A LOOK AT SAMUEL ETO’O

CFC fans who lament the club unfortunately missing out on signing Samuel Eto’o the last time it was seemingly possible in 2006 have their wish now the iconic Cameroonian wears a blue shirt and calls West London home. It would be nigh on ridiculous to argue that if Eto’o had signed for CFC when he was strongly linked seven years ago he wouldn’t have scored a vast amount of goals at important times, contributed heavily and added to the successes of the club during the period. This is now a moot point and consigned to history.

By bringing Eto’o from the Republic of Dagestan back to elite European football CFC have added an undoubted living, playing legend of the game to the Stamford Bridge roster. The move will certainly be proven to have a detrimental effect on any team and defender that calls CFC an opponent over the forthcoming season and ideally beyond. At the age of 32 the typical questions will be asked of Eto’o as they have been of Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba et al during their post-30 years at CFC. Like Drogba and Lampard have done consistently I am sure Eto’o will silence any critics with performance over the coming months.

Without generalising and backing up theory with example one reason to disbelief any age related comments regarding Eto’o is the physicality and stamina that serves players whom herald from the continent of Africa well in the twilight of their careers. Especially in the Premier League. Without constantly referring back to Drogba and his phenomenal exploits for the club in the victorious assault on the Champions League in 2012 throughout which Drogba terrorised the best defences in Europe at age thirty four there are numerous other examples of African players who seem to enjoy their career peak years at a later stage than their European counterparts.

Jay Jay Okocha was a revelation at the Reebok Stadium until he was well into his thirties when he arrived from Paris Saint-Germain and Nwanko Kanu was successful not only at Arsenal but was hugely popular during his veteran years as part of Portsmouth’s FA Cup winning team in 2008. Tony Yeboah is also more than worthy of mention in this respect. Yeboah spent his final peak years as a Premier League cult hero, rightly so as he was the rare combination of a great goalscorer and the scorer of great goals for Leeds United. Finally and by no means least two legendary figures born in Africa (regardless of eventual French allegiance international football-wise) that have woven their names indelibly into the rich tapestry that is CFC’s modern history are Marcel Desailly and Claude Makalélé. Neither need an introduction. Both arrived at CFC at points of their careers that some might term the veteran stage. Both joined CFC, much like Eto’o, having achieved much domestically and on the continent for their previous major European clubs. Both had a monumental impact and were vital to the successes of CFC in their respective eras. The omens for Eto’o are good.

Eto’o has joined CFC as a player with his name etched in elite football folklore who has been followed by success through his career. He is the only player in history to win the treble, (domestic league, cup and Champions League) leave the treble winners moving leagues and countries at the end of season only to repeat the exact same feat the following year. This is of course in reference to his final year with FC Barcelona and his maiden season with José Mourinho’s Internazionale during the period 2008-10. All of this with the backdrop of Eto’o's transfer which saw Barcelona lose their Champions League final goalscorer and €46m to secure the arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic in Massimo Moratti’s self-proclaimed best piece of business as Inter premier. It is not a surprise that upon joining forces in Milan Eto’o realised he and Mourinho are kindred spirits – born winners. The player’s introduction into the CFC side should serve to inject a hunger adding to that already in place. The added competition for Fernando Torres and Demba Ba should spur both on to higher levels of performance. This was evident in Torres’ Capital One Cup display at Swindon.

The CV of Samuel Eto’o is too extensive to detail fully. Needless to say he is the most decorated African football player in history. Aside from his trophy cabinet and records held at club level Eto’o has won African footballer of the year a record four times and has achieved much for his native Cameroon at international level. Eto’o is the leading goalscorer in the history of the African Cup of Nations, his goal tally standing at 18 having won the tournament twice. His heroic image in his homeland is owed in part to his status as Cameroon’s most capped player and highest goal scorer with 112 appearances and 55 goals. Eto’o has used his remarkable career and subsequent high profile, especially in Africa, to give back to those struggling on the continent by establishing the Samuel Eto’o Private Foundation. The non-profit organisation was founded in 2006 and operates predominantly in West Africa having its head office in Douala, Cameroon while also having two offices in Spain where Eto’o holds a passport thanks to his many years working in the country.

