Apologies.... And Happy Lunar New Year!!!

So sorry for the lack of updates.. I've been busy for the past 1 month with work and falling in love with a very nice guy...

I'll use the Lunar New Year break to update this place... A few outstanding tasks to do...

Select the winner for the Ginvera products.. And post my next giveaway, which was supposed to be a Christmas giveaway but turned out that I would have to call it the Lunar New Year Giveaway instead....

FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011

It is hoped that the FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011™ will produce a similar response among fans to the hugely successful men's edition four years ago. To help the Organising Committee (OC) in their aims, both the German women's and men's national teams have joined forces to create a promotional TV spot, which will be aired for the first time shortly before the men’s international match between Germany and Azerbaijan on Tuesday evening.

"We couldn't have wished for a better response from the men's national team," said OC President Steffi Jones. "It proves once again just how unique and special a World Cup on home turf truly is. We won't get another tournament like this for a long time."

Together with a healthy dose of humour, the TV spot promotes the social and political message at the core of the German FA (DFB). Recently, integration has become a key issue in international football, particularly in teams containing players of immigrant backgrounds. The new spot emphasises the notion that the only form of division between players of any colour or race in modern professional football should be whether they are male or female.

Germany squad to success

The World Cup really is a Tournament that has provided much success to Germany over the years. Always a force this squad will be challenging amongst the best to take home the Famous Trophy for a Fourth Time.

The Jersey has been given the Traditional White look, which includes Three Stripes in Black, Gold and Red down the left hand side of the side.

Lukas Podolski and Bastian Schweinsteiger hope to add to that tally as they lead a highly ranked German squad into FIFA Competition.

Liverpool Football Club

Liverpool Football Club LFC is the definite guide to keep yourself informed about what is happening about Liverpool FC, the club that you love and have supported all through your life. Here you will get the latest Liverpool news, transfer rumours, match reports, match previews, match pictures, match ratings, videos, Roy Hodgson news and bizzare press declarations, information about your favourite players and club info in general.

There is also a Liverpool FC Shop section where you can buy the best Liverpool products that you may want as a supporter, like the Liverpool FC kit, scarf, flag, shoes, books, other merchandise and memorabilia. We review some of the products when we deem it necessary.

Luis Suarez’s goal celebrations

When it comes to goal celebrations at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, this weekend was not a friendly one for cameramen. While most have been talking about Gabriel Heinze’s to a rather painful close-up following Argentina’s second goal during Sunday’s round of 16 match against Mexico, Luis Suarez’s “leap of faith” celebration has gone somewhat unnoticed…until now.

Following the Uruguayan striker’s cheeky second goal in the 80th minute which put his side ahead 2-1, Suarez ran in circles before making his way behind the South Korean goal, where he would leap up and over the advertisements with the help of a cameraman’s head (15 second mark).

Luis Suarez – Man or Superman

What does moral philosophy have to say about the new “hand of god” in world soccer? Uruguay’s Luis Suarez’s handball on the line preventing a certain goal has been condemned by deontologists, many of whom seem to live in the world’s most populated nation, Facebook . The immoral action of Suarez is a prime example of morality’s relegation to the lower divisions. Under no circumstances should Suarez have lifted his hands – it was wrong yesterday, today and tomorrow, as we are all duty bound to do the moral thing no matter what the consequences.

But this doesn’t play on the Moral Relativists bench, and they Kant understand such thinking at all. They hacked this idea by suggesting Suarez’s act rejected the notion of a global moral authority, his primal instinct trumping arbitrary standards conceived in a world where one man’s vuvuzela is another man’s perforated ear drum, or if you are hungry, one man’s Big Mac is another man’s disgust, or illiterate, one man’s metaphor is like another man’s smile (sic), or if you are all about equality, one man’s woman is another woman’s man. One can never be sure about what the hell is going on – after ten lagers.

On the other hand, consequentialists play wide by arguing that the consequences of Suarez‘s act are the only factors that matter. He handled the ball, he was punished, Ghana missed the spot kick and Uruguay won. That is the result. Suarez is perfectly right to claim himself as a hero by sacrificing himself with an immoral act, he saved the greater good; he saved Uruguay.

It was the French thinker Albert Camus who said, “Everything I know about morality and the obligations of men, I owe to soccer.” Camus was a goalkeeper, as was Suarez at his philosophical moment of truth.

So is Suarez, man or superman?

Squads - AFC Asian Cup in Qatar

Squads ... the 16 competing nations on the Asian Cup announce their final team list. Source: Ryan Pierse / Getty Images

Anticipation for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar builds as the final 23-man squads for each of the 16 competing nations are announced. Australia have named four A-League players with Melbourne Victory's Robbie Kruse set to make his debut for the Soceroos alongside Everton striker Tim Cahill.

Group A

China
Goalkeepers: 1. Yang Zhi, 12. Guan Zhen, 22. Zeng Cheng
Defenders: 2. Li Xuepeng, 3. Wang Qiang, 4. Zhao Peng, 5. Du Wei, 13. Liu Joanye, 17. Zhang Linpeng, 20. Rong Hao, 23. Li Jianbin
Midfielders: 6. Zhou Haibin, 7. Zhao Xur, 8. Hao Junmin, 10. Deng Zhuoxiang, 11. Qu Bo, 14. Wang Song, 15. Yu Tao, 16. Huang Bowen, 19. Yang Hao, 21. Yu Hai
Forwards: 9. Yang Xu, 18. Gao Lin

