"Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sport... the thrill of victory... and the agony of defeat... the human drama of athletic competition... This is ABC's Wide World of Sports!"
This was the opening statement of ABC's sports program which ran on American tv for 37 years from 1961-1998. The show began as a fill-in show for a summer season. The goal of the show was to showcase sports from around the globe. With the success and popularity of cable television, the show was canceled. This is quite unfortunate, because on the eve of the 2012 African Cup of Nations Final from Libreville, Gabon, there is little coverage of this event.
Every two years African national football (soccer) teams meet to decide the African champion. This event is equivalent to the European Championships and the Copa America which are held every four years. The Africa Cup of Nations was first held in 1957. At that time there were only 3 participating nations; Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia. Today there are 16 teams who participate, meaning that there are qualifying rounds which take place between the championship years.
The 2012 event is being hosted in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. One of the initial surprises this year is that Nigeria, Cameroon, and Egypt did not qualify. Egypt holds the most titles with 7, while Cameroon and Nigeria have 4 and 2, respectively. With these three teams absent, expectations were high for Ivory Coast, and Ghana. The majority of the Ivory Coast team play in France and England for major clubs. The Ghana national football team also has many of its players playing in Europe. Both of these teams made it to the semi-finals, but only Ivory Coast will be in the final. Ghana lost to Zambia and will play Mali for third place.
Perhaps few people thought Zambia would make it to the final match. In 1993 all but one member of the Zambian national football team was killed in a tragic plane crash in Gabon on their way to a World Cup qualifying match in Senegal. Essentially, an entire generation of football was wiped out. The current team has gone to Gabon on a mission to bring home the trophy in memory of their former teammates. From the current squad representing Zambia in this tournament, there is only one player who is on a European team.
The final takes place on Sunday 12 February 2012. It will be a David and Goliath event. With the hopes of two nations riding on the shoulders of their teams. Ivory Coast recently hampered by a civil war after a presidential election and Zambia trying to restore the pride of their nation in the memory of their lost teammates will take to the field. It is too bad that the Wide World of Sports no longer exist to broadcast this event.
09 February 2012
23 January 2012
Political Shenanigans
It has been a long time since my last post. Where does the time go? I have not forgotten that I have a blog. I have been trying to decide which topic to hit first. I have tried to hold back from posting about the US primary elections, but I can't resist anymore. I am not very politically active, so may be I am not the correct person to write on this subject. Nevertheless, I am throwing my two cents in to the pot.
To say that I am appalled by the shenanigans of current group of Republican presidential candidates in the US is a major understatement. Being outside of the country and listening to all of the rhetoric, I can only wonder what those living in the country at this time are thinking? First, there is just outright disrespect for the current administration. This is not to say that everyone should agree with the president, but to be so boldly disrespectful is unheard of. Second, some of the campaign speeches and debates are just filled with inaccuracies. One candidate stood up and said he was the best one to protect the US in case of a nuclear attack by Iran. What? Third, each of the Republicans believes he is the best person to get the country out of the current economic quagmire. Apparently, they have forgotten that the economic situation of the US started well before 2008. And the list gone on. There is no need to beat a dead horse to death.
This passed weekend Newt Gingrich revived his campaign from the dead. But did anyone really expect that Mitt Romney was going to win the South Carolina primary other then himself? I think the only surprise there was the margin of the win. So the Republican primaries drag on until the last one standing is appointed the nominee.
The next major state is Florida. This is going to be an interesting primary as the current motley Republican crew has just about alienated many of the citizens in the state The candidates are mainly anti-immigration, and anti-government programs for seniors. Even Jeb Bush has yet to throw his support behind one of the candidates. Anyway, this farcical process will continue until June. There will be more and more negativity and false statements and allegations to come. Once November arrives, I do hope that citizens of the US will be able to put all of these political shenanigans aside and choose the person who is most capable of governing the country for the next four years.
To say that I am appalled by the shenanigans of current group of Republican presidential candidates in the US is a major understatement. Being outside of the country and listening to all of the rhetoric, I can only wonder what those living in the country at this time are thinking? First, there is just outright disrespect for the current administration. This is not to say that everyone should agree with the president, but to be so boldly disrespectful is unheard of. Second, some of the campaign speeches and debates are just filled with inaccuracies. One candidate stood up and said he was the best one to protect the US in case of a nuclear attack by Iran. What? Third, each of the Republicans believes he is the best person to get the country out of the current economic quagmire. Apparently, they have forgotten that the economic situation of the US started well before 2008. And the list gone on. There is no need to beat a dead horse to death.
This passed weekend Newt Gingrich revived his campaign from the dead. But did anyone really expect that Mitt Romney was going to win the South Carolina primary other then himself? I think the only surprise there was the margin of the win. So the Republican primaries drag on until the last one standing is appointed the nominee.
The next major state is Florida. This is going to be an interesting primary as the current motley Republican crew has just about alienated many of the citizens in the state The candidates are mainly anti-immigration, and anti-government programs for seniors. Even Jeb Bush has yet to throw his support behind one of the candidates. Anyway, this farcical process will continue until June. There will be more and more negativity and false statements and allegations to come. Once November arrives, I do hope that citizens of the US will be able to put all of these political shenanigans aside and choose the person who is most capable of governing the country for the next four years.
