CAF Bans Togo Team From Africa Cup of Nations

Oh God. Just when you thought governing bodies in football couldn't get more stupid, the Togo national team has been banned for the next two Africa Cup of Nations by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Their crime? To walk away from the current tournament because three of their party had been brutally murdered and others remain in intensive care after the attack on the team bus just as the tournament opened. And to issue the ban on the eve of the final of the 2010 version? Quite incredible. I hope the teams from Ghana and Egypt stage some form of protest during the final tomorrow. Football is not as important as life despite what Bill Shankly said.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/8489127.stm

Cummings Set To Play For Jamaica

Omar Cummings will not be at DSG Park much of this week as the Colorado Rapids players report back for preseason duty. Like fellow Rapids' striker, Conor Casey at the weekend, the frontman is on international duty this Sunday as the Reggae Boyz turn out in Kingston to play Canada in a friendly. Cummings will be hoping for more success than his teammate who played the last 30 minutes in a hugely disappointing loss for the US against Honduras in LA.
Sunday's a big day in world soccer with Arsenal due to play Manchester United at the same time as the final of the Africa Cup of Nations takes place in Angola. If Ghana make it to the final, I think it will have to be that over a possible Premier League decider.

The Bouna's Back in Town

And he will start in goal for the crucial game against Chivas tomorrow. Bouna Coundoul, the Senegalese goalkeeper recently back from a traumatic time in his native country, will start for the Colorado Rapids between the posts for the first time since August 9. Fan favorite, Bouna, who had had to swallow the pain of his country crashing out of the World Cup and African Nations' Cup qualifying, not to mention the wrath of angry fans in Dakar last weekend, gains the chance to reclaim the number one spot from Preston Burpo. In front of him will be Mike Petke and Ugo Ihemelu with Jordan Harvey and Kosuke Kimura as full-backs. Head coach, Gary Smith, was planning on moving Cory Gibbs to left back and dropping Harvey but Gibbs pulled a groin muscle in training yesterday and will not travel. Upfront, Conor Casey will be back after his red card suspension and will play alongside Tom McManus who played very well last weekend. Omar Cummings, on duty with the Jamaican national team for two games in the past week, will very likely feature with his speed in the final 20 minutes or so. "I told Gary it will be just like last year," Cummings said, referring to his 89th minute winner from a Casey cross which gave Colorado an unlikely 2-1 win away at Chivas at a very similar stage of the season last year. "I'd be very happy with that," Cummings said.
The midfield is a little less obvious. At the request of Gary Smith, I cannot mention specifics, but there are likely to be some changes. What I can say is that the formation will revert to 4-4-2. Pablo Mastroeni is fit to play after withdrawing from the US national team this week following a knee injury picked up against LA Galaxy. Greg Dalby, who turned an ankle yesterday, and Christian Gomez are unfit and will not travel.

Bouna Off to Claim What Is His

When you are enjoying your Starbuck's double tall non-fat this Saturday morning, spare a thought for Colorado Rapids' favorite, Bouna Coundoul. Bouna is currently in his native Senegal preparing for a crucial World Cup qualifier against Gambia which kicks off at 10am Mountain Time. Senegal have to win to have any chance of progressing to the next round of the marathon that is African World Cup qualifying. Why Africa with the same number of teams competing as Europe for a spot in South Africa 2010 should only have five teams that eventually make it while Europe has 13 still beggars belief but that is for another day.
As we all know, Bouna has been struggling in his professional life both for the Rapids and for the national team. He has not played for Colorado for several games now having lost his place in goal to Preston Burpo. He is also still firmly the number two with the national team and you would have to say, that with such a crucial game this weekend, he is unlikely to see any game time against Gambia. He told me last week at training that he would be going to Senegal to claim the starting position. There had been much criticism of the current goalkeeper, Tony Sylva, he said. Reading through the Senegal newspapers online, it is clear that there are defensive problems with the Senegal team. However, the interim head coach has said he is unlikely to change much for Saturday's clincher. Added to this that Bouna has not been playing much competitively recently and it looks as if his admirable optimism may be somewhat misplaced, for now at least. This is one talented goalkeeper who has found himself in a tough spot. I watched him play against Dallas Reserves and I've seen him in training and his form is excellent. He told me it had to do with fasting through Ramadan and, while his faith is all important to him, you know that it also has to do with a burning desire on Bouna's part to be the number one both at home and for his country. This weekend's game against Gambia and the few remaining games for the Rapids may not be quite the right time for him to get where he wants to be which makes it all the more likely that we may not see him at DSG Park come next Spring.

