine za kucheza kwenye nusu fainali ya Ligi ya Mabingwa.

ìKila siku unajifunza kitu kwa ajili ya mchezo unaokuja. Tumejifunza kwamba tunatakiwa kushambulia kwa nguvu zaidir,î alisema Guardiola. ìTunatakiwa kumshambulia (Iker) Casillas zaidi, lakini ni kawaida unapokuwa mbele kwa 1-0 unapunguza kasi na kuangalia wenzio wanafanyaje.î

 

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Milan yapaa, Inter yaloa Send to a friend Sunday, 17 April 2011 20:40

MILAN, Italia
VINARA AC Milan wameendelea kupeta kileleni mwa Serie A baada ya ushindi mnono wa 3-0 nyumbani dhidi ya vibonde Sampdoria, huku bingwa mtetezi Inter Milan akiendelea kupoteza dira.

Inter inayoshika nafasi ya tatu na sasa wapo nyuma kwa pointi nane kwa Milan ikiwa imebaki michezo mitano baada ya kufungwa 2-0 na Parma, matokeo hayo yanamaanisha mabingwa hao mara sita mfululizo wameanza kupoteza taji hilo.

Milan ilipata bao lake la kuongoza dhidi ya timu inayoshuka daraja ya Sampdoria kupitia kwa Clarence Seedorf dakika ya 20, naye mshambuliaji Antonio Cassano alifunga bao la pili kabla ya Robinho kupachika bao la tatu.

Milan ikicheza bila ya mshambuliaji wake Zlatan Ibrahimovic, lakini ilifanikiwa kuishukama Samp kwenye nafasi ya nne kutoka mkiani ikiwa mbele kwa pointi moja kati ya timu zinazotakiwa kushuka daraja msimu huu.

Inter, iliyopoteza ubingwa wake wa Ligi ya Mabingwa kwa kufungwa na Schalke kwenye robo fainali, walipokea kipigo cha kushangaza kutoka kwa Parma ambaye ipo kwenye dimbwi la kutaka kushuka daraja.

Wachezaji wa mkopo kutoka Juventus, Sebastian Giovinco na Amauri walipeleka msiba huo kwa Inter, iliyobakia na tumaini ya kombe moja tu la Italia wakiwa kwenye hatua ya nusu fainali mechi zake zitaanza kuchezwa wiki ijayo.

AS Roma ikiwa nafasi ya sita, siku moja baada ya kupata mmiliki kutoka Marekani ilipokea kipigo cha mabao 3-2 nyumbani kutoka kwa Palermo na kujiweka vibaya katika kutafuta nafasi ya kucheza Ligi ya Mabingwa msimu ujao.

 

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Ngassa: Sijatimiza ndoto zangu Azam FC Send to a friend Monday, 18 April 2011 11:17

Mr Ngassa

Kalunde Jamal
MSHAMBULIAJI wa timu ya soka ya Azam ya Jijini Dar es Salaam, Mrisho Khalfan Ngassa amesema kuwa tangu amejiunga na timu hiyo hadi sasa bado hajakamilisha ndoto yake.

Ngassa alijiunga na Azam kwa mbwembwe ikiwa ni mchezaji aliyejiunga na timu hiyo kwa dau kubwa, sh58mil akitokea Yanga. Ngassa pia ni mchezaji wa timu ya taifa ya tanzania, Taifa Stars.

Alisema: "Ndoto yangu ilikuwa ni kuhakikisha tunakuwa mabingwa msimu huu wa Ligi Kuu Tanzania bara lakini tumeshindwa kufanya hivyo.

"Nilichofuata Azam bado sijakikamilisha lakini nitajitahidi kufanya hivyo nikishirikiana vema na wenzangu kwani bado tupo kwenye kinyang'anyiro cha ubingwa na naamini tukijitahidi tutaweza kushinda na kuchukua ubingwa.

"Kwa kuwa mimi si muumini wa kushindwa daima naamini katika kuweza najua tutaweza na nitafurahi sana siku moja tukishinda nikiwa na timu hii itatimia," alisema Ngassa ambaye ni baba wa watoto watatu.

"Tulikuwa nafasi ya juu yaani tulikuwa tunaongoza ligi lakini tukashuka na hadi kushika nafasi ya tatu, kila zuri lina ugumu wake," alisema Ngassa ambaye ni mtaalam wa kubadilisha matokeo dakika za mwisho.

Anasema kitu ambacho hawezi kukisahau katika ulimwengu wake wa kucheza soka ni siku ambayo Yanga ilicheza na Agosto ya Angola wakati huo kocha wa Yanga alikuwa Sredojevic Millutin 'Micho' na yeye aliingia akitokea benchi na kufunga goli la ushindi dakika ya 87 na watu walikuwa wameshatoka nje wakijua wameshafungwa.

"Sitaisahau siku ile kwa sababu ndio nilipata uzoefu na kujiamini zaidi na baadhi ya wachezaji wenzangu walianza kuniamini," anasema mchezaji huyo kutoka mkoa wa Mwanza.

Pamoja na mambo yote hayo Ngassa anasema kuna mambo ambayo mpaka sasa hayajakamilika kwa mfano alikuwa na nia ya kwenda kucheza soka nje ya nchi lakini bado hajafanikiwa.

"Pamoja na mafanikio niliyokuwa nayo, bado lengo langu la kwenda kucheza soka la kulipwa nje ya nchi halijatimia na bado nia ya kwenda huko ninayo...

"Naamini siku moja nitafanikiwa kwenda kucheza soka nje ya nchi baada ya kujaribu mara moja na kushindwa kwa sababu ya mwili wangu kuwa mdogo lakini sasa mwili wangu umejengaka vema najua nikienda nitaweza na watanichukua," anasema Ngassa.

Lakini mafanikio ya maisha, naweza kusema ninayo kiasi: "Nina nyumba nne katika umri huu nilionao moja ipo Tegeta hapa jijini na moja ipo maeneo ya Buza pia hapa hapa na mbili zipo Mwanza maeneo ya Nyamagana, na nina biashara zangu ndogo ndogo ambazo nimewaachia ndugu zangu ambao wanaisimamia hukohuko Mwanza.

Akiizungumzia Ligi Kuu, Ngassa anasema ilikuwa nzuri lakini kuna baadhi ya mambo ambayo Shirikisho la Soka Tanzania (TFF) inabidi iyafanyie kazi kuwa baadhi ya viwanja ambavyo vinahitaji marekebisho kama hakuna uwezekano wa kurekebisha visitumike. "Kuna viwanja ambavyo ni vibovu sana kwa mfano vya Kagera na Morogoro."

Aliongeza kuwa mambo mengine ambayo inabidi yaangaliwe kwa makini ikwa ni pamoja na waamuzi kuacha kupendelea baadhi ya timu na kupindisha baadhi ya sheria za soka na udhamini kwa ujumla wake." Comments




0 #1 Kussaga 2011-04-18 15:07 Swa kabisa Ngassa kama nia ipo utatoka mtu wangu kaza buti kuchezea nje sio ishu kubwa sana naamini unaweza kwani sijaona tofauti kubwa kati yako nale wanao chezea nje kikubwa uzoefu na stamina
Quote

 

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Vijana wa ‘Julio' wasife moyo, Waganda kama Cameroon

VIJANA wa timu ya miaka 23, mwishoni mwa wiki walianza vibaya kampeni ya kuwania nafasi ya kucheza fainali za All Africa Games zitakazochezwa Septemba mwaka huu nchini Msumbiji kwa kufungwa 2-1 na Uganda.
Matokeo haya machungu, yamekuja siku saba baada ya vijana hao kuwafungasha virago Cameroon kwa mikwaju ya penalti baada ya kumaliza dakika 120 wakiwa sare ya mabao 3-3.
Kihesabu, baada ya Cameroon kushinda mabao 2-1 katika mechi ya kwanza ya Machi 27 mjini Younde na vijana wa Tanzania kupata ushindi kama huo katika mechi ya marudiano, kukawa hakuna mshindi.
Licha ya timu hizo kwenda katika muda wa nyongeza wa dakika 30, zilishindwa kupata mshindi hivyo kwenda hatua ya mikwaju ya penalti
na ndipo Tanzania ikashinda 4-3 na kusonga mbele ambapo itakutana na
Nigeria, mabingwa wa Olimpiki wa mwaka 2000.
Wakiwa kwenye furaha ya kuwang'oa Cameroon na changamoto ya kukabiliana na Nigeria, ndipo wakajikuta kwenye kampeni nyingine ya kupigania tiketi ya kucheza fainali hizo za All Africa Games.
Jumamosi, vijana hao wanaonolewa na Kocha Jamhuri Kihwelo ‘Julio', walicheza mechi yao ya kwanza dhidi ya Uganda, mechi ambayo ilichezwa mjini Kampala na Tanzania wakafungwa 2-1.
Kwetu Tanzania Daima, tukiwa sehemu ya wadau wa michezo na maendeleo, tunahusisha matokeo haya dhidi ya Uganda na yale ya mechi ya kwanza kati ya vijana wetu walipokutana na Cameroon katika mechi ya kwanza ya Machi 27.
Hivyo, kwa vile wachezaji ni walewale na benchi la ufundi ni lilelile chini ya Julio, kwetu tunayo kila sababu ya kuwatia moyo vijana wetu ambao jana walipambana ugenini na kupata bao moja la ugenini kama ambavyo walifanya walipocheza na Cameroon mjini Younde.
Tunarejea tena wito wetu kwamba kama vijana hawa walipata bao hilo moja kule Cameroon na bado wakafanikiwa kuwang'oa kwenye mechi ya marudiano, hakuna kitu kitakachowazuia vijana hawa kufanya hivyo kwa Uganda.
Kitu muhimu kwa benchi la ufundi, kama alivyosema Julio, ni kufanyia marekebisho dosari zote zilizojitokeza kwenye mechi ya kwanza iliyopigwa mjini Kampala kwa ajili ya kufanya kweli katika mechi ya marudiano itakayochezwa jijini Dar es Salaam.
Tunaamini kwa dhati kabisa, kama vijana wa Uganda wameshinda nyumbani kwao, pia vijana wa Juklio wanayo kila sababu ya kushinda mechi ya marudiano kwani watakuwa wakicheza kwenye uwanja wa nyumbani mbele ya wapenzi na mashabiki ambao watakuwa wakiwashangilia kuanzia filimbi ya kwanza.
Tunamaliza maoni haya kuwatia moyo wachezaji wetu wa timu ya vijana wa chini ya miaka 23 kwamba wasivunjike moyo kwa kufungwa mabao 2-1, bali matokeo hayo yawe chachu ya kujipanga zaidi kuelekea mechi ya marudiano.
Hata hivyo, haya yote yatafanikiwa kwa vijana wa Tanzania kama timu hii itaendelea kuandaliwa vizuri ikiwemo kucheza mechi kadhaa za kirafiki kabla ya kurudiana na Uganda ambao katika mechi ya kwanza, wameonyesha uwezo mkubwa kwa mujibu wa Julio.
Pamoja na hayo, kama benchi la ufundi litafanyia kazi dosari zilizochangia kupoteza mechi ya kwanza na vijana kuzidi kujengwa kiufundi, kimwili na kiakili, tunaamini kile kilichoikuta Cameroon kwenye kampeni ya kwenda London, ndicho kitaikuta Uganda katika mbio za kwenda Msumbiji.