Kuwait
Goalkeepers: 1. Khaled M A A E Alrashidi, 22. Nawaf KH S M Alkhaldi, 23. Hameed S M H H Youssef
Defenders: 2. Yaqoub N A Y T Abdullah, 3. Fahad A A Shaheen, 4. Hussain F.A.M Ali, 6. Amer M F A Alfadhel, 9. Ali A M F A Almaqseed, 13. Mesaed N F H Alenzi, 19. Ahmad S M J Alrashidi
Midfielders: 5. Mohammad Rashed Matroud Sanad, 7. Fahad Saleh Hussain Alenezi, 8. Saleh H SH S Alhendi, 11. Fahed E A J Alebrahim, 12. Abdullah M S H J Alshamali, 14. Talal A A S Alamer, 15. Walied A H R Jumah, 18. Jarah M H M H Alateeqi, 20. Yousef N S R S Alsulaiman, 21. Abdulaziz A M A M Alenezi
Forwards: 10. Khaled A KH F Matar, 16. Hamad N M F A Alenezi, 17. Bader A B A A Almotawaa

Qatar
Goalkeepers: 1. Qasem Abdullhamed Burhan, 21. Mohammed Mubarak A M Budawood, 22. Saad Abdulla M E Alsheeb
Defenders: 2. Hamid Ismaeil H Khaleefa, 3. Kasola Mohammed, 6. Bilal Mohammed B Rajab, 8. Mesaad Ali A M Alhamad, 13. Ibrahim Majed A Abdullmajed, 17. Musa Haroon Jama, 18. Ibrahim Abdulla M A AL Ghanim
Midfielders: 4. Lawrence Awuley Quaye, 5. Majdi Abdulla Siddiq, 7. Wesam Rizik Abdulmajid, 11. Fabio Cesar Montesin, 14. Khalfan Ibrahim KH A Al-Khalfan, 15. Talal Ali H Albloushi, 19. Khaled Muftah E M Muftah
Forwards: 9. Jaralla Ali J A Al-Marri, 10. Hussain Yaser M Abdulrahman, 12. Yusef Ahmed M Ali, 16. Mohamed Alsayed A M Sayed, 20. Ali Hassan A Yahya, 23. Andres Sebastian S Quitana

Uzbekistan
Goalkeepers: 1. Juraev Temur, 12. Nesterov Ignatiy, 21. Zukhurov Murotjon
Defenders: 2. Krushelnitskiy Yaroslav, 3. Mulladjanov Shavkatjon, 4. Ismailov Anzur, 6. Juraev Sakhob, 20. Nurlibaev Farrukh
Midfielders: 5. Ibragimov Aziz, 7. Haydarov Azizbek 8. Djeparov Server, 9. Ahmedov Odil, 11. Bikmaev Marat, 14. Andreev Stanislav, 18. Kapadze Timur, 19. Khasanov Jasur, 22. Karpenko Victor, 23. Galiulin Vagiz
Forwards: 10. Salomov Shavkat, 13. Novkarov Olim, 15. Geynrikh Alexander, 16. Shatskikh Maksim, 17. Tursunov Sanjar

Group B
Japan
Goalkeepers: 1. Kawashima Wiji, 21. Nishikawa Shusaku, 23. Gonda Shuichi
Defenders: 2. Inoha Masahiko, 3. Iwamasa Daiki, 4. Konno Yasuyuki, 5. Nagatomo Yuto, 6. Uchida Atsuto, 12. Sakai Gotoku, 20. Makino Tomoaki, 22. Yoshida Maya
Midfielders: 7. Endo Yasuhito, 8. Matsui Daisuke, 13. Hosogai Hajime, 14. Fujimoto Jungo, 15. Honda Takuya, 16. Kashiwagi Yosuke, 17. Hasebe Makoto, 18. Honda Keisuke
Forwards: 9. Okazaki Shinji, 10. Kagawa Shinji, 11. Maeda Ryoichi, 19. Lee Tadanari

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Jordan
Goalkeepers: 1. Amer Shafi' Mahmoud Sabbah, 12. Lo'ai Salem Atallah Elamaireh, 22. Mutaz Yasin Mahjoub Alfityani
Defenders: 2. Moh'd Monir Ahmad Al-Mutasim, 3. Suliman Mowafaq Suliman Alsalman, 5. Mohammad Abdulsamee' Mohammad Aldmeiri, 8. Bashar Mustafa Bani Yaseen, 15. Shadi Nadmi Mohammad Abu-Hashhash, 16. Basem Fathi Omar Othman, 17. Hatem Mohammad Yousef Aqel, 19. Anas Walid Khaled Bani-Yaseen
Midfielders: 4. Baha' Abdelrahman Mustafa Suleiman, 6. Saeed Al Murhan, 7. Amer Deeb Mohammad Khalil, 11. Ra'ed Abdelrahman Ali Fraeh, 18. Hasan Abdel-Fattah Hasan Mahmoud, 20. Ala'Waleed Muflih Albashir, 21. Ahmad Abdelhalim Abdelsalam Alzugheir
Forwards: 9. Odai Yousef Ismail Alsaify, 10. Moayad Omar Suleiman Abukeshek, 13. Hamza Ali Khaled Aldaradreh, 14. Abdallah Khaled Deeb Salim, 23. Anas Jamal Mohammad Hijah

Saudi Arabia
Goalkeepers: 1. Ali, Waleed Abdullah N, 21. Mabrouk Z. M. Zaid, 22. Shaian, Hussain Abdoh Y
Defenders: 2. Shuhail, Abdullah Jaman S, 3. Hawsawi, Osama Abdulrzag M, 4. Almontashari, Hamad Mohsen H, 5. Alharbi, Osama Mabrook A, 7. Almousa, Kamil Saddiq E, 12. Al Saeed, Mishal Ahmed M, 19. Mohammed Massad F Almowallad
Midfielders: 6. Ateef, Ahmed Ibrahim Y, 8. Aboshgair Manaf Eid M, 10. Alshalhoub, Mohammed bandar S, 13. Almosa Motaz Sidiq E, 14. Khariri, Saud Ali M, 15. Abdoh Ibrahim Y Autef, 16. Aldawsari, Abdulaziz Saeed D, 17. Taiseer Jabir A Aljassam, 18. Alabid, Nawaf Shaker F
Forwards: 9. Hazazi, Naif Ahmed T, 11. Alshamrani, Nassir Ali N, 20. Alqahtani, Yasser Saeed M, 23. Muhannad Ahmed M Abu Radiyah

