Red-hot Ingwe hunt first cup against Brewers in Kinoru

Finally, after years of organisation, the World Cup is underway at the spiritual home of football: Brazil.

I feel the Western media has been a little unfair about Brazil’s preparations, just like with South Africa four years ago.

It is important to be objective – look at France for example, where strikes are a national pastime. England frequently has strikes from tube workers and airport staff, so it is only normal for Brazil to have strikes.

If you look at the demonstrations that rocked the country several times over the past year, starting at last year’s Confederations Cup, the figures have dwindled significantly with the last demonstrations having just a few hundred in numbers.

Brazil is a powerhouse among the world economies. The country has overtaken the UK to become the world’s sixth largest economy, so if anybody can organise the World Cup, Brazil can.

Yes there were issues regarding corruption and timescales for the infrastructure to be ready, but I personally had no doubts the country would be ready come the 12th June. Remember this is the world’s largest sporting spectacle outside of the Olympics so it is no easy feat to get everything in order! Speaking of the Olympics, Rio will also hosting that event in 2016, so the city has its hands full.

Apart from new and upgraded stadia, improved infrastructure is one of the many legacies left by hosting such huge events. Fifa and the IOC will have had their list of requirements that must be fulfilled, and the 2014 World Cup would not have kicked off had Fifa not given the local organising committee their blessings.

I am  confident that the demonstrations will stop for the duration of the tournament, the country will rally behind the Brazilian national team and we will witness a spectacular tournament!

However concerns will be raised should the national team be knocked out early or not win the tournament. Brazil has a huge monkey to get off their back, their loss in the final to Uruguay in the final of the 1950 tournament in front of a still world record of 200,000 fans crammed into the Maracana Stadium in Rio De Janeiro.

The pressure will be immense for the team to deliver a record sixth World Cup to the fans on homesoil. So far it is 38 games unbeaten on home-soil, the last loss being against Paraguay in 2002.

AFC ARE THE FORM TEAM

This has been the week for AFC Leopards. Supersport commentator Herbert Mwachiro is also the local football analyst on my ‘Saturday Sport’ show on Nation FM, and has the latest:

Undoubtedly the form team in the country is AFC Leopards. Gor Mahia fans had no complaints last Sunday after their team was comprehensively outplayed at the Nyayo National Stadium. Leopards then went on to crush KCB 3-0 on Wednesday to advance to the Top-8 final, where they meet defending champions Tusker in Meru today.

Concern has been raised about the state of the pitch a few weeks after Gor raised the same issue, and AFC fans are also questioning the venue, claiming that Tusker will have an unfair advantage as Meru is their home base.

Credit must go to new coach Hendrick Pieter de Jong, who’s animated body language on the touchline is earning him the title of drama queen. However the drama queen attitude is also endearing him to the Ingwe fans, whom are seeing a turnaround in the team’s fortunes after a difficult start to the season.

With de Jong in charge, one possible casualty in the technical department is goalkeeping coach Washington Muhanji, who’s not been on the bench for the last two matches, and the Dutchman has reportedly said that he doesn’t need a goalkeeping coach for now. We await further developments in this department.

Two finals in two weeks is no mean achievement, and Leopards will be hoping their team will go one step forward today  after losing in the final of the Nile Basin Cup.

As for K’Ogalo, they have suffered a dip in form, being knocked out of the Top 8 tournament by Tusker along with being crushed by Leopards in the league. However of bigger concern are the contracts running out of two players mid-season: Joseph Wanyonyi and Rama Salim. How can contracts run out mid-season? This smacks of a lack of planning on Gor’s part. 

 TOUGH TIMES FOR ATHLETICS KENYA

Athletics Kenya (AK) should blame nobody else but themselves for the chaos surrounding the timing of the national championships.

Trying to stop athletes from earning their bread and butter, despite them having signed contracts with the Diamond League was a terrible move on their part, and can only fuel a conspiracy of athletes deliberately slowing down in international events involving the country if they feel they are being mistreated.

It is time for the top brass to plan long-term so as to not have embarrassments like last week. It is too much to expect our athletes to be traveling halfway around the world for a national championship and then fly out immediately for a mistimed national championship. This is the peak season for the Diamond League and athletes competing in them will see that as a priority.

There should also be more marketing for our athletes. The fact that the likes of David Rudisha have more exposure outside of Kenya is a national shame. — The writer is a sport journalist and runs a consulting firm. –– sean@seancardovillis.co.ke