Luis Suarez: Racist rant condemned, sanction welcomed

Racism shows its ugly face in many areas of life, including sports. The "beautiful game" of football is plagued by racism perpetrated either by players against players or supporters against players. Victims include some of the most celebrated and successful players like Samuel Eto'o, Thierry Henry, Roberto Carlos, Patrice Evra, just to name a few. These men have faced racial abuse either by way of monkey chants, spitting, bananas thrown at them from the stands or racist slurs by a fellow player or coach. In 2004, Luis Aragones, former Spanish footballer and national coach, used racially offensive language against a player (Thierry Henry). Racial abuse is more commonly perpetrated by supporters on the stands; rarely does it happen on the pitch. But recently, there have been reports of "player-on-player" racial abuse. One of the perpetrators of racism on the pitch is Luis Suarez, a national of Uruguay who plays for Liverpool. He was recently sanctioned for racism by the Football Federation (FA).

Suarez has been on the headlines for the wrong reasons.

During the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the striker demonstrated gross indiscipline in Football when he deliberately robbed Ghana, and Africa as a whole, of a deserved victory. He was hailed as a "national hero" at the time. His teammates carried him shoulder-high as they celebrated a stolen victory.

At the end of 2011, Luis Suarez was involved in a more sinister controversy.

It was alleged that he racially abused a fellow footballer, Patrice Evra, defender for Manchester United, during a game between Liverpool FC and Manchester United in October.

Suarez was found guilty by an independent commission of racially abusing Patrice. Consequently the FA slapped him with an eight-game ban.

24-year-old Suarez tried without success to defend himself when he said:

"In my country, 'negro' is a word we use commonly, a word which doesn't show lack of respect and is even less so a form of racist abuse. Based on this, everything which has been said so far is totally false." [Source].

The striker and those who use this argument to defend him seem to be unaware that whether or not the word "negro" is commonly used in Uruguay is irrelevant in this case. What matters is "intent" and the circumstances under which the word was used (note that Suarez reportedly directed the word at Evra seven times in two minutes).

The consequences of racial abuse and racism on players and other victims are far-reaching and there is a need to protect victims.

I advocate a policy of "zero tolerance" for racism and strongly believe that persons who utter racist and offensive slurs, in a bid to offend or dehumanize, should be punished to the full extent. I therefore condemn in the strongest terms Suarez's offensive rant and welcome the decision of the FA to sanction him. Tougher sanctions for racial abuse and racism in football should be considered.

Racial abuse between players on the pitch cannot be solved by a handshake - as misguidedly suggested by Football boss, Sepp Blatter, in an interview with CNN World Sport.

It is worth mentioning that another player, Chelsea's John Terry, is under investigation for making racist comments on the pitch.

Recommended:

• Racism: A Taboo in the US and a Celebration in Europe.

*Photo of Suarez and Evra: Mail Online.

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2010 FIFA World Cup: Luis Suarez Robs Africa of a historic Victory

The FIFA World Cup has been in progress since 11 June 2010. Little did I know that I will be writing about the tournament, but the game of 2 July 2010, between Ghana and Uruguay, urged me to weigh in on a beautiful game gone bad. In the game between Uruguay and Ghana, Luis Suarez - striker for Uruguay, with what appeared to be an intentional handball, robbed Ghana of a well-deserved place in the semi-finals; Luis Suarez robbed Africa - of a historic victory.

On Sunday, Ghana went to Soccer City - bearing the weight of the whole continent of Africa - as Africans worldwide looked up to Ghana to break the glass ceiling and become the first African nation to qualify for the FIFA World Cup semi-finals. The Black Stars of Ghana understood their mission - to take African football to a new heights.

For the Black Stars, the road ahead was daunting - but possible. In Soccer City, they were the underdogs, but they were undeterred, and refused to be trampled upon. The Stars clearly dominated the game - they attacked Uruguay from all fronts - with all they got.

Pressurized, desperate and running out of time, with goalkeeper - Fernando Muslera completely displaced, Uruguay desperately needed a second goalkeeper to keep the Black Stars from scoring. At this point, in a blatant display of cheating, striker - Luis Suarez stepped in and played the role of second goalkeeper for the South American side. The consequence of this cheating was fatal! African hearts were broken, dreams shattered, and FIFA regulations put into question once more - as Luis Suarez robbed the last African team standing, of a victory in the neck of time.

In a display of "excellent" goalkeeping skills, the striker - Luis Suarez, made a controversial save for Uruguay. With both hands, Luis Suarez stopped the ball from making its way to the back of the net. The striker - turned goalkeeper - was sent off with a red card, but the damage had already been done.

It is immaterial to mention the fact that Ghana was awarded a penalty for this blatant display of unprofessional conduct, but with no time remaining, Ghana's Asamoah Gyan stepped up to the plate and lost the decisive penalty.