Broadly speaking the aim of the Samuel Eto’o Private Foundation is the protection of children and young people, provision of emergency aid and encouraging education and health throughout Africa. The projects in which the foundation engages are relied upon and offer remedies to the huge issues faced in region. This is very much a noble cause. Of course the contribution of the foundation is not likely to be the first point made by journalists and the like when discussing Eto’o's fictional selfishness and divisive tendencies in a football dressing room.

Having accomplished so much on and off the field since beginning his career as a professional footballer all that remains for Eto’o is to win his fourth Champions League with CFC and further elevate himself as an immortal legend of game and beyond.

Thanks for reading and keep the blue flag flying high. Written by Dean Evans, you can fol

SHILOLE ATOA YA MOYONI "KUWAPANDISHA JUKWAANI WANAUME NA KUNISHIKA KINAWAFURAHISHA WENGI"

Baada ya watu kuongea sana kuhusu jinsi Shilole anavyo fanya show zake na staili ya kuwapandisha wanaume jukwaani na kucheza nao kwa staili ya nisheke popote. Amejitokeza na kuongea na chombo kimoja cha habari na kusema yeye hajivunjii heshima kama watu wanavyosema bali anakizi mahitaji ya mashabiki wake..."watu wanapenda sana jinsi navyofanya ...ni njia moja wapo ya kuchangamsha show jukwaani kwahiyo sioni tatizo hapo ...wanaosema najivunjia heshima niwashamba..mimi ni msanii lazima nitafute njia ya kuwapa burudani mashabiki wangu...."

AFRIKA KUSINI YAGUSWA KUFUNGIWA KWA MAGAZETI YA MWANANCHI NA MTANZANIA. HATUA ya Serikali ya Tanzania kuyafungia magazeti mawili ya kila siku, Mtanzania (kwa siku 90) na Mwananchi (siku 14), imesababisha mjadala wa hali ya juu katika maeneo mbalimbali barani Afrika. Gazeti la Mail&Guardian la Afrika Kusini, liliandika kuwa hatua hiyo ni kusambaratisha uhuru wa vyombo vya habari na kuwanyima wananchi haki ya kupata habari.  Gazeti hilo liliendelea kudai kuwa hatua ya kufungia vyombo vya habari ni kuvunja maana ya upashanaji habari, ambayo inatakiwa kuwafikia wananchi.  Chombo hicho cha habari kimeifananisha adhabu hiyo ya kuyafungia magazeti hayo mawili kama ile iliyochukuliwa na Serikali ya Uganda, mwanzoni mwa mwaka huu ya kulifungia gazeti jingine la NMG, la Daily Monitor, kwa madai lilichapisha habari ya uchochezi. Tangazo la Serikali ya Tanzania kupitia Gazeti la Serikali namba 333 Septemba 27 mwaka huu lilitangaza magazeti ya Mwananchi na Mtanzania yamefungiwa. Katika hatua nyingine, gazeti la Mail&Guardian lilimkariri Mbunge wa Kigoma Kaskazini, Zitto Kabwe, akisema kuwa “Kufungia magazeti hakutazuia haki ya wananchi kutoa maoni yao na kupambana mpaka kupatikana utawala bora.  “Kwanza kufungiwa kwa magazeti hayo kutawaimarisha waandishi kwa kiwango cha juu. Unalifungia gazeti kwa kutoa taarifa za mishahara? Tatizo liko wapi, je, watu hawatakiwi kujua mishahara ya watumishi wa umma?” Ikitumia Sheria ya Magazeti ya Mwaka 1976, Serikali kupitia kwa Mkurugenzi wa Idara ya Habari (MAELEZO), Assah Mwambene, iliyafungia magazeti hayo kwa madai ya kuchapisha habari zenye mwelekeo wa uchochezi na uvunjifu wa amani. Serikali ilitangaza kulifungia Mwananchi kwa siku 14 na Mtanzania siku 90, kuaNzia Septemba 27, mwaka huu.  Uamuzi huo ulichukuliwa na serikali kwa madai kwamba, magazeti hayo yaliandika habari na makala za uchochezi na uhasama kwa nia ya kusababisha wananchi wakose imani kwa vyombo vya dola. Uamuzi huo, ambao ulikuwa ghafla, ulipokewa kwa mshituko mkubwa na wadau mbalimbali, huku wengi wakihoji mwelekeo wa demokrasia nchini. Wadau hao wa kada mbalimbali, wakiwamo wanasheria, wanataaluma, wanahabari, wanaharakati, wanasiasa na watetezi wa haki za binadamu, wote wamekuwa na kauli moja ya kufanana. SOURCE:http://www.udakuspecially.com/2013/10/afrika-kusini-yaguswa-kufungiwa-kwa.html