Good News, Bad News

Merseysiders, Everton FC, will visit DSG Park next month in an eagerly anticipated friendly against the Colorado Rapids. I say eagerly anticipated but I wonder how many people in Denver and surroundings are actually eagerly anticipating? I say this because I can't seem to get an answer from the Rapids' ticket guys as to how many tickets have been sold for the game on August 3. I can't help thinking that this lack of information is a little fishy. Anyway, some good news and some bad news for the Nil Satis Nisi Optimum visitors. First, as always, the bad news. Tim Cahill, the Australian midfielder, looks certain to miss the trip Stateside. He has a broken metatarsal and is currently in his homeland seeking treatment. Cahill is, for me, one of the best attacking midfielders in the Premiership. He is strong, physically aggressive and quick and he scores a ton of goals, some of them spectacular as witness the bicycle kick against Chelsea last season (see link below). I am very disappointed he will not be on show at DSG Park because this is one hell of a player. The good news is that central defender, Joseph Yobo, is likely to be in a much better frame of mind if he makes the trip. His brother was eventually released from kidnappers in their native Nigeria this week after 12 days in captivity. Somehow, kidnapping does not seem to be something that you would worry about in Commerce City. We look forward to welcoming Yobo and the rest of the Blues, Cahill excepted, to the game next month. Kick-off is 6pm.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L-vMRFKoHQ

No Training and African Journey

My apologies but I wasn't able to get to training this week to pick up on the mood in the camp and get a feel of what Fernando Clavijo is planning for this weekend. My guess is that it seems unlikely there will be much change in the line-up given last weekend's dominant performance against DC United. I do understand that Conor Casey may be challenging for a place so he may get some game time at Houston.
The reason why I couldn't get to DSG Park this week was because I am preparing for a two-week trip to Ghana in West Africa. I will be working on a volunteer project out there teaching kids cricket. In this football crazy land, they don't play much cricket, despite the British influence. I will be in Ghana for the FA Cup Final, the Champions' League Final, featuring Ghana's own Michael Essien of Chelsea, and the UEFA Cup Final. I will be wearing my Zenit St. Petersburg shirt with pride. I am sure these games will be on television in Ghana but I'm not so sure I'll see much Rapids' action. I'll do my best to blog from Ghana but who knows how often I will be able to do this? I am disappointed I will miss the Houston game as well as the two home games against RSL and Chivas but I will be back for the Dallas game June 1. In the meantime, enjoy your soccer and let's hope the Rapids continue their good form. Hear from you all when I get back but please do keep the comments up if I can manage to blog from Ghana. Take care everyone.

Nothing But Nets on Global Malaria Day

I was on my way to the pharmacy this morning to pick up some anti-malaria pills. Appropriate because today is Global Malaria Day. I'm getting the pills because I am going to Ghana in a couple of weeks on a volunteer project (more on that another time). I'd been worried about delaying getting the pills as all the other daily crap filtered in and stopped me from getting properly organized. What if they don't have the pills in stock and I've run out of time to get them before I go? Of course, like most things in life, I had no need to worry. I order them, I pick them up and I'm protected against this disease. It made me realize, again, just how damn lucky I am. I can get protection easily. Not so easy for the millions of children and people affected by this preventable disease, 90% of them in Africa. One child dies every 30 seconds. This is absolutely staggering.
Where does soccer come into all of this? Well, the MLS is taking action with its commitment to the UN's Nothing But Nets campaign. MLS Commissioner Garber has today written a letter about the support for the campaign. The Rapids' own Jose Burciaga is involved with this campaign. Maybe he will be one of the players going to Africa later this year to donate nets as the letter explains? It's easy to decry such efforts but this one could actually lead somewhere and save lives. Find out more at www.NothingButNets.net/mlsworks. There's even some funky online game you can play to help donate.

Bouna To Miss Rapids Games?

Fan favorite, goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul, looks set to miss a big chunk of Colorado Rapids games in May and June because of Senegal national team duties. Senegal are due to play a series of World Cup qualifiers both at home and in other parts of West Africa in June. The team is scheduled to play four games against Algeria, Gambia and Liberia (twice). This could mean Bouna missing Rapids games against Chivas (May 24), Dallas (June 1), LA (June 7), Toronto (June 14) and Houston (June 21). He would also miss the game against Dallas in September and again against LA in October because of the two remaining Senegal games. Here is the BBC link to the details of the Senegal fixtures. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/7301308.stm
This will be a big wrench to the team. Bouna told me at training today that he had spoken with the Senegal coach this very morning and it now looks certain he will go. After all, he did finish the recent Africa Cup of Nations tournament as the number one choice for Senegal and he played a blinder against South Africa. So, how to fill the void he will leave? This makes it even more important for Justin Hughes to get himself fit again. He needs to get some game time under his belt because that will be a challenging stretch of games for him in June. Also, he can't be guaranteed to walk straight into the team, especially given the surprises that have come with the starting line-up so far this season. The Rapids also have two league goalkeepers on the books in Chris Sharpe and Mike Gracyk. These guys are good, as they say in the golf commercials. More competition in the squad but this should be welcomed. We wish Justin a speedy return to fitness because he is looking at a bigger run in the team than many may have expected.

A Little Corner of Africa; Gomez Signs

Spent this morning watching the final of the Africa Cup of Nations together with a passionate crowd from all over the continent at Le Baobab restaurant in Denver. As you all know, Egypt ran out winners 1-0 after a defensive error from veteran Rigobert Song. To be honest, it was a fair result. For all their physicality and frightening speed, the Cameroonians failed to make many chances and the Egyptians were very tough in counter attack and defense. It was an exciting game, made more so by the restaurant crowd who not only came from Cameroon and Egypt but also Burkina Faso, Gabon, Senegal and other lands. Many thanks to the fabulous owners who made everybody so welcome. Could be a good place to watch the World Cup in two years time. One other local angle was Cameroon midfielder and former Rapid Alain Nkong. His performances in this tournament have apparently attracted the interest of Tottenham Hotspur. Makes you wonder why the Rapids got rid of him. He really was the best player for Cameroon.

