Reggae Boyz Abu!
The World Cup has kicked off and in the fine republican tradition
of standing up for the underdog, An Phoblacht is not
concentrating on the so-called classier or biggger sides. The
commercialism and big business stranglehold has not failed to
dampen my enthusiasm for the beautiful game's biggest showpiece.
The South Africans and our Celtic brothers in Scotland deserve
our support in the absence of an Irish team, but An Phoblacht is
throwing its weight behind the boys from the Caribbean - The
Reggae Boyz from Jamaica. With English premiership players -
Derby's Burton and Wimbledon's Robbie Earle - and Brazilian
manager Rene Simones, they are expected to add to the spice and
flavour of the tournament.
We will be following their progress from their first match,
against Croatia on Sunday. They have a reputation for being
over-physical, but they could get results against the Japan and,
possibly, Croatia. Their game against Argentina on Sunday week
should be a cracker. Watch this space for their progress.
Championship
The view from Hill 16 last Sunday was far from pleasant if you
were a Dubs' supporter. The atmosphere was dull in an overcrowed
Hill 16, as was the entertainment, from both sides.
Dessie Farrell was one of the few bright sparks from a Dub's
point of view, with Kildare's sheer bad luck and misdirected free
kicks leaving them again wondering if they'll ever make the
breakthrough. The replay should see the Dubs through, but
all-Ireland glory looks remote for the metropolitans.
There were celebrations in Waterford as they finally made it back
into a Munster Hurling Final. They defeated Tipperary in front of
30,000 at Pairc Ui Chaoimh by 21 points to Tipp's 2-12.
`Simple minds' still controlling Paradise
d so to Celtic Park. The ongoing furore after Wim Jansen's
departure over who controls the club goes on. Last week Jim Kerr,
of Scots rock band Simple Minds, let rip in the Daily Record on
the situation, lambasting Fergus McCann and `Joke' Brown, for
among other things replacing the club traditions with a corporate
logo.
They (McCann and Co) have reportedly offered any new manager a
miserly £4 million to spend on players in order to compete in the
Champions League next season. It is estimated that a club like
Celtic would have to spend at least £12-15 million to compete
seriously.
The problems a lot of Celtic fans have with McCann and Co are
well documented in this colunm. Jim Kerr is a Celtic fan through
and through. He has the interests and traditions of the club at
heart. He wants Celtic given back to the fans, and knows the
average fans in the stand have not got the sort of money needed
to buy out McCann when he leaves, after making a handsome profit.
Here are some of Kerr's comments: ``I believe the spirit of Celtic
FC is in a state of paralysis - warped, bent, out of shape. I
find it a sad place, joyless and mean-spirited. It's a result of
a love-hate relationship between the club's controllers and the
club itself... For me and my generation our identity was wrapped
up in the team. And that's why we will not be told what to
sing... McCann doesn't tell us what to do. Who is he? Somebody
who's in for five years and will be paid handsomely... We are
Celtic people with Celtic blood.'' Let's hope Kerr's bid to put
together a consortium of people - reportedly Bono and Rod Stewart
have been approached - with money to save the traditions and soul
of Glasgow Celtic Football Club.
d what about Rangers' keeper and Billy Wright fan Andy Goram?
Andy has, reportedly, been `carrying on' with a `top UVF man's'
wife, while the the `top' loyalist is being held at her majesty's
pleasure. He has allegedly threatened to kill poor old Andy.
BY CIARAN HEAPHEY
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