Former gunner shows the lazy incumbents how to shoot

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“Pinch me, I’m dreaming.”

That’s probably what Thierry Henry was shouting after scoring the only goal after coming on as a substitute in the FA Cup match against Leeds United last night. And what a goal it was too – typical Thierry Henry finesse.

Thierry Henry?

Yes, the one and only. Five years after leaving Arsenal for Barcelona and New York Red Bulls, he is back… and boy was he needed. I’m sure a fairly large number of supporters at the stadium, and even those watching on television viewed his comeback and goal-scoring as a kind of fairy tale. It was indeed a magical night; one to remember. Perhaps a twin statue outside the Emirates Stadium is required to commemorate this fantastic event. It certainly does not happen very often.

Hopefully Marouane Chamakh and Andrey Arshavin were attentive and learnt how to find the net from the ageing master. However if they did, it seems certain that they will only get to use the knowledge effectively with new clubs, as they are set to leave Arsenal after yet another dismal performance. Arshavin is a busy player but lacks the concentration and finesse of a goal scorer. Chamakh on the other hand is just too lazy for me.

One can only hope that Henry gets more games and extends his stay into the Champions League spell. More goals from the hero of Highbury, would send the Emirates into spasms of pure ecstasy.

Today in Politics: Roasting #01

The ANC celebrated their Centenary yesterday in Free State Province where the organization was formed by more honourable men all those years ago. A lot of money was spent to commemorate 83 years of resisting apartheid and 17 years of modern leaders not being able to resist dipping their hands in the public cookie jar.

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The Reverend Jesse Jackson, an invited guest at the ANC Centenary was in attendance earlier on Saturday together with President Jacob Zuma at a ceremony where a bull was ritually slaughtered. Since the Reverend looked quite happy to be there, one wonders if he was fondly remembering the sermons he once used to deliver about the glory days of the Abrahamic religions as recounted in the Pentateuch.

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While the good Reverend is still here, perhaps he’ll consider starting up a mega-church in South Africa. There’s real good money to be made here, considering that two-thirds of the voting population are willing believers.That could work out perfect for the ANC too for future elections. What better way to deliver more empty promises, than from the pulpit.

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President Jacob Zuma delivered his usual insipid speech that lasted for two hours; luckily most of those present were the kind of people who his [Zuma’s] speech-writers pen this drivel for. As usual, more empty promises were made about how the ANC was going to be “transformed” but fortunately those who actually care about this sort of thing were safely at home, out of the scorching Free State sun, having a glass of wine, watching the FA Cup, or something more entertaining and believable.

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Finally, it seems that although that jackass, Julius Malema was in the same Province during the celebrations, he was not at the actual event itself. There are those who would have preferred him being there, which would have made things slightly more interesting, but I guess the absence of more hot air from this blowhard, was also not such a bad thing after all.

Ok Mr. Wenger, so you dared…

Dear Mr. Wenger,

They say “who dares, wins.” So you played Bendtner anyway…and won.

I’m not going to take any credit for instilling some urgency in that lazy Dane; that was your doing. How you did it? Who cares! He played more football in that one game last night against Ipswich, than in all the games he’s played since the beginning of the season.

Let’s hope his arse stays in gear, and he performs like this for the rest of the season.

But now, I need to question your judgement with regard to the bumbling Brazilian and the radarless Russian. Denilson’s tackling is woeful, and he seems to have forgotten what his teammates look like because he has made a habit of passing the ball to the opposition. As for Arshavin; his passing is way off the mark, and I think some of that Bendtner laziness has rubbed off on him.

Can you do something about these two? How about docking them some of their pay for every boob during a game? And I’m not referring to the female supporters.

As always, in you we trust.

Lenny

Aaarrrgghh, another bad sporting weekend

Another big match lost, this time 2 – 1 to Chelsea. Arsenal are arguably the best football team in Europe. Manager and coach, Arsene Wenger has with somewhat limited resources, put together some of the best young (and older) talent available on this planet who play a brand of football  which for the purist, is unsurpassed for sheer brilliance, fluid passing motion, and the pleasing effect that remains long after a game has concluded. However, the team is dogged by constant injuries to key players, several at a time. Arsenal contested this weekend’s FA Cup semi-final against the big guns of Chelsea with a completely make-shift back-line, including reserve goalkeeper, because of injuries. If it’s not the midfield or forwards who are decimated through injury, it’s the defense. Will this team ever experience a time when their entire squad are fit and available?

 

 

The Sharks have lost, two weeks in succession, this time by a narrow margin (13-10) to the Crusaders, who are the reigning Super 14 champions (although  their form this season belies that title). The Sharks could have had that title a couple of seasons ago, but were denied by an oversight from the referee. The Sharks have got to be one of the unluckiest rugby teams around; they always seem to cop some of the most dubious refereeing decisions, and somehow manage to get key players injured at the most crucial times. But the team is gifted with some of the best talent anywhere in the rugby-playing world, North and South of the equator. They just looked a bit jaded this week (and last), and maybe that bye this coming weekend is much needed to revitalize and join the fray, anew.

After watching both the Sharks and Arsenal losing this weekend; I considered how monumental bad luck seems to hound both these teams who deserve so much more than they are currently getting in terms of results and recognition. I even contemplated that perhaps there is a supernatural presence out there conspiring against these teams; and maybe a god that resents human achievement does indeed exist…