It is worth mentioning that the match proceeded to penalty shootout. At this stage, the demoralised Black Stars of Ghana - the youngest team in the FIFA World Cup 2010 tournament - lost to Uruguay. It is fair to say the better side lost!

As you would expect, many, including the coach of Uruguay - Oscar Tabarez, have justified this blatant display of cheating and unprofessional conduct.

Regardless of what you may think, Luis Suarez has gone down in history as the man who robbed Ghana of a historic place in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals, with a handball. He will be remembered as the man who robbed Africa of a historic victory at the FIFA World Cup 2010.

FIFA  should reform the rules applicable to such intentional fouls - fouls intended to prevent obvious goals. In such a case, a goal should be awarded, and the unscrupulous player sent off.

Photos: Courtesy Paul Fletcher's Blog and World Cup Blog

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Cameroon: Samuel Eto'o help eradicate extreme poverty

Cameroon, like many African countries, is far from achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. With only five years left until the deadline, no region in Cameroon is untouched by poverty - many cannot afford a decent meal; many cannot afford education, child and maternal mortality is unusually high, HIV/AIDS is on the rise, you name it. While it is true that it is the responsibility of the government to fight poverty, it is also true that many ordinary Cameroonians are positioned to effectively contribute, no matter how small, to ensure that poverty is eradicated in the West African country. Cameroon's favorite striker - Samuel Eto'o Fils, recently demonstrated his capability to help eradicate extreme poverty in his community.

Earlier this week, Eto'o reportedly spent 1.3 million dollars on watches for his team mates in Cameroon's National Soccer team - the Indomitable Lions. Converted to the local currency of Cameroon, 1.3 million dollars amounts to about 706.3 million Francs CFA (the last time I checked). This is a lot of money - which if channeled to the right quarters and properly managed, would effectively lift a whole community from abject poverty, in a country where 51% of the population lives on less than 2 dollars a day.

As you would expect, many have hailed Samuel Eto'o for this lavish spending. No doubt, the striker acted in good faith - probably to motivate his team mates, and in fulfillment of a promise - a promise made after the Indomitable Lions qualified for the South African 2010. Mindful of the adage that "a man of honor keeps his word", it is fair to say Eto'o is truly a man of honor. He has proven that he does not make a promise he cannot keep.

However, you would agree that spending a staggering sum of $1.3 million on watches, while your community languishes in poverty, amounts to wasteful spending. This is misappropriation of much-needed funds - funds that could change thousands of lives in many poverty stricken regions in Cameroon. Why spend such a huge sum of money on luxury watches?

Don't you think $1.3 million could enable Samuel Eto'o Foundation to impact more lives through more educational and health programs?

Samuel Eto'o clearly has the resources to help eradicate extreme poverty and hunger in his community. Make no mistake - he is already doing a phenomenal job. Through the Samuel Eto'o Foundation, he has implemented a good number of social projects in Cameroon. But with a slight change in scale of preference, and a reduction of wasteful spending, Eto'o will be a force to reckon with in the fight against poverty and hunger in Cameroon.

Eto'o currently plays for F.C Internationale Milano, and he is the highest goal scorer in the history of the African Cup of Nations - as of today.

*Photo from Wikipedia

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A Black Man from Africa on Ski Slopes!

I'm not a fan of skiing and you'd rarely find an African who's interested in skiing, but who said Africans can't ski? The story of a black man from Africa on ski slopes in the Vancouver Winter Olympics 2010, reminded me of the goal of this blog, On The Road To Success - to inspire ordinary people who seek to challenge the status quo and venture into less traveled paths. This is exactly what Ghana's Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong is doing - he's entering uncharted territory!

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that 33 years old, father of two, Nkrumah-Acheampong would be representing his country - Ghana in the on-going Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Yes! There'll be a black man from Africa on ski slopes in Vancouver.

Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong was born in Glasgow but grew up in Accra - the capital of Ghana, in West Africa. Ghana is known for it's tropical climate and no snow. Needless to say, there're no ski slopes or skiers in the country. Nkrumah-Acheampong told BBC that the first time he saw snow was on TV back home in Ghana. His first snow experience was in 2000, when he moved to the UK for studies. Coming from a country with no snow, how exactly did Nkrumah-Acheampong start skiing and went as far as qualifying for the Vancouver Winter Olympics 2010?

It all started a few years ago on artificial slopes in the UK, where the now professional skier, Nkrumah-Acheampong was ridiculed when he stated skiing. He met with a lot of scepticism, but never gave up his ambitious goal. Many could not envision an African on ski slopes. However, Nkrumah-Acheampong defied the odds and did not give up the dream - he carried on with passion and perseverance. And of course, it took some time, but his hard work and perseverance paid off.

