Please don't take away 2010

George Dearnaley

There has been a lot of discussion about the an article in the Sunday Times where a political analyst suggested that the 2010 Soccer World Cup be taken away from South Africa as a lesson to the inefficient and corrupt politicians that plague our country, and who are the most likely people to benefit from this enormous multi-billion rand spectacle.

Personally I thought his reasoning was spot on.

But I can't agree with him because I'd hate to think that politics can be allowed to destroy sporting dreams.

I am as annoyed, distraught, frustrated by the lack of progress, the lack of vision and the lack of honour among many of our 'leaders', and I don't know the answer of how we fix them, but I do know that the dream of hosting and being a part of the World Cup, and for a nation to have the opportunity of being involved in the history of this wonderful tournament is something we should not be forced to miss out on.

Be positive

The sad reality is that whether there is a World Cup tournament or not in SA, our political leaders will continue to be distracted by self-promotion, they will continue to be inflicted by a lack of vision, a lack of sympathy for the man in the street. So to make the rest of us suffer by taken away the tournament is simply not an option for me.

The World Cup tournament will be successful. Fifa will make it so. We are merely the hosts. They run the tournament, and manage the project from start to finish. The best thing we can do is be positive about it, try to make the most out of it, and not give any credit to those politicians who continue to make us the laughing stock of the world.

Could Chiefs go down?

Now before all you 'Khosi4Life' supporters accuse me of being biased or ridiculous, hear me out. Kaizer Chiefs are in distress. They can't score goals. They can't seem to get a decent result. The players are feeling the pressure, and it is taking a toll on them. They are negative at the moment. Everything goes backwards, no-one is looking to take the game by the scruff of the neck and go forward.

The young players are looking for leadership. The experienced players aren't playing well. Things are falling apart!

They are not the worst team in the league, and based on current performance one of either Cosmos or Black Leopards could go down, but both those teams have been in relegation battles before. Chiefs have never been near the bottom of the league near the end of the season... and if they are this season, I'm not sure their current squad could handle the pressure! Comments please.

United make up for derby nightmare

I hate to admit it, but I never even saw the recent demolition of Arsenal in the FA Cup. Even Maggie the Gooner Fanatic admits it could have been seven. Apparently United tore into the depleted Gunners and ripped them apart. I suspect it might have been in response to their pathetic efforts against Manchester City the previous week.

But what it does is create a little doubt in the minds of the young Arsenal team, who must still travel to Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge before the end of the season. I suspect the season is not yet over, despite the lovely five point gap they enjoy?

Yanks out? Rafa out?

Big drama at Liverpool. I applaud those Liverpool fans who chant Rafa Benitez's name at matches, and who are sticking by him because of his recent European successes. But he will always be measured by his success in the Premiership, their "bread and butter" as Bill Shankly once said, and this is another season in which he has failed miserably.

Going out in the FA Cup at home to Barnsley can only add fuel to the fire that is growing at Anfield. His only hope is the Champions League (again). He might want to thank Stevie G at the end of the season.