 

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Wadau waitupie macho Twiga Stars

Makuburi Ally​

TIMU ya Taifa ya Wanawake Tanzania “Twiga Stars” kwa mara nyingine itapeperusha bendera ya Tanzania na nchi zote za ukanda wa Afrika Mashariki na Kati, katika mashindano ya Afrika yatakayofanyika Septemba 3-18 mwaka huu nchini Msumbiji.
Twiga Stars kabla ya kufuzu hatua hiyo ilikuwa iumane na Sudan katika mchezo wa mchujo uliokuwa uchezwe Aprili 30 jijini Khartoum, Sudan, lakini wapinzani hao wamejiondoa katika kinyang’anyiro hicho na kuipa nafasi Stars kusonga mbele.
Twiga Stars ambayo mwaka jana ilishiriki kwa mara ya kwanza katika fainali za mataifa ya Afrika kwa wanawake, imefanikiwa tena kupata tiketi ya kucheza michuano mikubwa ya soka kwa wanawake ya All African Game, ingawa safari hii imepita bila kuingia dimbani.
Hii ni kutokana na kujitoa kwa Sudan katika dakika za mwisho, ambao walipangwa kucheza na Twiga kuwania tiketi hiyo ya kwenda Msumbiji.
Hata hivyo kutokana na Twiga kufanya vibaya katika michuano ya mataifa ya Afrika mwaka jana, ni wajibu wa kila mmoja wetu kuiunga mkono kwa hali na mali ili safari hii iweze kufanya vema ikibidi iibuke na ubingwa.
Kama tunavyofahamu Twiga Stars haina wadhamini hadi sasa, licha ya kujitahidi kuitoa kimasomaso Tanzania mara nyingi ukilinganisha na michezo mingi ikiwemo soka la wanaume.
Ninaamini kuwa Twiga Stars ikiwezeshwa katika masuala ya posho za wachezaji na fedha za kuingia kambini, timu hiyo itafanya makubwa katika medani ya soka sio Afrika pekee bali Duniani kwa ujumla.
Wachezaji wa Twiga Stars wamedhihirisha kuwa wanao uwezo wa kukabiliana na miamba wa soka Afrika na Duniani, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana na hata nchi kama Afrika Kusini, ambayo iko juu kulinganisha na nchi nyingine za Kusini mwa bara la Afrika.
Twiga Stars ambayo kwa asilimia 95 inawategemea wachezaji walioibuliwa na michuano iliyokuwa ikiandaliwa na Chama cha soka Wilaya ya Kinondoni (KIFA), imekuwa kama mtoto yatima.
Timu hii haitupiwi jicho la huruma sio tuna na serikali lakini hata wadau pia, ukiachilia mbali Shirikisho la soka nchini (TFF), ambalo nalo huwakumbuka tu pale kunapokuwa na michuano mbele yake.
Ni jambo linalosikitisha kuona kwamba wachezaji hawa wanatoka katika klabu ambazo hata nauli ya kwenda mazoezi na kurudi ni mbinde kupata, achilia mbali fedha za maji ya kunywa na dawa za maumivu mchezaji anapoumia.
Kutokana na serikali, wadau na TFF kutowaunga mkono KIFA nao wameamua kuacha kuendesha Ligi soka za wanawake kwa kile wanachodai ni gharama kubwa za maandalizi yake na uendeshaji wake.
Timu kama Sayari Women, waanzilishi wa soka la wanawake Dar es Salaam, inajiendesha kwa mazoea hakuna wa kuitizama, hakuna kiongozi wa Wizara wala BMT anayejaribu walau kujua wanakotoka wachezaji wa Twiga Stars.
Ni jambo la kusikitisha kwamba timu hizi zinaendeshwa na watu binafasi, ambao uwezo wao ni wa kawaida bali ni kwa mapenzi yao binafsi ya soka, haziwaingizii wamiliki au viongozi fedha zaidi ya kuwapa mzigo mzito wa kulea wachezaji.
Ukiondoa JKT Queens inayomilikiwana Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa (JKT), timu zote za soka za wanawake zilizosalia zinamilikiwa au kuendeshwa na wadau wenye mapenzi na mchezo huo kama Dk. Abdallah Tamba, anayemiliki Mburahati Queens, Fatuma Mkambara ‘Mama Sayari’, anayeiongoza Sayari Women na wengine.
Akizungumzia sababu za kuacha kuandaa Ligi soka ya wanawake Kinondoni, Katibu Mkuu wa KIFA, Frank Mchaki, alisema kuwa hawaoni sababu ya kuandaa mashindano mwisho wa siku wanashindwa kumpa bingwa walau sh mil moja ya zawadi.
Nachukua fursa hii kuwashauri viongozi wa Chama cha soka la Wanawake Tanzania (TWFA) kuwafuata viongozi wa serikali kupitia Wizara ya Michezo pamoja na wadau kuwaomba waanze kuelekeza nguvu zao kusaidia timu za soka za wanawake hususan Twiga Stars.
Viongozi wa TWFA wanatakiwa kuzingatia changamoto za kuliboresha na kulifanikisha soka hilo ambalo ndio mwelekeo bora wa Tanzania kwa sababu ukanda wa Afrika Mashariki na Kati Tanzania ndio nchi pekee yenye mwelekeo bora wa soka la wanawake.
Napendekeza viongozi wa TWFA kuendelea kumshawishi Mkurugenzi wa kampuni ya RBP, Rahma Al Kharous, kuendelea kusaidia soka la wanawake aliyeanza kwa kuisaidia kambi ya Twiga Stars mwaka jana, alipoipeleka nchini Marekani kwa ajili ya kujiandaa na mashindano ya Afrika.
Si Al Kharous pekee bali wadau wengine watambue hilo hasa wakizingatia historia ya kushiriki mashindano ya Afrika, yaliyofanyika Afrika Kusini katika uwanja wa Sinaba iwe ndio dira ya maendeleo yatakayofanikisha Tanzania izidi kupaa badala ya muelekeo uliopo sasa, tunarudi nyuma badala ya kusonga mbele.
Kwa jinsi ilivyo inatakiwa tufikirie kucheza kombe la dunia, lakini kwa mdororo huu, inaonekana kizazi cha kina Asha Rashid ‘Mwalala’, Mwanahamis Omar ‘Gaucho’, Ester Chabruma na Fatuma Khatib ambao ndio tegemeo laTwiga wakakosa watakaorithi nafasi zao kwa sababu ya kukosekana wa kuwaendeleza wenzao ingawa wao wenyewe hawakupata msaada wowote.
Wito kwa wadau kuiona Twiga Stars kuwa ni timu inayofaa kudhaminiwa kwa sababu ni timu yenye uwezo wa kucheza soka kama nchi za Nigeria, Cameroon na nyinginezo ambazo zina dira ya maendeleo ya soka.

