India's superstar in the making – Brandon Fernandes

For many, many football aficionados in India, watching one of the games involving their heroes live is a huge accomplishment. Hence, it comes as no surprise when the likes of Maradona, Pele and Oliver Khan among the many others who visited India were thronged with crowds that gathered for as far as the eye could see. Now, you can only imagine what it would be like if a youngster, all of 16, was selected among thousands of other participants from around the country to train at Old Trafford with the world famous Manchester United Soccer School. Brandon Fernandes has that distinction, that claim that could make even his best of friends go green with envy.

For many, getting that far would mean having accomplished a dream that was, not long ago, improbable. A story they could tell their grandchildren. But Fernandes dared to dream higher and now he is on the cusp of achieving what no Indian has ever done – a contract with a top division English club, Reading FC.

It would be easy to attribute the hype about young footballer to the training with the famous Manchester School, but the truth remains that Fernandes, like most footballers in a developing country, had to push his way through a lot of smaller clubs before his talent caught the eye of someone who could push him into the big league. There hasn't been any shortage of admirers for the lad from Goa. He was snapped up by prestigious Indian club, Salgaocar FC when he was just 13 and the management saw no harm in making the mid-fielder play along side the U-19 side, such was his talent.

He also was a constant figure in the National youth teams, representing the Blue Tigers in the U-13, U-16, U-17, U-19 levels and it was here that the ones who mattered started to notice the boy's undeniable talent. African Soccer Development, Cape Town (ASD) soon roped in the promising youngster and it was here that Fernandes started to blossom. ASD's state of the art facilities and training programs helped Fernandes become the player he is today.

In an exclusive interview, Brandon spoke of his disbelief when he first heard about the trial. “My first reaction was that I really couldn't believe this! A Premiership trial is not something that happens to Indian players. I'm so excited and I just really hope I can do my country proud.”

Brandon's climb to the top has been anything but easy. He came from a country that doesn't have the best backing for a young soccer player and in spite of possessing oodles of talent, his diminutive physique made him susceptible. A point emphasized by ASD's director, Mike Steptoe. 

“At first we were not sure (about Brandon). He had great skill but no physicality and he didn't settle because of the lure of playing U17 and U19 for India.”

Steptoe added that playing for India actually proved to be detrimental to his growth as a player and that it was only when the lure of playing football for Indian diminished that Fernandes could take the leap forward.

“Unfortunately his International career impeded his development. He has made rapid progress over the past twelve months whilst not playing Internationally. We always knew he had the potential but it was critical that we had to have more time with him,” felt Steptoe.

But all that changed soon after as the youngster started to make his impact and soon everyone were convinced about what he will do. 

“Brandon is a very determined young man with good character and will be a role model for Indian football. He is a quick learner and hungry to perform at the highest level.” said Steptoe in an exclusive interview.

Fernandes, for a boy of 17, has his heart in right place. He has set goals based on what his strengths are and says he would love to see Indian football go to another level.

“I feel immensely proud (every time I pull on an Indian jersey). It is a great honour to play for my country. I would love to see Indian football go to another level. For that to happen, we need to produce more quality players. I honestly believe we have the talent to do that, and in the meantime I will focus on working hard to take my own game to the next level,” he added.

When quizzed about his strengths, Fernandes said his 'finishing and eye for goal' are the attributes that make him dangerous.

“I am an attacking midfielder, but can play anywhere in the midfield. I think my main strength is in my finishing and my eye for he goal. In that respect, the player I most want to be like in the future is Lionel Messi.”

It's completely normal for a youngster to be carried away with all the hype around him - Everyone branding him India's next big star; a trial with a top club; becoming the first Asian to be signed up by the ASD; taking everyone by storm with his virtuoso displays in the National youth team last year. But Fernandes has his feet firmly planted, he hasn't forgotten how he's gotten to where he is now.

“I started playing soccer on the streets with my friends when I was 4 years old. Most of my family members are into sport, especially soccer. I was mainly encouraged by my dad,” the Goa player said, The player most looked up to as a youngster was Bruno Couthino, from Goa.

So who does he look up to now? “Nowadays, I don't just look up to one player, rather I look up to many great players who play Midfield like I do. I learn different things from watching different players, but if I was being pushed to name one I would say Cristiano Ronaldo.”

We've heard such talk from almost every other young, promising footballer from all over the globe wanting to emulate Messi and be like Ronaldo. Achieving what the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have done would be the stuff of dreams. But, if there's one thing the Brandon Fernandes story teaches you – it is that Dreams will come True!!

Fernandes has his dreams too.... “My ultimate dream would be to play for Manchester United.” Here's hoping, for his and India's sake they come true.

Interview with ASD director Mike Steptoe and Brandon Fernandes

Interview with ASD Director Mike Steptoe

How did the organization arrive upon the idea of coming up with such a school. What are/have been/were the biggest obstacles for the organization?

The school was my vision in 2005 and has only been operational since April 2009. I felt that there was an opening for an independent organization to develop elite talent outside of professional football clubs. The biggest obstacles were raising finance and convincing people that there was another way of doing things.
Professional football people are very protective of their own environment due to their own insecurities. Most have grown up in football and don't know anything else so therefore feel threatened by outsiders with experience of other industries. For example, everyone in football told me that I was wasting my time looking at India for potential talent that could one day play in top European leagues.
I discovered that there was as much raw talent in India as anywhere else in the world. Wherever there is poverty, there are thousands of potential footballers. India is no exception.
It just doesn't have the infrastructure to develop that talent through the crucial years of 14 to 18. These are the critical development years because of the speed of the European game.
Players get an average of 1.1 seconds on the ball in the EPL and La Liga. If boys are not capable at 18 of playing at that tempo then it is unlikely that they will ever be able to compete at that level.
We selected South Africa as the location based on the climate and the abundance of raw talent in Africa. Most of our boys are South African although we have an 18 year old Kenyan with 4 full international caps when he was 16 and boys from Zambia, Cameroon, Nigeria, Namibia and of course 2 boys from India.