Syria
Goalkeepers: 1. Mosab Balhous, 16. MHD. Radwan Al Azhar, 22. Adnan Alhafez
Defenders: 2. Belal Abdul Daim, 3. Ali Diab, 4. Jehad Albaour, 5. Feras Ismail, 13. Nadim Sabagh, 15 Ahmad Al Salih, 17. Abulkader Deka, 21. Bwrhan Sahiwne
Midfielders: 6. Jehad Alhussien, 7. Abdulrazak Alhusein, 8. Taha Dyab, 11. Adel Abdullah, 14. Wael Ayan, 20. Lowai Shanko, 23. Samer Aouad
Forwards: 9. Qusai Adnan Habib, 10. Firas Alkhatib, 12. Mohamad Alzino, 18. Abdulfatah Alagha, 19. Sanharib Malki

Group C
Australia
Goalkeepers: 1. Mark Schwarzer, 12.Nathan Martin Coe, 18. Bradley Scott Jones
Defenders: 2. Lucas Neill, 3. David Carney, 6. Sasa Ognenovski, 8. Luke Wilkshire, 13. Jade North, 20. Matthew Spiranovic, 21. Jonathan McKain
Midfielders: 5. Jason Culina, 7. Brett Emerton, 10. Harry Kewell, 14. Brett Holman, 15. Michael Jedinak, 16. Carl Valeri, 17. Matthew McKay, 19. Tommy Oar, 22. Neil Kilkenny
Forwards: 4. Tim Cahill, 9. Scott McDonald, 11. Nathan Burns, 23. Robbie Kruse

Bahrain
Goalkeepers: 1. Mahmood Mansoor Ali Abdulla, 21. Ahmed Ali Ahmed Mushaima, 22. Abbas Ahmed Ali Khamis
Defenders: 2. Rashed Khalil Ebrahim Talha Khalil Alhooti. 3. Abdulla Abdulrahman Mohamed Marzooq, 5. Saleh Abdulhameed Saleh Mohamed Mahmeedi, 6. Abbas Saeed Ali Mansoor Ayyad, 16. Dawood Saad Salman Mohamed Saad, 17. Husain Ali Hasan Ali Mohamed, 23. Ebrahim Ali Hasan Ali Mohamed
Midfielders: 4. Abdulla Baba Fatadi, 7. Hamad Rakea Humood Alanezi, 9. Abdulwahab A Rahman Hedaib Isa Ali Almalood, 10. Mohamed Ahmed Yusuf Salmeen, 12. Faouzi Mubarak Aaish, 13. Mahmood Abdulrahman Mohamed Noor Abdulrahman, 14. Salman Isa Ghuloom Ali, 15. Abdulla Asmaeel Omar, 18. Abdulwahab Husain Alsafi, 19. Mahmood Merza Mahdi Ahmed Alajmi
Forwards: 8. Jaycee John Okwunwanna, 11. Ismaeel Abdullatif Ismaell Hasan, 20. Abdulla Adnan Saleh Salman Aldakeel

India
Goalkeepers: 1. Paul Subrata, 13. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, 21. Subhasish Roy Chowdhury
Defenders: 2. Moirangthem Govin Singh, 3. Manju Nanjangud Shivananju, 4. Masih Rakesh, 5. Anwar, 12. Deepak Kumar Mandal, 14. Gawli Mahesh, 17. Irungbam Surkumar Singh
Midfielders: 6. Baldeep Singh, 7. Naduparampil Pappachan Pradeep, 8. Potsangbam Renedy Singh, 10. Miranda Clifford Rayes, 16. Wadoo Mehraj Ud Din, 19. Moirangthem Gouramangi Singh, 20. Lawrence Climax, 23. Dias Steven Benedic
Forwards: 9. Yadav Abhishek, 11. Chhetri Sunil, 15. Bhutia Bhaichung, 18. Chongtham Sushilkumar Singh, 22. Syed Rahim Nabi

Korea Republic
Goalkeepers: 1. Jung Sungryong, 21. Kim Yong Dae, 23. Kim Jin Hyeon
Defenders: 2. Choi Hyojin, 3. Hwang Jae Won, 4. Cho Yonghyung, 5. Kwak Tae Hwi, 12. Lee Youngpyo, 14. Lee Jung Soo, 15. Hong Jeongho, 22. Cha Du Ri
Midfielders: 6. Lee Yong Rae, 7. Park Ji Sung, 8. Yoon Botgaram, 13. Koo Jacheol, 16. Ki Sung Yueng, 17. Lee Chung Yong, 18. Kim Bo Kyung, 19. Yeom Kihun
Forwards: 9. Yoo Byung Soo, 10. Ji Dong Won 11. Son Heung Min, 20. Kim Shinwook

Group D
DPR Korea
Goalkeepers: 1. Ri Myong Guk, 18. Kim Myong Gil, 22. Ri Kwang Ll
Defenders: 2. Cha Jong Hyok, 3. Ri Jun Il, 4. Pak Nam Chol, 5. Ri Kwang Chon, 8. Ji Yun Nam, 13. Pak Chol Jin, 14. Pak Nam Chol, 20. Ri Kwang Hyok
Midfielders: 6. Choe Myong Ho, 7. Ryang Yong Gi, 11. Mun In Guk, 15. Kim Yong Jun, 17. An Yong Hak, 23. Kim Kuk Jin
Forwards: 9.Jong Tae Se, 10. Hong Yong Jo, 12. Jon Kwang Ik, 16. Choe Kum Chol, 19 An Chol Hyok, 21. Pak Chol Min