Mwandishi anapatikana kupitia simu namba 0773-508779, email makuburia@yahoo.com

juu

 

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Mchezo wa ngumi unavyozidi kujichafua

Tullo Chambo​

NI Jumatatu nyingine tena tunakutana wadau wa Uwanja wa Kuchonga, lengo likiwa ni kupeana changamoto za kimichezo ili kuleta ufanisi.
Bila shaka mu wazima wa afya na mnaendelea na majukumu ya ujenzi wa taifa, ila kwa wale hali zao sio nzuri tunawaombea nafuu.
Kwa faida ya wale ambao hatukuwa nao pamoja, tupeane kwa ufupi yale yaliyojiri Uwanjani. Wiki iliyopita tulikuwa na isemayo: Wizara, Uwanja wa Taifa mnasubiri hadi JK aseme?
Katika hilo tulizungumzia jinsi ambavyo Uwanja wa Taifa unavyoendeshwa tangu tulipokabidhiwa, ambako ni wazi serikali kupitia Wizara husika imesinzia katika usimamizi na uendeshaji wake.
Tulihoji inakuwaje serikali inakosa juhudi za makusudi kuwawezesha wataalamu wa Kitanzania kuweza kuendesha baadhi ya programu za uwanja huo, kuliko hali ilivyo hivi sasa ambapo kila kitu anategemewa Mchina, ambaye akiwa na dharura kila kitu kinakwenda kombo.
Lakini licha hali kuwa hivyo Uwanja wa Taifa, ambako imefikia hata kutuadhiri mbele ya Rais wa nchi na wageni kutoka nje baada ya mambo kadhaa kwenda mrama, lakini juhudi za kujipanga kuyafanyia kazi mapungufu hayo hazionekani licha ya wadau lukuki kutoa kilio chao.
Baada ya dondoo hizo, sasa turejee katika mada yetu ya leo. Miaka ya nyuma, mchezo wa ngumi hapa nchini ulikuwa uko juu, si ridhaa wala zile za kulipwa, ambako hata mashabiki walikuwa lukuki.
Lakini miaka ya hivi karibuni, mchezo huu umezidi kupungua hamasa hata vipaji vyenyewe vya mabondia, jambo ambalo limekuwa ni kilio kikubwa hivi sasa kwa wadau wa masumbwi.
Hali hii ya ngumi kudoda, inachangiwa na sababu lukuki, lakini kubwa ikiwa ni usimamizi mbovu kutoka kwenye mashirikisho, vyama na hivi sasa utitiri wa kampuni zinazojishughulisha na ngumi za kulipwa kwa miamvuli ya vyama au mashirikisho, ili hali kimsingi hazina sifa hizo.
Migogoro ya kila kukicha katika masumbwi, kumesababisha hivi sasa kuibuka kwa kampuni kama PST, TPBC, TPBO na nyinginezo, ambako hali ya sasa nadiriki kusema kwa kiwango kikubwa zimeshindwa kuupa heshima mchezo wa ngumi hapa nchini na sasa kuufanya uonekane si wa amani na kihuni zaidi.
Tumeshuhudia michezo mingi inayosimamiwa na kampuni hizi ikigeuka vita badala ya burudani, mapambano mengi hayamaliziki na kuishia kuibuka kwa fujo na kutishia amani ya mashabiki.
Wakati vichwani mwa wadau tukiwa bado hatujasahau lile pambano la Awadhi Tamim na Ashraf Mohammed lilivyovunjika kutokana na fujo, Francis Cheka na Japhet Kaseba, mwishoni mwa wiki masumbwi ya kulipwa yaliingia tena dosari na kudhihirisha ile dhana ya kuwa si mchezo wa kistaarabu bali kihuni.
Katika pambano la Japhet Kaseba na Mada Maugo lililopigwa Jumamosi chini ya uangalizi wa TPBO, nalo halikumalizika kwa amani na kusababisha tafrani kubwa ukumbini.
Pambano hilo lilivunjika kwa kile kinachodaiwa mabondia kuchezeana faulo huku mwamuzi akishindwa kudhibiti hali, jambo lililomfanya Kaseba ‘kumkata mtama' Maugo na hapo mashabiki kuvamia ulingo na kuzusha tafrani, jambo ambalo limezidi kuupotezea sifa mchezo huu.
Hakika kwa vitendo vinavyozidi kuota mizizi kila kukicha, kuna uchafua mchezo wa ngumi na kuzidi kuushushia hadhi mbele ya jamii.
Hivi sasa ni vigumu kwa wadau mbalimbali kama kampuni na mashirika mbalimbali kuwekeza kwenye mchezo wa ngumi, kutokana na kutokubalika vema ndani ya jamii, badala yake kuonekana ni mchezo wa kihuni na usiofaa.
Sijui kama hizo kampuni, ambazo zimekuwa zikipata urahisi kusajiliwa Wizara ya Mambo ya Ndani, lakini kimsingi hazina uwezo, bali kutanguliza maslahi binafsi badala ya mchezo, zina uchungu na mustakabali wa mchezo huu kwa haya yanayoendelea kutokea.
Ngumi za siku hizi, kutokana na matendo haya huwezi kusema unaweza kwenda na familia yako wakiwamo watoto, kwani mwisho wake ni balaa.
Ngumi za siku hizi, sasa zimekuwa zikiendeshwa kwa nguvu ya mikwara kutoka kwa makamanda wa vikosi vya ulinzi na usalama, bila hivyo watu ni kutoana ngeo. Sasa huu ni mchezo ama vita?
Kuna haja kwa wahusika kuchukua hatua za haraka za makusudi kuikabili hali hii, ikiwamo hata kudhibitiwa kwa kampuni hizi ambazo zimekuwa zikishindwa usimamizi na kusababisha uvunjifu wa amani.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

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Ligi imemalizika viongozi nao likizo

Mwandishi wetu​

KINYANG'ANYIRO cha Ligi Kuu ya Soka Tanzania Bara, kimefikia tamati wiki iliyopita kwa Yanga kutwaa ubingwa huku Simba wakishika nafasi ya pili, hivyo timu hizi zote kujitwalia nafasi ya uwakilishi wa nchi katika michuano ya CAF mwakani.
Hii ina maana kuwa, Yanga watashiriki michuano ya Ligi ya Mabingwa Afrika, wakati Simba wao watacheza Kombe la Shirikisho, kutokana na nchi yetu kuwa katika kundi la nchi zenye kiwango kidogo.
Nchi zilizo kwenye kiwango cha juu, zitapewa nafasi ya kutoa timu zaidi ya moja katika ligi ya mabingwa huku timu moja ikishiriki Kombe la Shirikisho.
Hakuna kigezo kikubwa kinachotumiwa na Shirikisho la Soka Afrika (CAF) kuipandisha nchi daraja zaidi ya timu zake kufanya vema kwenye michuano inayoandaliwa na shirikisho hilo.
Kwa miaka nenda miaka rudi, Simba na Yanga ndizo timu ambazo zimekuwa zikiiwakilisha Tanzania katika michuano ya Afrika zikibadilishana nafasi moja ikishiriki Ligi ya Mabingwa nyingine inacheza Kombe la Shirikisho.
Timu zilikuwa zikishiriki michuano hiyo tangu ikiwa Klabu Bingwa barani Afrika na Kombe la Washindi barani Afrika, ambalo baadaye likaitwa Kombe la CUF.
Katika Kombe la Shirikisho, Simba ndiyo timu pekee iliyowahi kufanya vema ilipofika fainali ya Kombe hilo mwaka 1993, ingawa ilitolewa na Stella Abdijan ya Ivory Coast, kwa kufungwa mabao 2-0 katika mechi ya marudiano kwenye uwanja wa Taifa (Uhuru) jijini Dar es Salaam, baada ya timu hizo kutoka suluhu katika mechi ya kwanzahuko Abdijan, Ivory Coast.
Katika Ligi ya mabingwa Afrika, hatua kubwa ambayo timu hizi za Yanga na Simba zinaweza kujivunia ni kutinga hatua ya makundi (nane bora).
Siku zote timu hizi zimekuwa zikiangushwa na maandalizi duni, lakini ni jambo la kusikitisha kwambahadi leo viongozi wanaoingia kuziongoza timu hizi wanashindwa kujipanga ili kuondoa sababu hii ya maandalizi.
Msimu wa Ligi umemalizika, wachezaji na makocha wameruhusiwa kwenda mapumziko, lakini nimesikitishwa na kauli ya viongozi wa timu hizo zote zitakazoiwakilisha Tanzania katika michuano ya Afrika mwakani, kwamba wachezaji watarejea Julai.
Hii inamaanisha kwamba timu hizi hazitakuwa na muda wa kutosha kujifua hasa ikizingatiwa kwamba zimekuwa na utamaduni wa kusajili zaidi ya wachezaji watano wapya kila msimu.
Wataalamu wa soka wanasema mchezaji anahitaji angalau miezi isiyopungua mitatu kuweza kuzoeana na wenzake kiuchezaji, sasa kwa timu kukusanywa Julai wakati ligi inaanza Agosti inamaanisha kuwa wachezaji watakuwa na mwezi mmoja wa kujiandaa kabla ya kuanza kwa ligi.
Kwa maana hiyo wachezaji watapumzika miezi miwili na nusu kisha wakutane kwa mwezi mmoja kabla ya kuanza kwa msimu mpya wa ligi jambo ambalo linamaanisha wachezaji wataingia katika ligi bila ya kuzoeana.
Viongozi wa timu hizi wanapaswa kujua kuwa kipindi hiki cha kumalizika kwa ligi ndicho ambacho walipaswa kukitumia kuipika timu yao kwa ajili ya msimu mpya pamoja na michuano hiyo ya Afrika itakayoanza mapema mwakani.
Ni kichekesho kusikia eti na viongozi wa timu hizi nao wamekwenda likizo kwa madai kuwa hawana cha kufanya kwa sababu msimu wa ligi umemalizika na wachezaji hawapo.
Huu ni mzaha, huu ndio ulikuwa wakati wa timu kukaa pamoja na kufanya mazoezi tya pamoja ambapo kocha anapata nafasi ya kutosha kuangalia upungufu kila mchezaji, kisha kumpa ushauri wa nini afanye ili kuondoa upungufu huo.
Aidha huu ndio ulikuwa wakati muafaka kwa viongozi kuelekeza nguvu zote katika kuziandaa timu za vijana, pamoja na timu B, kwa kuzitafutia pia mechi nyingi za kirafiki.
Katika hili la maandalizi, linazihusu pia timu nyingine zote zitakazoshiriki Ligi Kuu, kwamba huu ndio ulikuwa muda muafaka kwao kuanza kujipanga ili walau timu zao zianze mazoezi mwishoni mwa Mei au Juni mwanzoni na sio kusubiri Julai.
Chonde viongozi Simba, Yanga na timu zote zitakazoshiriki Ligi kuu msimu ujao, achaneni na kufanya mambo kwa mazoea, tunahitaji kupiga hatua katika soka lakini hili halitakuja kwa maneno linahitaji vitendo navyo vyatakiwa kuanza sasa.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Yanga, kama ubingwa ni wa halali hatutegemei mabadiliko makubwa