Many clubs always look to make best use of a player's potential and then sell him to a big club for a good amount of money. How different is the ASD in that way?
We take a very holistic approach to enable each of our players to achieve their maximum potential. However, we are a commercial business and our aim is to be self sufficient and the only way we can do that is through transfer revenues and training compensation.
Players are still developing and learning their trade until they are at least 23 so it is important for us to put them with clubs that have a similar philosophy of development. We prefer to retain a percentage in the onward sale of a player for this reason.
We also continue to support every player who moves on from ASD with our own management support team. We are a 'football family' and every boy that makes it in professional football knows that he is an ambassador for his brothers if they are to have the same opportunity.

What kind of exposure does the ASD provide to budding youngsters? Facilities wise, playing abroad wise, coaching wise.
We have top class visionary coaches and have a football philosophy which is unique. We are fully residential and provide education as well as football development.
We train and play at the University of Cape Town and have our own nutritionists, sports science, welfare psychologist and other support staff.
We aim to tour each year with our U19 squad. In 2011 we toured Belgium and beat Mechelen 4 - 0 and Anderlecht 4 - 1. In 2012 we went to Portugal and beat FC Braga 2 - 0 and went on to play a very close game with Deporto La Coruna in Spain which we eventually lost.
We also played El Jaish in Qatar where we led 2 - 1 until conceding a dubious penalty in the final minutes.

How do you go about zeroing on a potential candidate. How tough is it to get someone to agree to join your academy, especially when they are from another country?
It's not difficult because we know what we are looking for and there are thousands of boys that could potentially make it with the right coaching.
The language barrier and logistics are usually the most difficult area of recruitment for us in India. We are very keen to establish relationships with Indian clubs and scouts for boys born in 1996 and 1998 at this point in time.
We are looking to take in to the Academy at least 3 Indian boys per year from this year onwards. We already have Amarjit Singh from Punjab who has played at U17 for India and we are looking for 2 more players this year. We have a scouting network in various countries in Africa.

Tell us about Brandon Fernandes. What was your/club coaches' first impression? Did you feel he had it in him to go far?
At first we were not sure. He had great skill but no physicality and he didn't settle because of the lure of playing U17 and U19 for India.
Unfortunately his International career impeded his development. He has made rapid progress over the past twelve months whilst not playing Internationally. We always knew he had the potential but it was critical that we had to have more time with him.
Brandon is a very determined young man with good character and will be a role model for Indian football. He is a quick learner and hungry to perform at the highest level.

How many clubs(and which ones, if it can be revealed) are behind Brandon? And how surprised were you when you first heard that there were EPL clubs interested in him?
Firstly, it would be unfair to comment on the interested clubs but it is commonly known that most EPL clubs are looking for an Indian player good enough to play in the Premiership.
They are all keen to engage the interest of the sub continent in their own clubs because of the commercial impact.

What other success stories have the ASD brought out? Any players/graduates who have gone on to make/are making it big?
As stated we have only been operational since 2009 but already have Ayanda Patosi playing for Lokeren in Belgium.
He is still only 19 but is a regular starter and has over 30 games in mid-field for them. He is tipped as one of the stars of the future in Belgian football and is likely to get his first full International cap for South Africa shortly.
Ebrahim Seedat is playing for BidVest Wits in the SA PSL and the National U20 and we have all other graduates of our school earning a living from football in the SA div 1 and 2.
Also, we expect to confirm in the next few days another player moving into the MLS in North America.

What are the ASD's long term goals?
Our Mission is: 'To develop professional footballers and future ambassadors through our distinctive football philosophy and holistic character development.'



=========================================================================

Interview with Brandon Fernandes.
Firstly congratulations on the trial and here's hoping on behalf of the entire country that you do really, really well. What was your first reaction when you heard you were attracting the interest of top clubs?
My first reaction was that I really couldn't believe this! A premiership trial is not something that happens to Indian players. I'm so excited and I just really hope I can do my country proud.

Tell us about your background. How naturally did football come to you? Who were the people who got you to play football? Any players you looked up to from when you were young?
I started playing soccer on the streets with my friends when I was 4 years old. Most of my family members are into sport, especially soccer. I was mainly encouraged by my dad. The players most looked up to as a youngster was Bruno Couthino from Goa. Nowadays I don't just look up to one player, rather I look up to many great players who play Midfield like I do. I learn different things from watching different players, but if I was being pushed to name one I would say Cristiano Ronaldo.

You've represented India at U13, U16, U17 and U19 levels. How important is representing the country for you. How do you feel every time you pull on an Indian jersey?
I feel immensely proud. It is a great honour to play for my country.

You are a mid-fielder and unfortunately not many know more about you. Tell us where you like to play most and which player you'd want to play like? What are your main strengths?
I am an attacking midfielder, but can play anywhere in the midfield. I think my main strength is in my finishing and my eye for he goal.

In that respect, the player I most want to be like in the future is Lionel Messi.

You are being touted by many as the player to take Indian football to the next level. Now, that is a heavy burden at such a young age. How do you plan/are planning to cope with that pressure/hype?
I would love to see Indian football go to another level. For that to happen we need to produce more quality players. I honestly believe we have the talent to do that, and in the meantime I will focus on working hard to take my own game to the next level.

Finally, if it was down to you to choose any club in the world to play for, where would you like to play?
Right now I am concentrating on winning a contract at a good club. My ultimate dream would be to play for Manchester United.

Once again, all the best for your trial. I sincerely hope that you fulfill your potential and take Indian football to greater heights.

