FIFA: Killing Soccer in Disguise

 By Hakeem Babalola

There have been many controversial goals and goals disallowed by the FIFA officiating referees and their assistants in different tournaments. This is known as poor officiating in this game of round leather we all love. Football or soccer, the indisputable most glamorous game in the world is round so is the universe. Almost every human being loves this game; even elephant, dolphin and other animals know what to do with football...read more

Mercy Johnson: Settle Down Now...

Mercy Johnson: Settle Down Now & Forever  

By Odimegwu Onwumere

 It has been said that the traditional wedding of the screen delectable actress, Mercy Johnson comes up 17^th August, the same day her birth day falls. This screen queen and the sexiest girl in Nollywood is no doubt a talented artiste, with an immeasurable aspiration read more

Spain Are World Champions

 By Hakeem Babalola

Spain beat Netherlands by one goal to clinch the 19th FIFA World Cup for the first time since the festival began in 1930 in Uruguay, becoming the first European country to win it outside the European continent. 

Like most World Cup finals, the match was played with caution by both teams although there were several misses thanks to the two goalkeepers who had to save what could have been goals. 

As a result of defensive tactics by both teams, the historical final had to go to extra time during which Barcelona striker, Andres Iniesta dramatically fired Spain to World Cup glory in the 116th minute. 

The match, played in front of about 85,000 and watched by an estimated 700 million more on television around the world largely failed to live up to expectation and was littered by 12 yellow cards and one red.

John Heitinga of Netherlands was sent out by the English referee, Howard Webb in the109th minute for a second bookable offence which obviously affected the Dutch. 

Mr. Webb had to endure a night of yellow cards in which Netherlands collected 23 for the tournament. Only Argentina in 1990 have picked up as many.

It was the first ever final for Spain while Netherlands have now reached three finals without winning the cup. 

The win is the tenth for the European continent, and Spain the eighth nation to win Blatter's coveted cup.

The 2010 World Cup records another history as the first time either Brazil, Italy, Argentina, Germany failed to reach the final.

Hungarian Court Jails Nigerian Woman

 By Hakeem Babalola

A Nigerian woman has been jailed for five years in Budapest for bringing to the territory of the Republic of Hungary a substance believed to be cocaine tucked in her stomach. read more

Ghana’s lost; shame on god of soccer

By Hakeem Babalola

The god of soccer refused to bless Africa as Ghanaian Asamoah Gyan missed the last minute penalty kick that could have put the West African nation in a world cup history.

The Uruguay defender, Luis Suarez had held Dominic Adiyiah's header on the line in the final seconds which could have given the Black Stars the 2-1 win to book a place in the Africa's first ever world cup semi-final.

Asamoah last minute miss no doubt will be recorded as the greatest miss of all time, and may probably hunt the young Asamoah till his last day on earth.

If Asamoah had scored the last minute penalty kick, Ghana would have recorded another history as the first African nation to qualify for the world cup semi-final.

But in anyway Ghana has become the third African nation to ever reach the quarter final of the world cup. Cameroon did it in 1990 in Italy when they were beaten by England. And Senegal did it in 2002 pulling a huge upset by defeating world and European champions France in the opening game.

Also it could be recorded that Ghana was the first African nation to win the under-20 world cup.

Africans all over the world including Nelson Mandela appeared to be behind Ghana and had hopefully put their hearts on the former Gold Coast nation who was the first to gain independence among peers from the brutish British.

Although defeated, Ghana was not in any way disgraced as the West African nation could have won the game if not for that another hand of god by Luis Suarez who got a straight red card for his cheat – at the last kick.

Ghana is the only African nation among six that have participated in this year's world cup to progress to the quarter final. Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia were all eliminated at the group stage. 

Obviously the so-called god of soccer has led Africa down - again – just like in every aspect of the latter's endeavour. Otherwise, the bright young Black Stars would have won that match. What a shame…what a shame on the god of soccer who unfairly given it to Uruguay.

Oh yes, the match will be remembered for Asamoah’s miss. Though sad and angry, Africans couldn’t help but console the sobbing Asamoah who had helped beat America with his skillful determination staggering goal.

Uruguay’s victory can be described as ironic. The game was eventually decided by penalty kicks which could have ousted the South American nation which won on 5-3 on the aggregate.

Uruguay like Ghana was hoping to make history before the titillating quarter final. But unlike Ghana, Uruguay is the first nation to ever win the world cup in 1930 as host beating Argentina 4-2; and won it again in 1950 by upsetting Brazil, the host nation 2-1

Ghana’s lost to Uruguay in that quarter final was simply another conspiracy theory against Africa by the god of soccer. Period!