Continental football is back again, albeit this time in a different season (June-July instead of January-February) and a different format (16 to 24 teams). If the razzmatazz of the draw - held at the picturesque Sphinx and the Pyramids in Giza -   was the hors d'oeuvre, the actual competition which is in full swing is showing glimpses of delivering on its promise as the main course. From the ancient aura of Alexandria through the principal streets of Bangui to the shipping yards of Port Elizabeth, the allure for football on Pharaoh’s grass is certainly at an all-time high. In Ghana, issues pertaining to religion, politics and football garner a lot of interest. If the assertions made by sportswriter Fiifi Anaman’s AIPS award-winning article in 2015 * (“Where is the love: How the Black Stars stabbed the nation in cold blood”) still holds, then interest in activities of the Black Stars by its citizenry has waned tremendously since the disgraceful events at the 2014 ...

     “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” These were the infamous words of Brutus in justifying the assassination of Julius Caesar as staged in Shakespeare’s ever classical tragedy – A play delineated by the subterfuge of Cassius, the perfidy of Brutus, and the ultimate quietus of Julius Caesar. In a typical plot of power struggle, Brutus a highly revered confidante of Julius Caesar is manipulated by Cassius and joins the plot to assassinate the ever-popular Roman General, Julius Caesar. In a bizarre turn of events, the action of killing Caesar appears impolitic and futile. Out of frustration and guilt, Brutus takes his own life. From politics to the corporate world, shades of deceit and betrayal abound. Football as a cultural institution is no exception. Conceptualize being coach of the country renowned for its Tiki-taka brand of football, home to the dynamic duo of FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF – a reference point for every club ...

One king, one queen, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, and eight pawns; these are the pieces that make up a chess game for each player. Capturing the opponents King is the holy grail of the game. The King’s imminent capture results in a “checkmate” warning by the opposing player. Adept with the ability to move in any direction, including diagonally and to any adjacent square that is not attacked by an opponent's piece or pawn, the King is the most important chess piece. Chess or sovereign states aside, every discipline hints at a quintessential figure they refer to as “King”. Most are conferred, some are self-acclaimed. In the music world, Michael Jackson is to Pop, what Jay z is to Rap – King. The sporting world has its own version of supreme performers that are always on the move not for the want of shunning battles but rather for the sake of competing at the highest level and setting records in the process. Step up Basketball’s Lebron James and Football's Cristiano...

“Everybody Wants to Rule the World”, the 1985 hit song of English band Tears for Fears epitomizes what the footballing world is about to witness when the World Cup commences on 14 th June, 2018 .With 32 teams dreaming of ruling the footballing world till at least 2022 , The opening lyrics of the song, “Welcome to your life. There’s no turning back “ paints a picture of the task ahead.Every tournament begets expectations and Russia 2018 is certainly no exception. Will the Guardiola effect propel England to world cup glory 😋 as experienced in his managerial stints at Barcelona (Spain 2010) and Bayern (Germany 2014) ? As far as Ballon D ’or contenders goes, Can the mesmerizing antics of Messi deliver Argentina from Higuaín’s expected mess?   Will the chutzpah of Cristiano Ronaldo help Portugal ? How about Neymar emulating the 2002 Korea/Japan heroics of fellow compatriot  Ronaldo Da Lima ? For a country largely famous for its pyramids than football, can Salah ...