Indian Football Team's New Mantra – Nothing is Impossible

Cameroon, Syria, Maldives, Nepal – These were the opponents lined up alongside hosts, India for the Nehru Cup, last month. All higher ranked. Some boasting of World Cup experience. Some boasting of a rich footballing history. Some with a vociferous fan backing. But all of them with rankings higher than that of India's. The sight of Cameroon in the list, even if it was one without the names you'd normally associate with the The Indomitable Lions, would have lead many to believe that the result of the tournament was a foregone conclusion. Cameroon to take the honours – the rest to fight for whatever glory there was left to take!

The above feeling was one not only shared by many fans (India fans have grown up fearing for the worst whenever India plays) but also by the Cameroon side, including their coach Emanuel Bosso – who proudly professed before the final: “We have come here to win the cup and our boys will do that. We won the group league match by one goal; maybe we will win the final by a bigger margin.”

Taking a side lightly is one of the cardinal sins in sport, but even then there are a few things you get away with. Especially, when your team is ranked 109 places above the opponent. What Bosso did not account for however, was the Indian Football Team's new found attitude – Nothing is Impossible!

Apparently, those were the first words told to the team when new coach, Wim Koevermans met them for the first time. He couldn't have got the lads to believe in that statement more, having delivered what he promised with a stunning defeat of a heavy-weight side to help India lift the prestigious Nehru Cup for the 3^rd time in a row.

Koevarmans is still new to the India job, but he has started off on the right note and the players believe so themselves. In an exclusive interview, India defender Denzil Franco gives the coach much credit for their performance saying he has helped instill belief and also motivates the players to perform better.

“Wim Kovermans has been to a lot of places and he is a very experienced coach. He is also a very calm person and understands the players well. He was always the person who kept motivating us saying anything is possible. Even when we started the camp, he seemed impressed with the camp and told the players that he's sure we'd go far as a team and that pumped up the team. It was great working under him and I want to continue doing so,” said the 26 year old.

Koevermans has brought into the side what one would normally not attach to Indian football – Pre-planning and execution. Many, including me, expected the final to be a repeat of the dress-rehearsal(during which India lost 1-0), but Franco revealed that the team actually were made to sit and chalk out a plan based on what happened in the previous game.

“The final before the final did help us quite well. For every match, you always go in with a plan – what their plus points are, what their weaknesses are. The match(before the final) helped us to locate their weakness and where we can stop them. The match gave us a good understanding as to what we can expect from them in the final. Our coach had a good plan and he gave us good instructions and that helped us a lot.”

One worrying factor for many fans over the years has been India's seemingly undying love for using the long-ball tactic even if the move hardly ever paid dividends. There has been a marked difference in India's play recently and that, more than the results, has given the Indian football aficionado more reasons to cheer.

The players themselves get a chance to express themselves and play true to their potential. Franco said that as a footballer he enjoyed building attacks patiently rather than going for long balls and hope for the best.

“People who come to watch us should go back thinking the game was worth the money that they paid. I think, the Indian team tried to entertain their fans and win during the tourney. The coach also was very sure about the tactic he was going to use. In fact, on the very first day he told us – No Long Balls! Previously it has been about too many long balls for us and it was necessary for us to keep the ball at our feet and play,” the Churchill Brothers player said.

He was also of the opinion that playing this brand of football would ensure India take big strides in football and judging by people's reaction to Koevermans' India, he could be spot on.

“It was amazing to see the way the guys played from the stands and even from the bench. For me as well, it was nice to play passing football and I hope we carry on playing this way and we'll go forward.”

The defender also stressed on the importance of India having to play higher ranked teams on a regular basis so they get more exposure. Franco also felt the need for the young team to stick together for sometime to come as that would bring out the best in everyone.

“We were the lowest ranked team in the tournament and we ended up winning the Cup. I'm not underestimating our opponents, but I feel we were really good and that all this rankings hype did not affect us. If we keep continuing to play the way we are playing, we will automatically climb up the ladder. 

I feel the team is also ready to take on teams like Kuwait, etc. That will give us an opportunity to show what we are capable of. They have to stick with the same team for some time to come. This is young team with a few experienced folks and the more the teams spends together the results will start to show.”

Of course, apart from the hat-trick of Nehru Cup wins and the good press for the same, what made Franco and the team really happy was the turn-out for the India games. Franco says the crowd support was so good that it egged the players to give it their all.

“The crowd support was a big plus point for us. The support came from all corners of the crowd, and such boisterous support was a big help for us,” he sums up.

The team has done its bit in living up to its motto by upstaging one of the more accomplished teams in world football, lets hope it is a precursor for things to come in Indian football. Nothing is Impossible indeed!

Paul Pogba – Not one for the future, one for the present

I came upon the idea of writing about Paul Pogba when an acquaintance(Manchester United fan) and I sat plowing into Manchester United's need for a strong player in mid-field. The usual names were thrown around of course, before he eventually pointed out that Pogba was the kind of player Sir Alex Ferguson would have loved to retain. My friend's belief was that Pogba was a strong, powerful midfielder and some one who, in a few years' time, would be one of the best in the world.

I had to disagree, watching the France youngster ooze class for Juventus in their 2-0 win over Chievo Verona, I was convinced Pogba's time is now. Not 3 years down the line, not 1 year down the line. But, Now.

The youngster was given his first Bianconeri start, deputising for the excellent Andrea Pirlo who was given a well-deserved rest, and he took little next to no time to impress the Juve faithful and aficionados alike. What impressed me most about the former Manchester United man, was how he could combine the jobs of playing as an anchor man and as a deep-lying play-maker seamlessly and to devastating effect. Of course, to expect yourself to start ahead of Pirlo in Italy would be overly optimistic but the Frenchman did his reputation no harm with a solid show.