Iran
Goalkeepers: 1. Rahmati Osgouei Seyed Mahdi, 12. Mirzapour Ebrahim, 22. Shahabaldin Gordan
Defenders: 2. Heydari Khosro, 3. Farshid Talebi Savad Kouhi, 4. Hosseini Seyed Jalal, 5. Aghily Anvar Seyed Hadi, 11. Haji Safi Ehsan, 13. Rahimi Abouzar, 20. Nosrati Mohammad
Midfielders: 6. Nekonam Javad, 14. Timotian Samarani Andranik, 15. Ghasem Hadadifar, 17. Nori Mohammad, 18. Pejman Nouri Roudsari, 23. Iman Mobali
Forwards: 7. Gholamreza Rezaei, 8. Soleimani Shojaei Masoud, 9. Mohammad Reza Khalatbari Limaki, 10. Karim Ansari Fard, 16. Reza Norozi, 19. Mohammad Gholami Khalil Mahaleh, 21. Arash Afshin

Iraq
Goalkeepers: 1. Ali Muttashar Naser Al-Lami, 12. Mohammed Kassid Kadhim, 22. Haider Raad Majeed
Defenders: 2. Mohammed Ali Kareem, 3. Basem A Gatea Al-Ogaili, 14. Salam Shakir Alidad, 15. Ali Hussein Erhaima Al-Kaabi, 16. Samal Saeed Mejbel, 21. Ahmed Ibrahim Khalaf, 23. Saad A. Hafidh
Midfielders: 4. Qusay Muneer Abboodi Al-Hussein, 5. Nashat Akram Abid Ali, 6. Saad Abdulameer Luaibi Al-Zirjawi, 8. Samer Saeed Mejbel, 11. Hawar M Taher Zeebari, 13. Kerrar J Muhammed, 18. Mahdi Kareem Ajeel, 19. Ahmed Ayad Anwer, 20. Muthanna Khalid Salih Al-Maslookhi
Forwards: 7. Emad M Raza Gharib, 9. Mustafa Kareem Abdullah, 10. Younus Mahmood Khalaf, 17. Alaa Abdul Zahrah Khashen Al-Azzawi

UAE
Goalkeepers: 1. Majed Naser Humaid Bakheit Almaqdami, 12. Obaid Mohd Obaid Mohd Majid Altawila Alsuwaidi, 22. Housani Ali Khaseif Humaid Khaseif
Defenders: 2. Lashkari Khalid Sebil Ibrahim Ahmad, 3. Juma Mohamed Ahmad Ali Gharib, 6. Fares Juma Hasan Juma Al Saadi, 8. Hamdan Ismaeel Mohemad Al Kamali, 14. Albalooshi Walid Abbas Murad Yousuf, 17. Yousef Jaber Naser Jaber Al Hammadi, 18. Abdulla Mousa Mohamed Ahmed Esmaeil Albloushi, 19. Albalooshi Abdulaziz Hussain H Mubarak, 21. Mahmoud Khamis Saeed Khamis Saeed Al Hammadi
Midfielders: 4. Al Junaibi Subait Khater Fayel Khamis, 5. Amer Abdulrahman Abdulla Husain Alhammadi, 7. Ali Ahmed Ali Mohamed Al Wehaibi, 13. Theyab Awana Ahmed Husain Al Musabi, 15. Ismail Salem Ismail Saeed Alhammadi, 16. Alhammadi Amir Mubarak Ghanim Mubarak Ghanim
Forwards: 9. Mohamed Saeed Rashed A. Saiwed Al Shehhi, 10. Ismaeil Matar Ibrahim Khamis Al Mekhaini Al Junaibi, 11. Ahmed Khalil Sebait Mubarak Aljunaibi, 20. Saeed Salem Saleh Salem Al Kathiri, 23. Al Junaibi Ahmed Jumaa Anbar Mubarak Alaraimi

Japan (winners 1992, 2000, 2004)

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AP Photo

Japan has won 3 of the more recent Asian Cups, in 1992, 2000, and 2004. They once again mean to challenge for the title with many key players, such as Keisuke Honda and Atsuto Ochida in their primes.

Japan's Tadanari Lee celebrates

Japan's Tadanari Lee celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal against Australia in extra time at the 2011 Asian Cup final on Saturday. (Karim Jaafar/Getty Images)

Japan won the Asian Cup for a record fourth time when substitute striker Tadanari Lee struck in extra time for a 1-0 victory over Australia on Saturday.

Lee slammed home a left-foot volley in the 109th when he was left completely unmarked 10 metres (yards) from Australia's goal. Lee had all the time in the world to perfectly time his volley from a cross by defender Yuto Nagatoma and fire it past Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

Lee then ran to the centre circle and fired a symbolic arrow into the night sky over the Khalifa stadium as a row of small fireworks exploded across the structure arch to celebrate the goal.

"We played the entire tournament with great courage and always sought to impose our game," said Japan's Italian coach, Alberto Zaccheroni. "We have a very young team."

"The bench players have made a big contribution, just as Lee did today."

Japan midfielder Keisuka Honda, one of the most enterprising players in the final, was voted the tournament's most valuable player.

Australia was in its first final since switching from Oceania to Asia in 2006 and also lost to Japan in the quarterfinals on penalties four years ago. It will now have the chance to go for the title when it hosts the tournament in 2015.

Qatar has won the bid to stage the 2022 World Cup and the Asian Cup was the tiny but wealthy Gulf nation's first rehearsal for the showcase tournament of world soccer.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter attended the final and sat on one side of Asian Football Confederation President Mohamed bin Hammam, a Qatari who may challenge Blatter for the presidency of the world football body. UEFA president Michael Platini sat on the other side of Bin Hammam.

After mostly meagre crowds during the three-week, 32-game tournament, the Khalifa stadium was nearly full at 37,174 spectators.

But in a first glitch to what had been a generally smooth organization, there were reports of many ticket holders being locked out of the stadium, among them foreign fans.

