Categoría: Futbol: Últimas noticias de Hoy

Brain drain is ravaging Africa. Most of the skilled and talented citizens are leaving the continent to Western Europe and North America. While some are going to play sports, many have made these regions homes and ply their trades in some of the most critical sectors of our modern civilization. And they are not coming back.

A recent study on Nigerian healthcare industry shows that the nation is underserved by its medical personnel primarily because of the emigration of its physicians abroad. So while there are many medical schools graduating thousands of doctors, the nation consistently lose the bests of these experts yearly. Unfortunately, the story is the same across all parts of sub-Sahara Africa and this has become a continental tragedy.

African football (yes soccer) leagues have been destroyed by the movement of our talented players to Europe. Local games are poorly attended and not very exciting to the locals. African European players are disproportionally popular and richer than their counterparts that play in Africa. In most national teams, up to 90% of the players play international.

In the field of engineering, most of the best students are lured by scholarships for postgraduate studies in the United States. These students are supposed to be future technical leaders of the continent. Upon graduation, they are enticed by the good jobs and prospects abroad and they spend their working lives outside Africa.

Emigration of skilled workers from developing nations to developed ones in search of better opportunities in trade, education, work, etc has been well documented. Many scholars from World Bank, IMF to countless non-governmental organizations have examined this trend. Theoretical examination is not scarce; what is lacking is solution to this problem.

So what can the continent do? Simply, we can leverage the power of technology to mitigate the impacts of brain drain. There are many enabling technologies and strategies which Africa and indeed all developing nations experiencing brain drain can deploy to turn brain drain into brain gain. There is need to understand how these nations can develop infrastructures to connect and collaborate with these people in Diaspora for their national developments. And technology could be the solution.

Understandably, Africa will prefer the physical presence of these experts in their native nations. Unfortunately, some of them work in industries that have not diffused in Africa. For those that are experts in genetic engineering, robotics, and so on, they may discover limited opportunities at home. Also, there is a potential «degradation» that occurs when someone moves from the seat of ideas to stay at the corners. In other words, telling an MIT professor of microelectronics to move to Kenya and practice will mean that in five years, he could be exceedingly backward when compared to his peers in US. And his professional worth will degrade instead of appreciating.

So, the continent must follow a paradigm where they honor the need for these experts to stay abroad and potentially contribute to their native nations. The physical presence while helpful is not really necessary provided there are enabling technologies and policies that can foster interactions between them and these nations.

The challenge will be to understand how technology can narrow the brain drain problem and turn them into brain gain as these experts continue to develop their skills in developed nations and using the enabling tools share and interact with their partners in their respective native nations. We need technology strategies that can connect people across boundaries and help modernize national programs on health, education, research, training, etc.

A comprehensive research on the contemporary issues regarding enabling technologies and strategies that can turn brain drain into brain gain is urgently needed in Africa. Based on the outcome of the study, we must develop a continental level roadmap driven by technology to offset the knowledge-imbalance created by brain drain. The continent needs to understand the following areas:

• 21st Century Brain Drain Challenges
• Brain drain and globalization
• Evolution and Opportunities in Brain Drain
• Distance and Web-based Education
• Technologies for Telemedicine, Security and Technology Management
• Deployment of Telepresence technologies in developing nations
• Economics of Brain Drain, National Technology Infrastructures and Policies
• Designing and deployment of supportive technologies
• Legal and Taxation issues for intercontinental workforce
• Open source Technologies
• ICT technologies
• Distance research and education collaboration
• Networks and regional bodies’ roles in standardizations, and others

Africa must work hard and invest resources to see how it can use technology to improve the quality of its education and healthcare through tele-education and telemedicine. That will require looking at the communication facilities available in the continent and upgrading them accordingly. African Union should think about mandating member states to have Diaspora Technology Networks across the regions so that constant flow of information and ideas could be shared through quality networks, Telepresence and other video technologies. The universities must be anchors of this initiative as they are the most vital instrument for technology diffusion.

We must find ways to tap the expertise of our citizens in foreign countries. It is time we begin looking at the technology of this process than focusing on the academic aspects of it. As technologies break boundaries, we must take advantages and build Africa.

