Kodjovi “Dodji” Obilale
“Beyond the trauma unit and the screen of green trees, the row rages on. But then as far as Kodjovi Obilale, who is hooked up to a ventilation machine, it might be happening on another planet. He has the simple imperative to live – and perhaps one day discover with some wonderment how it was he became nothing less than a symbol of both the anguish and the hope of a continent which sees sport not as a problem but deliverance.” (Independent)

World Cup hopefuls suffer in Angola
“It may have taken almost a week but on Thursday, the fifth day of the Nations Cup in Angola, one of Africa’s World Cup qualifiers finally registered a win. Prior to Algeria’s 1-0 win over Mali in Luanda, the best result garnered by a South Africa-bound side was the goalless draw achieved by Ivory Coast against Burkina Faso on Tuesday. The Algerians had opened with a shock 3-0 defeat by minnows Malawi, Cameroon went down 1-0 to unfancied Gabon, Nigeria led, but then lost, 3-1 to defending champions Egypt, while Ghana’s start to the tournament was delayed by the events in Cabinda.” (ESPN)

Caf acknowledge Malawi complaint
“The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has referred an official complaint it has received from Malawi to the local organising committee (Cocan) following Thursday night’s defeat to Angola. Malawi coach, Kinnah Phiri, told the BBC his team had been ‘demoralised’ by being refused access to training facilities on three separate occasions.” (BBC)

“Did you know that in Switzerland it is illegal to flush the toilet after 10 PM? Or that in Thailand, it is illegal to leave your house without wearing underwear? In Los Angeles, a man can legally beat his wife with a leather belt or strap, but the belt can’t be wider than 2 inches, unless he has his wife’s consent to beat her with a wider strap. And in Scotland, failing to check the paperwork prior to a Scottish Cup game can have you expelled from the competition. Crazy.” (Inside Left)

“In this week’s Football Weekly … Extra James is joined by Sean Ingle, Barry Glendenning and Rob Smyth to discuss the week’s football news. Liverpool’s train-wreck of a season took yet another turn for the worse when the hapless Merseysiders were dumped out of the FA Cup by managerless Reading. They were out-thought as well as out-fought by the Royals and the pod wonder when Rafa will finally be shown the door.” (Guardian)

“The only things that might outpace the talent of Argentina’s forwards at the World Cup this summer are the expectations facing Diego Maradona’s team in South Africa. Rob Hughes of the International Herald Tribune writes that Maradona, ‘must marvel at the form his forwards are in at the moment.’ Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero, et al are scoring goal after goal after goal in the top leagues in Europe.” <a href=”

“Having crashed out of the Champions League in the group stages, the FA Cup in the third round, and hanging out in 7th place on the table with their three best players out of action, Liverpool are staring straight at catastrophe. Without the revenues available to buy their way out of this mess, and with no more money coming in from the Champions League or ticket sales from the FA Cup and a probable lack of Champions league football next year, all those unthinkable questions now need to be asked.” (EPL Talk)

“Like Bill Shankly, Kenny Dalglish gave up the Liverpool job and soon regretted it. Plagued by stress-related blotches, and still haunted by the Hillsborough disaster, King Kenny resigned in 1991 and returned from a family holiday in Orlando a few weeks later dismayed that Graeme ­Souness had taken over.” (Guardian)

“What a difference seven weeks makes. Particularly in the life of a 34-year-old global megastar and footballing itinerant. In late November, David Beckham was a deep-lying central midfielder in despair; a limping, losing finalist in the footballing backwater of Major League Soccer, as his LA Galaxy side slumped to defeat in the U.S. season finale. Come early January, Becks is effectively an inside-right in peak physical condition; a crucial piece in the jigsaw which sees his Milan team, along with Villarreal, Rangers, and, er, Birmingham City as one of the form teams in Europe.” (Footballing World)

“2010 Copa Libertadores fixtures {click here (ESPN Soccernet)}; … . Defending champions are Argentina’s Estudiantes de La Plata. As holders, they enter the 2010 Copa Libertadores automatically. Two other clubs entered automatically, the two Mexican clubs that left the 2009 tournament in the wake of the H1N1 virus scare…Chivas de Guadalajara and San Luis FC. They will enter the tournament in the Round of 16, so they can pick up where they left off last year, so to speak.” (billsportsmaps)