Grappling with the absence of a quality custodian under the bar, Hibernian has roped in Chelsea goalkeeper Yves Makabu-Ma-Kalambay, hoping it would solve the problem. At Chelsea, Ma-Kalambay was never coach Jose Mourinho’s favourite and the Belgian was reduced to a bench-warmer for major part of his stay at the club, which he had joined in 2003. Mourinho in fact had more trust in Petr Cech, Carlo Cudicini and even Magnus Hedman. Ma-Kalambay never played for Chelsea first team even though he got the nod for the club’s pre-season tour of the US. Frustrated at not being picked, Ma-Kalambay naturally was relieved when Hibernian manager John Collins approached him and the youngster is now determined to give his best to live up to the expectations at his new club. The youngster said I’m really happy to be here at Hibernian. I’m leaving a great club in Chelsea, but I’m joining another great club in Hibernian, in a beautiful city with beautiful people. Trying to progress my career is one of the greatest challenges for me but I have the trust of a great manager behind me. That really made the option an easy one for me to take and I am looking forward to my time with Hibernian. At a mammoth 6 ft 5 inch, Ma-Kalambay resembles a giant and with him manning the goal, Hibernian has every reason to believe that they have left their citadel to a pair of safe hands.
You should not mess with superstar players – this was the hidden message as Real Madrid fired coach Fabio Capello, ostensibly for his shabby handling of David Beckham. Just two weeks back, Capello had guided the club to their first Spanish league title since 2003 and had two more years to go on his contract before Real Madrid showed him the door. Story doing the rounds at Bernabeu is that the club would appoint Getafe coach Bernd Schuster. Real’s Sporting Director Predrag Mijatovic said It was a difficult decision but a unanimous one. Since joining from Juventus last year, Capello did a fair job bit his soured relation with Beckham proved his undoing. Beckham’s decision to join LA Galaxy did not go down well with Capello who promptly announced that he would not field the former England captain in his first team ever. The coach, however, had to field the player and incidentally, Beckham came up with a scintillating display to leave the coach with eggs all over his face. Real was desperate to retain Beckham but the player felt it was too late. Subsequently, it was Capello who earned the wrath of the club management and had to pay the price with his job.
Football seems to be quiet accustomed to club transfer rumors. Thierry Henry’s move to Barcelona has set major concerns for the Gunners. Amidst speculations of Freddie Ljungberg eyeing ‘Emirates’, the future of Arsenal seems to be more ominous. However, Ljungberg has denied such rumors, citing them as baseless. Moreover, the striker has expressed his notion of being associated with the club until the very end of his career. The Swedish formally made to the Arsenal in 1998. His scoring record for the Gunners has been quiet notable. Superb in the midfield, he has been a regular player in the Gunners starting line-up. His 2004-05 season, seems to be more impressive. Being a regular player in the Arsenal side, he has made 38 appearances and scored 14 goals. Also, he has proved his worth in the Swedish national set-up – playing eight internationals and scoring five kicks. Though regular injuries and health concerns has marred his success, the Gunner overcame and has always returned with a vengeance. The 2006-07 season has been underwhelming for the Gunners where he just made 22 game appearances.
Frank Lampard’s Chelsea days seem numbered after reports claimed that the star England midfielder, unhappy with the salary offered, has rejected a new contract from the club. This new development compounded crisis at Chelsea as the club is also likely to lose winger Arjen Robben, who seems heading towards Real Madrid. In Lampard’s case, apparently the mid-fielder is miffed that the new contract offers him £110,000 a week, which is substantially higher than what he is getting (£70,000) but short of the £121,000, which his overseas teammates Andrei Shevchenko and Michael Ballack are getting. Lampard himself did not clear the air and was non-committal when asked about his future. He said They (Chelsea) don’t have to offer me anything so I’ll just carry on. If rumours are to be believed, Lampard is joining either Barcelona or Juventus. Stories doing the rounds are that former Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri, who now heads Juventus, is keen to sign Lampard. If that happens, it would be a big loss for Chelsea because Lampard has been at his prolific best in the 2006-7 season, scoring 21 goals.
David Beckham should not expect a fairytale stint in the Major League Soccer. Instead, the star midfielder would do well to expect a hell as he arrives at California later this month to start his much-hyped five-year stint with LA Galaxy, advised former England forward Rodney Marsh. Marsh got a taste of the life in the US in the 1970s when the England striker played for Tampa Bay Rowdies in the North American Soccer League and said Beckham would find life difficult with so much of traveling involved. Marsh said David’s life is going to be hell in America. He won’t know what’s hit him. Every other week, you have to make a road trip for away games. That does not mean a 200-mile trip up the motorway in England or Spain. It requires travelling 4,000 miles to play the New England Revolution, and there tends to be a second away game on the road. Over a four-day period, you can fly almost 9,000 miles and play twice. Do that four or five times, factoring in time changes, training and media engagements, and it becomes very wearing. Beckham, after more than decade in the English Premier League and Spanish Primera Liga, has joined Los Angeles Galaxy for a whopping $250 million and is expected to make his debut against Chelsea on July 21.
Finally, Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson have got their wish. Yes you heard it right, mercurial mid fielder Owen Hargreaves will play for champion Manchester United next season after a deal was finalized between Bayern Munich and Manchester United for a whopping fee of around $17 million. According to Owen Hargreaves, It was probably the worst kept secret in football, but it’s great to be here. I think it’s great to finally reach a positive conclusion. Especially after all the time and energy that’s been put in from everyone involved. The 26-year-old England star has sign a four-year deal with Manchester United and pretty much like other football players Owen is eager to play at famous Old Trafford stadium under the supervision of Sir Alex Ferguson. Last season heroes Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo will be happy with the inclusion of Owen in the team because not only he is a good passer but also play a good holding role in mid field.
Probably the richest club in the world, Real Madrid is on a chase for AC Milan’s star maestro the Brazilian football midfielder, Kaka with a $123million bid. Having the deal finalized, it would be rated as one of the most expensive transfers in football history so far with the previous record being held by Zinedine Zidane after he signed for Real Madrid in 2001 for 75 million euros. The 25-year-old footballer is still undergoing a contract with his present club AC Milan, which finally concludes with a long time-span of June 2011. On the contrary, expressing his notion Kaka has ruled out vowing to the recent bid expressing: Real Madrid are a fantastic club, but money isn’t everything. I have also learned from friends who have left Milan how they deeply regretted doing so. I want to make history here. Making a debut in 2002 from whereon Kaka has never looked back. Becoming a member of the 2002 FIFA World Cup-winning squad is much of a pride. In 2003, captained the Gold Cup tournament, where Brazil finished as runners-up. Reflected his true mettle in a 4-1 defeat of Argentina in the 2005 Confederations Cup final. Adding to his glory finished in joint tenth place in the voting for the 2004 FIFA World Player of the Year award, with two spots higher in the subsequent year. In the FIFA World Cup Finals in 2006, scored a solitary goal in a 1-0 victory over Croatia in Brazil’s opening match. This current year skipped the Copa America Cup won by Brazil, citing hectic and exhaustive schedules confronting him following Serie A, Champions League and national team play. Moreover, has been quiet motivating in Milan’s Champions League triumph last season. Image credit Via: Espnstar
The whole saga of whether Frank Lampard is going to stay in Chelsea is rolling on. First it was reported in the English media that Lampard has rejected the long-term deal from the club, which would have made England midfielder a highest earner in Chelsea with wages of £131,000-a-week. He was linked with top Italian and Spanish clubs like Juventus and Barcelona but now his agent has come out saying that Lampard wants to end his playing career in Chelsea. According to Frank Lampard agent Steve Kutner, Frank has always said he wants to stay at Chelsea for the rest of his career. He will join up with Chelsea’s tour next week and will be as committed as ever. Nothing can get sorted out until he gets back, but there is no rush. If Chelsea wants to win English Premier League (EPL) title next season, it is of paramount importance that Lampard stay at Stamford Bridge because not only he is the best mid fielder in the world at the moment but also has an ability to motivate team members.
Indeed Nelson Mandela would have enjoyed great birthday bashes till now but it is for sure that this year when he turns 89 he is going to have the best one of his life. FIFA is organizing a special soccer match in South Africa to honor Nelson Mandela on his birthday. The players that have agreed to play this match are from the past as well as the present era. Those who are ready for ’90 Minutes for Mandela’ are Pele, Samuel Eto’o of Cameroon, Christian Karembeu of France and Ruud Gullit of the Netherlands. The match will be played on July 18 in Cape Town’s Newlands Stadium. The game will match players from Africa against those from the rest of the world. Striker Samuel Eto’o who currently plays for FC Barcelona and will also be the part of match said: It is a great honor and pleasure for me to have been invited to participate in this tribute to Nelson Mandela, a living symbol of the fight against all forms of racism and discrimination. The other players who have decided to take part are Lucas Radebe of South Africa and Andoni Zubizarreta and Emilio Butragueno of Spain. The profit of the match will go to programs that aimed at helping young South Africa and will be coordinated with the Nelson Mandela Foundation. This is FIFA’s second match to honour Mandela as earlier in 1999 it had organised a similar match when Mandela had stepped down as South African president.
They are the outright favourites for the prestigious South American title – topping the group and booking a quarterfinal spot for themselves, Argentina has lived up to the hype that follows their Copa America campaign. Set-up for a tie against Paraguay – it was Liverpool’s midfielder, Javier Mascherano who scored 12 minutes from time to give Argentina a 1-0 win. Argentina will now face Peru in the last eight. Here are some pics from the match for you. The win over Paraguay was third victory on trot for Argentina that is looking to extend its record of 14 Copa America titles. Though, Paraguay witnessed its first defeat this time yet, has made it to the last eight and is scheduled for a tie against Mexico.