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.

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.