MAUAJI YA SHEIKH ROGO YAIVURUGA MOMBASA.HALI NI TETE. HALI ya amani katika mji wa Mombasa imezidi kuwa tete kutokana na makundi ya vijana wenye hasira kali kuendeleza machafuko katika sehemu mbalimbali vya mji huo. Kwa mujibu wa taarifa iliyotolewa na BBC, jumla ya watu wanne wamepoteza maisha katika machafuko hayo, baada ya makundi ya vijana hao kupambana na askari wa kutuliza ghasia. Habari kutoka nchini humo zinaeleza kuwa machafuko hayo yametokea siku moja baada ya kifo cha Sheikh Ibrahim Omar ‘Rogo’, aliyeuawa kwa kushambuliwa kwa risasi na watu wasiojulikana. Katika shambulizi hilo, pia washirika watatu wa Sheikh Rogo nao wamepoteza maisha papo hapo, huku Salim Adbi akinusurika katika shambulizi hilo. Kwa mujibu wa taarifa zaidi kutoka mjini Mombasa, vijana wenye hasira kali wameteketeza kanisa moja katika ghasia za juzi.  Sheikh Ibrahim Rogo alikuwa mhubiri katika msikiti ambao ulikuwa unatumiwa kwa mahubiri na marehemu Sheikh Aboud Rogo, ambaye pia aliuawa kwa kupigwa risasi na watu wasiojulikana mwaka jana. Sheikh Aboud Rogo alishutumiwa kutoa mafunzo yenye itikadi kali yaliyowashawishi vijana kujiunga na kikundi cha kigaidi cha Al Shabaab. Kabla ya kifo chake, marehemu Aboud Rogo alidaiwa kuwa na uhusiano na kundi la kigaidi la Al Shabaab. Tukio la kifo cha Sheikh Ibrahim Omar ‘Rogo’ limetokea ndani ya kipindi cha wiki mbili baada ya shambulizi la kigaidi la Westgate Mall, ambapo jumla ya watu 67 walipoteza maisha. Ibrahim Rogo alionekana kama mrithi wa marehemu Aboud Rogo, alipohutubu katika msikiti huo. Imeandikwa na Mtanzania

