Monday, December 15, 2008
EPL Standing as on Dec14th
Liverpool leading the table with Chelsea just behind by 1 point. ManU is in third spot with 6 pts difference with one match less played. Chelsea had a good chance to come to top on sunday when they met WHU. But they were held for a draw by WHU. This is going to be a good close competition on the top. Next weekend match of Liverpool- Arsenal is going to be crutial.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
THE SCORPION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nationality : Colombian
Place of Birth : Medellin, Colombia
Date of Birth : August 27, 1966
National team : Colombia
Positions : Goalkeeper
Like many where he comes from, Higuita was born and raised in poverty. His talent saw him flourish in professional football at a time and place where the game was dominated by local business - only in Medellín the business was cocaine and related tugs for control of the market.
Higuita played majority of his club career with Colombian side Atletico Nacional, where he helped the team win the Colombian League on numerous occasions as well as the Copa Libertadores and Copa Interamericana, both in 1989.
He also had troubles out of the ground. Higuita was imprisoned in 1993, after getting involved in a drug cartel kidnapping. Acting as a go-between for the drug barons Pablo Escobar and Carlos Molina, he was largely responsible for securing the release of the Molina's daughter by delivering the ransom money. He was incarcerated for 7 months before being released without charge.
On the pitch, Higuita is known for having an eccentric playing style, taking unnecessary risks, and he actively tries to score goals. He enjoys the game to the core. He is also prone to blunders, and it was a mistake by him that knocked Colombia out of the 1990 World Cup, where he seemingly dithered with the ball at his feet 35 yards from goal enabling Cameroon striker Roger Milla to dispossess him, and Milla then put his team through to the quarter-finals.
Higuita is great friend of Diego Maradona and played in the Argentinian's farewell match in 2001.
Higuita-A real entertainer on the field now wins the prestigious 2009 Golden foot award.
The God of Soccer !!!!!!!!!!
Diego Maradona born on Oct’ 30th, 1960 at Villa fiorito, Argentina. From there he grown into a great footballer who almost single handedly led the Argentinean side to world cup victory in 1986. Then again took his team to the world cup finals after 4 years where they were beaten Germany.
His professional football career started with Argentinos Juniors in 1976. Them played with Boca juniors for a year and moved to Europe with Barcelona. In his professional career from 1976-1997 he scored more than 300 goals.
Club Career Appearances and Goals:
- 1976-1981 Argentinos Juniors - 166 appearances, 116 goals
- 1981-1982 Boca Juniors - 42 appearances, 28 goals
- 1982-1984 FC Barcelona - 58 appearances, 38 goals
- 1984-1991 SSC Napoli - 259 appearances, 115 goals
- 1992-1993 Sevilla FC - 29 appearances, 7 goals
- 1993 Newell's Old Boys - 5 appearances, 0 goals
- 1995-1997 Boca Juniors - 29 appearances, 7 goals
1976-1997 TOTAL: 588 appearances, 311 goals
- International Career:
1977-94 Argentina - 91 appearances, 34 goals
He led the unfashionable Napoli to two Italian League titles and breaking the world record transfer fee when he joined Barcelona in 1982, Maradona went on to become regarded as perhaps the greatest footballer who ever played the game.
He was always accompanied with problems too. His sublime second goal against England in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico is often overlooked seeing as it followed his infamous “Hand of God” opener where Maradona blatantly punched the ball past Peter Shilton in the England goal and helped Argentina to a 2-1 victory on their way to winning the tournament.
15 month suspension from football in 1992 for cocaine led to his departure from his beloved Napoli and two years later he was sent home from the 1994 World Cup in the USA having tested positive in a drugs test for ephedrine doping. Diego claimed that he has been given the backing of FIFA to take the drug for weight loss purposes so that the World Cup wouldn't lose appeal without him in it only to see them renege on their promise and have him sent home in further disgrace. This claim has obviously been vigorously denied by FIFA.
Personal Honours - during his career:
- 1979–1981, 1986 Argentine Football Writers' Footballer of the Year
- 1979, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1992 South American Footballer of the Year (El Mundo, Caracas)
- 1986 Argentine Sports Writers' Sportsman of the Year
- 1986 Golden Ball for Best Player of the FIFA World Cup1986–1987 Best Footballer in the World (Once)
- 1986 World Player of the Year (World Soccer Magazine)
1997: Decides to retire from football on the day of his 37th birthday.
Personal Honours - after his retirement:
- 1996 Golden Ball for services to football (France Football)
- 1999 Argentine Sports Writers' Sportsman of the Century
- 2000 "FIFA best football player of the century", people's choice.
- 2002 "FIFA Goal of the Century" (1986 (2–1) v. England; second goal)
- 2005 Argentine Senate "Domingo Faustino Sarmiento" recognition for lifetime achievement Oct.30,
Hope the magician with ball on field will bring more magic to the team with his new job. Let’s pray and wait for a magical performance in the next world cup.