"Some people were skeptical, others did not believe that it was possible to train in such a short period of time and try and qualify, but I think now I can stand up and say it's possible."

He admits his first experience on real snow was "terrifying", but he didn't quit and with the help of a coach - Dave Jacobs, he overcame his fears of going down the slopes. If I may ask, do you have a coach? Who's coaching you to success? Keep in mind that successful people have mentors (coaches)!

It's worth mentioning that Nkrumah-Acheampong failed to qualify for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. However, he kept working hard, with his eyes fixed on the next goal - Vancouver 2010. Due to his hard work, perseverance and stubborn determination, today, the flag of Ghana is flying in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. And guess what, all the sceptics are now spectators - sitting up in the stands or glued to TV sets, watching a black man from Africa, perform on the ski slopes in Vancouver, where all the fame, action and money is. Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong has defied the naysayers and made a name for himself.

What's your story? Do you give in to scepticism? Do you watch things happen or do you make things happen? It's up to you!

In case you missed it: Real Africans Don't Apologize for Being African!

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I'm Not Ready To Pass away Now!

It is no secret that the bus carrying Togo's soccer team was attacked on Friday 8 January 2010 on their way to the pretigious African Cup of Nations which starts today, Sunday 10 January 2010. The attack marked a bad start for the tournament and has sparked security concerns ahead of the World Cup, scheduled to take place in South Africa, later this year. According to team captain - Emmanuel Adebayo (seen in the picture), the Togo's national soccer team is pulling out of the competition after the deadly machine gun attack by rebel fighters, near the border between Angola and the Republic of Congo. The attack left three people dead (including the assistant coach of Togo's soccer team) and seven wounded. In response to the attack, captain Adebayo said, amongst other things - "... I'm not ready to pass away now." This statement got me thinking.

Are you ready to pass away now? In other words, if you were scheduled to die today, would you be ready? These are tough questions that you should consider with each passing day. The thought of death would keep you grounded and at your best behavior, especially if you believe in life after death. Growing up in a family with strong Christian values, the thought of death shaped my thoughts and deeds and pulled me closer to God.

Nowadays, many people - mostly the young (especially in the developed world) don't consider the possibility of dying abruptly. They mistakenly think death is reserved for old age - because of the long "life expectancy." I have no doubt about this because my "fear" of death diminished when I traveled to the developed world. The contributing factors to this lose of values include - good roads ( which reduce the risk of car accidents), advanced medical system, availability of potable water, low infant mortality rate, balanced diet, high security, low crime rate, you name it. Blessed with all these favorable factors, many people tend to forget the favor of God. In the past, I prayed before getting into a car. Now, I do it sparingly simply because of good roads. How rediculous! The truth is, all these amenities don't count!

I must confess I've fallen off the wagon quite a bite in recent history. But Emmanuel Adebayo's statement - "I'm not ready to die now," was a wake up call. It reminded me of how much the thought of death has escaped my mind recently; it reminded of the need to be ready at all times because anything can happen at anytime. The Togolese players never saw it coming, did they? They were on their way to play soccer, not to mourn. In the same vein, those who died in the attack, never thought it would happen on that fateful day. The bottom line is, nobody sees death coming. Not even you! Endeavor to have a healthy relationship with God and your neighbors (everybody!) at all times. Afterall, what He giveth, He can taketh away.

Strive to reach your full potential, live life to the fullest and don't be caught pants down and not ready to pass away like Emmanuel Adebayo. You might not be so lucky.

By the way, if you pass away today, what would you be remembered for?

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BBC African Footballer of the Year 2009: Why I'd Vote for Samuel Eto'o

Every year, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) canvasses football experts across Africa to compile a shortlist of Africa's best players. The BBC African Footballer of the Year award is the only award of its kind to be decided ultimately by fans. By implication, the nominee with the greatest number of fans who vote grabs the award. Is it an award based on talent or number of votes? This is a question to be answered by the organizers.

The 5 candidates for the 2009 BBC African Footballer of the year award have been revealed. The nominees (as seen above) are Tresor Mputu Mabi, Samuel Eto'o, Michael Essien, Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba. According to football experts in Africa, the aforementioned are Africa's top 5 footballers of the year 2009. Now it's up to us to vote for the player we think is the King of African football.

Many have asked why I'd vote for Samuel Eto'o. Is it because he's a fellow Cameroonian?



Samuel Eto'o has been an unstoppable Indomitable Lion playing for Cameroon and Barcelona in 2009. Eto'o ended the 2008-2009 season in Spain, finding the back of the net 30 in 36 league games, with another 6 goals in 12 games in the Champions League. He was instrumental in Barcelona's La Liga and Champions League wins. Eto'o is one of only two players to ever score in different Champion League finals. He scored in the Champions League final against Manchester United in Rome and against Arsenal in 2006.

