Sports

African Football Development in FIFA’s Agenda

Published

1 week ago

November 28, 2019

Today in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the FIFA President visited the site of TP Mazembe’s new football stadium, which will be able to hold 50,000 fans, and the club’s youth academy. Infantino and the delegation were greeted by TP Mazembe fans, including the fan brass band who sang and danced for the delegation as they toured the sites.

In TP Mazembe’s Football Academy, Moïse Katumbi, club president and Vice-President of the new World Football Club Association, gave the group, which included FIFA Secretary General and General Delegate for Africa Fatma Samoura, CAF President and FIFA Vice-President Ahmad Ahmad, FIFA Legend and Special Advisor to CAF President Samuel Eto’o, FIFA Legend and CEO of the FIFA Foundation Youri Djorkaeff, FIFA Deputy Secretary General (Football) Mattias Grafström, a tour of the facilities.

The group had the opportunity to see several classes in action and paid a surprise visit to young footballers studying biology and French. They also observed a class dedicated to helping children who have difficulties reading and writing.

A press conference then took place where the FIFA President informed members of the media about FIFA’s plans to support and develop football in the DRC and Africa. He spoke about three specific pillars: refereeing, infrastructure and competitions, as well as FIFA’s plans to develop these hand in hand with CAF and the African football stakeholders.

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The first pillar, refereeing, will create a professional and elite group of African referees who will be independent of administrative and political bodies. This follows on from CAF’s last Executive Committee meeting at which a decision to implement reforms in the refereeing sector was approved.

The second pillar, infrastructure, will see FIFA mobilise companies and entrepreneurs to gather around USD 1 billion with the objective of building at least one stadium that complies with FIFA’s standards in each African country.

The third pillar, competitions, focuses on developing new and better competitions to generate more revenues so that the African clubs can retain talented players.

The FIFA President mentioned the possibility of creating an African League that would see the best clubs from the continent play against each other and the organisation of regional competitions and youth tournaments to further help the development of young players in Africa.

Speaking at the press conference, FIFA President Infantino said: “What I want, what FIFA wants and what football needs is to see African football shine. We want to bring it to the highest of heights and show the world the outstanding talent and amazingly gifted players your continent possesses. To do this, we want to implement a three pillar approach: refereeing, infrastructure and competitions. In close cooperation with CAF, the 54 member associations across Africa and other stakeholders, I am positive that we will make African football reach the top level where it should be because the quality and potential are definitely here.”

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Sports

2019 Ballon D’Or Winners {See Full List}

Published

4 days ago

December 3, 2019

admin

The winners and other top finishers in the four trophies awarded at the 2019 Ballon d’Or ceremony on Monday in Paris are:

Men’s Ballon d’Or

Lionel Messi (ARG/Barcelona)
Virgil van Dijk (NED/Liverpool)
Cristiano Ronaldo (POR/Juventus)
Sadio Mane (SEN/Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah (EGY/Liverpool)
Kylian Mbappe (FRA/PSG)
Alisson Becker (BRA/Liverpool)
Robert Lewandowski (POL/Bayern Munich)
Bernardo Silva (POR/Manchester City)
Riyad Mahrez (ALG/Manchester City)

Women’s Ballon d’Or

Megan Rapinoe (USA/Reign FC)
Lucy Bronze (ENG/Lyon)
Alex Morgan (USA/Orlando Pride)
Ada Hegerberg (NOR/Lyon)
Viviane Miedema (NED/Arsenal)
Wendie Renard (FRA/Lyon)
Sam Kerr (AUS/Chicago Red Stars)
Rose Lavelle (USA/Washington Spirit)
Ellen White (ENG/Manchester City)
Dzsenifer Marozsan (GER/Lyon)

Kopa Trophy

(Best player under 21 on December 31)

Matthijs de Ligt (NED/Ajax Amsterdam then Juventus)
Jadon Sancho (ENG/Borussia Dortmund)
Joao Felix (POR/Benfica then Atletico Madrid)

Yashin Trophy

(Best goalkeeper, presented for the first time)

Alisson Becker (BRA/Liverpool)
Marc-Andre ter Stegen (GER/FC Barcelona)
Ederson (BRA/Manchester City)

AFP

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Sports

Soccer Idol, Messi Meets Patients from Save a Child’s Heart

Published

3 weeks ago

November 19, 2019

admin

The Canadian-Israeli philanthropist and businessman, Sylvan Adams, the man behind “Save A Child’s Heart”, brought the children with him to the Tel Aviv Hilton to meet Lionel Messi and the rest of the Argentina football team stars.

The players paused from their dinner in the hotel dining room, in order to hear an overview of “Save A Child’s Heart”, which brings children to Israel from across the world, including Africa, for life-changing heart surgery at Wolfson Hospital. This week, “Save a Child’s Heart” is working alongside doctors in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to perform life-saving heart surgery and catheterizations for an expected group of 30 children as part of Mission Ethiopia. To date, “Save A Child’s Heart” has treated more than 5,000 children from 62 countries. The Argentinian players gave enthusiastic applause and met some of the brave children awaiting surgery at the Wolfson Centre in Holon.

The children received footballs and Argentina shirts signed by the players.

Sylvan Adams said: “The Jewish People works to save people from across the world. I am proud to lead, alongside the best Israeli medical professionals, this extraordinary project of life-saving cardiac surgery.”

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‘I Am Very Proud Of You’, Buhari Tells Golden Eaglets

Published

1 month ago

October 27, 2019

admin

Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari yesterday congratulated the Golden Eaglets for a fantastic beginning in the group opening match of FIFA World Cup Brazil 2019.

Nigeria Under-17 football team opened Brazil 2019 with a 4-2 win over Hungary, signaling their readiness to win the FIFA Championship for an unprecedented sixth time.

Contained in a message to the team after its victory on Saturday night, President Buhari commended the boys for the determination to excel which they displayed throughout the match despite the brilliant performance of their opponent.

“It was a wonderful display that I am very proud of. You showed that there is nothing that cannot be achieved with determination and perseverance.

“I have followed your journey leading to your arrival in Brazil for the competition. I have equally noted your determination and confidence throughout your preparations.

“I have no doubt in my mind that you are determined to win the competition for an unparalleled sixth time,” President Buhari said in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

The President also assured them of his continuing personal support and that of Nigerians for the entire period of the tournament.

Buhari urged the team to continue demonstrating the resilient spirit of the Nigerian, and bring the cup home, saying that he will personally be monitoring their progress in the tournament.

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