In summary, the exodus of very capable Africans to North America and Europe owing to lack of institutional readiness at home must be seen as a threat to the prosperity and wealth of Africa. As they work in these adopted nations to improve their education, medicine, sports, and all other major fields, African governments must find ways to tap these skills. Technologies are readily available and we have the capability to turn this brain drain into brain gain. It is about developing and deploying the right technology with the goal of not asking these Diasporas to return to Africa but to remain in their adopted nations and support their native ones in education and training.

ENVÍO y DEVOLUCIÓN GRATIS – Gran colección de Camisetas de fútbol oficiales – Descubre camisetas de equipos y selecciones europeas en camisetasfutboleses.com. Consulta todas las noticias e información sobre fútbol español e internacional: LaLiga Santander, LaLiga SmartBank, Champions League, Europa League

PERUVIAN ANCESTRY:

Benjamin Bratt (actor): His movies include: Shadown Hunter (1992), Demolition Man (1993), Kill or Be Killed (1993), Woman Undone (1995) and Exiled (1998).

Yma Sumac (actress and singer): Sumac was born in Peru. She has American citizen.

Helena Christensen (Model): Like Fernanda Tavares, Elsa Benitez and Juncal Rivero, she was a spectacular super-model in Europe in the United States in the 1990s. In 1986 Helena had been elected Miss Denmark.

Alejandro «Alex» Olmedo (tennis player): Was born in Arequipa (Peru). Like Mary Jo-Fernandez, Richard «Pancho» Gonzalez, Alex became American citizen. He came to the United States from Lima as a schoolboy. He is the only Latin American who has won one Wimbledon Tournament (1959).Alejandro played many times for the United States and he won at the 1958 Davis Cup

DID YOU KNOW THAT ….

Peru is the first country which has had a President of Japanese ancestry. From 1990 to 2000, Alberto Kenya Fujimori, best known as «Chinese», was President of Peru. In 1992, Fujimori made history when he became dictator. During his dictatorship, he rewrote the Constitution.

Opposition and human rights groups accused Fujimori of violating human rights. Ironically, his government was an advocate for the women’s rights, anti-terrorism and tourism. In 1996, Miriam Schenone became minister of the Woman and Human Development.

Under his authoritarian rule, Fujimori received aid from the People’s of China and Japan. Protest marches against the dictatorship took place in 2000.That year, Fujimori fled to Japan, where he received asylum.

His style has been compared to Ferdinand Marcos, former dictator of Philippines….

FAMOUS ATHLETES:

Juan Carlos «Johnny» Bello (swimming): The most famous swimmer in the Peruvian history. Johnny decided to learn to swim at the age of seven. From 1965 to 1973, he won several international medals.

Teofilo Cubillas (football): Cubillas, best known for his nickname «Nene», has played in three World Cups (Mexico-70, Argentina-78 and Spain-82). Certainly, Peru was one of the best teams in the 1970s.He is now recognized as a symbol of South American football.

Cecilia Tait (volleyball): Peru’s most talented player appeared as a sub aged 18 at the Pan American Games in San Juan (Puerto Rico).Like Lang Ping (the People’s Republic of China) and Flora «Flo» Hyman (United States),she is one of the best players in the volleyball history. She has played more than 300 games for Peru in the 1970s and 1980s.Tait has become an icon for the Peruvian sport. She was a congresswoman.

Gabriela Perez del Solar (volleyball): She was one of the World’s most popular players because of her all out effort and humble personality. Made her debut in the 1984 South American Youth Cup in Chile. She, best known as «Gaby», has been described as one of the best athletes by Peruvian journalists. The 1993 South American Championship was her last international tournament. Currently, she is a congresswoman since 2006. She has projects about Olympic sports.

Edwin Vazquez Cam (shooting): Edwin made history when won a gold medal at the Olympic Games in 1948.He was one of the best shooters in the Third World. Latin America has produced many shooters, but none as Edwin Vazquez Cam. Like Marlene Ottey, Marlene Arehns, James Gilkes and Lloyd Labeach, he has become a symbol in the Latin American sport.

.