There was no immediate comment from the organizers but the frustrated and angry fans outside the stadium suspected that people without tickets were allowed in to fill the seats and avoid a potential embarrassment of empty rows.

Both teams had their chances in regulation time but the Socceroos could have clinched it in the first extra period.

Harry Kewell pushed the ball to substitute Brett Emerton in the 102nd, but he drove his left-footed shot wide to waste the best chance any team had in extra time until Robbie Kruse's header was dug out by Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima in the 104th.

Matt McKay had another effort sail high late in the first period of extra time.

The defeat meant no major international trophy for Kewell and Tim Cahill, Australia's best known stars, who were both substituted and saw Japan's triumph from the bench.

"We are disappointed that we ended up second," Australia coach Holger Osieck said. "We had our opportunities but unfortunately we couldn't convert. We had to be more clinical in our finishing."

The mood in the dressing room was sad, Osieck said, adding "I feel sorry for the boys, they didn't get the reward for all their efforts."

Osieck said his players paid the price for fatigue in extra time when they failed to mark Lee.

"It was the only position mistake we made and it was a very costly one," Osieck said.

Japan, which needed extra time and penalties to beat South Korea in the semifinals and was without injured midfielder Shinji Kagawa, allowed Australia more chances in the first half, but Japan had better opportunities when it started applying more pressure midway through the second half.

Nagatomo crossed for Shinji Okazaki to barely miss the target with a header in the 67th.

But Australia could have scored too when Kewell raced through to be one-on-one with Kawashima, who saved the striker's shot with his leg.

Japan defender Maya Yoshida cleared off the line to prevent Australia from taking the lead. Luke Wilkshire sent a floating cross into the area in the 49th, Kawashima misjudged the flight of the ball and it bounced off the far post before rebounding off Cahill, but Yoshida saved the day.

The Australians raised their hands believing the ball had crossed the line but replays showed it didn't.

"We went into final very tired, but we had a great desire," Zaccheroni said.

Alberto Zaccheroni coach Japan 2011

Alberto Zaccheroni has announced his squad for next month's AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011, with CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda chosen to lead the Samurai Blue in Qatar.

Honda scored two goals in the World Cup in South Africa in June as Japan reached the knockout stage in their best World Cup performance on foreign soil before losing to Paraguay on penalties in the last 16.

Honda is one of the eight Europe-based players Japan's squad, with Lierse SK goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima, defenders Yuto Nagatomo of Cesena, Atsuto Uchida of Schalke, and Maya Yoshida of VVV Venlo joining him.

Midfielders were Daisuke Matsui of FK Tom Tomsk, Makoto Hasebe of Wolfsburg, Shinji Kagawa of Borussia Dortmund, who was named as the most valuable player in the German league's first half.

The team also includes Hajime Hosogai, who has signed a contract with German side Bayer Leverkusen.

"The Japanese team has been improving in 2010 with the excellent result in the World Cup and the men's and women's gold medals in the Asian Games," said Zaccheroni, the former boss of AC Milan.

Zaccheroni said he had picked players who had potential and were capable of integrating themselves with the team.

But he left out Japan's key defenders, Brazilian-born Marcus Tulio Tanaka, who has helped Nagoya Grampus win their first J-League title in the just ended season, and Yuji Nakazawa, because of knee injuries.

The Japan Football Association has set their goal at the Asian Cup on finishing in the best three at the Asian Cup, which will qualify them for the next Asian Cup.

Japan will play Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria in the preliminary Group B competition, starting from January 7 to 29.

Japan, three-time Asian Cup champions, are hoping to regain the title they lost in 2007.

Japan squad

Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Lierse SK/BEL), Shusaku Nishikawa (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Shuichi Gonda (FC Tokyo).

Defenders: Daiki Iwamasa (Kashima Antlers), Yasuyuki Konno (FC Tokyo), Masahiko Inoha (Kashima Antlers), Yuto Nagatomo (Cesena/ITA), Tomoaki Makino (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Atsuto Uchida (Schalke/GER), Maya Yoshida (VVV Venlo/NED), Gotoku Sakai (Albirex Niigata).

Midfielders: Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Daisuke Matsui (FK Tom Tomsk/RUS), Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg/GER), Jungo Fujimoto (Shimizu S-Pulse), Takuya Honda (Shimizu S-Pulse), Hajime Hosogai (Urawa Red Diamonds), Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow/RUS), Yosuke Kashiwagi (Urawa Red Diamonds), Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund/GER).

Forwards: Ryoichi Maeda (Jubilo Iwata), Tadanari Lee (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Shinji Okazaki (Shimizu S-Pulse).

Japan names squad for Asian Cup 2011

Borussia Dortmund's Shinji Kagawa has been named in Japan's 23-man squad for next month's Asian Cup.
Kagawa was one of eight Europe-based players named by Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni for the January 7-29 continental championship in Qatar.
Zaccheroni left out Catania's Takayuki Morimoto, who had left-knee surgery following Sunday's match against Brescia, and veteran defender Yuji Nakazawa, who is also nursing a knee injury.
Japan names squad for Asian Cup 2011

Japan will open its Asian Cup campaign on January 9 against Jordan.
Japan has won the Asian Cup three times.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Lierse SK), Shusaku Nishikawa (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Shuichi Gonda (FC Tokyo)

Defenders: Daiki Iwamasa (Kashima Antlers), Yasuyuki Konno (Tokyo), Masahiko Inoha (Antlers), Yuto Nagatomo (Cesena), Tomoaki Makino (Sanfrecce), Atsuto Uchida (Schalke 04), Maya Yoshida (VVV Venlo), Gotoku Sakai (Albirex Niigata)

Midfileders: Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Daisuke Matsui (Tom Tomsk), Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg), Jungo Fujimoto (Shimizu S-Pulse), Takuya Honda (S-Pulse), Hajime Hosogai (Urawa Reds), Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow), Yosuke Kashiwagi (Reds), Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund)

Forwards: Ryoichi Maeda (Jubilo Iwata), Tadanari Lee (Sanfrecce), Shinji Okazaki (S-Pulse)

Japan midfielder Keisuke Honda

Japan midfielder Keisuke Honda added more glory to Japan’s victorious Asian Cup squad when he was named the tournament’s MVP on Saturday night.