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Kenneth Mwaisabula ​

KARIBUNI tena wapenzi wasomaji wa gazeti hili la Tanzania Daima la kila Jumatatu, lenye mvuto mkubwa wa michezo, kuanzia ile ya mieleka ya Shabani Matutu, Uwanja wa Kuchonga Tullo Chambo, makala tamu za Ruhazi Ruhazi, Andrew Chale pamoja na kona hii ya Mwaisabula, tuwepo tena katika Jumatatu hii tulivu isiyo na ligi.
Makala zangu mbili zilizopita, zilimzungumzia mtaalamu na Baba wa Uchambuzi nchini, Dk, Licky Abdallah alivyopotea haraka katika ulimwengu wa uchambuzi na hasa soka. Wadau wengi walilimlilia mtu huyo arudi, japo kwa kuandika makala tu, nadhani leo niufunge mjadala huu wa Dk. Licky, maana ukitaka kuandika habari zake utaandika hata makala nne, kwa kifupi watu wengi sana wanampenda Dk. Licky, nami nimefanya kila aina ya uwezo wangu kumtafuta nimekwama, nadhani atakuwa yuko nje ya nchi.
Ligi ya Tanzania Bara, iliyoshirikisha timu 12, yaani Yanga, Simba, Azam, Kagera Sugar, Mtibwa Sugar, JKT Ruvu, Ruvu Shooting, Majimaji, Toto Africa, AFC, Polisi Tanzania na African Lyon, imemalizika Aprili 10 tangu ilipoanza Agosti mwaka jana na kumsimika Dar Young African kuwa mabingwa wapya msimu huu, kwa kuwapiku wapinzani wao wakubwa Simba Sports Club kwa tofauti ya mabao mawili, huku wakiwa wamelingana pointi, wote wakiwa na 49.
Makala yangu ya leo, ni mahsusi kwa kuwapongeza mabingwa hao wapya na kuamini kuwa muziki huu utabaki hadi mwakani na kuwafanya wachezaji kuwa wazoefu zaidi.
Kwa makocha wote duniani, wana msemo usemao, timu inayoshinda haibadiliki, itabadilikaje wakati imeshinda, maana kila mtu anaonekana mzuri.
Yanga leo ni mabingwa wa soka nchini na ni matumaini ya wapenzi wengi wa soka kuwa, wanajua ni moja ya timu bora sana hapa nchini, na kama hivyo ndivyo, hatutegemei kocha mkuu wa timu hiyo, Mganda Sam Timbe afanye mabadiliko makubwa kwa mabingwa hao katika zoezi zima la usajili.
Mwandishi wa makala hii, ni mmoja wa makocha nchini waliopinga sana usajili wa mabingwa hao wa msimu wa 2010/2011 akiwa sambamba na kocha mwenzake Joseph Kanakamfumu na aliwashambulia wote waliohusika na suala zima linalohusu usajili na kudiriki kusema kuwa kuna zaidi ya nusu ya wachezaji hawana sifa za kuchezea timu hiyo, lakini ajabu na kweli mwisho wa siku Yanga wametawazwa kuwa mabingwa na timu ile ile ambayo Mwaisabula na baadhi ya wenzake waliiona haifai.
Kama kweli, kwa misingi ya haki kabisa ya kuheshimu matokeo ya uwanjani ni dhahiri kuwa Yanga ndio mabingwa na tunategemea timu hiyo bora kabisa hapa nchini, ikae pamoja kwa kipindi kirefu kama ilivyo kwa TP Mazembe, ili kocha mkuu Timbe na msaidizi wake ‘Baba Isaya' Minziro, wafanye kazi yao kwa amani na utulivu, maana timu ilisajiliwa vizuri msimu uliopita na ndio maana wameleta furaha kwa mashabiki wao wa mitaa ya Twiga na Jangwani.
Hivi karibuni katika moja ya magazeti ya michezo, nilistushwa na kichwa cha habari kilichosema; ‘Timbe kusuka upya kikosi cha Yanga', nilibaki nimeduwa! na kujiuliza, timu bora iliyosajiliwa vizuri kabisa na hadi ikachukua ubingwa, inawezaje kuvunjwa na kujengwa upya, hapa lazima kuna tatizo katika soka letu.
Huenda tunashinda mno nje ya uwanja, ndio maana miaka 10 sasa, wanaochukua makombe ni hao hao wenye mashabiki na fedha ya kutosha, yaani Simba na Yanga.
Ni jukumu la Shirikisho la Soka Tanzania (TFF), kuangalia upya na hata kama itaunda kamati ya ligi ili mpira ukue ndani ya nchi yetu, ni lazima mshindi apatikane ndani ya uwanja na si nje ya uwanja kama ninavyohisi mimi.
Nimezifuatilia kwa karibu mno timu za JKT, Kagera, Mtibwa na Azam, kwangu mimi nilizipa maksi za juu sana katika kuchukua ubingwa na ninaamini hata usajili wao msimu ujao hautabadilika sana kama waliochukua ubingwa.
Navuta hisia zangu nyuma kidogo, sitaki kwenda mbali sana kwa kina mzee Tabu Mangara, nipo hapa kwa kina Jamal Malinzi, Tarimba Abass na Francis Kifukwe, jinsi walivyokuwa wanafanya usajili makini na wa uhakika, uliowafanya wachezaji kuwepo ndani ya timu kwa zaidi ya misimu mitano.
Baadhi yao kama akina Ally Mayai, Mohamed Hussein, Edibily Lunyamila, Salvatory Edward, Waziri Mahadhi, Peter Manyika, Mwanamtwa Kiwelu, Akida Makunda, Idd Moshi na wengineo, hayo ni matunda ya usajili mzuri na ambao mara nyingi ulikuwa unawapa raha wapenzi wa timu hiyo ya Jangwani.
Makala yangu ya leo, napata taabu kuamini kama akina Abuu Ubwa, Salum Telela, Bakari Mbegu, Nsa Job, Yahya Tumbo, Ernest Boakye, Isack Boakye, Ivan Knezevic, Seif Kijiko, Razack Halfan na wengineo kama watasalimika na panga la usajili wa timu hiyo kongwe kabisa hapa nchini.
Kama mabadiliko yatakuwa makubwa, hiyo itadhihirisha maneno yaliyosemwa na mwandishi wa makala hii na wenzake kuwa, usajili ule haukuwa sahihi na kwamba mmeshinda kwa mizengwe na wala sio soka.
Najua ‘krolokwini' ni chungu, lakini ili upone malaria ni lazima uinywe na ninajua makala hii itazua maswali mengi sana juu yangu, lakini ukweli ndio huo.
Ni ukweli usiopingika kuwa, klabu hizi kongwe hapa nchini, zina hazina kubwa sana ya kuwatumia wataalamu wake katika suala zima la usajili, mfano kwa upande wa Yanga kuna wachezaji kama Omar Hussein, Dotto Mokili, Mwanamtwa Kihwelu, Abeid Mziba na wengineo, ambao wenyewe kila siku ni lazima uwakute uwanjani.
Wawekeni katika kamati ya usajili wakishirikiana na watu kama akina Kifukwe, Malinzi, Tarimba na Hashimu Lundenga, kuliko kama ilivyo sasa, kila mtu ana sauti ya kumsajili mchezaji yeyote, ili mradi naye avute angalau na sio ubora.
Toka enzi zile, kucheza Yanga na Simba sio lelemama ni lazima uwe sawasawa, si mahali pa kuja kujaribiwa, unakuja kucheza ni vema wanachama walio wengi wasikubali kuburuzwa na watu wanaowasajili wachezaji kwa maslahi yao, kuliko ya timu zaidi.
Hussein Marsha, George Masatu wakati wanatoka Pamba wanakuja Simba, sio kukaa benchi, wanakuja kucheza. Godwin Aswile, Salum Kabunda wakati wanatoka Tukuyu Stars wanakuja Yanga kucheza na sio kukaa benchi.
Lakini leo ni kichekesho Simba na Yanga, zimekuwa kama zamani JKT, yaani Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa ambalo ilikuwa ukimaliza elimu ya juu ya sekondari au chuo ni lazima upite huko.
Yote kwa yote, hongera Yanga kwa kuwa mabingwa na tunawatakia kila la heri katika kuiwakilisha nchi kwenye michuano ya kimataifa na tusiishie raundi ya kwanza.
Vile vile kwa upande wa watani wao wa jadi Simba, msitafute mchawi kwa kuzidiwa mabao mawili tu na kuanza kuwafukuza nyota wenu waliotumikia timu kwa uadilifu mkubwa na ambao hadi leo Taifa bado linawaheshimu, hiyo ni sehemu ya mchezo tu.
Tukutane wiki ijayo tuuangalie kwa kina mfumo wetu wa ligi na je utatufikisha wapi katika soka letu na hasa huko tunakoelekea.