Samuel Eto'o has been three-times African Footballer of the Year and was installed captain of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in August 2009. He scored three times and led Cameroon from two points adrift to the top of Group A in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Samuel Eto'o's goal tally is virtually second to none.

After being compared to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Eto'o said, "I'm Samuel Eto'o and don't want to compare myself to anyone. I believe the victories I have earned up to now can contribute to giving the right value to my name."

All in all, I'd vote for Samuel Eto'o because he's the best of the best in Africa. Eto'o is unstoppable and has medals in the Champions League, African Nations Cup, Olympics, you name it. It boggles my mind that the BBC African Footballer of the Year award remains illusive for this prolific footballer. I hope my vote makes a difference this year - 2009.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE NOW!

Voting: The voting process of the BBC African Footballer of the Year 2009 runs from 1700 GMT on Monday November 30th to 1700 GMT to Monday January 4th 2010. The winner will be announced on January 8th 2010 at 1600 GMT on the BBC World Service.

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Coaching Beyond Sports: Who is Helping You Succeed?

I'm not a big fan of soccer but I've watched many soccer matches and have developed some interest in the sport. I sometimes tend to admire the role of the coach more than the role of the players. This might sound strange to many fans because most fans concentrate more on the action on the pitch and ignore the role of the "master planner" behind the scenes. Coaching plays a major role in the realisation of extraordinary results. This explains why every team gets a coach. It's worthy of note that the role of a coach is not limited to sports. More often than not, people mistakenly limit coaching to sports. In reality, it goes beyond sports. Football players, volleyball players, basketball players, you name it, all have coaches to help them succeed. The question is, who do you have to coach you to succeed in the greatest game of all - life?

Coaching is a professional relationship that helps people produce extraordinary results in their careers, businesses or organizations. Coaching deeps learning and improves performance. The coach is there to listen and contribute observations. He creates clarity and moves the client into effective action. The coach's efforts and the application of the coaching process produces amazing results.

We've seen the extraordinary role of coaching in soccer and other sports. We've seen how coaches galvanize teams and produce mind-blowing results. We've seen teams with great players suffer the effects of poor coaching. I vividly remember the day Chelsea Football Club lost a great coach - Jose Mourinho (see picture above). The world was stunned on 19 September, 2007 when Coach Mourinho dramatically left Stamford bridge. Needless to say, the effects of his absence were far-reaching. Great players became demoralized, the team suffered numerous defeats and was at the brink of "disaster." Luckily, the club was rescued by another coach.

Even the living tennis legend - Andre Agassi, understands the importance of coaching. He was at the bottom of his carrier when Tony Robbins subjected him to training. Coaching helped Agassi broke a losing spell within a very short period of time.

You're a player in the greatest game of all - life. Do you have a coach? Do you have a mentor? Who is helping you achieve your goals? From time to time, we give up on our dreams and forget what matters to us. That's where a coach comes in. The coach is there to help you overcome fear and doubt and support you to take the necessary steps towards what you want.

Some of us think we can do it alone. That's alright. Afterall, self-confidence is a good character trait. But with a coach, you'd be challenged, empowered and stretched to your limits. That's when you reach your full potential.



FACT: Every guru was once a student.

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Swedish TV Presenter: "Tiger tried to Recruit me as a Lover"

Since Tiger Woods got involved in the much talked about car accident, I have tried not to get involved in frenzy that surrounds the accident. However, events of yesterday exposed me to many articles that prompted me to break the silence.

On 9 December 2009, The Local, an online news portal, published an article about a 31-year-old Swedish TV presenter who claimed Tiger Woods tried to recruit her as a lover six or seven years ago. Is this just another person seeking five minutes of fame? Have we forgotten what success is all about?

Tiger Woods and his family are facing some tough times. For some people, this is just an opportunity to make a name for themselves and boost their celebrity. If Tiger Woods actually tried to recruit the TV presenter as a lover, why did it take her seven years to reveal the story?

Drawing from numerous events, such as the Balloon Boy fiasco and the White House Dinner Party crashers, there will always be someone seeking fame though crafty means. As Dr. Phil McGraw would say, there will always be somebody who will be glad to walk through fire or sit in cow dung or eat worms to get headlines. And sadly, they do get headlines.

Many people seem to have forgotten the meaning of fame, celebrity and success. What happened to the days when success, fame and celebrity was achieved through hard work? Some have credited the TV presenter for revealing the story at the right time. In my opinion, she's just another person seeking fame, even if it means destroying the marriage of her fellow Swede, Tiger Woods wife.

The TV reporter reportedly loves the spotlight and over the years she has done some crazy stuff to attract attention. I won't go into the details. A lot has already been written about her. Read more on The Local.

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