GOOAL! SATURDAY VISION, JUNE 9, 2018 7 YOUR COLUMNISTS FORMER REAL BOSS ZIDANE STILL RULES

their prime – had stayed firmly in his shadows. World Cup Russia, 2018, the two Zidane mo- would be regrettable if his name still reverber- He was 34, the age by which many famed foot- ments – winning his third champions league ates around stadiums in Russia for lack of an ballers international careers would have ended. trophy as coach and resigning a few days after alternative, twelve years since he left the stage. He retired after the 2006 world cup in Germa- – reminds the football world of the class gen- ny, as the best player in the world. A three-time eration gap that exists between the 21st century winner of the FIFA Balon d’Or, a FIFA world and the 20th century footballers. cup and European cup winner and also, a FIFA In Russia, and Cristiano Confederations Cup winner. Ronaldo will again lead the charge to claim the And if his outstanding achievements as a play- golden ball having dominated the FIFA balon er are not enough to convince the football world d’Or for the last decade. of his genius, may be his accomplishments as While Messi is the undoubted greatest talent coach in just three years will. of the present era, it’s remained a paradox that Three UEFA champions League trophies, two he has never been able to lead Argentina to UEFA super cups, two FIFA Club World cups, world cup victory in his past three world cups one La Liga and one Spanish super cup. (2006, 2010,2014) never mind dominating the The three years as Real Madrid coach were tournament as an individual. his first attempt at coaching. But five days after At 30, there is a chance that the little Argen- winning his third consecutive European cup tine could yet return in 2022 for his fifth world following his team’s 3-1 defeat of Liverpool last cup finals for a fifth attempt should he fail week, Zidane resigned. again in Russia. He walked away from the technical bench, No one expects Ronaldo to lift his first ever a winner. It’s what prompted his resignation, World Cup trophy even though he led Portugal rather than the timing however, that brings his to their first ever European cup in 2016, but class and personality into perspective. even fewer numbers expect him to light up Real president Florentino Perez wanted to buy Russia 2018 with classy performances. CHIEF FOOTBALL COLUMNIST Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea Zidane chose Brazil; in 1998 final and Brazil but Zidane didn’t. He still had faith in current again, in 2006 quarter final, to stamp his class n 2009, told popular French goalkeeper, Navas. and authority on football with his feet and magazine, Football; “It’s good that And when Zidane tried to buy Eden Hazard, confirm his legendary reputation. signaled what I had done to Perez refused because he insisted on other Messi has had the invitation to do likewise on Ithe referee because it was not pretty. priorities. Zidane’s speech to Perez was short three different occasions, the last coming in the “I don’t know how I would have lived with it, but decisive, “You can take care of the team,” he final against Germany, in Brazil 2014 where he had France become world champions and I had told him. sadly capitulated again. stayed on the pitch.” With those words, the former French national There’s a blind name in the pot to look out for It was during an interview where he was asked team captain walked away. Only Zidane could this time – Jr. He was the dominant to comment about his sending off in the 2006 have stood up to Perez, a president thought to player at the Olympics 2016 where he led Brazil FIFA World Cup final where France took on Italy be a God at Real. to victory. He is finally fit again and hungry but eventually lost on penalties. And just like he did as a footballer when the to make up for a disappointing tournament in Not even his disgraceful exit which probably world was still yearning for his talent, he threw Brazil, 2014. cost his nation a second World Cup trophy, could in the coaching towel just when the football What Russia needs is a few individuals to rise prevent him from winning the FIFA golden ball at world had ran out of superlatives to describe his to the occasion and remind the football world genius as a coach. what the world cup is about – class. Zidane a tournament he dominated so much, the likes of Zinedine Zidane lifts the Champions Coming shortly before the kick off of the FIFA is still making world headlines off the field , it , Ronaldo and Andreas Pirlo – all in league trophy after edging Liverpool Rugby World Cup qualification a tough hurdle

he biggest continental rugby compe- ia’s representa- some of us in the fra- some build up games in South Africa but that tition is slated to start next week with tives. ternity plotted to bring seems as not an option at the moment-sad- our Rugby Cranes making the rare A serious rugby down finally as by mid ly-despite the reasons-official or unofficial. Ttrip to Windhoek, Namibia. union anywhere last year. Currently, we are still struggling to get the Regular readers of this column will know that in the world will THE Very few people best of the very best to represent the country this year’s competition will also be part of the obviously take the in our fraternity are after a rude awakening at the hands of Kenya final qualification process for the 2019 Rugby entire qualifica- CAPTAIN’S very ambitious when at home. World Cup. tion process in it comes to chasing I recall we still managed to bungle some- Only the winner in the 6 Nations’ competition the four year cycle TIP the big goal of RWC where during the qualification process for the will make it to Japan alongside South Africa. very seriously and HERBERT qualification. 2011 RWC where Tunisia came and humbled The second-placed team will still have a very try its level best Over the past us at home when we didn’t have all our top narrow, if not fading chance, to make it to the to make it to the WAFULA campaigns, we seem players on the pitch. biggest rugby celebration in the world. Rugby World Cup to bungle things too After that loss, I recall commenting that RWC They will go into the Repechage qualification (RWC). much and sweep qualification is not for broke unions. and believe it or not, the process is as difficult The RWC itself is no joke and if you ever everything and hide it under the carpet and May the team represent us to the fullest next as the pronunciation of the word itself. doubted it, you need just a casual glance at this year is no different. weekend as we review our plans and chart yet The Repechage qualification is way much Namibia’s losing streak in the last five RWCs Our preparations as earlier planned looked another path for another RWC (2023, 2027?). tougher than winning the Gold Cup currently. where they could easily be cementing a World very good on paper with teams like Czecho- Next time as a fraternity, could we be a bit This time around, the four teams globally record of sorts. slovakia, South Africa’s Barbarians, Free State’s more ambitious? which qualify for this stage will play in a round They have played a total of 19 games and Cheetahs expected to give our lads a good test robin format and already Canada is in the won none. but only the Barbarians made it. Herbert Wafula is an ex-captain of the Uganda wings waiting for Africa’s, Europe’s and Ocean- This is the same Namibia country where The team was also initially supposed to have Rugby Cranes 7s and XVs. w