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Mwandishi wa makala ni kocha mzoefu na mfanyakazi wa Bandari, anapatikana 0652875794 Email kennymwaisabula@yahoo.com

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Wanavyolingoja kwa hamu Tamasha la Pasaka Diamond
• Wengi waguswa na Rais Kikwete

na Mwandishi wetu

PASAKA ambayo ni kielelezo cha ushindi wa Yesu Kristo dhidi ya dhambi kupitia mateso, kifo na hatimaye ufufuko, imebisha hodi kwani itakuwa mwishoni mwa wiki hii.
Wakristo duniani kote wamekuwa wakiiadhimisha Pasaka kwa maana ya kukumbuka fumbo la hili lenye maana kubwa kwa maisha ya kiroho kwa mkristo.
Ni fumbo la kipee sababu, kwa kuteswa kwake Yesu pale Msalabani, wanadamu wakapata ukombozi.
Ndio maana Ijumaa ya wiki hii, itakuwa ni Kuu kwa maana na Wakristo kukumbuka siku ya mateso na kufa kwa Yesu Kristo kabla ya kuushinda u-mauti alfajiri ya Jumapili.
Kiimani, kwa vile Ijumaa na Jumamosi, Wakristo wote duniani watakuwa katika huzuni ya kifo cha Yestu Kristo, furaha yao itaanzia asubuhi ya Jumapili.
Siku hiyo ya furaha kubwa kwa vile, baada ya Mariamu na Magdalena kwenda mahali ulipokuwa umezikwa mwili wa Yesu, wakakuta jiwe limeviringishwa kando.
Wakiwa wamepigwa butwaa wakidhani mwili umeibwa, tazama alitokea malaika na kuwaaambia, mnayemtafuta amefufuka katika wafu na amewatangulia Galilaya.
Kwa kutambua thamani ya Jumapili ya Pasaka (Aprili 24), Kampuni ya Msama Promotions ya jijini Dar es Salaam, ikaamua kuisindikiza kwa furaha zaidi.
Kampuni hiyo chini ya Mkurugenzi wake Alex Msama, imeamua kuandaa Tamasha la Muziki wa injili ambalo litafanyika kwenye ukumbi wa Diamond Jubilee.
Lengo la Tamasha hilo ambalo mgeni rasmi atakuwa ni Rais Jakaya Kikwete, ni kuwaleta watu pamoja bila kujali tofauti za dini zao kwa sababu Mungu ni mmoja ili kupata burudani ya nyimbo za injili ambazo ni sehemu ya neno la Mungu.
Kwa upande wake Msama ambaye ni Mwenyekiti wa Kamati inayoratibu Tamasha hilo, anasema maandalizi yaliyofanywa, ni ya kiwango cha kimataifa.
"Hili ni tamasha la aina yake ambalo mabli ya maudhui yake ya kuwaleta watu pamoja kufurahia ushindi wa ufufuko wa Yesu Kristo, pia wengi watajifunza kitu kupitia mahubiri ya nyimbo.
"Ndiyo maana Kamati yangu imejitahidi kuwashirikisha waimbaji kutoka ndani na nje ya Tanzania ili kila atakayefika Diamondo, Jamhuri Dodoma na kule CCM Kirumba, Mwanza, arudi nyumbani akiwa ameshiba ujumbe wa neno la Mungu.
"Ukuu wa Mungu ni waajabu kabisa, mtu huweza kubadilika kiroho kupitia ujumbe wa neno la Mungu uliopo kwenye nyimbo za muziki wa injili, ndio maana hata Mkuu wan chi (Rais Kikwete), amekubali kuwa mgeni rasmi.
Msama anawataja waimbaji ambao watahudumu siku hiyo mbele ya Rais Kikwete, watanzani ni Rose Muhando, Upendo Nkone, Mather Mwaipaja,
Christina Shusho na Boniface Mwaitege.
Kutioka nje ni Annastazia Mukabwa, Solomon Mukubwa, Pamera Wanderwa na Geraldine Odour kutoka nchini Kenya.
Wengine ni Faraja Ntaboba kutoka Jamhuri ya Kidemokrasia ya Congo anayetamba na kibao cha ‘Hakuna Kama wewe' na Ephraem Sekeleti kutoka Zambia.
Msama anasemaa anashukuru mungu kwamba, mipango inakwenda vizuri na kilichobaki ni kuzidi kumwombea mgeni rasmi (Kikwete) afya njema siku hiyo afike Diamond Jubilee kuungana na wananchi kuifurahia Pasaka.
Kwa upande wa waimbaji ambao watamba tamasha hilo, nao kwa nyakati tofauti kila mmoja amethibitisha kuwa katika maandalizi ya nguvu kwa ajili ya kufanya vitu vya uhakika.
Muhando kwa upande wake wanasema, yupo fiti na anazidi kumwomba Mwenyezi mungu azidi kumjalia uzima na afya ili siku hiyo yeye na waimbaji wengine, waweze kuisindikiza vizuti Pasaka.
Anasema, kwa vile Tamasha hilo litaanzia Diamond Jubilee kabla ya kuhamia Jamhuri Dodoma kisha CCM Kirumba, lile la Diamond Jubilee linapaswa kufunika zaidi.
KAULI ZA WADAU
Annastazia Ferdinand wa Kigilagila, jijini Dar es Salaam, anasema analisubiri kwa hamu kubwa tamasha hilo na anamwomba Mungu amjalie uzima na afya siku hiyo.
"Nanalisubiri kwa hamu kubwa Tamasha la Pasaka nataka nikamwone Muhando (Rose), Mukabwa (Anastazia), kusema kweli wadada hawa wameimba vizuri sana kwenye albamu yao ya Kiatu," alisema Annastazia au mama Catherine.
Mwingine aliyelizungumzia tamasha hilo, ni Vaireth Meshack ambaye mbali ya kutamani kwenda kwa ajili ya kuwaona live waimbaji mbalimbali, pia amekiri kuguswa na uwepo wa Rais Kikwete katika Tamasha hilo kama mgeni rasmi.
"Niliposikia kwa mara ya kwanza kwamba Rais Kikwete ndie atakuwa mgeni rasmi kwenye Tamasha la Pasaka sikiamini, jamani kumbe Tamasha linagusa wengi," alisema Vaireth anayejiandaa kujiunga na Chuo cha Kilimo MATI Ilonga, Kilosa.
Kingine kilichomgusa Vaireth katika tamasha hilo, ni hatua ya sehemu ya mapato ambayo yatapatikana, kuelekezwa kwenye makundi yenye shida kama yatima, wajane na waathirika wa Mabomu ya Gongo la Mboto.
Aidha, viongozi wa kiroho nao hawakubaki nyuma kupongeza uwepo wa Tamasha hilo Diamond, Jamhuri- Dodoma na Kirumba-Mwanza.
Mchungaji wa kanisa KKKT, mkoani Dodoma, Timothy Holela, anatoa wito wa wengi bila kujali dini kujitokeza kwa wingi ili kuwatia moyo waandaaji.
Naye Askofu wa Kanisa la Mungu, Donald Mhango pia la mkoni Dodoma, anasema kilichomgusa zaidi katika Tamasha hilo, ni sehemu ya fedha kusaidia wenye shida.
Ametoa wito kwa wapenzi na mashabiki wa muziki wa injili na wananchi kwa ujumla wa Dodoma na vitongoji vyake, kujitokeza kwa wingi katika tamasha hilo litakalofanyika Aprili 25 kwenye Uwanja wa Jamhuri.
Anasema, kitendo cha kuchangia wenye mahitaji maalumu kama wajane, yatima na waathirika wa mabomu ya Gongo la Mbotop, ni chema mbele za wanadamu na Mungu.
Anakwenda mbali zaidi na kuishauri Kamati ya maandalizi kuendelea kuandaa matamasha kama hayo kwa maana ya kueneza ujumbe wa neno la Mungu na kusaidia makundi maalumu kwenye jamii.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Timbe aicha Yanga miezi miwili


na Mwandishi wetu

KOCHA mkuu wa mabingwa wapya wa Ligi Kuu ya bara, Yanga, Mganda, Sam Timbe, ameondoka jana kwenda kwao kwa mapumziko ya miezi miwili kabla ya kurejea kuisuka timu hiyo kwa msimu mpya wa 2011/2012.
Timbe ameondoka jana ikiwa ni siku saba tangu timu yake ya Yanga aliyojiunga nayo Februari 3, mwaka huu, akichukua nafasi ya Mserbia Kostadin Papic, kutwaa ubingwa wa 23 wa Bara tangu mwaka 1965.
Yanga imetwaa ubingwa huo licha ya kuwa na pointi 49 kama mtani wake Simba kutokana na wastani mzuri wa tofauti ya mabao ya kufungwa na kufunga, hivyo kujitwalia nafasi ya kucheza Ligi ya Mabingwa Afrika.
Simba iliyoshiriki Ligi Kuu ikiwa bingwa mtetezi chini ya Mzambia, Patrick Phiri, imekamata nafasi ya pili, hivyo kujitwalia tiketi ya kucheza michuano ya Kombe la Shirikisho la soka Afrika (Caf).
Akithibitisha kuondoka kwa kocha huyo, Ofisa Habari wa Yanga, Luis Sendeu, alisema Timbe aliondoka jana kwenda kwao Uganda kwa mapumziko ya takriban miezi miwili kwani atarejea Juni 15.
"Kocha Timbe ameondoka leo (jana) kwenda kwao Uganda kwa mapumziko, si unajua ligi kwa sasa imekwisha, kwa mujibu wa makubaliano, atarudi Juni 15 kwa ajili ya kuandaa kikosi cha msimu ujao," alisema.
Sendeu alisema, atakaporudi ndipo ataanza kusuka kikosi kipya cha mafanikio katika msimu mpya wa 2011/20112 ambao utaanza Agosti mwaka huu ambapo mkakati ni kufanya makubwa katika mashindano ya kitaifa na kimataifa.
Alisema Timbe ameondoka baada ya kukabidhi ripoti ya ushiriki wa timu katika msimu ulioanza Agosti 23, mwaka jana na kufikia tamati Aprili 10, mwaka huu.
Timbe kocha mwenye mafanikio makubwa katika soka ya ukanda wa Afrika Mashariki na kati (CECAFA), alitua Yanga akichukua nafasi ya Papic aliyekuwa ametofautiana na uongozi wa klabu hiyo.
Kabla ya kutua Yanga, Timbe amewahi kuzipatia mafanikio makubwa timu mbalimbali ikiwemo kuzipatia ubingwa wa CECAFA- Kagame Cup, timu za Sports Club Villa na Polisi zote za Uganda na Atraco ya Rwanda.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