The announcement came after Japan edged Australia 1-0 after extra time in the final at Khalifa Stadium.
The CSKA Moscow player started all six games for Japan to help the Samurai Blue win their fourth Asian title and their first since 2004.

Japan 2011 Asian Cup celebration

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Japan beat Syria to earn their first win of 2011 Asian Cup

Japan successfully managed to claim their first victory of the 2011 Asian Cup, as they beat Syria by two goals to one. The game saw both teams cut down to 10 men, but Japan used their experience and quality to beat their opponents and stay in contention to qualify for the next round of the tournament.

Makoto Hasebe opened the scoring in the game, when he found the back of the net in the 35th minute. The next goal came 15 minutes before the end of the match, when Eiji Kawashima, the Japanese keeper went on to hack down Sanharib Malki Sabah in the area and award the Syrians with a penalty kick. Firas Al Khatib stepped up to take the resulting spot kick and found the back of the net with ease, drawing the scores level in the game.

However, with just 7 minutes left on the clock, Japan happened to earn a penalty of their own. Shinji Okazaki, the Japanese dynamo, rushed into the Syrian area, but found it close to impossible to beat two Syrian defenders and as a result went down to a late challenge in the box. Keisuke Honda, the Japanese superstar went on to take the resulting spot kick and dispatched his effort with ease.

Afterwards, Syria tried to press on the Japanese in the closing stages of the game, in hopes of picking up a late equalizer that would help turn the match in their favour. However, all this extra effort from the Syrians only ended up working against them, as they too were reduced to 10 men before the end of the game. Nadim Sabag, the overly ambitious Syrian player, who went on to make a second bookable offence, was shown a second yellow and promptly given his marching orders. Japan, then held onto their narrow lead over the Syrians and saw the rest of the game run out, with them dominating possession.

The game came to an end with Japanese beating the Syrians by two goals to one, with two of the goals in the game being scored via penalties.

Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima - Brazilian footballer

Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima born September 22, 1976, commonly known as Ronaldo, is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays for Corinthians.
Ronaldo was one of the most prolific scorers in the world in the 1990s and the early 2000s. He won his first Ballon d'Or as the European Footballer of the Year in 1997 and again won the award in 2002. Additionally, he is one of only two men to have won the FIFA Player of the Year award three times, along with French footballer Zinedine Zidane. In 2007, he was named as one of the best starting eleven of all-time by France Football and was named to the FIFA 100, a list of the greatest footballers compiled by fellow countryman Pelé.

In 2010, he was voted Goal.com's 'Player of the Decade' in an online poll, gathering 43.63% of all votes and was also included as Centre Forward in the 'Team of the Decade'. On February 23, 2010, Ronaldo announced that he will retire after the 2011 season, signing a two-year contract extension with the Corinthians at the same time .
Ronaldo has played for Brazil in 97 international matches, amassing 62 goals. He was a part of the Brazilian squad that won the 1994, and 2002 World Cups. During the 2006 World Cup, Ronaldo became the highest goalscorer in the history of the World Cup with his fifteenth goal, surpassing Gerd Müller's previous record of 14.
[source : Ronaldo]

Pictures

Ronaldo de Assis Moreira - little Ronaldo

Ronaldo de Assis Moreira or popularly known as Ronaldinho Gaúcho was born on the 21st of March, 1980 in Porto Alegre, capital of the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul.

Ronaldinho's name was given in order to differentiate between himself and Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima, also better known to the world as Ronaldo. Ronaldo himself was known as Ronaldinho when Ronaldo Guiaro was called Ronaldo, and at that time Ronaldinho also had the word Gaucho attached to his name. Ronaldinho is Portuguese for ''little Ronaldo''.

Roberto Assis, Ronaldinho's elder brother was a pretty good footballer himself. He played for Gremio under Luiz Felipe Scolari before injuries forced him out of the game at an early age. With his father, who had died when Ronaldinho was 8, having been a supporter of Gremio as well, it was but natural that Ronaldinho joined the club. He starred in Brazil's first ever win at the U-17 Championships, held in Egypt in 1997. Ronaldinho made his first senior appearance for Gremio at the Copa Libertadores in 1998.

Ronaldinho's greatest assets have been his ball control, agility and trickery. He can dribble and pass like few people can, and defenders can feel like utter fools when they are up against him. He slowly made a name for himself at Gremio, and was inducted into the Brazilian team in 1999. He made his international debut against Latvia in June 1999, and was part of the Brazilian team which won the Copa America in the same year. He won both the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot at the 1999 Confederations Cup. He scored in every game Brazil played, and missed the final due to injury, where they lost to Mexico.

As the 21st century started, news of Ronaldinho's abilities spread far and wide. Despite interest from England, he decided to move to France to join Paris St.Germain at the end of the 2001 season. The 2002 World Cup firmly established Ronaldinho as a man destined for great things. His goal knocked England out at the quarterfinal stage - a freekick from the right which was completely misjudged by opposition goalkeeper David Seaman. Brazil went on to beat Germany in the final, and clubs started queueing up for the playmaker. With PSG not winning trophies in Europe, he had to make a move to further his career. Although Manchester United and FC Barcelona were both interested in his services, he transferred to the Catalans for a fee of £21 million.

Ronaldinho first played in a Barca jersey against AC Milan in America, scoring the second goal for the Catalans. He helped Barcelona to a second place in the league in the 2003-2004 season, despite being injured for most part of the first half. Ronaldinho epitomises the way the beautiful game should be played. Along with Deco, Samuel Etoo, Ludovic Giuly and Lionel Messi, he transformed Barcelona into a supremely gifted attacking side.