Not that Pogba's performance has taken everyone aback. The footballing world has been rife with talks about how good this youngster is ever since he made his move from Le Harve to the red half Manchester. SAF had earmarked him as the future captain of the French National team. Captaining a French team is no small task and such words coming from Ferguson shows the kind of potential the 19 year old possesses. Juventus' care-taker manager, Massimo Carrera has been all praise for Pogba since the move to Juve remarking that 'he has a great future at the club' and that 'he has all the characteristics to do well'. Even Cheivo's manager found praise for the defensive mid-fielder after the game saying 'his future is more than secure,' while also adding that 'He’s an ideal replacement for Pirlo.'

Pogba's passing was of high quality while he was even more effective defensively, winning a good number of tackles and also displaying his prowess in the air. As world-class as Pirlo was, no is, the biggest draw-back is that the World Cup winning Italian mid-fielder is a weak link when it comes to defending (as seen against Chelsea in the Champions League) and especially when the ball is in the air. Pogba's ability to cover these two fields make him a more complete mid-fielder and one that will sit easily in Conte's system. The Italian manager took Juventus back to the top last year with a strong defensive foundation and a hard-working, combative mid-field around Pirlo, who was in god-mode. Now, with Pirlo ageing and more football in the form of Champions League calling, Conte will be delighted to have someone like Pogba should Pirlo, god-forbid, lose his touch, need some rest or succumb to injury.

For the Frenchman, he could not have found a better place to express himself and excel. As much as the Manchester United faithful say that moving away from the watchful eyes of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson was a bad move, I think Pogba has made the move which he thinks will benefit him. Now, playing alongside the likes of Gigi Buffon, Arturo Vidal, Georgio Chillieni and Claudio Marchisio and under the wings of a relatively inexperienced but wonderfully gifted coach, Pogba could only become the player many have touted him to or have feared him to become.

Only time will tell, if Pogba will get to see much playing time with the Old Lady, for all we know it might after all turn out that leaving Old Trafford turned out to be a disaster; but one thing is for certain – the boy is too good to be playing from the bench or to wait for his time to come. His time is now – Unleash him.

If juju works in football, India will be winning every World Cup. Trying to understand juju in African football

Superstitions are not uncommon in sport, and football and its players are no exception to this rule. From the greatest in the sport to the myriad others hoping to become so, weird practices/routines before, during or after the game are as much as a part of playing the game itself. But, does the practice take so much predilection that players concentrate more on persuading supernatural powers to help them out rather than putting their hard work on the field? Apparently, yes!

Africa: Where beliefs lord over ability and hard work?

In Africa, where Juju is common among local people, the footballers are not that much different. According to Wikipedia juju is An object of any kind superstitiously venerated by West African native tribes, and used as a charm, amulet, or means of protection; a fetish. Also the supernatural or magical power attributed to such objects, or the system of observances connected therewith; also a ban or interdiction effected by means of such an object. African footballers have been known to go to great lengths in getting juju to work for them as they believe charms and spells help them become victorious and at times even work against their opponents. 

Not long ago, Goran Stevanovic, former Ghana coach, attributed his team failure to win the AFCON 2012 to players who try to outdo each other using black power or Juju. In his report after the tournament in which the Black Stars finished fourth, Stevanovic said, “We all need to help in changing some players’ mentality about using black power to destroy themselves and also make sure we install discipline and respect for each other.”

Player and administrators too strongly believing in juju could spell doom for African football

Ask former Nigerian footballer and Mohammedan Sporting(Bangladesh) coach, Emeka Ezeugo about juju and he is quick to say that all that will not work. “If juju worked for some players, why did we not win the World Cup with it?” It was reported that his team-mate Taribo West spent a large chunk of money on juju but Ezeugo did not want to delve too much on the topic saying, “I will let Taribo answer any question related to him.”

Not long ago, Ezeugo is reported to have spoken to the media about his time with the Super Eagles and how most of the players used juju to keep their places in the team. Ezeugo is supposed to have said during the disclosure that there are players who believed in juju and when he came to the national team in 1987, there was juju everywhere with players hanging all sorts or amulets to curry favour with the powers in their changing rooms. 

Even if the claims may not surprise many, Ezeugo squashed these reports saying it was only by a journalist who was trying to take the short-cut to success and that he never made any of those claims. Speaking exclusively, the former defender said “I began playing for Nigeria in 1987, that was different time all-together. Any player who believed in such rubbish quickly lost his place in the team. Juju doesn't play football.”

Even if juju was not prevalent in the team Ezeugo was a part of, African football is rife with practices that often border on the extreme. Randy Joe Sa'ah reports for the BBC that it is quite common in Africa to find teams camping out nights in a graveyard before an important match. Teams... International teams have gone as far as not using the host country's facilities such as rooms or vehicles as they fear they could be contaminated by harmful charms. 

Of course, ridding the country of such practices would be so much easier if the people who claim to have powers and the people who believe in them reduce, but that seems unlikely as even top administrators try to help their team ride their luck by sending out witchdoctors as members of the federation.

Former Technical Director of Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Kashimowo Laloko, once told the BBC World Service programme that he believes juju can change the course of a football match. "I believe it does exist (juju). As an African, we have our customs and tradition."
In 2002, the BBC reported that the Ivory Coast government had to settle a 10 year dispute with witchdoctors who claimed that they had a hand in the team's triumph in African Nations Cup in Senegal in 1992. The doctors were apparently hired by the Ivory Coast Sports Minister.

Cameroon's then minister of sport and physical education, Michel Zoah also clearly indicated that the government was sending out witchdoctors as team staff as he said during the press conference that the team's failure was due to many things, one of which being witchcraft not being effective.

Reports all over the net indicate the lower leagues are plagued by such practices.

With so many people at the very top also believing in juju helping their teams in winning, it would be tough for Africa to rid their lower leagues of such practices. Reports all over the net indicate the lower leagues are plagued by such practices and teams openly take part in them. But had juju worked, African would have been raking in the money and swimming in glory ages ago. Alas, they still have a lot to do. Before long, could become a disease and affect player/team performance like none other.