DID YOU KNOW THAT…

Shining Path, a group terrorist in Peru, has been called «The Khmer Rouge of Latin America. Abimael Guzman Reynoso, terrorist leader, has been compared to Pol Pot. The indigenous were victims of a delivete policy of genocide by Shining Path. More than 50,000 Peruvians have been killed by Shining Path.

FAMOUS PEOPLE BORN IN PERU:

Mario Vargas Llosa (writer)…Hernando de Soto (economist)…Cesar Vallejo (writer)…Daniel Alomia Robles (composer)…Fernando Belaunde Ferry (ex President)…Fernando de Szyslo (painter)…Chabuca Granda (singer)… Susana Baca (singer)…Luis Flores (designer)…Victor Delfín (sculpter)…Jose Carlos Mariategui (writer), Javier Perez de Cuellar (diplomatic), Alfredo Bryce Echenique (writer)…

REFERENCES

-Bach, Caled. «Mario Vargas Llosa mundo sin limites», Americas, Washington DC, abril 2004

-Bowen, Sally. El expediente Fujimori, Perú Monitor, Lima, 2000

-Compendio Histórico del Perú. Historia Política y Económica (1820-1998), Editorial Milla Batres, Madrid, 1998

-Diccionario Histórico y Biográfico del Perú Siglos XV-XX, Milla Batres, Lima 1986

-Elton, Catherine. «El retorno de Ayacucho», Americas, Washington DC, diciembre de 1999

-Enciclopedia Ilustrada del Perú, Peisa, Lima, 2001

-Guevara Onofre, Alejandro. Historia de la Mujer de los Estados Unidos, Cecosami

-Lama, Abraham. «Perú: difícil sendero», Nueva Sociedad, Caracas, septiembre-octubre 1988

-Lizarburu,Raúl. «El documental del terror», La República, Lima, 4 de julio 2005

-Orbegoso, Manuel Jesus. «Pérez de Cuéllar a Ghali: entrego la posta», El Dominical del Diario El Comercio, Lima, 5 de enero de 1992

-Perry, Ellen. Documental: La caída de Fujimori/ Estados Unidos/ 2005

-Yates, Pamela. Documental: Estado de miedo / Perú-Estados Unidos/2005

ENVÍO y DEVOLUCIÓN GRATIS – Gran colección de Camisetas de fútbol oficiales – Descubre camisetas de equipos y selecciones europeas en camisetasfutboleses.com. Página web oficial del Universidad Católica de Murcia CF. Noticias, fotografías, resultados y todo lo que necesitas saber del equipo universitario.

AFC Bournemouth

Odds: 66/1

Last Five Seasons

2005/06 – 17 (League One), 2004/05 – 8 (League One), 2003/04 – 9 (League One), 2002/03 – 4 (League Two, Promoted), 2001/02 – 21 (League One, Relegated).

2005/06 Cup Progress

FA Cup First Round vs Tamworth (h) – lost 2-1.

Carling Cup Second Round vs Wigan Athletic (a) – lost 1-0.

Football League Trophy Southern Section Second Round vs Walsall (a) – lost 1-0.

Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: James Hayter (striker) – 20 goals.

Players In

Danny Hollands (Chelsea – Free), Conal Platt (Liverpool – Free), Tariq Khalil (Cardiff City – Free), Daryl Taylor (Walsall – Free).

Players Out

James O’Connor (Doncaster Rovers – £130,000), Adam Griffiths (Brentford – Free), Kirk Hudson (Aldershot – Free), Jamie Whisken (Salisbury – Free), Dani Rodrigues (Released), James Rowe (Released), Jason Tindall (Released).

After a couple of seasons as a solid top 10 outfit, Bournemouth flirted with possible relegation last term as they finished five points and four places above the bottom four. Another testing campaign looks to be in store for the coastal club following the departure of defender James O’Connor to Doncaster Rovers and depending on whether top goalscorer James Hayter remains at the club.

Manager Sean O’Driscoll has drafted in a few young players to boost the ranks, namely former Chelsea reserve and youth team captain Danny Hollands. The 20 year old made 10 appearances on loan for Torquay United earlier this year and signed a two year contract. Liverpool striker Conal Platt, Cardiff City midfielder Tareq Khalil and Walsall’s Daryl Taylor are also looking for an opportunity to shine at the Fitness First Stadium.