One quick note on the signing this week by the Rapids of Christian Gomez. This is a good signing and it seems the Rapids really pushed the boat out to get their man. My only concern is that we may be putting too much faith in him. What will happen if he gets injured? And we still have not solved the problem of a striker who will net 20 goals a season. Undoubtedly, if he stays fit, Gomez will score and create goals and will add further to the performances of Herculez Gomez and Connor Casey once they are fit. I just worry that we may have too many funds and emotions wrapped up in the Argentinian when we still need a consistent guy up front. Hats off to the Rapids, though, for securing such a big name. We welcome him to DSG Park and I can't personally wait to see him weave his magic.

Bouna Makes Competitive Debut for Senegal

Bouna Coundoul, the favorite son of the Colorado Rapids, is currently warming up in deepest Ghana and about to play for Senegal in his first ever competitive match for his national team. Just as I have discussed in recent posts, the chances were there that he may get a go. Veteran goalkeeper, Tony Sylva, made mistakes in the previous game against Angola and the coach quit this week, leaving the possibility open that Coundoul would get a game. At least we know now where he is on the pecking order as it was never really clear to outsiders whether he was the back-up to Sylva or the back-up to the back-up. Go Bouna! Do your best, mate, and you could be the number one going forward. Senegal play South Africa today with actually little hope of both sides qualifying for the next stages in the Africa Cup of Nations.

UPDATE: Bouna did let in one goal but apparently had no marking to help him in the defense. He also, according to the BBC, pulled off a "remarkable save" later in the game. Interestingly, former number one choice, Sylva, was found in a Ghana nightclub yesterday. When will they ever learn? Senegal drew with South Africa 1-1, meaning both teams fail to progress to the next round.

Elephants Triumph Over Super Eagles

In a match seen as a battle between two of the strongest teams in the Africa Cup of Nations, the Ivory Coast has beaten Nigeria 1-0 thanks to a second half goal from Chelsea's Salomon Kalou. The competition will be held over the next three weeks in Ghana and features many players active in Europe. Indeed, today's big game was a veritable who's who of English Premiership players as Kalou was joined by his Stamford Bridge teammate Didier Drogba as well as Arsenal's Kolo Toure and others. The Super Eagles had Kanu of Portsmouth and Newcastle's Obafemi Martins playing. I would recommend following the BBC's World Service coverage at http://www.bbcworldservice.com/ or on National Public Radio (NPR) in the US. In other games today, Morocco thrashed Namibia 5-1 while Mali play Benin later. Hosts Ghana beat Guinea in the tournament opener yesterday with a last minute goal from Portsmouth's Sulley Muntari to win 2-1. Remember also Rapids fans that Colorado's own Bouna Coundoul will be in the Senegal squad for their opener Wednesday against Tunisia.

No Rapids, Yes Cry

The US national team roster was announced yesterday for upcoming friendlies and there are no Rapids players on it. OK, it's a bit like saying "Huge Aircrash, no Americans on board" in that the fact there are no Colorado-based players is not the main point but it does raise a question mark over Pablo Mastroeni's future with the national team. Maybe he is injured, I don't know, but, coupled with the persistent rumor that the Rapids may sell him, this makes for unsettling times for the club captain. With Herculez Gomez presumably not considered because of his serious knee injury last season, it leaves Kyle Beckerman as the only Colorado link with the national team. His call-up makes the mid-season sale to Real Salt Lake even more sad to the hundreds of fans who still wear his shirt at DSG. Want to follow a national team with a Rapids player in it? Follow Bouna Coundoul with the Senegal team in Ghana later this month in the Africa Cup of Nations. Let's really hope he makes the final squad which will be announced January 10. The US national team will play a friendly against Sweden January 19 in California.

It's Bouna's Time

Bouna Coundoul, the Rapids goalkeeper and all-round great bloke, has been called up to the Senegal national team squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, according to the BBC. Now, he just has to wait anxiously until January 10 when the squad will be further trimmed before the tournament starts January 20. Given that there are currently five goalkeepers in the temporary squad, there will naturally be some wastage in that area once the squad is trimmed from 38 to 23. Bouna appears to be competing with two others for a number three spot behind regular Tony Sylva and Cheikh Tidiane Ndiaye, both based in France. Still, given his recent outings for the team in friendlies in France last month and his emergence in Colorado as the go-to goalkeeper, he has a good chance of making that final squad.
We all wish him luck and hope he plays well if he gets the chance. Only not too well because we want him back at DSG Park come March 29 to face Becks et al. Realistically, Bouna is not going to play soccer with the Rapids for the rest of his career given his youth and his great skill and drive. He will get offers from European clubs, especially if he can perform on global stages such as the upcoming tournament in Ghana. Just one more season in Colorado would be nice though.