Ezeugo sums up everything brilliantly with the quote of the interview. In his own words: “If juju works in football, India will be winning every World Cup. India has no rival in jadu(magic).”

Who will Silva pass the baton on to if he moves?

The words AC Milan almost never fail to make the sentence that contains ‘World’s Best Football Clubs’. The Italian powerhouse has been one of the most successful clubs in Association Football and boasts of some of the greatest players and teams overs the years. San Siro has always been the home to great champions and over the years everyone would have been accustomed to seeing top-class defenders in the Red & Black of Milan.

Nereo Rocco’s success was largely due to the manager’s use of the Catenaccio system, while Arrigo Sacchi’s Milan boasted of perhaps the greatest back 4 ever. Even Carlo Ancelloti enjoyed much success thanks to a reliable defence that had the likes of Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta.

In the last 15 years, when many of these defending stalwarts left the club there was always a gaping hole to fill, a very high benchmark to live upto, but there has always been someone to pass the baton onto. Someone whom the fans have grown to trust over the years but it’s turning out to be a little different this year.

Franco Baresi to Paolo Maldini and Billy Costacurta

One of the first names that spring to mind when talking about the Rossoneri or defending is Franco Baresi. The legendary captain was and is widely renowned as the best defender of this era. Always seeming to know what unfurls on the pitch well in advance.

The defensive quartet of Mauro Tassotti, Baresi, Alessandro Costacurta and Paolo Maldini is often regarded as the best in history and to no surprise. The Italian foursome had a fearsome reputation of bottling down anything an attack could throw at them and with them at the back Milan represented, arguably the finest exponents of football. The team were unbeaten for a record 58 games and much of the credit went to Baresi to skippering the team to such unprecedented success.

Baresi passed it to Maldini fifteen years ago!

.

However, with his retirement came Milan’s downfall, albeit brief. Baresi’s retirement in 1997 was followed a barren run, perhaps their worst since Silvio Berlusconi took over the club. Milan could only collect 1 trophy in the 5 years following Baresi’s retirement and Milan were left fervently looking for a top class defender to put to an end their woes. The answer came 5 years later, through SS Lazio’s Alessandro Nesta.

Paolo Maldini to Alessandro Nesta

The Maldini name is, of course, synonymous with the red & black of AC Milan. Paolo Maldini has been Milan’s greatest hero for as long as one can remember. The former skipper holds the record for the most number of games in a Milan shirt and spent a massive 25 seasons with the Rossoneri before finally hanging up his boots, playing in over 900 games for the Milan club.

Maldini, fondly known as ‘Il Capitano’, may have been an entirely different player when compared to Baresi but certainly was equally effective and soon with age started to reflect many of his mentor’s traits – failing to panic and reading the game well in advance.

Maldini and Nesta together in defence is probably the most common sight a modern Milan fan would have seen over the past decade or so. The duo carved a niche for themselves as one of the finest defensive pairings in the world and subsequently trophies followed. When Nesta came to Milan, he was already a great defender, having proven his worth at Lazio and in the Serie A, but under the tutelage of Maldini he blossomed into a more complete product. When Maldini’s time came, Milan fans were able to breathe easy knowing there was a certain ‘Sandro Nesta’ who they can easily bank upon.

Alessandro Nesta to Thiago Silva

Nesta’s arrival at Milan also heralded good times for the club. One, the defender was the closest a player came to Franco Baresi, brilliant at the back, unflustered in defence and comfortable on the ball. Two, Milan returned to familiar territory, consistently competing for and winning top honours in premier competitions. Milan made 3 Champions League finals in the next 5 years, winning 2 of them. Won 2 Club World Cups and 2 Serie A titles with Nesta at the back.

Nesta was like the cornucopia of top defensive talent at the back and Milanista around the world could rest assured knowing Milan’s defence was in safe hands once again. The former Lazio man, may not have always had the greatest of partners – varying from the likes of Daniele Bonera to Billy Costacurta, from Paolo Maldini to Kakhaber Kaladze, from Thiago Silva to Djamel Mesbah but nothing stopped the Italian from making the defence seem twice as good as it was. Graceful as ever, Nesta never looked a terrifying defender but more than made up for it with his astounding defending. But Nesta’s defending became more effective thanks to the emergence of a certain Thiago Silva.

It's over to you now!

.

As Nesta’s influence on the field dwindled (not by much, mind you) with age another of Milan’s defensive prospects started to shine. Thiago Silva’s ascendency to the list of world-class defenders was quite sudden. Yes, the Brazilian came with huge promise, but even the astute Adriano Galliani could not have predicted that Silva would have been ready to take over from the legendary Nesta in just a couple of years’ time.

Even with the Italian World Cup winner missing out many games due to injury, Silva stood like a rock at the heart of Milan’s defence keeping the best of attacks at bay with calmness that belied his age and experience. In his very first season, Silva proved his worth for the Italian club playing in 33 league games and helping give Champions Internazionale a run for the money before fading away towards the end.

Silva proved that he was no one season wonder as Milan went two better in the next season and clinched their first Serie A in seven years. The Brazilian was part of a stellar defensive unit that gave away only 24 goals in the league. Napoli had the second best defence but had conceded 15 more than Milan did. Such was Silva’s influence on the team; he had turned around the fortunes of a team that had many players on its last legs.

Credit, of course, would go to Silva for proving himself, but with such reputation also comes interest from the big boys. Silva has not taken long to establish himself as a crowd favourite and that is precisely the reason the Milan contingent went apprehensive the moment there were rumours of PSG closing in on signing the defender away from Milan in what could have set a record for a transfer. Of course, the money involved was far too lucrative to deny the prospects of the deal outrightly but speculations suggested the cash might not be immediately invested on buying world class replacements for Silva.