O’Driscoll will also welcome the news that defender Karl Broadhurst signed a new one year contract. He has made almost 200 appearances for the club and was the last of O’Driscoll’s out of contract players to re-sign. Broadhurst was club captain for much of the 2004/05 season but a back injury kept him on the sidelines for 12 months. He returned in February this year and made seven appearances as the season reached its conclusion.

Veteran striker Steve Fletcher has also signed a new one year contract to enter his fifteenth season as a Cherries player. He is now the club’s longest serving player following his switch from Hartlepool United in 1992 and has made over 500 appearances for the club.

O’Driscoll has taken several players on trial over the summer including former Everton striker Paul Hopkins, Luton Town striker Luke Maitlan, Ipswich Town defender Jack Haverson and Tooting & Mitcham left-back Craig Tanner.

Verdict

Bournemouth is a club that likes to give youth a chance and the youngsters will have to grow up quickly in order to stave off relegation this season. A lower mid table finish is the expected result.

ENVÍO y DEVOLUCIÓN GRATIS – Gran colección de Camisetas de fútbol oficiales – Descubre camisetas de equipos y selecciones europeas en camisetasfutboleses.com. Últimas noticias de fútbol y toda la actualidad nacional e internacional sobre el deporte rey

The role of media has always created a deep impact on the lives of the common man. While on the one hand it has updated people about the situations around the world, there again it has also created panic when half baked news has come out in the open. In India, the growing popularity of the media is having varied effects on the lives of people.

It has been quite a few years now that the Indian media has advanced from newspapers and radio and made its way into the television industry. There are several news channels that run 24×7 and keep people updated about all the incidents not only in the country but also across the world. The greatest benefit of this system is that people sitting in India get updated about the incidents that are happening in the USA within a matter of minutes. Unlike the old days, there is no need to wait till the next day when the newspapers arrive to be updated about the other side of the world. These channels also have sites on the internet that are updated every minute, so that even those who are on the move can remain up to date via internet on their mobile phones. Say for example the day when the World Trade Center came down, it was a matter of moments that people all over the world became aware of it.

Or even when the trains in London were bombed, the whole world became aware of it, thanks to the media. This immediate update enabled people from across the world to connect with their near and dear ones to ensure their safety.

However, it cannot be ignored that where on the one hand immediate knowledge about incidents help people, there again the media can be a menace at times. Media in India at times become repetitive and they keep playing the same news tape over and over again. At time those news items which are not at all important get a lot of hype, sidelining the occurrences that could be of real importance. Indian media paid too much attention to events like the wedding of a star son and a leading heroine, the kiss that a Hollywood star planted on the cheek of a Bollywood heroine, the coming to light of the clandestine relationship of a Pakistan cricketer with a lady, and also the pregnancy of a Hindi film heroine. These incidents are of least importance to the life of a common man and so much importance only takes away the light from those incidents that can really affect people in their daily lives.

Media in India is very strong and it is up to the journalists as to how they bring forth the news from across the world.

Puedes comprar todas las camisetas oficiales de fútbol en futbolmania, la tienda de las mejores Camisetas de fútbol – Devolución gratis. Toda la información y última hora sobre Futbol gallego. Noticias, eventos, reportajes y artículos de opinión

Soccer is the most popular sport in almost every country in the world. That is unless you live in the USA where football, baseball and basketball are more popular. As a soccer coach the problem is therefore how to get youth players interested in playing soccer rather than the other sports.

Firstly we need to look at the reasons as to why other sports are more popular than soccer in the USA. One of the main reasons is spectator appeal. Local football, baseball and basketball are televised and promoted in every major city in the US. Young athletes watch this and associate with their heroes. Another reason is the money available in the professional game is much more in the American sports than in soccer. As a result, more young sports players aspire to earn their living with a high income in the American sports.

Not that soccer is a poor mans sport. Wages for soccer players around the world are now on the increase. For example 2 of the best soccer players in the world Christiano Ronaldo and Robinho are reported to be on $200, 000 and $320,000 per week respectively. David Beckham who plays for LA Galaxy is also high up there with the top soccer player earners. Although the interest in soccer is growing in the US among young sportsmen, the sport cannot compete as yet with the publicity, advertising and hype of the American sports.