08 December 2011
Waka Waka
Last year "Waka Waka" (This time for Africa) was the official song for the 2010 World Cup held in South Africa. The song was sung by Shakira and Freshly Ground.
Indeed it is time for Africa. While most of the western world is mired in debt, economies across Africa are expanding. They might not have the rapid growth of China, but the average gross domestic product (GDP) rate for Africa is around 6%. Compare that to the economies in the US and Europe. In fact about a dozen countries in Africa have seen their economies grow by 6% per year for more than six years. Yet, most western newspapers only print stories about famine, aids, civil wars, etc. Very few articles are written about the successful developments across the continent. Finally, "The Economist" has dedicated an issue on Africa. "The Economist" of December 3, 2011 has several informative articles on "Rising Africa".
Last month when Greece and Italy were rattling equity markets because of their financial situations, the Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho met with Angolan President Eduardo Dos Santos. Why was the prime minister meeting with the president of a former colony? Portugal is the next country on the list of European countries going bankrupt. Forecast indicate that the Portuguese economy could contract by 2.8% in 2012, while Angola's economy is expected to grow by 12%. Angola, a country devastated by a long civil war, from 1975 to 2002, now stands ready to assist Portugal though its financial crisis. The IMF has agreed to give Portugal a $107 billion bailout on the condition that it introduces a range of economic reforms, including privatizations. Thus, Angola could buy stakes in some of the companies set for privatization. In 2009 Angolan investments in Portugal stood at $156 million compared to $2.1 million in 2002. Angolan companies owned the equivalent of 3.8% of companies listed on Portugal's stock exchange.
Not many people know the name Aliko Dangote. According to the latest Forbes Magazine table, he is ranked as the 51st richest person in the world with an estimated net worth of $13.8 billion, well surpassing Oprah Winfrey as the richest person of African descent. He is from Nigeria and the owner of the Dangote Group, an industrial conglomerate in West Africa . The company has activities in cement, sugar, flour,salt, pasta, beverages and real estate. It is also developing new businesses in natural gas, telecommunications fertilizer and steel. The company has a current market capitalization of $14 billion and is listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange. For more information about the group see their website: http://www.dangote-group.com/.
Africa is home to 54 countries and more than 1 billion people, nearly 14% of the planet's population. Its population is also set to double over the next 40 years. The median age of the population is now 20, compared to 30 in Asia and 40 in Europe. Yes, it has many diverse cultures and people, but within that lies many opportunities. It is perhaps too early to say whether or not the lion economies of Africa will challenge the tiger economies of Asia, but it is time to give Africa her chance. Take time to learn more about the success stories and opportunities that are developing across Africa.
Indeed it is time for Africa. While most of the western world is mired in debt, economies across Africa are expanding. They might not have the rapid growth of China, but the average gross domestic product (GDP) rate for Africa is around 6%. Compare that to the economies in the US and Europe. In fact about a dozen countries in Africa have seen their economies grow by 6% per year for more than six years. Yet, most western newspapers only print stories about famine, aids, civil wars, etc. Very few articles are written about the successful developments across the continent. Finally, "The Economist" has dedicated an issue on Africa. "The Economist" of December 3, 2011 has several informative articles on "Rising Africa".
Last month when Greece and Italy were rattling equity markets because of their financial situations, the Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho met with Angolan President Eduardo Dos Santos. Why was the prime minister meeting with the president of a former colony? Portugal is the next country on the list of European countries going bankrupt. Forecast indicate that the Portuguese economy could contract by 2.8% in 2012, while Angola's economy is expected to grow by 12%. Angola, a country devastated by a long civil war, from 1975 to 2002, now stands ready to assist Portugal though its financial crisis. The IMF has agreed to give Portugal a $107 billion bailout on the condition that it introduces a range of economic reforms, including privatizations. Thus, Angola could buy stakes in some of the companies set for privatization. In 2009 Angolan investments in Portugal stood at $156 million compared to $2.1 million in 2002. Angolan companies owned the equivalent of 3.8% of companies listed on Portugal's stock exchange.
Not many people know the name Aliko Dangote. According to the latest Forbes Magazine table, he is ranked as the 51st richest person in the world with an estimated net worth of $13.8 billion, well surpassing Oprah Winfrey as the richest person of African descent. He is from Nigeria and the owner of the Dangote Group, an industrial conglomerate in West Africa . The company has activities in cement, sugar, flour,salt, pasta, beverages and real estate. It is also developing new businesses in natural gas, telecommunications fertilizer and steel. The company has a current market capitalization of $14 billion and is listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange. For more information about the group see their website: http://www.dangote-group.com/.
Africa is home to 54 countries and more than 1 billion people, nearly 14% of the planet's population. Its population is also set to double over the next 40 years. The median age of the population is now 20, compared to 30 in Asia and 40 in Europe. Yes, it has many diverse cultures and people, but within that lies many opportunities. It is perhaps too early to say whether or not the lion economies of Africa will challenge the tiger economies of Asia, but it is time to give Africa her chance. Take time to learn more about the success stories and opportunities that are developing across Africa.
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