However, with the latest development in the red half of the city, it has been all but confirmed Milan are not selling their prized asset and that has finally allowed the fans to take a sigh of relief after a week that produced all sorts of rumors that disturbed their general levels of comfort. Not giving into an offer as profitable as this one makes a definite statement of intent and asserts that Milan are intending to compete at the highest level and add to the club’s glorious history.

With the clubs legend having collectively called it a day at the club at the end of the previous season, there are too many boots to be field. The one at the heart of the defence however is a position that has historically been graced by the game’s greats at Milan. The baton from Nesta has now been passed to Silva and it remains to be seen whether the Brazilian continues to build on the legacy. For what he goes on to achieve with the club is unforeseeable at this moment but the fact that a player of his caliber is preserved against all odds is definitely a reason to uplift the morale of the dressing room.

Arrivederci Champions

Being a sports fan is an exercise in uneasiness, because there nothing that I can do to affect what I am watching or hearing. The same anxiousness took me when the news of Alessandro Nesta, Gennaro Ivan Gattuso, Fillipo Inzaghi and Clarence Seedorf leaving the San Siro hit me. The 4 were part of a Milan I grew up watching, admiring and someday hopefully meeting and of course playing with (I did make the same team on my XBox), and to try and imagine them turning out for another team was a bitter pill to swallow. Seeing Andrea Pirlo at Turin has been pain enough.

Nesta, Gattuso, Seedorf and Inzaghi walking out together at the San Siro and lining up before the scores gathered at the San Siro had become such a familiar sight. The quadrant represented the cornucopia of talent, albeit totally different ones, in the Milan side. Nesta undoubtedly was the brickwall; Gattuso, the destroyer; Seedorf, the conductor and Pippo, the collector.

The playing field somehow transformed into something totally different for the players.

Nesta was always on the battlefield, fighting off waves upon waves of attackers, keeping them at bay with grace and skill that belies the general notion about a defender. Gattuso was in the hunting ground, never losing sight of his target. Running tirelessly, always closing down, always in your face; ready to pounce once the target is close. Seedorf walks into an arena that is waiting to be awed. He twists, turns, dances and often makes the opposition dance. He chips with delectable touches, finds friends with unmatchable vision and cannons the opposition away with surprising power. He is there to entrall and so he does. Inzaghi goes into a museum. His collection is on display. There are the ones that are priceless, ones that only add to the tally, ones that seem ugly and many that leave you breathless, but there is always place for more......

Today? Today, we fight!

The Brick-wall: Will there ever be a more graceful and effective defender?

He may have announced himself to the world after breaking Paul Gascoigne's leg in training, but when he announced his intentions to leave Milan, he left as a legend, one that made football, and more importantly defending seem like an art.

Sandro Nesta on the battlefield was always a sight to behold. The Italian has always made defending look graceful and sometimes, I dare say, easy.

Nesta has often been asked to do the impossible. Often done the impossible. He has had to do with weak counterparts, been brazenly exposed to world-class attacks, wrested with hopes of a million fans to save the day and more often that not come out on top. A classy tuck of his hair behind his ear and the brick-wall is back to what he's doing best – thwarting attacks.

Hunt them down.. one by one

The Destroyer: Spirit over skill

Gennaro Gattuso, throughout his time with the Rossoneri, was surrounded by players who were far more talented than him. He created his niche with hard-work, spirit and work-rate that was second to none. In a team that was not too keen on retracting if the ball was lost to the opposition, Gattuso was often left to do the dirty work and during his hey days there were few better than him in that and fewer still in the opposition who could get past the Italian.

In an era during which fans are easily won by a couple of step-overs, lightening quick passing, nutmegging opponents or scoring screamers, Rino made his own with an undying spirit and loyalty towards the national and club side. He can quickly be branded cantankerous because he wears his heart on his sleeve, but it is this trait that left fans tear-eyed when Rino played at the San Siro one last time.

More sound on this side please...

The Conductor: Red wine

Clarence Seedorf has come a long way from the player he was when Milan promptly splashed the cash to lure him from Inter Milan. He may have one of the more decorated cabinets amongst players, but he has often painted a picture of hunger and the need to accomplish much more. It comes as no wonder then that the Dutch midfield maestro, apart from plying his trade in a top club was also technical Serie C club AC Monza, owner of ON Management(a sports management company), as well as president of Champions for Children and co owner of Fingers, a small chain of Japanese restaurants in Milan. Seedorf, has been the man for many occasions for Milan. The midfield man hasn't the legs, heart or strength that many others can boast of, but his vision and sense of timing is second to none.

When younger, Seedorf ran harder, tackled harder and hit the ball harder, but with age he learnt, like many Milan players before him, how to work less and be more effective. He peaked when needed to, rose to the occasion when called upon but was happy to stay away from the spotlight when someone else was doing his job.

His expertise and experience will be sorely missed, especially when Milan take on top-class opposition.

Go wild, we scored...

The Collector: Lightening in a bottle

A Pippo Inzaghi goal celebration is a reflection of how valuable the goal is, no matter how fortunate. The scenes of Pippo running, arms flaying wildly, screaming were special not because they were rare. Hell, they came by the truckload, season of the season, they were special because it made everyone realize a goal is not small achievement, it is a cause for the entire team and its fan base to celebrate, it often meant victory.

Saying the legendary Italian striker had an eye for goal would be a huge understatement, Inzaghi had an appetite for goal like none other. His predatory instincts in the box were second to none. He had none of the qualities many would associate with world-class strikers: strength, speed, dribbling, eye for the spectacular – None. But he had one trait in abundance – Being at the right place at the right time and he used that to the hilt, raking up goals upon goals, trophies upon trophies and fans upon fans.

Good or bad, ugly or beautiful, timely or not, needed or just a consolation; a collector would never pass an opportunity to add to his tally.

You ought to know more about: Il Caffè Herrera

Herrera's Coffee, in English.