The question is how to persuade young players in the US that soccer is the best sport to enter. Here are a few good reasons:

Soccer is a sport that any player can play and be successful in. As in football where physique and size is a major factor, in basketball where it is very advantageous to be well over 6 feet tall, any player can be successful in soccer no matter what size or physique a player has. Big and strong players can find positions as defenders, midfielders or forwards. Small players can find positions as forwards and wingers and develop skills to be successful in these positions. Slower players can also find positions, especially in midfield. There is a place for everyone who has the desire.

The involvement in the game is much greater in soccer than it is for other sports. In football there are so many stoppages in the game. Some players like the kickers may only have very limited involvement in the game. In soccer, even if your team does not have the ball, everyone has to hustle back to defend. Even the forwards have to defend from the front. Defenders when not defending have to support the midfield and forwards.

Soccer is very fast paced with almost continuous involvement. Basketball is probably the most similar of the American sports to soccer, the biggest difference being the size of the court to the field.

As well as speed, strength and stamina, skill is of the utmost importance in soccer thus producing an athlete with more rounded attributes. At youth level you will often find that youth soccer players often excel in the other American sports.

A good way to get youth athletes more interested in soccer is to get them watching high-class professional games on TV. The English Premier League is probably the best to watch as it is fast paced with a high skill level. Many of the best players in the world play in this league. There are several TV stations that show these games like Fox Sports World.

Also it would be good to get prospective youth soccer players to go to a few of their local college soccer games or semi pro games if there is a team in the area,

And then there is that magical feeling of scoring a goal with the goal celebration to follow. Soccer is certainly on the increase in the USA. The game produces leaders with more all round ability than the US sports. Success in soccer can lead to worldwide acclaim as players like Brad Friedel who plays in the English premier league has shown.

Camisetas de fútbol , NBA y NFL baratas de la mejor calidad y de los mejores equipos y selecciones del mundo de Hombre,Mujer y Niños. Accede a todas las noticias del fútbol Internacional. ¡Todo el fútbol internacional, aquí!

There are approximately 335,000 churches in the United States. And, 59% or 177,000 of them have less than 100 people on any given Sunday. Of the 177,000 a large percentage of them have 50 or less in church weekly. As a result of these numbers there is a huge group of pastors in the US that are what has become known as Bi-Vocational pastors. There was a time when we called them «part time pastors.» The term part time doesn’t fit. Bi-Vocational Pastors work two jobs. They work at some profession to provide the main source of their income and they pastor the church. But, make no mistake, there is no part time pastor. You are a pastor or you or not.

Pastors have a huge task. The role of the pastor has evolved over the years as our culture has changed. There was a time when the pastor was a key figure in the community. Actually I remember the day when pastors were consulted before major events were scheduled at the local schools. No school would schedule any event on a Wednesday night. They would not want to conflict with church and it’s activities.

As our culture has evolved so have our churches and our pastors. No longer is the church the center of community activities, even in smaller and rural communities. Sports, school, band, dance, piano lessons and other activities take our children away in so many directions that parents meet themselves coming and going. Church has taken a second or third priority in our scheduling. Boy Scout camp outs, soccer tournaments, band competitions, choir concerts and competitions all come before church.

Pastors have become less and less relevant in many communities. Churches have decreased in size. The impact of the pastor has also decreased in many cases. In order to change that trend a pastor has to involve himself and immerse himself in the community. There are community activities that he must attend to become a part of the community. There are counseling needs that fall to the pastors ledger of responsibilities. He still performs marriages and funerals and many times these are for people that do not attend his church. He visits the hospitals and with congregations growing older it’s a larger and larger part of his responsibility. The pastor visits shut ins, visitors to the church, the un-churched and others that request or need his time. Pastors have committee responsibilities in order to exert his leadership within the church. It is a full time job whether he is paid as a full time pastor or not.

So, what is a Bi-Vocational pastor and how does it fit into the traditional model we have thought of for the pastor? The Bi-Vocational pastor is a pastor doing all of the things any other pastor does but with less time. This pastor is forced to spend more time away from their family than they would like, more time out at night than is advantageous and often times more time away from work doing things for the church using their vacation time than would be healthy.