AZAM YATOKA SARE NA WAGOSI COASTAL UNION - MECHI YATAWALIWA NA VURUGU. SULUHU ya bila kufungana kati ya Coastal Union na Azam FC katika uwanja wa Mkwakwani mjini Tanga imezidi kuwaongezea idadi ya suluhu Wagosi wa kaya katika Ligi Kuu ya Vodacom Tanzania Bara. Mchezo huo uliokuwa na presha kubwa kwa mashabiki na wachezaji ulimuweka katika wakati mgumu mwamuzi Andrew Shamba kutoka Pwani, kutokana na kushutumiwa kuwapendelea Azam FC. Kipindi cha kwanza timu zote zilicheza kwa nguvu zikihakikisha zinapata mabao ya mapema na kujihakikishia ushindi lakini hakuna hata timu moja iliyofanikiwa kuona lango la mwenzake. Kipindi cha pili kilianza kwa Azam FC kushambulia kwa kasi huku wakimiliki mpira hali iliyowachanganya wachezaji wa Coastal Union wakaanza kupoteana na kucheza bila kufuata mfumo. Hali hiyo ilizidi kuwachanganya Wagosi wa Kaya hasa baada ya mwamuzi kuanza kutoa maamuzi ya utata, kwani katika dakika ya sabini alitoa kona kwa Azam wakati ilikuwa ni goal kick. Mashabiki wakaanza kuhamaki na kutaka kuvuruga mchezo baada ya mwamuzi kuzidisha kutoa maamuzi ya utata kama faulo zisizoeleweka na kona za utata. Hali hiyo ilimtisha mwamuzi na kusimamisha mchezo mara kwa mara ili kuwataka wasimamizi wa mchezo huo kuwatuliza mashabiki. Tukio lililotokea kipindi cha kwanza ambapo mwamuzi wa pembeni alipigwa na kitu kisichojulikana kutoka jukwaa la 'Rasha' lilitaka kujirudia kipindi cha pili baada ya chupa na mawe kutupwa uwanjani baada ya mwamuzi kutoa faulo nje kidogo ya 18 upande wa Coastal Union. Dakika ya 65 mwalimu Hemed Moroco alifanya mabadiliko na kumtoa Pius Kisambale akaingia Suleiman Kassim 'Selembe'. Mabadiliko hayo yaliongeza uhai kwa Wagosi hasa kutokana na aina ya uchezaji wa Selembe kutumia mipira ya kasi. Azam FC walianza kuelemewa kutokana na Mganda, Yayo Kato kutumia vema mwili wake mfupi na wenye nguvu kuwashambulia mabeki wa Azam, hali hiyo iliwafanya Azam kubadilika na kucheza mpira wa hovyo uliowapa nafasi Coastal Union kupiga mipira mirefu ambapo ilipofika dakika ya 75 kipindi cha pili katika jukwaa la African Sports, Wagosi walikosa bao la wazi baada ya Selembe kupiga krosi iliyopenya ngome ya Azam akiwemo mlinda mlango Mwadini Ally na kugonga mwamba. Kutokana na piga nikupige ya lala salama kufika dakika ya 74 mwamuzi alimnyooshea mlinzi wa kulia wa Coastal Union, kinda Hamadi Juma 'Basmat', kadi nyekundu baada ya kubadilishiana maneno na mchezaji wa Azam, Kipre Tchetche. Tukio hilo lilianzia kwa Kipre kumpiga Hamadi kiwiko cha shingo hali iliyomfanya kinda huyo kumfuata kwa jazaba huku akimuuliza kwanini amemfanyia hivyo. Mwamuzi baada ya kuona Hamadi amemuelekezea kichwa Kipre akadhani kinda huyo anapigana ndipo akatoa kadi ya moja kwa moja. Baada ya kadi hiyo hali ya uwanja ilichafuka ambapo mashabiki walikuwa wakipiga kelele huku wachezaji wakitaka kupigana, ndipo mchezaji mwingine wa Coastal Union beki wa kushoto Othman Tamim akapewa kadi ya njano papo hapo. Baadaye mchezo ulirudi katika hali yake lakini ngome ya Coastal Union ilikuwa imepwaya hali iliyomfanya Juma Said 'Nyoso' kuwa na kazi kubwa ya kuhakikisha ngome yao inakuwa imara. Ilipofika dakika ya 84 mwlimu Moroco alifanya mabadiliko kwa kumtoa Uhuru Suleiman na kumuingiza Yusuf Chuma. Ambapo kinda huyo alionyesha uwezo mkubwa na kurudisha uhai wa safu ya ulinzi. Mpaka mwamuzi wa leo anapuliza kipyenga cha mwisho matokeo yaliendelea kusomeka hivyo hivyohivyo 0-0, na kuendelea kuibakisha Coastal Union katika nafasi ya nne ikiwa na point 11 nyuma ya Azam iliyo nafasi ya tatu yenye point 11 lakini ikiwa na mabao mengi ya kufunga. Baada ya mechi ya leo Coastal Union itashuka dimbani wiki ijayo katika uwanja wa Chamazi dhidi ya Ashanti United wanaoshika mkia katika ligi.