ZPC yaibeba Zanzibar Heroes


na Mwandishi wetu

SHIRIKA la Bandari Zanzibar (ZPC), limetimiza ahadi yake lililoitoa wakati wa hafla ya kuichangia timu ya soka ya taifa Zanzibar ‘Zanzibar Heroes' baada ya kukabidhi hundi ya sh milioni 16 katika hafla iliyofanyika mjini hapa mwishoni mwa wiki.
Akikabidhi hundi hiyo kwa Ofisa Mtendaji Mkuu wa kampuni ya Future Century, Hellene Masanja, ambao ni waratibu wa kuisaidia Heroes, Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa ZPC, Mustafa Jumbe, alisema wana furaha kubwa kutimiza ahadi hiyo kwa kipindi kifupi toka kufanya kwa hafla hiyo ya uchangishaji.
"Sisi kama, Shirika la Bandari Zanzibar, tuna furaha kwa kutimiza ahadi yetu, kwani bila shaka kitendo hiki pia kitasaidia kuharakisha maendeleo ya timu yetu na soka la Zanzibar kwa ujumla," alisema.
Aliongeza kuwa, wametiwa moyo sana na kampuni ya Future Century kwa juhudi zake zinazostahili kupongezwa, za kujitutumua kwa ajili ya maendeleo ya mchezo wa soka visiwani hapa, ambao bado haujakuwa katika chati ya juu kama ilivyokuwa miaka ya nyuma.
"Sisi kama bandari, tunawapongeza Century na tunatoa wito kwa wadau mbalimbali, kujitokeza kuungana mkono na wadhamini waliojitokeza, ili kwa pamoja tuweze kuipaisha Zanzibar katika medani ya soka," alisema Jumbe.
Naye Ofisa Mtendaji Mkuu wa kampuni hiyo, Helene Masanja, mbali ya kuishukuru ZPC kwa kutimiza ahadi yake, alitoa wito kwa wadhamini wengine, wakiwemo watu binafsi, mashirika, kampuni na wadau wa soka la Zanzibar kwa ujumla, kuiga mfano wa Shirika la Bandari Zanzibar ili kuiinua timu ya soka ya Zanzibar na soka la visiwa hivyo kwa ujumla.
"Kutoa ahadi ni kitu kimoja na kutimiza ahadi ni kitu kingine, hivyo kitendo cha ZPC ni cha kuigwa na wadau wengine, kitakachosaidia kuharakisha maendeleo ya Heroes," alisema.
Hafla ya kuichangia Zanzibar Heroes iliyofanyika mjini Zanzibar Machi 26 mwaka huu, ambayo Rais wa Visiwa hivyo Dk. Ali Mohamed Shein alikuwa mgeni rasmi, ilikusanya zaidi ya sh milioni 86 ikiwa ni ahadi na fedha taslimu.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Vijana wa Julio kutua leo mchana


na Boniface Wambura, Kampala

TIMU ya taifa ya vijana chini ya miaka 23, inatarajiwa kuwasili nchini leo mchana ikitokea Kampala, Uganda ilikokwenda kushiriki mchezo wa kuwania kufuzu michezo ya Afrika, ‘All African Games' yanayotarajia kuanza Septemba 3-18, jijini Maputo Msumbiji.
U-23 inatarajia kuwasili kwa ndege ya Shirika la Uganda ‘Uganda Airways' ikiwa na msafara wa wachezaji 18 na baadhi ya viongozi wa Shirikisho la soka Tanzania (TFF).
Katika mchezo wa juzi, uliochezwa uwanja wa Mandela (Namboole), Tanzania U-23 ilikubali kipigo cha mabao 2-1 dhidi ya Uganda ‘Kobs', ambako mchezo wa marudiano unatarajiwa kuchezwa wiki mbili zijazo Uwanja wa Taifa jijini Dar es Salaam.
Akizungumzia pambano hilo, Kocha Mkuu wa timu hiyo, Jamhuri Kihwelo ‘Julio' alisema ameyapokea matokeo, hivyo atajipanga kwa mechi ya marudiano, kwa kuufanyia kazi upungufu uliojitokeza katika pambano hilo. Hata hivyo amekiri kuwa Uganda ni wazuri na anatambua kuwa watajipanga vizuri zaidi kwa mechi ya marudiano.
Mabao ya Uganda yalifungwa na Moses Olaya dakika ya 4, Kiiza Hamis dakika ya 23, huku lile la U-23 likifungwa dakika ya 46 kwa shuti la mbali na Kigi Makasi.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Multi Choice kutia uzito Tuzo Mwanamichezo Bora


na Makuburi Ally

KAMPUNI ya ving'amuzi ya Multi Choice Tanzania leo inatarajia kutangaza udhamini wake katika Tuzo za Wanamichezo bora wa mwaka 2010 inayotarajia kufanyika Mei 6 mwaka huu.
Kwa mujibu wa Katibu Mkuu wa Chama cha Waandishi wa Habari za Michezo Tanzania (TASWA), Amir Mhando, wadhamini wengine wa tuzo hiyo hadi sasa ni Kampuni ya Bia ya Serengeti (SBL), ambao ni wadhamini wakuu, Hoteli ya Movenpick na Mfuko wa Taifa wa Hifadhi ya Jamii (NSSF).
Aidha Mhando alisema, sambamba na hilo, kamati ya Utendaji ya TASWA iliyokutana Aprili 9 jijini Dar es Salaam ilijadili masuala mbalimbali ikiwemo kuimarisha vyanzo vya mapato ya chama na kushiriki kwenye masuala ya kuchangia jamii.
Mhando alisema, kamati iliteua kamati maalum kwa ajili ya kuandaa michezo mbalimbali, ambayo fedha zitakazopatikana zitatumika kwa masuala ya kijamii na nyingine zitabaki kuimarisha chama, lengo likiwa ni kukifanya kijitegemee kimapato.
Walioteuliwa kuingia kwenye kamati hiyo na vyombo vyao kwenye mabano ni Majuto Omary (The Citizens), ambaye ni Mwenyekiti na Katibu George John ambaye ni Katibu Msaidizi wa TASWA.
Wajumbe ni Sultani Sikilo (Mhazini TASWA), Somoe Ng'itu (Nipashe), Frank Balile (Dar Leo), Asha Kigundula (Jambo Leo), Angela Msangi (TBC1), Onesmo Kapinga, Grace Hoka, Elius Kambili na Zena Chande (Wajumbe TASWA), Mwani Nyangassa (The African), Limonga Justine (Radio Uhuru), Athanas Kazige (Burudani), na Dina Ismail (Tanzania Daima).
Alisema moja ya mechi ambazo kamati itashughulikia ni ile ya mabingwa wa Ligi Kuu Tanzania bara msimu wa mwaka 2010/2011 na wachezaji bora wa ligi hiyo wa msimu wa mwaka 2010/2011, ambayo TASWA ilishauri ifanyike Juni mwaka huu.
Mhando alisema kikao hicho pia kilikubaliana yaandaliwe mafunzo mbalimbali kwa wanachama wake na kuipa jukumu sekretarieti ya TASWA kuratibu suala hilo ili zipatikane semina tatu hadi kufikia Julai mwaka huu.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Nigeria's Olubayo Adefemi dies in Greece car accident

Nigeria defender Olubayo Adefemi was involved in a car accident in Greece

Nigeria international defender Olubayo Adefemi has died in a car accident, Greek police said on Monday.
The 25-year-old, who played for Skoda Xanthi, lost control of his car on the Egnatia motorway before the crash.
Adefemi was driving from Xanthi to Salonika in the Kavala region of northern Greece.
The former Rapid Bucharest player was on his way to Nigeria to finalise details of his wedding when the accident happened, police said.
"The Super League and the entire Greek football family would like to express its deepest condolences and sympathy for the family of Olubayo Adefemi who died tragically in a car accident," league organisers said in a statement on Monday.
Adefemi's Zambian team-mate and friend Chris Katongo says Xanthi players were in shock when they heard news of the death of the popular player.
"It was a good day and all the players were laughing and joking when the manager came in and broke the news. Everyone is in shock," Katongo told BBC Sport.
"Even as I am speaking I am thinking it is a joke but it is true. I can't believe this.
"He was a good person, he likes to joke and likes to laugh. It is the reason why he got along with everyone and was well liked.
"He was like a brother to me because we shared the same room during team camping. It is a big loss to me and the entire Xanthi team."
Adefemi's car skidded off the highway in Kavala in bad weather conditions before crashing into a barrier, killing him instantly.
"For the past three of four days in that part of Greece the weather has been terrible and unfamiliar with the country," Greek sports journalist Christos Sotirakopoulos told BBC Sport.
"The road has been slippery with heavy rains and in some cases heavy snow which is quite unusual for Greece."
Meanwhile, Skoda Xanthi will organise a friendly match in the memory of the Nigerian defender to raise fund to support his family.
"His team have already said that they will organise a game in his memory to send some money to his family in Africa," Sotirakopoulos
Adefemi signed for Xanthi last summer and made 24 appearances for the club, scoring twice.
He has also played five times for Nigeria.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Was Toure's intervention a telling sign for City?

Post categories: Football, football tactics
Alistair Magowan - BBC Sport | 23:48 UK time, Sunday, 17 April 2011

Defending higher up the pitch is not a new concept by any means but it has become more notable recently because of the way Pep Guardiola's Barcelona side has employed the tactic so effectively.
England boss Fabio Capello adopted a similar ploy in the recent Euro 2012 qualifying victory over Wales after making his players watch videos of the La Liga champions.
And in a season where his team has been criticised for being too passive, Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini used the tactic to great effect as his side recorded a surprise FA Cup semi-final win over Manchester United on Saturday.

