 |
Al-Ahram Weekly 17 - 23 February 2000 Issue No. 469 
|
||
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
|
Al-Ahram Weekly 17 - 23 February 2000 Issue No. 469
|
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Focus Profile Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Paying the price
THE executive committee of the Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF), has imposed a $5,000 fine on Nigeria, the host country, after Nigerian fans invaded the pitch during its quarter-final match with Senegal. The match, which Nigeria won 2-1 in overtime, was halted for 10 minutes when fans, perhaps believing the game had ended, swarmed the field. Earlier in the competition, Nigeria was fined $2,000 for their fans' unruly behaviour after an angry eruption from home supporters when the co-hosts were held to a 0-0 draw by Congo.Meanwhile, more than a dozen Nigerians living in Senegal were injured, some seriously, by hundreds of local armed youths who were protesting against Senegal's defeat by Nigeria. According to eyewitnesses, several shops owned by Nigerians and other foreigners were attacked by youths armed with clubs and knives in the densely populated Medina suburb in the capital, Dakar. Senegalese fans stormed the Nigerian Embassy, smashing windows, tearing up signposts and damaging an official car. They also attacked the Zimbabwean Embassy, claiming that the game's Zimbabwean referee was biased.
Farewell Michel
HENRY MICHEL resigned last week as Morocco's coach in the face of virulent criticism following his team's poor performance in the African Cup of Nations (ACN). "I am obliged to step down from managing the Moroccan national team after being subject to a wilful smear campaign by the media," the Frenchman, in charge since 1995, said in a statement read on state-run television. Michel argued that the smear campaign had been launched against him long before the ACN, where Morocco failed to progress beyond the preliminary round, but he did not elaborate. "Out of 53 matches, we won 31, drew in 13 and lost nine, of which only three were official matches," Michel said in defence of his record. The Moroccan team, with a string of players based with top European clubs, failed to justify their billing as one of the ACN favourites. They managed a win against outsiders Congo, had a scoreless draw against Tunisia before losing 2-0 against Nigeria.And Moloto, too
SOUTH AFRICA'S coach Trott Moloto is almost certain to be kicked out of his job when his contract expires at the end of the ACN tournament despite leading the team to third place in the tournament. Moloto, coach for almost two years, has come under heavy criticism for his 3-5-2 tactics during the 2-0 defeat by Nigeria in the semi-final in Lagos. South Africa Football Association President Molefi Oliphant said the association was not happy with the way the team played and the tactics employed against Nigeria. Oliphant added the association would look for a leading international coach to take charge of the team, whose next task is the World Cup qualifying campaign starting next summer. Other officials, part of a large South African delegation in Lagos, described Moloto as "arrogant" and "stupid" for playing just three defenders against the Nigerians. It was only the fourth defeat for Moloto in 21 matches after his appointment in October 1998 but he has had a difficult relationship with officials and the media since then.Making merry
A ZAMBIAN soccer supporters club blamed the national team's early exit from the ACN on alcohol and late nights. Willie Malasha, publicity secretary of the Chipolopolo Soccer Fans Association, said: "On almost every night, there were five or six players drinking with us in the nightclubs, some with their girlfriends." Zambia's team, known as the Chipolopolo or the Bullets, crashed out of the tournament after losing against Egypt and scraping draws against Burkina Faso and Senegal. Malasha said Zambian players and officials had packed their bags before their last group match against Senegal, implying that they had lost hope of making further progress. Zambia's early demise prompted many fans to call for the removal of coach Ben Bamfuchile.Fish out
MARK FISH has announced his retirement from international football, citing distaste for the South African Federation as the reason for his decision. The 25-year-old defender, who plays for Bolton in the English First Division and has 58 caps, said: "I don't like the way the federation treats the coaching staff or runs football in South Africa. The people that run South African football should not be there." Fish said he had asked coach Trott Moloto not to play him in the ACN third-place play-off against Tunisia, won 2-1 by South Africa, as he had an injured toe. That meant that last week's 2-0 semi-final defeat by Nigeria was his last game for the Bafana Bafana. Fish said the decision to quit was a difficult one. "I sat down man-to-man with Trott Moloto and told him I feel it is in my best interest to just worry about my club career. Making this announcement now means I won't play in South Africa's July tour," he said. "If I don't have an off-season this summer, I won't have had a rest for three years." Fish said he hoped to be fit for Bolton's FA Cup quarter-final against Charlton Athletic next weekend.Africa's bid on track
MUSTAFA FAHMI, the general secretary of the Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF), the continent's governing soccer body, rejected suggestions that adverse publicity surrounding the ACN had damaged the continent's bid to host the World Cup. The three-week event has been tarnished by crowd violence, small attendance, organisational problems and the apparent imprisonment of the Cote d'Ivoire team on its return to Abidjan. Fahmi conceded that "this kind of thing does harm African soccer. It gives a bad image to our organisation." However, he said Africa's bid to stage the World Cup for the first time is still on track. "We do not think anything that has happened here has affected Africa's bids in any way," Fahmi said. "We are all fighting hard to host the event and other candidates have been putting over their own positive points. But we are extremely satisfied with the organisation of the event." Morocco and South Africa are bidding to host the 2006 World Cup. England, Germany and Brazil are also in the race. A decision will be made in July.
