SPORTS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2013 Ethiopia 2 games away from football history JOHANNESBURG: In African football, it’s usually the ballers of any great renown. But sport loves underdogs and the World Cup To reach the last 10 African teams in the World unexpected marvels that capture the world’s atten- There still aren’t - although that could be about loves African success stories. Milla became a global Cup playoffs, Ethiopia came through a qualifying tion. In 1990, it was Cameroon’s stunning win over to change. To become one of five African teams that star in 1990 at the age of 38 as his Indomitable Lions group containing 2010 host South Africa, Central Argentina and its subsequent path to the quarterfi- will travel to the World Cup in Brazil next June, shook world football, and Senegal went on to reach African Republic and Botswana. It also overcame nals of the World Cup, highlighted by Roger Milla’s Ethiopia must beat current African champion the quarterfinals in 2002 after beating old colonial being docked three points for fielding ineligible iconic hip-wiggling dance at the corner flag. In 2002, Nigeria in the qualifying playoffs. The first match is power France in its first World Cup. In South Africa midfielder Minyahile Beyene while he was sus- it was Senegal defeating world champion France at this coming Sunday in Addis Ababa Stadium. The three years ago, Ghana provided one of the most pended. Sellout crowds in Addis Ababa drive the the showcase tournament, prompting fans to return fixture is Nov 16. Nigeria, Africa’s most popu- gripping story lines as the entire continent rallied team on. What players lack in technique they slaughter cockerels, the French mascot, on the lous country, has played in four of the last five World behind the Black Stars on their march to the knock- make up for with endurance. This is a country of streets of Dakar. Now, Ethiopia is just two games Cups. It can call upon stars including Chelsea’s John out round in the first World Cup held in Africa. runners, after all, although sometimes it only away from achieving another feat that once seemed Obi Mikel, Liverpool’s Victor Moses and players from Having reached the quarterfinals, only Luis takes a single event for a sport to take a larger inconceivable - simply reaching the 2014 World Cup. the Italian and Spanish leagues. Suarez’s infamous deliberate handball on the goal foothold. Champion of Africa in 1962, Ethiopia fell off the Ethiopia has never played in football’s showcase line and Asamoah Gyan’s subsequent missed penal- In 1980, around the last time Ethiopia qualified football map for three decades. Civil war ravaged competition. Its appearance at the Africa Cup of ty that rebounded off the crossbar prevented Ghana for a major football tournament, future Olympic the country, and terrible famine killed nearly half a Nations this January was its first at a major tourna- from becoming the first African nation to reach the distance running champion Haile Gebrselassie million people in the early 1980s. Sport still played a ment in 31 years. And few outside of Ethiopia will semifinals. The passion for football in Ethiopia easily was 7 years old. He stole his father’s radio and ran part in the country, as world-beating runners hard- have heard of Saladin Said, its top player. The striker matches those West African nations. At the African into the fields around his home to listen to com- ened by poverty and high altitude continued to has made the biggest mark - if it can be called that - Cup this January, Ethiopia fans unfurled a banner mentary from Moscow of Miruts Yifter winning come out of Ethiopia. After barefoot Abebe Bikila of any player on Ethiopia’s national team by playing that read: “We’re sorry for our behavior but we love the 10,000-meter gold at the Summer Games. won back-to-back marathon golds at the 1960 for Belgian club Lierse. A couple of other squad the game.” That was after supporters hurled plastic That day, Gebrselassie decided that he, too, want- Rome and 1964 Tokyo games, successive genera- members play in Libya and Kazakhstan. Ethiopia is bottles onto the field, furious at a straight red card ed to be an Olympic champion. If they get past tions of Ethiopian Olympic champions inspired the the only team that coach Sewnet Bishaw, a school- shown to Ethiopia’s goalkeeper for a flying chest- Nigeria, it could be Saladin and his teammates next. But there were no longer any Ethiopian foot- teacher, has ever managed. high kick on a Zambia striker. leaving a similar legacy next year in Brazil.