The winning goal, superbly taken by City's Yaya Toure, was a case in point. The Ivorian intercepted Michael Carrick's pass outside the box before rounding Nemanja Vidic and slotting the ball past Edwin van der Sar on 52 minutes.
Carrick has been roundly condemned for his ill-judged pass in the build-up to the goal but credit should also go to man-of-the-match Toure, who nipped in to pinch the ball before it reached Paul Scholes.
Former Barcelona midfielder Toure had grown frustrated with a lack of appearances under Guardiola but he spearheaded City's five-man midfield at Wembley, proving he is much more than a defensive midfielder.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was aware of Toure's threat before the game as he employed a 4-5-1 formation against City, with Park Ji-Sung operating ahead of Carrick and Scholes in the midfield.
And it appeared to be the right move as United dominated the early exchanges and created two clear goalscoring opportunities, both spurned by Dimitar Berbatov.
But then City started to press their opponents higher up the pitch and, similar to the Liverpool side which beat United at Anfield recently, the Eastlands outfit began finding gaps between their opponent's deeper central midfield pairing.
"Maybe we had some fear in the first 20-25 minutes," said Mancini after the 1-0 success. "In the last 10-15 minutes of the first half, we started to play high, we started to press. In the second half, we dominated the game."
The resurgence was epitomised by Gareth Barry, who, along with Nigel de Jong, was the most successful tackler in the City midfield.
As for Toure, his involvement increased dramatically after the half-time interval. The number of times he touched the ball went up markedly, backing up City keeper Joe Hart's claim that the Ivorian was "fired up" and desperate to get a grip on the game.

Perhaps more telling was the number of interceptions made by City. In the first half, they managed eight compared to United's two. In the second, they made 16 to United's 10.
Then there was Carrick's passing accuracy. That fell from 92% in the first half to 74% in the second. Was that down to bad decision-making or because City's players were better positioned to pressurise and take advantage?
"Pressing high up the pitch is a risk and reward strategy," says former Arsenal full-back and Match of the Day pundit Lee Dixon.
"If it works - and it is hard work both physically and mentally - then the rewards are big. You obviously win the ball back closer to the opposition's goal and by the fact you press in numbers you normally have more people around the ball, hence more options to attack.
"The down side is that it only needs one person not to be working for it to break down. If this happens then you are very susceptible to a counter attack having gambled with players high up the pitch.
"Barcelona are a good exponent of this method. They press immediately after losing the ball anywhere on the pitch for a few seconds. If they don't win it back then they regroup.
"That said, if you can get through their first wave of pressing then they are, in my opinion, open and vulnerable."
United's cause certainly was not helped by the 73rd-minute dismissal of Scholes for a reckless challenge on Pablo Zabaleta. Ferguson was also without the services of Wayne Rooney, who missed the game because of suspension, although City had to make do without their own talisman, Carlos Tevez.
But are we seeing a subtle change of focus in the evolution of Mancini's team?
City continue to delight and frustrate in equal measure. Sandwiched between the semi-final over United and a 5-0 defeat of Sunderland was an abject loss at Liverpool.
But what do you think? Are City starting to flourish under Mancini? And will the Italian's tactics ensure victory over Stoke City in the FA Cup final?
You can also discuss more tactical issues and suggest future ideas on Twitter

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Time for Khan to split

Post categories: Boxing
Ben Dirs | 19:27 UK time, Sunday, 17 April 2011

As more than one wag pointed out following Amir Khan's desperately unsatisfactory victory over Paul McCloskey in Manchester on Saturday: Henry Cooper had worse cuts shaving.
McCloskey's promoter Barry Hearn called the decision to stop the fight following an accidental clash of heads in the sixth round "the most staggering decision I've ever seen at any ring at any time anywhere in the world". And while he is surely guilty of hyperbole, boxing, once again, failed to win many friends at the MEN Arena.
The shame was not so much that the Dungiven man had been robbed - Khan, who defended his WBA light-welterweight crown for a fourth time, had won every round. The shame was that 18,000 fans, an estimated 6,000 of them over from Ireland, had their night cut short on the whim of a queasy referee. This was meant to be world championship boxing, not a boxercise class.

McCloskey's corner should at least have been allowed to work on the cut. And the sight of the challenger parading around the ring after the chaos had subsided, cut barely noticeable, his face entirely clear of blood, should have been an embarrassment to Luis Pabon and the ringside doctor, on whose advice he decided to call a halt to the fight.
For a few uncomfortable minutes, it looked like the frustration of McCloskey's travelling fans might spill over. And while the throwing of missiles - if you can call plastic cups and Irish flags missiles - is not ideal if you are seated ringside, they had every right to feel short-changed. As one supporter put it: "I won't be paying for boxing again."

Khan (right) secured an unsatisfactory points decision over McCloskey
While Hearn's fury was understandable, calls for a rematch on the grounds of "unfinished business" were hopelessly optimistic. In truth, Hearn looked more likely to land a meaningful punch in the ensuing melee than McCloskey had during the actual fight. And for all McCloskey's quirky elusiveness and commendable punch-resistance, Khan was beginning to dominate when the end suddenly came.
If Khan thought his immediate future in the sport lay away from his native Britain before this fight, then Saturday's events and the wrangling that preceded them might ensure he never fights in his homeland again.
Sky's decision to relegate the bout from pay-per-view and the subsequent decision by Khan's team to jump ship to fringe satellite channel Primetime will have persuaded Oscar de la Hoya, the world's premier promoter, that his charge's future would be brighter in the United States.
Certainly, De la Hoya will not wish to be ringside in Manchester any time soon.
De la Hoya has always been more a Vegas type of guy, while the one-sided nature of his latest world title defence will have increased Khan's belief that he is more Vegas than Manchester, too. So his next bout is likely to be a unification match with American Tim Bradley, holder of the WBC and WBO light-welterweight belts.
"We have signed a multi-year deal with [American broadcaster] HBO and Amir Khan," announced De la Hoya, as the post-fight news conference descended into chaos. "The fight that HBO wants and we want is Timothy Bradley to unify the titles."
"I feel there are levels in boxing and Tim Bradley is the same level as me," said Khan, who now has 25 wins from 26 professional fights. "We're in the world class level."
This may be so but Khan will have to tighten up if he is to become undisputed king of one of boxing's most competitive divisions. While never in trouble against McCloskey, the 24-year-old still looked wild, windy and one-dimensional at times. Unlike McCloskey, the nuggety Bradley, unbeaten in 27 fights, has the tools to take advantage.
As well as my blogs, you can follow me when I'm out and about - or on the sofa - at http://twitter.com/bendirs1

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Semi-final success sees Pulis put Wembley woes behind him

Post categories: Football
Chris Bevan | 23:39 UK time, Sunday, 17 April 2011

Wembley Stadium
Stoke City boss Tony Pulis laid to rest most of his Wembley ghosts in some style by putting Bolton to the sword in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final, and victory over Manchester City when he returns for next month's final would be a fitting way for him to finish the job.
It was a famous comeback from the Mancunians that saw Pulis's previous visit to the national stadium, as Gillingham boss for the 1999 League One play-off final, end so traumatically that he did not step foot inside it again - in its old or new incarnation - until last week.
Twelve years ago the Gills led Manchester City 2-0 until the 89th minute, but ended up being beaten on penalties, a defeat that Pulis admits not only haunted him to the extent he had not attended a Wembley game since, but also helped make him into the manager he is today.

Pulis' Gillingham team threw away a two-goal advantage against Man City in 1999 - photo: AFP.

When the subject of THAT defeat was broached in Pulis's post-match media conference after his much happier return visit on Sunday, he replied, and only half in jest, "Why have you got to bring that up?

"Gillingham played really well on that day and didn't deserve to lose. But I tell you what that game did do, it made me a much stronger person. You get things out of defeat, as well as victory, and you have to pick yourself up after it."
It is telling that Bolton boss Owen Coyle had uttered the same sentiment about how he would recover from his own Wembley nightmare when he put on a brave face for the media minutes earlier, although the big difference was that the Scot admitted his side's display was not worthy of anything but a heavy defeat.
Stoke led 3-0 after just 30 minutes of a one-sided semi-final and two more goals after the break by Jon Walters meant, this time, Pulis was in no danger of being on the wrong end of a fantastic late fightback.
If his side play as well as that against Manchester City in just under a month's time, it would not be rash to suggest Stoke's long wait for a second piece of major silverware - to go with their 1972 League Cup triumph - could finally be over.
Not that Pulis is getting carried away with that sort of talk, despite a decent record against City that has seen Stoke remain undefeated against Roberto Mancini's men in four meetings since December 2009 and knock them out of last season's FA Cup in the fifth round.
"The players embraced coming to Wembley like nothing else and they will look forward to coming back," said the 53-year-old Welshman. "This win will give them the confidence on 14 May to give it a good go but we know we will be playing against some great players because City are a club that has had a lot of money thrown at it. It will be tough for us, but we will give it our best shot like we did today."
There were plenty of reasons beyond the actual win to give Stoke's players encouragement. Their free-flowing football and rapid counter-attacks against Bolton made a nonsense of their reputation for being a one-dimensional side that is reliant on set-pieces and long throw-ins to get their goals - none of the five they managed against Wanderers came via that route.

Jon Walters scored twice against his old club - photo: AP.

