Sports

Spain Captivates Football World In S’ Africa

Published

15 years ago

July 11, 2010

How things have changed. Spain, once regarded as the serial chokers of world football, a side so averse to the big time they made the Leeds team of the 1970s look like the most resolute finishers in history, are closing in on the prize with all the lynx-eyed resolve of real champions. They may have started the competition with a defeat, but if they wind it up with a win they will demonstrate the fundamental truth of tournament football: it is those who improve who prosper.

Even as they were losing to Switzerland in that first game, however, there was manifold evidence that this was a team that was not about to fold. Unlike France, Italy and England, you could see the quality even in the defeat. The passes were going to feet, the movement was good, all that was lacking was the finishing touch.

And to a degree, that has been their one problem throughout this World Cup: like a big stage Arsenal, they seem to find it aesthetically demeaning to score a goal without first stringing together at least twenty passes.

Which made the goal they scored in the semi to see off the magnificent Germans even more telling. A thumping header of the least sophisticated sort pointed out that their previous failing was being addressed at precisely the right moment: Puyol’s terrific strike indicated this was a team prepared to do whatever it takes to win, even retreating to route one.

Yet, their goal-shyness will have been noted. Spain have won their last three encounters by the only goal scored in the match. If the Dutch can get an early strike (perhaps hoping for an English referee’s first minute penalty indulgence as they benefited from in 1974) that would enforce the Spaniards to do something they have not managed yet to do in the knock-out phase: score twice. That will be the instruction to Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie and Wesley Sneijder: get in there.

The trouble is, that is easier said than done. It is almost impossible to see how you can score against this Spain side. Sure, Switzerland managed it, but that was against a cold team, barely awake. By the time they had roused themselves they prevented even the Germans, who had run riot in three of their previous games, from finding a way through.

And it is little wonder. Not only do the Spanish boast defensive talents of the strength of Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique and Iker Casillas, they protect them with the finest midfield in the world right now. Actually some might dare to claim they are more than that: they are the finest midfield in World Cup history.

Watching Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Xabi Alonso in action is to see the most perfectly balanced central unit it is possible to imagine (it is also to see what Liverpool lost when they allowed Alonso to head home to Real Madrid).

While English midfielders prefer to work in space, Xavi and Iniesta actually seem to relish it if they receive the ball with three men around them. That way they can create space for others. While clod-hopping Englishmen, sulky Frenchmen and arthritic Italians have found the abulani ball impossible to control (Emile Heskey, to quote an ancient joke, was trapping the thing further than Xavi can kick it) the Spaniards quickly mastered its idiosyncrasies, caressing the thing with perfect weight in the pass. Indeed, well as Sneijder, Bastien Schweinsteiger and Mesut Ozil played, it would be hard to argue against the Spanish midfield forming the heart of any best-of XI from this World Cup.

Sports

New W.W. Whyte Tournament Focuses On Talent Discovery – Engr. Alabere

Published

3 days ago

November 19, 2025

The Tide

The Chairman of Grassroots Initiative, Engr. Promise Alabere has reiterated that the New W.W. Whyte Secondary Football Tournament was to discover hidden players from the grassroots and groom them to stardom.

He stated that the his organisation is partnering with the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC) for the football tournament, adding that in the first edition 32 players were discovered and NDDC, and his organisation are to fixing them into various clubs.

Engr. Alabere said this while briefing sports journalists last Tuesday, in Port Harcourt, and expressed optimism that the second edition which have 22 secondary schools participating would be exciting and impressive.

” The essence of this tournament is to catch them young because in the 1980s and 1990s most of the players that played for NNPC, Sharks and other big clubs in the country were discovered through this competition.

” Even me I was a product of the W.W. Whyte tournament, as I started playing for the Nigerian Police football club when I was in class four. But this competition stopped about 20 years when two schools resort to bloody clash during one of their games.

According to him the second edition expanded to schools in six Local Government Areas, saying that it will be better than the previous in terms of organisation and others.

“We want to make this edition more exciting and beneficial to all participating schools because the first edition was on experiment but this edition is no longer an experiment” he stated.

The Chairman of Grassroots Initiative,used the forum to advice all participating schools to conduct themselves in a good manner and adhere to rules of the competition.

He equally thanked NDDC for being its major sponsor of the tournament.

Tonye Orabere

Sports

Hoopers Ready For NPBL Title Defence – Captain

Published

4 days ago

November 18, 2025

The Tide

Rivers Hoopers captain Victor Anthony Koko has said that his team is mentally ready for the challenge of retaining their Nigeria Premier Basketball League title when the 2025 season Final Four phase holds from November 21 – 23 in Port Harcourt, Tidesports source reports.
The Kings Men, who won back-to-back NPBL titles in 2023 and 2024 unbeaten, are chasing their seventh title.
They will be up against Lagos Legends, Gboko City Chiefs, and Nigeria Customs, as they hope to retain the title they won last year and also pick the ticket to next year’s Basketball Africa League.
Following the conclusion of the Final Eight earlier this month, the KingsMen have had time to fine-tune preparations ahead of their title defence at the Final Four, with the skipper stating that he and his teammates are fully prepared to retain the championship.
“This time around, everyone is ready; everyone is mentally ready. We understand what is at stake, so we need to go all out. And right now, with the level of energy I’ve seen from my team during practice, I don’t think we’re going to be a team that just wants to have fun [on the court]. We’re a championship-winning team, and we want to retain that championship,” he stressed.
Koko has won the league seven times in his career, and he is looking to help the Port Harcourt club reach its height.
“I want us to win the 2025 NPBL title. It’s on my mind, day and night: Hoopers Champions. And I’m assuring our fans that we’re not going to let them down. It’s happening here in Port Harcourt, and we’re going to make them proud.”

Sports

Barau Beat Rangers To Move Out Of Relegation Zone

Published

4 days ago

November 18, 2025

The Tide

Nigeria Premier Football League newcomers, Barau FC have zoomed out of the drop zone after they defeated Rangers International FC 2-0 on Sunday in a rescheduled tie played in Kano.
The Maliya Boys got their goals through Muhammed Umar and Joseph Kemin in the 26th and 76th minutes to record their third win of the season
They have moved to the 16th spot with 13 points from 12 games but the loss by the Flying Antelopes see them slid to the seventh spot with 19 points from 13 games.
The home win is no doubt a relief to Barau FC head coach, Ladan Bosso who has seen his job brought under scrutiny following the Maliya Boys impressive start to the season.