Round Up

A sad incident was to engulf the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations as gunmen attacked the bus carrying the Togo national team in the Angolan enclave of Cabinda. The attack which occured on Friday in the oil-rich enclave which has seen separatists in recent years wage an armed war against the Angolan government as indeed fatal as three people died and several were seriously injured. The Togolese players had to hide under the bus seats as their bus was under fire from the rebels. Watch Tawa condemns the attack on the inocent sportsmen and at the same time sends condolences to the families of the bereaved and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured players and officials. The trauma of the attack is not only felt by the Togo nation but by the rest of the African continent as well. Sadly the tournament will miss the presence of Emmanuel Adebayor and his Togolese teammates understandably through no fault of their own.

The western media did not waste time in engaiging in negativity as once again Africa was potrayed as the dark primitive war infested continent. There may have been a bit of naivety in the travel plans of the Togo football team but that did not warrant all the negative comments showered on them by the western media and selfish European football managers who (some of them) outrageiously called for the scrapping/cancelling of the Africa Cup of Nations 2010. If one looks at history no one recalls the 1972 Munich Olympic games being scrapped nor will the 2012 London Olympic games be cancelled despite the UK being hit by terror attacks not too long ago.

South Africa as the host of the 2010 Socccer World Cup suddenly find themselves in the unfavourable spotlight and one wonders how many security personnel will be accompanying the non-African teams to the 2010 Soccer bonanza. It will almost be the World Military Soccer Cup with private armies invading South Africa to protect their national soccer teams at all costs. Watch Tawa asks that teams to exercise restraint and let the hosts do their job with the security. I'm sure no-one wants to see the party spolit.

Soccerwise Angola fluffed a 4 goal winning margin to draw 4-4 with Mali in the tournament opener. Barcelona's Seydou Keita showed his class and later on was joined by Sevilla's Frederic Kanoute in dampening the hosts party. The home crowd were stunned but the neutrals could never have asked for a better game with 8 goals. Coach Stephen Keshi eventually managed a smile at the end of the game as his Angolan counterpart was left fuming and talking angrily to himself.

Malawi coach Kinnah Phiri could not have wished for a better start as his charges long written off in the tournament hit Algeria 3-0. Algeria who are 2010 South Africa bound were shell-shocked by the Flames who had Russel Mwafulirwa, Ivis Kafoteka and Davie Banda to thank for the goals. 26 years ago Algeria thumped Malawi 3-0 in the same competition and so what a reversal of roles it was this time.

Millionares (actually Billionaires by Kenyan standards) Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Aruna Dindane, Bakary Kone, Kolo and Yaya Toure together Emmanuel Eboue could do little and failed to breakdown the resilient Burkina Faso defence with the scoreline remaining 0-0 at the end. Not the start the Ivorians wanted.

On the local rugby front Kenya Harlequin Wazee thumped the Kenya Harlequin Vijana 40-33 in an exciting game at the RFUEA grounds over the weekend. The game officially marked Quins entry into the 2010 season. Veterans Ham Onsando, Edward Kinyany, Peter Ochola and Thomas Odundo taught the youngsters a lesson or two in the lovely oval ball game of rugby. The next encounter is an eagerly awaited one and the many months we wait will definitely not be in vain. The party that followed was well attended and executed. Law breakers were absent but heart breakers were plenty.

The Kenya Sevens team are preparing for the next two rounds of the IRB Sevens in Wellington and Las Vegas. Watch Tawa wishes them well and encourages them to continue carrying the Kenya rugby flag high. I hope the two guys I met at Rafiki's on Saturday night made it back to the camp in good time before the coach woke up to find them missing.

The local rugby season kicks off on the 23rd of January with the Impala Floodlit and good luck to all the teams taking part.

News just in Manchester City 4 Blackburn 1. City leapfrog my team Tottenham and now sit in fourth place.(Not good not good). Carlos Tevez with hat-trick. The boy is in a rich vein of form.

Congratulations to Henry Emuye for being re-elected Chairman KCB Rugby. Congrats to Mathare United for their landmark Kshs 20 million annual soccer sponsorship received from KDN. And finally congratulations to all the Kenyan swimmers who have raked in 10medals so far at the ongoing African Swimming Confederation (CANA) Zone 3 and 4 competition in Nairobi.