There is probably no limit to Ronaldinho's skills. The ability to play comes to him naturally, and the ball looks alive when at his feet- something similar to magic for extremely gifted magicians, you could say. He virtually conjured a goal out of nowhere, toe punting the goal past a stunned Chelsea defence and Petr Cech in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. To toe punt is an extremely difficult thing to do, and requires extreme accuracy. It was therefore no surprise that when Ronaldinho made his move, the rest of the players just stood where they were and watched awestruck.

Barcelona won the La Liga twice in a row, in 2005 and 2006. They also won the Spanish cup in those two years, and also added the Champions League to their trophy cabinet by beating Arsenal in May 2006. Ronaldinho had a part in everything good that happened at the club. Although the 2006 World Cup campaign was a disappointment for him and the national side, there is no doubt that Ronaldinho will want to have another shot in the next edition to be held in South Africa.

From winning the FIFA World Player twice, Ronaldinho had to be content with a fifth placed finish in 2007. He was not called up for for the 2007 Copa America by new coach Dunga, which Brazil won by beating Argentina.

In April 2008, Ronaldinho tore a muscle in his right leg and missed the rest of Barcelona's season, including their Champions League semifinal against Manchester United. Rumours flew thick and fast about his future, and Manchester City, Inter Milan and A.C.Milan were among the clubs interested. He was eventually sold to AC Milan for 21 million euros, and took the No.80 jersey as Clarence Seedorf already had the No.10 jersey at the San Siro.

He has shown glimpses of his former abilities at Milan, and scored his first goal for the Rossoneri in the city derby against Inter in September 2008.

Apart from his individual abilities, his mere presence on the field instills a new level of confidence in his teammates, and the opposition mentally loses the game even before it has started. It is amazing what one man can do, and words are not enough to describe the man that Ronnie is. He is part of Pele's list of ''125 Greatest living footballers''. In a survey conducted by a Brazilian magazine, he was also inducted into the Gremio all time favourite team. [source : Ronaldinho]
Ronaldinho Pictures and Wallpapers

David Beckham celebration - Art

I mean not all males may look like David Beckham, but I can certainly see him as a celebration of the male form.

winged things

leaf after a pagoda box worm is done with it -image by J

It became a winged thing imperceptibly, as a maturing face imperceptibly becomes beautiful. And its wings - still feeble, still moist, kept growing and unfolding, and now they were developed to the limit set for them by God, and there, on the wall, instead of a little lump of life, instead of a dark mouse, was a great Attacus moth like those that fly, birdlike, around lamps in the Indian dusk.

And then those thick black wings, with a glazy eyespot on each and a purplish bloom dusting their hooked foretips, took a full breath under the impulse of tender, ravishing, almost human happiness. [From Nabokov's story in Russian "Rozhdestvo", reproduced in Nabokov's Butterflies]

It was actually Facebook that had sent me to find and wipe off the dust from my copy of Nabokov's Butterflies. And as I was reading random parts of the book again, I found the except above. Ah, who else but Nabokov could have written these sentences that seem to take flight, and just when you try to catch you breath, he tries his luck with just that one more word "ravishing". My literary hero.

OK, enough adulation.

The first Facebook link was to this NY Times article on the recent vindication of Nabokov as a lepidopterist. Nabokov's hypothesis was that the Polyommatus Blue evolved and travelled to the New World over millions of years from Asia. This was supposedly dismissed by most professional lepidopterists in his time who perhaps saw his hypothesis as more fiction than a studied possibility. Gene sequencing technology today has proven - finally - that Nabokov was right! Of course, what is fascinating is that a family of butterflies, these slight fragile creatures, had travelled through such enormous distance. Just how many butterflies over how many millions of years would it take?

The second link that led to a blog was left by J's Facebook contact K in response to J's photograph (see above). J had taken of a large leaf he had found that was punctured almost throughout his entire surface. K's link attributed these circular wounds to the appetite of the (pagoda) bagworm.

Bagworm moths are of the Order Lepidoptera, same as the butterflies and family Psychidae. The distinctive feature of bagworms is that their larvae are remarkable architects, building mobile cases made of environmental materials, in this example, the leaves, to hide themselves in. Thus, within each case hides a tiny caterpillar. For the pagoda bagworm, it scrapes the chlorophyll off the leaf before incising cleanly around the area consumed, creating a circular wound. The excised leaf piece is then added to the bagworm’s protective casing.[From the Urban Forest blog]

Images of the pagoda bagworm and other species of the bagworm are quite amazing, their cases looking at times like architecture and at times, almost fluid like a sweeping cloak. And who can resist a name like the "Pagoda Bagworm"! As if a diminutive traveling salesman had renounced the world and retreated, albeit with his bag of samples, into a quiet tower somewhere in Kyoto.

These little discoveries make perfect a rainy Saturday night.

Cristiano Ronaldo Exercise

Mourinho: The Wonder Attract Iniesta Ballon dOr

Three players fighting over the title of FIFA Barcelona Ballon d'Or. Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez to be the best fight in the eyes of national team coaches and captains.

Problem who will be the winner, Jose Mourinho has his own view. Real Madrid coach was judging from the three, Iniesta was the most unbecoming.

"If Iniesta is elected, it is not fair," Mourinho's comments when interviewed by A Bola. "He's scored in the final of the World Cup. But in the rest of the time, he's invisible contribution."

Mourinho also assess the placement of Vicente Del Bosque as the candidate best coach is not fair. Despite success with Spain, Del Bosque is considered Mourinho should not have competed with him and Josep Guardiola, the two best coaches of other candidates.

"Coach club work and compete for 11 months with more than 50 matches. He also has a responsibility towards the development of players and teams.'s not fair if the club and national team coach must be pitted," he said.