And, most Bi-Vocational pastors don’t complain. They don’t complain because they are called to the ministry. They don’t complain because they know these small churches couldn’t afford to pay a pastor a livable wage. These churches are blessed to have someone of the caliber of their Bi-Vocational pastor and they know it.

Bi-Vocational pastors fill nearly every role there is in the pastoral leadership realm. They are Senior Pastors, Music Pastors, Youth Pastors, Education Pastors, Family Pastors, Discipleship Pastors, Evangelism Pastors and probably more than this. And, thank God for these pastors and their commitment to ministry.

Many Bi-Vocational pastors are professionals such as teachers, managers, business leaders, or sales professionals. Others are construction workers, school bus drivers or clerks. In some cases they own their own businesses but in all cases they work at what they do to earn their pay checks so they can serve as a pastor of a church.

If you have a Bi-Vocational pastor count yourself blessed. And, be sure and thank them for their commitment to the Lord and to the church.

Puedes comprar todas las camisetas oficiales de fútbol en futbolmania, la tienda de las mejores Camisetas de fútbol – Devolución gratis. Últimas noticias sobre Fútbol. Sigue la última hora de LaLiga Santander, la Champions League y toda la actualidad de los equipos

The First Communion is a special time when your child really begins to take part in the responsibilities and rules of your religion and some First Communion party games will lighten the tension. You may even want to mark the occasion by throwing a small party, so why not include a couple of fun First Communion party games?

Kids’ Crab Football:

This fun activity makes a great choice for the First Communion Party Games because it will help to burn off pent up energy from the more solemn events you had scheduled earlier. It also lets everyone get out of their special occasion clothes and relax a bit. For this First Communion party game you’ll need a large beach ball and lots of space for the kids to move around in. Crab Football is just like regular soccer except the ball is larger and the players have to walk like crabs. You know how, right? Just bend over like you are going to do a back flip and scuttle around on your hands and feet.

Animal Scavenger Hunt:

For this indoor or outdoor appropriate First Communion party game have the party divide into groups of three or four. Have each group choose an animal they want to pretend to be and make the adult in the group the Shepard. At the start of the game you will give the kids in each of the groups a list of hidden items you placed around the party area. The Shepards will all stay in the First Communion party games area while the ‘animals’ all go out searching for missing items. When a player finds an item they must call to the Shepard by making animal calls. The Shepard will recognize their players because the calls will be similar to the sounds made by their chosen animal. The Shepard will follow the sounds to their teammate and will get the missing item from the player and return to the First Communion party games area, while the ‘animal’ continues on the hunt to find more scavenger items. Those at the end of the hunt with the most items are the winners.

You’ll find that the kids and the adults at your First Communion party games have plenty of good old fun. Just take a little time out for the fun to start and you’ll have more than you can handle.

ENVÍO y DEVOLUCIÓN GRATIS – Gran colección de Camisetas de fútbol oficiales – Descubre camisetas de equipos y selecciones europeas en camisetasfutboleses.com. Últimas noticias de fútbol y toda la actualidad nacional e internacional sobre el deporte rey

All types of sports are popular globally, but what sports can we call THE most popular in the world? Some of the answers may surprise you.

It’s no surprise that football, or what Americans call «soccer» is the world’s most popular sport to play and to watch. An estimated 3.5 billion people either watch or play football. The World Cup is the global championship of the sport and this tournament is played every four years. The World Cup itself is one of the highest rated sports on television, with many countries tuning in en masse to watch their country’s team play. Football is popular in all of the UK, Europe, Asia as well as South America. However, with so many other sports being popular, the Unites States still lags behind in their interest in «soccer».

Next, we have cricket. This sport which consists of a bat and a ball, has been around for hundreds of years and originated in England. The sport is popular in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, some African countries, some Caribbean countries and it is the most popular sport in the countries of India and Pakistan. An estimated 3 billion people watch or play cricket each year.

The next most popular sport is a sure surprise, and that is field hockey, with an estimated 2 billion players or watchers, mostly in Asian countries, European countries, Australia and around Africa. This sport tends to be played in high schools in the United States, usually by girls only.