Helenio Herrera(H.H) is renowned for many, many things – For leading Internazionale to consecutive European Cup glory in 1964 and 65, for making 'catenaccio' a part of every football aficionado’s vocabulary, for imposing totalitarian methods on players' lives and introducing an ultra-strict regime for improving fitness and psychology, for turning Inter into 'La Grande Inter'. But there's is a little extra to Herrera than what made him a top-class manager, who changed the way everyone looked at a coach.

His Coffee. Yes. Coffee.

The Argentine born coach was known for pushing his players to the limit, so much so that some players were pushed to train till death, but would he do anything for a win? He apparently did. Herrera was known to give his players a pill(anphetamines) that apparently worked as a performance enhancer.

Anphetamine according to Wikipedia is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class that produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and appetite which answers why Herrera was apparently so keen on his players consuming it.

What started as a pill soon turned into a solute because the players used to spit out the drug when the manager was not looking. Once Herrera figured out that his pills were, literally, going down the drain he came up with another formula, one which was fool proof – Coffee with the pill dissolved in it.

Ferruccio Mazzola brother of the legendary Sandro Mazzola, who was synonymous with La Grande Inter, wrote a book in 2004 highlighting Herrera's use of performance enhancing drugs. The former Inter man also said in an interview the same year that Herrera had his players place pills under their tongue. He went on to add that the pills were first tried on the reserves and then the main players.

Ferruccio believed there was Anphetamine inside those pills and once even suffered '3 days and nights in a state of complete hallucinations, just like an epileptic' after consuming Herrera's coffee. Even though his brother Sandro has denied the allegations, Ferruccio has always struck to his claims saying his brother preferred to not wash dirty linen in public while he liked to speak out especially for the number of players who have died or are suffering due to Herrera's coffee. Some of Ferrucio's claims seem to be true considering that Anphetamine can trigger side effects like hallucinations.

According to Ferruccio, Armando Picchi (who died aged 36 due to a cancer), Marcello Giusti (who died of brain cancer in the 90's), Carlo Tagnin (who died in 2000), Mauro Bicicli and Ferdinando Miniussi (who died in 2001 and 2002 respectively) and Enea Masiero and Pino Longoni (who are undergoing treatment) all suffered due to the continued consumption of the drug. We might never know if the drug was the real cause of the death.

Picchi and Tagnin never featured regularly in Herrera's first team plans but Ferruccio believed that was what made them more vulnerable. The younger Mazzola said that reserve team players were often used as Guinea pigs, with the coffee being tested on them before being given to the regulars. H.H, allegedly, had also tried to entice his players at Barcelona to take the pills but was kicked out of the club after László Kubala, their star player, refused to take them.

il Mago (the Wizard) as Hererra was called won a total of 7 trophies with the Nerrazuri, including back-to-back European Cups... but it still leaves one wondering how many of these would have been possible without the infamous drink. The entire Ferruccio interview could also be looked upon as a selling point for his autobiography that was released the same year or as a way to get back to the club that gave him nothing but his brother, god-like status. But then again, when Inter sued Ferriccio for trying to defame his old club the former Inter man won the the legal case in 2010, adding more authenticity to his claims. Ferruccio himself says it was not his intention to seek publicity for his book by bringing up details of Hererro's coffee as he could have chosen more interesting and controversial topics like match-fixing and bribing the referees, opening a new can of worms.

H.H was one of the greatest managers the game has ever seen and if it wasn't for him the likes of Jose Mourinho would have been viewed and judged from a completely different angle. He made the Nerazzuri one of the greatest teams of that era and deserves all the kudos for the same. If he did it by working them to death(Giuliano Taccola) or by drugging them may never be known, but Il Caffè Herrera is a part of footballing folklore that will live on for ever – fact or fiction.

This article is not to project Herrera in bad light, that is for you to decide. It is also not a piece that aims to take away anything from the legendary manager. If Herrera had the access to and could get away with giving his team Anphetamine, so could every other club or country in top flight football.

Il Caffè Herrera, it is just a little something everyone ought to know.

If you are not tired of reading yet, here is the full Ferruccio Mazzola interview:

Q: What are you referring to Mr Mazzola?
Ferruccio Mazzola: Even if just a bench player, I was part of that Inter too. I've seen with my eyes how player were treated. I saw Helenio Herrera providing pills that were to be placed under our tongues. He used to experiment on us bench players only to later give them to the first team players. Some of us would eventually spit them. It was my brother Sandro that suggested me that if I had no intention of taking them, to just run to the toilette and spit them. Eventually Herrera found out and decided to dilute them in coffee. From that day on "Il Caffè Herrera" became a habit at Inter.

Q: What was inside those pills:
A: Don't know for sure but I believe anphetamins. Once, after a Caffè Herrera, it was prior to a Como vs Inter (1967), I suffered 3 days and nights in a state of complete allucinations, just like an epilletic. Nowdays, everybody denies, even Sandro......

Q: Your brother?
A: Yes Sandro and I, since I decided to speak out, simply don't talk to eachother. He says that dirty laudry should be washed at home, on the contrarary, I believe that it's right to speak out, above all for a number of my former teamates, a number of which are either very sick or dead.

Q: To whom are you referring too:
A: The first was Armando Picchi, captain of the team, that died aged 36 due to a cancer. Then came Marcello Giusti, a reserve player, that died for a brain cancer during the 90's. Carlo Tagnin, a great player that would never refuse a pill, since he wanted to further his career as long as possible, he died in year 2000.
Mauro Bicicli and Ferdinando Miniussi have left us respectively in 2001 and 2002. Enea Masiero, with Inter from 1955 to 1964, is undertaking chemotherapy, whilst Pino Longoni is on a wheel chair.

Q: But for Picchi and Tagnin, all the other players are not that famous.
A: That's cause us bench players would take more of those damned white pills, were treated as cavies. I talked about all this in my autobiography ('Il terzo incomodo', scritto con Fabrizio Càlzia, Bradipolibri 2004), that eventually lead to the opening of athe Rome trail.

Q: Why?
A: Cause after the book was published, I was sued by Inter President Mr Facchetti. They want to go in front of a jury? Very well, the 19th of November, their will be a 2nd hearing. All the players of that team, I mean all the players that are still alive, have a choice to testify. I just want to see if they won't have the courage to say the truth under oath.

Q: Weren't you once friends with Facchetti?
A: Yes, let's just leave Facchetti out of this, I'd have to mention heavy stuff.

Q: Do you think that after the trial we will have another kind of image upon that winning Inter?
A: Frankly, I don't know and I'm not interested. If I wanted to cause real damage to Inter, within the book, I could have added a number of other episodes. I could have added details about fixed matches and bribed referees, especially in Cup ties. Never mind

Inter Milan and the Mannequin System

Inter Milan seen buying truckloads of mannequins

After yet another sacking, Inter Milan chief Massimo Moratti has decided to put a stop to the trend of wasting money on experienced managers and instead use mannequins. Moratti explained to us that he did not have to waste much money when it came to firing the coach when the team is under-performing and also that fresh faces in the dressing room ensures that the players play better for a game or two.

“We just have had to fire 1345 coaches in the last year or so and we've been wasting money annulling the contracts every two/three days. In light of all these, and despite so many changes the team has still been woefully off radar, we have decided to not waste anymore money on recruiting new coaches,” Moratti said to the group of journalists who had gathered there, including a few mannequins.

The chief added that they have bought a few that look exactly like Jose Mourinho and Helenio Herera in the hope that the players might play much better seeing a more accomplished manager on the sidelines.

When we asked Mourinho about Inter's moves to buy a mannequin that looks like him, he quickly asked whether it could gouge out eyes like he did if they lost a derby before running away looking for Marco Materazzi.

The Nerazzuri players themselves were keen on the idea as they felt they perform best when they have a new manager for every game. They also added that it would be easy to celebrate with the coach when the win the trophy as throwing Martin Jol up and then catching him would prove to be a very ardous task should they win a trophy.

The 66 year old club president went on to say that his board had come up with many ideas to try and stem the rot some of which he chose to divulge.

“We had thought of many things, including enticing all our opponents to play Fernando Torres in attack but none of that worked. We also tried to play La Liga instead, we were sure to end up third there, but Nagamoto complained that he couldn't understand Spanish so we had to drop that idea too.”

“Re-signing Ibrahimovic was an option too, but he wasn't an Argentine and we had to quickly look at other options. Finally, we decided on the best possible one.”

Moratti also revealed that they plan to use the mannequin system to their advantage commercially before proudly announcing that there would be a lucky draw system and the winners will get to stand as mannequins for the entire duration.

Before he trudged off Moratti signed off saying that he is working closely with Chelsea on the mannequin system and that Roman Abramovic is very enthusiastic about the possibility. Our sources tell us that Chelsea have already placed a 42 million offer for the Mourinho mannequin.

Alessandro Del Piero – Legends deserve better

'When the legends die, the dreams end; there is no more greatness.'

I had long heard people waxing lyrical about the greatness of Alessandro Del Piero, but hadn't had to chance to see him play till in 2002. The first time I saw Del Piero was in a World Cup book my cousin gifted me, there was a complete 3 page interview where he had spoken about football, life, fans etc. - He was already one of my favourites and the admiration only grew as I started watching him play – for Juventus, mainly.

For me, and many many more, Juventus = Alessandro Del Piero. Yes, there was Pavel Nedved and even Zinedine Zidane, but neither was as much a talisman for Juventus as Il Pinturicchio was. It was one of the reasons I admired Italian football that much, the way the legends were treated – Francesco Totti, Paolo Maldini, etc.

Hence, the way Juventus president Andrea Agnelli announced recently that this season will be Del Piero's last with the Old Lady came as a huge shock. This is not some player who has spent a season or two at Turin for the matter to be done away with – This was Alessandro Del Piero. The guy who stayed on to help Juventus haul themselves back into top flight football after they were relegated to Serie B thanks to the Calciopoli scandal. The guy who has scored close to 300 goals and has represented Juve in close to 700 games. The guy the tifosi have been calling their own for over 18 years now. Their all time top goal-scorer.

The decision to not retain the striker may be a logical one, they have a host of younger strikers to count on but the manner in which the announcement was made was surely not worthy of a top tier club. Agnelli made the announcement at a shareholders' meeting saying, “The unique link between the old Juventus and the new Juve is our captain, Alessandro Del Piero. The link between the Stadio Comunale, Stadio delle Alpi to Stadio Olimpico to the Juventus Stadium is our captain Del Piero. He wanted to stay with us for one more year, (but) this will be his last season wearing the black and white jersey.” That's it. Everything was over... as abruptly as the announcement.

Juventus' all time leading scorer's abilities may be on the wane, and keeping him on for another year maybe a liability for the title contenders. But a press conference with the player himself and the club president announcing the decision would seem right in many fans' eyes. Instead of a collective gasp when the statement was you'd have had fans writing tributes and recollecting the glory days.

The only justification that I can think of is if the 36 year old had had a falling out with Agnelli or if he personally requested the President to make such a statement. But there have been no indications of either which begs the question: What did Del Piero do to deserve such treatment? Raul had such a memorable sending off, so did Maldini and Billy Costacurta and a host of others, why Del Piero did not, we may never know. Maybe there is something in the pipeline and Juventus will do something about one of their best ever players leaving the club and ensures he has happy memories about it.

Well, maybe we will see goals from 'The Del Piero zone' at other clubs next year, but not seeing Il Pinturicchio in Black & White will take a little getting used to.

'If I'm such a legend, then why am I so lonely? Let me tell you, legends are all very well if you've got somebody around who loves you.'