WEEKEND WRAP: Notes On United vs Liverpool, Pele’s Vintage Brazil Shirts & Colombia’s Poverty Divas

Admit it, there’s nothing more exciting than football drama, and today’s United-Liverpool showdown at Old Trafford has all the ingredients that scream “Phantom Of The SuarezGate II!” Whether Patrice Evra and Luis Suarez will be :

a) shaking hands (-20 points),
b) doing the Uruguayan cumbia dance (+10 points) or
c) shoving jalapeños down each other’s throats (+40 points) ;

Past statistics favour goals from both sides and hopefully – mio dios! – an attacking game. After all, none of the previous 15 United-Pool meetings have resulted in stalemates and Chicharito’s tendency to score late winners could see Fergie starting him a little later in the game (10 of Chichalita’s 21 goals have come in the 74th minute or later, including the one against Chelsea last weekend).

“They (Liverpool) have said plenty haven’t they? But we’ve kept our counsel and I think that’s the right thing to do in these situations. We’ve not thought about it, we’re not bothered about it and we’re focused on the game.” – Sir Alex Ferguson on the Patrice Evra/Suarez racism scandal.  

It’s also the weekend of the African Nations Cup final between Ivory Coast and Zambia, which takes place in Libreville tomorrow! Gabon’s first lady, Sylvia Bongo and Pele participated in an AIDS awareness campaign yesterday which saw them exchanging vintage Brazil and Gabon shirts. Now now, who doesn’t want a vintage Brazil shirt?

Interestingly, all three of the previous meetings between Ivory Coast and Zambia at Africa Cup of Nations tournament finals have ended in a 1-0 scoreline; two in favour of Zambia. So how will it all end tomorrow? Perhaps Gervinho has the answer…

Meet a Colombian women’s football team who call themselves ‘Divas’, and are clearly sassy and rocking it! These girls will be travelling around the country to raise funds in charity matches played around Antioquia. A recent report concluded that 35% of Colombia’s general population experienced poverty and 17% – in extreme poverty – “with an estimated 9,654,722 people living in extreme poverty” (CEPA). “Divas” have an aim of raising enough funds to help as much as they can. Well done girls!

Photos via Reuters

Futbolita

CONTACT THE AUTHOR: