Tuesday 22nd June, 2010 15

Nepal's blind Brazil beats cricketers bat to dispel prejudice Ivory Coast KATHMANDU: Pawan Acharya, a major in the Nepalese army, only became aware of the difficulties faced by blind people after he lost his own sight in an 3-1 to reach ambush by Maoist rebels during the country's civil war. Ten years later, he is waging a campaign to revolutionise percep- tions of disability in this deeply 2nd round traditional Hindu country and has organised a series of cricket tour- naments for blind players -- rute force and hand balls aside, Kaka then received his two yellow cards including women. Brazil has achieved its first objective late in the game and will be suspended Blind people often face dis- Bat the World Cup: advancing out of for Brazil’s next match, against Group G. Portugal. Kaka got into an altercation crimination and even persecution Luis Fabiano scored a pair of goals, one with Kader Keita near the end of the in Nepal, where superstition is with the aid of touches with his arm and match. rife and disability is commonly his hand, while Elano added another as “The red card was completely seen as a punishment for mis- Brazil beat Ivory Coast 3-1 Sunday to unfair,” Brazil coach Dunga said. deeds in a past life. secure a spot in the second round from Kaka did not want to talk about The problems faced by blind Group G. the ejection, but complained of women can be particularly severe In a physical match that saw Brazil star rough play by the Ivory Coast play- Kaka ejected with two late yellow cards, ers. -- already viewed as second-class the five-time champions showed they can “It was a tough match,” he said. citizens because of their sex, they deal out the rough stuff with the pretty “It got violent in two or three plays often find themselves ostracised plays. there.” from their communities. “It’s true, the ball really touched my , playing from Now, thanks to Acharya's hand and then my shoulder,” Luis Fabiano the start for the first time after efforts, some are being given the said of his second goal. “But it was invol- breaking his right arm in a opportunity to shine by playing in untary.It was one of the greatest goals I’ve warmup game, scored the lone scored in my career.” goal for Ivory Coast with a header in the what he says is the world's only Luis Fabiano got his first goal in six 79th. national blind women's cricket matches for the national team with a pow- The victory gives tournament. erful right-footed shot in the 25th minute Brazil six points from two "Cricket has transformed these after a perfect pass by Kaka between matches, and left the girls. The way they interact with defenders. He jumped over defender Kolo Africans with one point people and the confidence they Toure before firing into the top of the net and in difficult position have now is remarkable," Acharya from a difficult angle. to advance from the Luis Fabiano added to the lead in the group stage. told AFP on the sidelines of the 50th with his left foot from near the penal- It was a physical second national women's champi- ty spot after beating two defenders inside match at Soccer City, with Ivory Coast's Didier Zokora, left, and Brazil's Luis Fabiano, right, embrace at the end of the World onships in Kathmandu this week. the area—helped by his sleight-of-hand. hard fouls from both sides Cup group G soccer match between Brazil and Ivory Coast at Soccer City in Johannesburg, South "Before I lost my sight I didn't Ivory Coast coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and players confronting Africa, Sunday, June 20, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) even think about the problems was livid that that the second goal count- each other at times. Brazil faced by blind people. But then I ed. had plenty of chances to Eriksson said. “To beat Brazil you must be Brazil made some uncharacteristic became involved, and realised “It shouldn’t have been allowed,” scores more, but mistakes on the final pass almost perfect.” passing mistakes in the beginning and how strong the prejudices against Eriksson said. “They got a goal free. That’s cost it on a few occasions. Luis Fabiano hadn’t scored in more was not able to take control of the match, disabled people were." a 2-nil goal—that changed everything. Brazil has won all six matches it played than nine months for Brazil since connect- allowing the Ivorians to threaten on coun- “It’s even more difficult if he’s allowed against African nations at the World Cup. ing twice in a victory against Argentina terattacks and free kicks. Yet Ivory Coast Acharya, 32, still serves in the to use his hands. Of course it’s a hand The last was 3-0 over Ghana in the round last September in a World Cup qualifier. put nearly all its players on defence when Nepal army, and he now mainly ball. It’s not once, it’s twice.” of 16 of the 2006 tournament in Germany. Kaka, coming off a season plagued by Brazil held possession, leaving Drogba lectures on leadership and Elano scored Brazil’s third goal in the Drogba’s goal was the first Brazil conceded injuries, again was far from his best, but alone up front. The striker is playing with morale. 62nd after another setup by Kaka. Elano to African nations in soccer’s biggest showed his poise on Sunday by setting up a special protective cast approved by He launched blind cricket in hurt his right shin a little later and left the showcase. Luis Fabiano’s first-half goal and Elano’s FIFA. Nepal in 2006 with the help of the field on a stretcher. “I think Brazil can go all the way,” third in front of 84,455 fans. (AP) Pakistan Blind Cricket Council, and said it was a form of rehabili- tation for himself as well as oth- North Korea eliminated ers. Why Brazil's bad boy Fabiano He organised the first blind after 7-0 drubbing cricket tournament that year, and introduced a separate tournament CAPE TOWN, South is favourite for Golden Boot for blind women in 2009. Africa (AP) - Portugal "I wanted to eliminate the revived its World Cup cam- BY DUNCAN WHITE second yellow for being run into by social taboos surrounding blind- paign with a dominating 7-0 As Brazilian forwards go, Luis Kader Keita is that he is probably the ness and help those affected to win over North Korea in Fabiano has crept under the radar. This nicest player in the Brazil squad. gain some independence," he said. Group G on Monday, eliminat- is the tournament that will make his Fabiano, however, enjoys a scrap. "Cricket gives them confidence, ing the Asian team from the name, though. Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, When playing for Sao Paolo in and is also a great way of develop- competition. Robinho, Adriano and Kaka may be far Brazil, O Fabuloso got himself into ing mental skills." Simao Sabrosa, Hugo better known in the global football com- repeated trouble for fighting (he even Nepal's Blind Cricket munity but if Brazil are to win the casually kicked a team-mate in train- Almeida and Tiago scored Association now counts 300 male World Cup, it will be the focussed effec- ing). The two most ludicrous incidents over an eight-minute span in players and 65 women among its tiveness of Fabiano that is key. The were his flying kick on a River Plate the second half, after Raul golden boot is his for the taking. player in 2003 and his arms-whirring members, some of whom are par- Meireles’ 29th-minute goal His strike-rate is phenomenal. Since cartoon fight with Diogo in 2007. The tially-sighted and some complete- gave Portugal the lead. signing for Sevilla in 2005 he has scored punching is clearly no match for his ly blind. Substitute Liedson added 90 goals in 194 appearances. For Brazil goal-scoring. In 2008 he was sent off Members are graded according another in the 81st, Cristiano he has scored 27 times in 40 caps. He’s after he elbowed Barcelona’s Sergio to the strength of their eyesight, Ronaldo put in the sixth in metronomic. In a tournament shy on Busquets and he is never far away from and each team contains a set num- the 87th and Tiago scored his orthodox poaching strikers he stands turning. ber of fully blind and partially- second of the match in the out. Not the most patient of players, sighted players. The two goals he scored in Brazil’s 3- you’d expect, but in terms of career he 89th. Organisers have imported spe- 1 over Ivory Coast in Soccer City were has had to be. He turns 30 this year and The win moves Portugal cially made cricket balls from typical of his predatory finishing. The for a long time it looked as if he would into second place in Group G first, a perfectly timed run and power- fail to deliver on his potential. He failed Pakistan containing iron ball with four points, two behind fully-struck near post finish, was in his first two attempts to play in bearings that rattle when the ball Brazil. The Ivory Coast has impressive and the second showed his Europe, first with Rennes then with is thrown, and bowling is under- Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, left, and Miguel Veloso, one point, and North Korea is absolute ruthlessness. Siaka Tiene let Porto, but translated his goal-scoring arm to give players a better out of the tournament after back left, celebrate their 7-0 win against N. Korea. the ball bounce and Fabiano was on to heroics with Sao Paolo to with chance of hitting the ball. two straight losses. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) him, won the ball flicked it Sevilla. Sugam Bhattarai, general sec- over two challenges and With Brazil it has been an equally retary of the association, said he brought the ball down frustrating journey. He made his debut became involved because he want- before volleying into the seven years ago and was a starter as ed to do something constructive net. The only problem Brazil won the Copa America in 2004. after losing his sight in a road was he handballed it. His crash in form after leaving Brazil for Twice. Porto that summer meant he was left out accident 13 years ago. Sven-Goran Eriksson was of the selecao for the next three years. pithy in the after- He has emerged as one of Dunga’s math. “It’s difficult key players, however. He had not scored to cope with Fabiano in his previous five games but the Brazil Chile beats 10-man but it’s even more difficult coach said he “placed complete trust” in if he’s allowed to use Fabiano. It paid off. If he can maintain Switzerland 1-0 at his hands,” he said. the form he has shown in the last three “It was not once but years here in South Africa, he could be World Cup twice he handled the ball.” When the known as one of the World Cup’s great PORT ELIZABETH, South referee asked Fabiano if he had han- predators rather than for his flying dled the ball he laughed. Unfortunately, kicks and fists. Africa (AP) - Substitute Mark so did the referee. (C) The Telegraph Group, Gonzalez headed in the only goal in He was a touch more sheepish after , 2010 the 75th minute Monday, giving Chile the game. But only a a 1-0 win over 10-man Switzerland at touch. “It’s true, it the World Cup. seemed the ball hit TODAY’S MATCHES Gonzalez headed in a pass from my hand and the sec- Esteban Paredes, who had rounded Match Date Time (SL) ond time it hit my the Switzerland defence and crossed shoulder,” he said. Mexico vs.Uruguay 22 Jun 7:30 p.m. to Gonzalez at the back post. “But there was no Switzerland played a man down voluntary hand-ball France vs. South Africa 22 Jun 7:30 p.m. from the 31st minute, when midfielder and it was a legiti- Nigeria vs. South Korea 23 Jun 12:00 a.m. mate goal. It was one Valon Behrami was sent off with a of the most spectacu- Greece vs. Argentina 23 Jun 12:00 a.m. straight red card for rough play. In this June 14, 2010, photograph, Indian soccer fans supporting Brazil, left and lar goals I have Before Chile scored, Switzerland scored in my career.” 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP YESTERDAY’S RESULT Argentina, cheer as they ride trishaws painted in support of the teams through the set a World Cup record in the 69th, Controversy is streets in Malapuram, Kerala state, India. In cricket-crazy India, the southern state of going 551 consecutive minutes with- never far away with Brazil 3 : 1 Côte d’Ivoire Kerala is an exception where football has a loyal following. Football clubs are popu- out conceding a goal. That broke the Fabiano. The irony of Portugal 7 : 0 N. Korea previous mark of 550 held by Italy at lar and men and women have been staying up late nights to watch the FIFA tourneys. Kaka being shown a (AP Photo) Chile 1 : 0 Switzerland the 1986 and 1990 tournaments.