A Hero's Welcome?

Robinho, unsettled at Manchester City for most of his time there returned to his home land of Brazil where he will join is first club Santos on loan for 6 months. Robinho hasn't had the best of careers in Europe ... Real Madrid he was not having the best of times although he was getting regular playing time but as the time went on was falling out with the board in Madrid and he demanded a move. He went to Manchester City but as we all saw it hasn't worked out...

So he returns to Brazil and he get some reception with a helicopter entrance to the middle of the field in their stadium PACKED with thousands of Santos fans. He wasn't alone in this presentation, he had some guy named Pele with him. Don't be surprised if this move turns permanent because Santos isn't exactly a club looking for money, they have quite a bit to spend...

Will this revitalize his career like Ronaldo and Adriano who also returned to Brazil? Can regular playing time and if he shines can get him back in the Dunga's mind for the World Cup squad? These a re questions that remain to be answered, we will just see in 4 months...

Seriously C.A.F. ?

So most of you may heard about the Togo National Team slapped with a two tournament ban from the African Cup of Nations. Confederation of African Football (CAF) punished the team for dropping out of the most recent African Cup of Nations tournament. Along with this ban the Togolese Football Federation has to pay $50,000 USD in compensation for the ticket sales and TV coverage lost from the team's absence.

The Togo team was shot at in the province of Cabinda which has been known to be a trouble area of Angola leaving 4 people dead and 8 injured. The trauma suffered from this was too much for the team and they could not play in the tournament. The Togolese government for the safety of the players told the team to return home. Because of government intervention the CAF has enforced this ban on Togo....

I raise this question and also a point that is being proven. Is it all about the money now? You punish a country because the government is concerned about their people? What is that? It clearly looks like the CAF is more concerned about the $$$ than people's lives.

If anyone has watched the news they know that Cabinda has been a problem area for years as they look for independence from Angola. I'm sure the CAF knew this before the tournament and they go ahead and make it a host venue... I think that sums up why the development of African football is much slower than what we all want... Thank goodness FIFA is in charge of the World Cup and CAF...