Pulis does not think that will pacify the purists and change public perception of him or his side, but then he does not care too much what other people think. One of the things that he has developed since that play-off final defeat is a thick skin.
He has also picked up the fine art of psychology, with his players and also with Stoke's vocal fans, who lived up to their billing as their side's '12th man' at Wembley.
With the squad, the approach is often subtle - it was noticeable before kick-off on Sunday the Potters players loitered on pitch in tracksuits, while Bolton sported suits that are usually saved for the final. Apart from giving his squad a tour of the stadium last week, Pulis was keen to treat the tie like any other game, talking about bringing his players down to earth and saying: "We only came down to London on Saturday and we just did our normal routine beforehand."
The supporters have been played with a heavier hand since the club's promotion to the Premier League three seasons ago, and responded in kind, something Pulis is proud of.
"One of the things we have done at this club, which is pretty unique, is that we have actually made them part of us," Pulis explained. "We have made Stoke into a community club and they have bought into that from day one.
"From our first game in the Premier League in August 2008, when we lost to Bolton and a national betting company paid out on us getting relegated, we have worked very hard to instil the mentality in our fans that we are the underdogs and that nobody likes us, but we don't care."
Lifting the Cup and taking Stoke into the Europa League should bring recognition of Pulis's qualities but he says he has more pressing concerns first.
Despite being without a trophy to show for his 19 years as a manager, Pulis has always said it is more important to him to protect his more desirable record of never having been relegated either.
That looks unlikely this season but Stoke's away form in the league means they are only five points above the drop zone, and with Wolves, Blackpool and Wigan amongst their opponents in the run-in, not to mention Arsenal and City, taking their foot off the gas now could be fatal.
Not that Pulis will let that happen if he can help it, and his response to a question about his side's focus in the next few weeks shows his priorities still haven't changed, even with the Cup within touching distance.
"It will mean a lot to me to lead the team out for the Cup final," he said. "But if we get relegated I will be devastated."
You can follow me throughout the season on Twitter @chrisbevan_bbc

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Prepare for some twists and turns

Post categories: Football
Tim Vickery | 15:42 UK time, Monday, 18 April 2011

The time has arrived in South America when fans all over the continent will need a calculator in one hand and the phone number of a cardiologist in the other.
This is the last week of the group phase of the Copa Libertadores, the continent's equivalent of the Champions League. Of the eight groups, four have been completed, while the rest have their last round coming up on either Tuesday or Wednesday.
The action has been tight and competitive. Of the 32 teams, only two are still unbeaten. Of the 16 places available in the knockout phase, nine have been taken. Thirteen teams are chasing the remaining places - with varying degrees of desperation.
Holders Internacional of Brazil are nearly home and dry. A draw at home to Emelec of Ecuador will suffice, although the visitors, who need a win, should not be written off. Emelec coach Omar Asad is an interesting figure but the Argentine's team lacks firepower, which is hardly surprising given strikers Jaime Ayovi and Joao Rojas have been sold to Mexican clubs.

Emelec must do without the talents of Joao Rojas. Photo: Getty Images
Inter have a fascinating coach of their own. Falcao, the elegant midfielder best remembered for his displays in the 1982 World Cup, has returned to lead the team after nearly two decades of media work. It would take a major upset to deny his team a place in the knockout stage.
Brazilian Cup winners Santos also look close, apparently saving themselves after a sticky start with last week's win away to Cerro Porteno of Paraguay. Now all Neymar and company need to do is pick up three points at home to the already eliminated Deportivo Tachira of Venezuela.
Reigning Brazilian champions Fluminense face a much more difficult task. They have only one win from five games, that sole victory coming when Deco came off the bench to inspire a late revival against America of Mexico. On Wednesday, Fluminese travel to Argentinos Juniors, who need a win to be sure of qualification.
This always looked like a difficult group - Nacional of Uruguay are the fourth team - but few expected that, with a game to go, Fluminense would be bottom. Backed by a generous sponsor, the traditional Rio team have assembled a squad that, on paper, looks at least as strong as the one that lost on penalties in the 2008 Libertadores final.
Most of Fluminense's problems this year have been self-inflicted. A change of president has caused instability, while coach Muricy Ramalho resigned, launching an attack on the club's training and medical facilities. He may have a point but Fluminense won last year's Brazilian title with the same structure.
It should surely not be beyond the current Fluminese team to produce at least one convincing display in this year's Libertadores. Even if that happens against Argentinos Juniors, there is a chance that it might come too late.
Fluminense's chances are dependent on what happens in the other game, played at the same time. If Nacional win at home to America, all of Fluminense's efforts will have been in vain. If the game ends in a draw, then the Brazilians need to win by a two-goal margin. With all four teams in the fight, there is the promise of drama to the end.
That is also true of Tuesday, when Colombia's Once Caldas, whose campaign seems to come with the guarantee of drama, visit San Martin of Peru.
The Colombians are coached by Juan Carlos Osorio, who spent five years on the coaching staff at Manchester City. There seems to be a strong English influence in the way that he constructs his team. There is little old style Colombian midfield elaboration about Caldas. They play a centre-forward and two strikers on the flanks, seeking to get the ball quickly into attacking wide spaces.
In domestic competition, the formula has worked wonderfully well - despite the club's grave financial crisis. Wages were paid late but Once Caldas still fought their way to the Colombian title last December. Key players were sold and Osorio got on with the business of rebuilding his team. They were top of the table once more until a couple of recent defeats and remain well in contention to defend their title - even though the cash crisis continues. Wages are still not being paid on time, prompting suggestions that the players would not travel to Peru for Wednesday's crunch game.
Like Fluminense, Once Caldas have to win their match and hope for the right result in the other. Whatever happens in Lima, they will be eliminated if San Luis of Mexico manage a win away to the already qualified Libertad of Paraguay.
There would be an element of poetic justice if Once Caldas are able to save themselves. If football was a game of 90 minutes - or even 92 - then the Colombians would not be bottom. They would already have guaranteed their place in the knockout stage.

Juan Carlos Osorio was once on the coaching staff of Manchester City. Photo: Getty Images
Incredibly, Osorio's team have conceded 93rd- or 94th-minute equalisers in three of their last four matches. When it happened for the third time, the Once Caldas coach cut an almost comic figure in his moment of tragedy, jumping up and down on the touchline in a mixture of anger, disappointment and disbelief.
After all that, if one team deserves to keep alive their Copa Libertadores hopes in this week of the calculator and the cardiologist, then it is surely Once Caldas of Colombia.

Comments on the piece in the space provided. Questions on South American football to vickerycolumn@hotmail.com, and I'll pick out a couple for next week.
From last week's postbag:

Q) I'd be intrigued to hear your thoughts on the similarities and differences between Paulo Henrique Ganso and Javier Pastore. They seem to have similar attributes and play in virtually the same starting position. Their futures seem tied to one another, with some reports stating that Fiorentina are hoping to replace Pastore with Ganso when they sell the former, while others have both of them going to massive clubs. Who do you rate as the greater talent? Obviously, Pastore is further along in his development but I'd like to know your thoughts all the same.
Stefan Tavares

A) It is an interesting comparison. There are many similarities and one key difference - Ganso is left-footed - while, as you say, Pastore is further down the line at the moment. He's been a surprise with how quickly and easily he adapted to Italian football. Even Angel Cappa, his coach when he caught the eye at Huracan, doubted his capacity to do it.
I doubt that Ganso would be interested in going to a club like Palermo. The hype around him is huge. He wants to go to Europe in the near future - and it's likely to be straight to a massive club. This could be a gamble. Pastore has benefited from his time with Palermo and is now ready for the next stage. If Ganso goes to a massive club, he is in the deep end struggling with the problem all South American playmakers face when they make the move to Europe - less time and space to decide what to do with the ball. He was a disappointment in this respect in the 2009 World Youth Cup. It will be fascinating to see how he deals with this question when the time comes.

Q) What are your thoughts on current Parma and Brazil Under-20 player Zé Eduardo? How do you rate him as a prospect? In your view, is he the type of central midfielder who is capable of creativity and invention, providing quality passes? Or is he more of a player who specialises in marking rather than passing?
Ari

A) On the evidence of the last two South American Under-20 Championships, he is strictly the latter - a marking specialist who stands out for his size and his physical vigour. In fact, I was a bit surprised to see him feature in the recent Under-20s. He is the type of central midfielder that the current Brazil regime are trying to get away from. Sure enough, he was dropped after looking strong but very limited in the group phase.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

F1 big picture - Hamilton and Vettel head-to-head

The Formula 1 big picture showcases a side of a dramatic, visual sport that television cannot always portray.
Over the last 20 years, Darren Heath has carved a reputation as one of F1's most original photographers.
This is Darren's story behind his latest image:
"Got your breath back yet? What a race!
"During a Formula 1 season, one can expect to witness at least a few good races but once in a while a real classic unfolds. China 2011 was just such a banner event.
"When a barnstorming fight between the top protagonists of the sport appears on the cards, it is of paramount importance for observant photographers to read how the race is unfolding and be ready for the drama as it happens.
"In years past, this wasn't too hard a discipline to master. But with the 'Wacky Races' nature of race strategy - as a result of the tyre situation in F1 this year - it can be quite a challenge.
"Without the benefits of hand held TV units, race commentary and car tracking data, lensmen must rely on a feel for car and driver positions and likely pit stop strategies.
"With 18 laps to go to the chequered flag, I arrived at the hairpin Turn 14, selected a lens/shutter speed and aperture combination and waited for the drama to happen.
"The next 15 or so laps were just about the busiest I've photographed in my 23 years shooting the sport.
"Lap after lap, cars rushed towards the corner, offline plumes of dust flying high, fierce braking into the turn, overtaking and undertaking on both corner entrance and exit.
"As Lewis Hamilton's McLaren closed in on Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull - the silver car so close as to be hidden from a head-on view - a fellow photographer standing close by me wailed 'I'm shaking!'
"With the billions watching worldwide, he wasn't alone!"
Camera: Canon EOS1DS Mk3;
Lens: 200mm+1.4x converter;
Exposure: 1/160th sec @ f/9