sports and career – isport254

Transitioning from amateur to professional sports.

the problem is worse in third world countries

Massu Antony

For most players of different sports, the onus on them is to convert their talent into a money making trade on which they can economically depend on. a small percentage of players really make it out of the woods and make money out of their skills. this however does not mean that the small few compose of the most talented players of those sports. The problem is worse in third world countries like Kenya where facilities are poor and the few available ones are found in urban centers. The strain on them is unbelievably high with a high number of hopeful kids wishing to make the cut from the masses. according to Martin Moses, a sports analyst, the big problem lies on the government that through corruption and misappropriation of funds render their sports departments derelicts. monies meant for sports development are carted off by cartels into their pockets by giving kickbacks to government officials. As this is happening, even the players who make the basic cut to the local professional league have nothing to show for their vast talents. their pay can hardly cater for their upkeep. when they get injured on duty.the treatment costs are on their shoulders. with such treatment, almost none of them makes it to the elite leagues.

Should Ljungmberg leave Arsenal.

Antony Massu

Survey of Arsenal fans. https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-NZSZRWJS7/

After a not so convincing start to his career at Arsenal, former and coach Freddy Ljungmberg has come under mild fire from a section of arsenal fans. the Swedish star had to take over from former coach Unai emery who was forced out after a string of poor results. Taking over an under motivated, under trained and under performing team, Freddie is struggling to replicate his success as a player with the squad. struggling to find a starting formula for premier league games, Freddie is running out of time to change the fortunes of the fourteenth placed team on the premier league log. we talked to a number of fans through a survey which posed the question on whether Freddie should leave arsenal. of the 100 respondents who gave their opinions, forty two which translates to 42 percent feel that Freddy Ljungberg is not the man to transform Arsenal to its former glory. twenty eight of them strongly agree that Ljungberg should in fact be on his way out of the club. however, a coll eighteen percent of Arsenal fans are not sure if Freddy should leave or stay a while longer. These fans are a bit sympathetic and feel he should have more time to deliver while at the same time feel he is not the right ,an for the job; quite a mixture of feelings. Twelve percent of the fans don’t think Ljungberg should leave.

The rise and fall of Mario Balloteli.

Antony Massu

Welcome dear listener as I take through the career of a very promising footballer who did not achieve his potential. Your narrator is Antony Massu.When Mario Ballotelli stepped onto the stage in 2007 featuring for Italian outfit internazionale, it looked like he was the next big thing in the world of attacking football. Ballotelli was a dominating figure with a physique to match. his dynamic style of play that was effortless and enjoyable bought him an array of fans chanting super Mario. His electrifying perfomances against Juventus and Sheffield fc saw him earn quick fame.in 2008, he became the youngest player to score in a serie A match. With his star rising, Mario started having disciplinary issues with his club as he started showing up late for training and showing support for rival team ac milan. In august 2010 Mario was signed by premier league giants Manchester city where he scored in his debut match under coach Roberto Mancini. His performances during that season helped his team clinch a first premier league title since 1968. Cases of indiscipline plagued him as he was involved in training ground altercations with his coach and teammates. He was caught on camera throwing darts at academy player and ended up setting his house on fire while playing with fireworks. He was signed by AC Milan in 2013 for which he scored 26 goals in 43 appearances, a remarkable record. At the end of his stint for milan, he was signed by Liverpool for which he did not impress scoring one goal in sixteen appearances. In 2016 French side, nice announced that they had acquired Balotelli from Liverpool. With his deteriorating career, Balotelli put in a lot of effort and ended up scoring 29 goals in 43 games. Since then Balotelli has been in and out of clubs with little success. And much to say for a very promising footballer whose career could have done better. Antony massu.

Nurture kids talent summer camp.

kenya is largely not a tennis playing country

Massu Antony

Nurture kids talent tennis academy has decided to a tennis tournament and training camp for kids of different tennis levels. such tourneys are important for their development in the field of tennis. Coach Johannes Okumu who is the head-coach at the academy said they decided to host such a tournament every year to help nurture kids especially from disadvantaged backgrounds. with a prize money tagged on it, sponsors hope to come to the support of poor tennis playing kids through cash and other available incentives. the one week camp involves under 12,14,16,18 and 21 ages of tennis players. it is important to note that tennis as a sport is very difficult if kids are not closely monitored by a professional trainer. the nurture kids talent tourney is one among less than ten tournaments that take place countrywide. Kenya is not largely a tennis country thus tournaments are few as many players jostle for the few available slots on the limelight of glory. Nurture kids talent academy was started mainly to improve the talents of children rural western Kenya particularly migori county where it is based. for training, the children hardly have proper courts. Balls and rackets come from well wishers who make donations. however these setbacks have not stopped the kids from excelling. Basil Sweta has reached the quarter final stages in the Kenya open for his category while David Fidel was the winner of the Kenya open Junior back-draw. the kids are hopeful that their situation will change for the better and tennis will open doors for them.

The greek god.

Massu Antony

For any ATP player beating Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic in one calendar year is a dream in the day. However beating the big three over and over again has become the norm for Greek prodigy Stefanos tsitsipas. The lanky Greek is the youngest player in the top ten world rankings at number five. This makes the 21 year old the first Greek to feature in top ten. With a glittering career still ahead of him, Stefanos , coached and managed by his father Apostolos Tsitsipas has already won 4 ATP titles and reached nine finals. His biggest win, the just concluded ATP nitto finals saw the next gen sweep aside all the four players ranked ahead of him to claim the title. His heroics included sleeping a side the hard-hitting Dominic thiem and the inform Novak Djokovic. Left-handed Spaniard Rafael Nadal and the games Legends Roger Federer who are not spared the Wrath of Tsitsipas. Stefanos is stepping into 2020 as the hottest property on the tennis market with a name to convert into a legacy. the onus is on his coach to come up with a masterstroke that shall solidify his grip on the top position in the rankings and throw in a grand slam or two to raise his credibility. Tsitsipas is coming on the back of an array of tennis flops who did not make it to the apex of their promising careers leaving fans groaning with displeasure. with the big four now seeming to be on their way out, perhaps it is now time for someone else to take the mantle and run the ATP show. The future is warming up for young Tsitsipas and we can only hope it gets better for him.

Emery, Bye Arsenal?

Antony Massu.

With the mounting pressure to win games for arsenal, Unai emery’s tenure at the helm of the north London club looks to be coming to an end. hailed for his heroics at Seville where he won back to back Europa league titles with a seemingly weak squad,emery’s coaching career seems to take a nip in the bud at London. Arsenal’s dressing room demons are following Emery onto the pitch. Following an unending string of poor results, Arsenal tactician Emery seems to be on his way out of the north London club.

The Spaniard seems to have failed to replicate his heroics in Spain and in France where he won a handful of trophies with Paris Saint Ger-main. The Spaniard has won only won one of his last six premier league games with losses against Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester city being the highlights of what looks like a woeful season for Arsenal. Emery’s troubles have been coupled with changing room woes. Emery has come under pressure in recent times over squad selection with Mesut Ozil, Nicholas Pepe, Hector Bellerin an Alexander Lacazzete rousing debate amongst fans and stakeholders. The team’s two nil drubbing by Leicester over the weekend seems to highlight the crisis at the north London club. Emery however has maintained that he has the full backing of the club’s board of directors, despite rumors of a looming Jose Mourinho takeover at Emirates.