Coming up next is tennis. Not so surprising, but there are an estimated 1 billion players and watchers of tennis around the world. Tennis tends to be popular in richer countries, including the United States, Asian countries, Australia and Europe. There are four main tournaments in tennis, called «Grand Slams» at which players from many countries play. The first is the Australian Open, then the French Open, Wimbledon and then the US Open in late August. The Grand Slam tournaments tend to get the most attention during the tennis season.

Next we have volleyball. Yet another surprise, with an estimated 900 million viewers or players around the world. Volleyball is popular in the United States, where the sport originated, as well as in Brazil, all over Europe, Russia, China and Japan. Volleyball is a popular high school sport in many countries due to it’s team centered play and lack of specialized equipment requirements.

Also popular is table tennis, otherwise known as Ping Pong. This is another surprisingly popular sport around the world, with an estimated 900 million watchers or players. Table tennis originated in England as an after dinner activity for Victorians in the late 19th century. Table tennis as a competitive sport is popular in many countries but is especially popular in China, Korea and Singapore.

After these sports, we have a triumvirate of more mainstream American sports including baseball, golf, American football and basketball, with each sport attracting between 400 and 500 million players or watchers worldwide.

Compra Camisetas de fútbol antiguas, replicas auténticas. Moda clásica. Consulta las últimas noticias sobre fútbol nacional e internacional. Todas las competiciones, fichajes y análisis de los mejores partidos

Chelsea scored another half-dozen against Wigan, on Saturday, to get into double figures for the season after only two matches. Nicolas Anelka and Salomon Kalou got two apiece; Florent Malouda and Yossi Benayoun, one each. Kalou in particular had a brilliant outing coming on as a substitute.

Curiously, the first 30 minutes of the match did not give any inkling about how the match would eventually unfolded. Chelsea remained scoreless, as Wigan were lively, with Hugo Rodalegga their stand out performer. In the 33rd minute, the champions stepped up a gear. Lampard had a shot from close range, from a pass resulting from a Drogba and Cole combination on the left, that Kirkland kept out tipping the ball away.

Malouda’s quick reflex shot on the rebound, before Maynor Figueroa could get to the ball, broke the deadlock. Less than three minutes past the break, it was Anelka’s turn to figure on the score sheet. Mikel’s raking pass from the right to the Frenchman found the ball end in the goal near the post to Kirkland’s right, after Anelka’s low shot left Figuoroa, Alcaraz and Kirkland, standing. Four minutes later, Malouda’s cross from the left to Drogba was relayed across goal to Anelka who headed the ball home.

Kalou who came on as substitute for Malouda in the 70th minute scored eight minutes later, to put Chelsea 4-0 up. Kalou got his second in the 89th minute, followed by another sub, Benayoun, getting Chelsea’s sixth, in stoppage time, to complete the rout.

It came as a shock to many supporters of FC Barcelona when it looked as if Barça management was at loggerheads with their star goal keeper over an agreement to extend his contract beyond 2010, when it was due to expire.

Eventually negotiations between FC Barcelona and the manager of Victor Valdes broke down entirely, with the club’s president insisting that he would only speak to Valdes directly, with the aim of resolving the standoff.

Valdes is every inch Barcelona, and it is difficult to imagine the squad without him. Highly opinionated, he is a real force to be reckoned with both as goalie and as third team captain, behind Puyol and Xavi.

The good news is that the dispute is over and an extended contract agreed. Victor Valdes is now contracted to play for Barcelona until 2014, where he believes he will finish his playing career aged 32.

Valdes career as first team keeper is curious; brought up in the Barcelona youth system he had been in the main squad since 2002/03. He’d joined the club in 1992, although moved with his family to Tenerife for three years. Initially Barcelona had bought Rustu Recber as keeper for the 2003/04 season – the year that Laporta took over and brought in Frank Rijkaard as coach – but for a variety of reasons he was not up to the job and so it was Victor Valdes who played in goal for the 2003/04 season.

Valdes won the Zamora Trophy, awarded to the best goalkeeper in Spain, in 2004/05, but perhaps his real moment of glory was in the Champions League win of 2005/06 when he won a lot of fans thanks to two fantastic point-blank saves from Arsenal’s Thierry Henry.