— AP Southampton’s rise highlights intrigue LONDON: Southampton’s unlikely rise to fourth in the Premier League encapsulates a start to the season that is making the race for the title one of the most entertaining and unpre- dictable in years. Following a two-week break for World Cup qualifiers, the Saints will travel to champions Manchester United on the back of three straight victories and five clean sheets in seven outings, a remarkable effort for a side spending just its second season back in English soccer’s top tier after a seven-year absence. A trip to Old Trafford is one that many teams fear but given United have already lost three league games under new manager David Moyes, including a 4-1 thrashing by Manchester City, the south coast club will head north with a renewed sense of optimism and expectation. “I always look forward to this kind of pressure in my career, it is what I thrive on, what I relish,” manager Mauricio Pochettino said after his side’s 2-0 win over Swansea City on Sunday. “The players need to be a lot more self-demanding, very ambitious and learn how to withstand the great expectation that is being placed on them.” Southampton are not the only team ignoring expectations, with Arsenal, buoyed by the record-signing of TURIN: Juventus’ defender Giorgio Chiellini (right) and Juventus’ defender Andrea Barzagli celebrate after scoring dur- German playmaker Mesut Ozil, sitting on top of the league after ing the Serie A football match against AC Milan. — AFP a rare goal from Jack Wilshere secured a point at West Bromwich Albion. Milan undone by Pirlo’s majestic free kicks Arsenal had been expected to struggle, but have not lost a match since the opening day defeat to Aston Villa and lead Genoa grab late draw; Sampdoria goal ruled out Liverpool on goal difference at the Premier League summit. It is a sign of the progress being made under Brendan Rodgers that MILAN: Andrea Pirlo’s majestic free kicks and a stunning entrance in a typically exquisite free kick. The game was evenly-balanced, the Liverpool manager was upset with his side’s 3-1 win over from Sebastian Giovinco undid AC Milan as Juventus recovered tense and niggly until a disastrous six-minute spell for the visitors. Crystal Palace on Saturday. “I was probably as disappointed as from conceding a goal after only 20 seconds to beat their bitter Giovinco replaced Fabio Quagliarella in the 67th minute and I’ve ever been because we played counter-attack football and rivals 3-2 in Serie A on Sunday. Pirlo, who spent ten seasons at put Juventus in front two minutes later, brilliantly twisting past we didn’t keep the ball so well,” the Northern Irishman told the Milan, cancelled out Sulley Muntari’s lightning strike by scoring Cristian Zapata and slotting in from close range. Milan defender club’s website (www.liverpoolfc.com). direct from a free kick and saw another effort hit the bar and fall for Philippe Mexes was sent off for a second booking, Pirlo crashed the Giorgio Chiellini to fire home for Juve’s third. resulting free kick against the crossbar and Chiellini volleyed home ‘BIG DOUBTS’ In between, substitute Giovinco put Juventus 2-1 ahead two the rebound from the edge of the area. Muntari gave Milan hope Tottenham Hotspur’s 3-0 home loss to West Ham United and minutes after coming on as the titleholders kept up the pressure when he dispossessed Paul Pogba and blasted a deflected shot Manchester City’s reverses to Cardiff City and Aston Villa have on AS Roma, who made it seven wins out of seven on Saturday past Gianluigi Buffon but it was too late. reinforced the message that nothing can be taken for granted. with a 3-0 victory at previously unbeaten Inter Milan. Napoli also Napoli made light of injured striker Gonzalo Higuain’s absence Everton are also going well, starting the season with a six- stayed in touch with the leaders by brushing aside Livorno 4-0 ear- due to a calf muscle injury against Livorno. After suffering their first match unbeaten run, which included a win over Chelsea, and SOUTHAMPTON: Southampton’s Kenyan midfielder Victor lier on Sunday while there was plenty of drama elsewhere. There defeat of the season in the Champions League at Arsenal on Hull have surprised many by taking 11 points in their opening Wanyama celebrates a goal which was then disallowed in were shades of the 1978 World Cup when Sampdoria had a goal Tuesday, Napoli were quickly back on track when Goran Pandev seven games to sit one place above Manchester United in the this file photo during the English Premier League football cancelled out at home to Torino because the referee had blown for fired them ahead after three minutes. Switzerland midfielder table.