However, Mourinho is not concerned about who will be elected. According to him, in sports, anything can happen.

Hottest Serial Soccer

Diana Chaves (Portugal)

Diana is a Portuguese model and actress and has been a cover for Maxim in April. She gained some good popularity with her character Susan in "Strawberries with Sugar 3" series.

And then have you heard of Cesar Peixoto? He plays for Benfica but that who cares?

He got a red hot affair with Diana once and then it ended.

The title asks a thing, can you name?

Christiano Ronaldo hopefully suits here in all sense.

Diana's perfect body and appeal let her into the Ronaldo affair also as many other girls.

The tan is beautiful, isn't it? Wish I was a photographer.

Elena Barolo: The Progression Road

Elena knows to follow

the typical Italian WAG progression.

The usual road is as follows:

# Penetration to television show to show off assets

# A few disreputable B-movies.

Zahia Dehar : With Love from France

She is not a Celebrity. She is not a Model. She is not a WAG.

Zahia Dehar is the famous prostitute who had the privilege of sleeping with the some of the richest and famous French players. Sidney Govou, Karim Benzema, and Franck Ribery. At near to 18!!!

That is the reason she hits this list. Also, we like seeing her too.

This slide is dedicated to Sidney Govou (France National Team and Lyon).

Imogen Thomas: Premiership

This hot asset recently went topless in a swimsuit shoot.

The big names forming the list of Imogen are some of the Premiership players. Manchester City's Nery Castillo and Tottenham's Jermaine Defoe are notable ones.

And then there is our infamous Christiano Ronaldo.

National Team FIFA World Cup 2010 Awards

Fourth-Level: Uruguay

- Stage Two: The Netherlands

-Stage Three: Germany

The World Cup has officially ended, with Iniesta cs. ensure the self as a hero by delivering the state's first trophy to their country, Spain. And now is the time the awards to the player "who shine in this tournament.

Team Spanyol Champions

Spanyol squads world cup 2010

Goalkeepers
1 Name: Iker Casillas (captain)
20 May 1981 (age 29)
Real Madrid
12 Name: Víctor Valdés
14 January 1982 (age 28)
Barcelona
23 Name: Pepe Reina
31 August 1982 (age 27)
Liverpool
2 Name: Raúl Albiol
4 September 1985 (age 24)
Real Madrid
3 Name: Gerard Piqué
2 February 1987 (age 23)
Barcelona
4 Name: Carlos Marchena
31 July 1979 (age 30)
Valencia
5 Name: Carles Puyol (vice-captain)
13 April 1978 (age 32)
Barcelona
11 Name: Joan Capdevila
3 February 1978 (age 32)
Villarreal
15 Name: Sergio Ramos
30 March 1986 (age 24)
Real Madrid
17 Name: Álvaro Arbeloa
17 January 1983 (age 27)
Real Madrid
6 Name: Andrés Iniesta
11 May 1984 (age 26)
Barcelona
8 Name: Xavi Hernández
25 January 1980 (age 30)
Barcelona
10 Name: Cesc Fàbregas
4 May 1987 (age 23)
Arsenal
13 Name: Juan Mata
28 April 1988 (age 22)
Valencia
14 Name: Xabi Alonso
25 November 1981 (age 28)
Real Madrid
16 Name: Sergio Busquets
16 July 1988 (age 21)
Barcelona
20 Name: Javi Martínez
2 September 1988 (age 21)
Athletic Bilbao
21 Name: David Silva
8 January 1986 (age 24)
Valencia
22 Name: Jesús Navas
21 November 1985 (age 24)
Sevilla
7 Name: David Villa
3 December 1981 (age 28)
Barcelona
9 Name: Fernando Torres
20 March 1984 (age 26)
Liverpool
18 Name: Pedro Rodríguez
28 July 1987 (age 22)
Barcelona
19 Name: Fernando Llorente
26 February 1985 (age 25)
Athletic Bilbao
Name Club DOB Caps (goals)
Goalkeepers
David de Gea
7 November 1990 (age 19)
Atlético Madrid
00 00 (0)
Diego López
11 August 1981 (age 28)
Villarreal
01 00 (0)
César Azpilicueta
28 August 1989 (age 20)
Osasuna
000 00 (0)
Andoni Iraola
22 June 1982 (age 27)
Athletic Bilbao
004 00 (0)
Nacho Monreal
26 February 1986 (age 24)
Osasuna
002 00 (0)
Pablo Hernández
11 April 1985 (age 25)
Valencia
002 00 (1)
Santi Cazorla
13 December 1984 (age 25)
Villarreal
024 00 (2)
Albert Riera
15 April 1982 (age 28)
Liverpool
016 00 (4)
Marcos Senna
13 December 1976 (age 33)
Villarreal
027 00 (1)
Dani Guiza
17 August 1980 (age 29)
Fenerbahce
021 00 (6)
Álvaro Negredo
20 August 1985 (age 24)
Sevilla

The rise and rise of Anthony Annan

As the great success of George Weah, Abedi Pele, Roger Milla, Samuel Eto’o and Didier Drogba attests, African football has a rich tradition of producing some of the game’s finest attacking talents. Of the last 17 winners of the African Player of the Year award fully 15 recipients have been strikers with just two, Morocco’s Mustapha Hadji and Nigeria’s Emmanuel Amuneke representing other positions.

However, this well-established trend of the “best” African players being heavily concentrated in attacking positions to the detriment of the defensive qualities of a number of the continent’s national teams is gradually being bucked by the emergence and rise of several world-class holding midfielders. Over the last four to five years the likes of Yaya Toure, Seydou Keita, Jon Obi Mikel and Didier Zokora have all made a significant impression in European football, proving themselves to be hard-working, versatile, and, above all, tactically astute. And yet arguably the most pivotal and representative figure of this transition has been Ghana and Rosenborg’s Anthony Annan.

A spiky, gritty character – as his disciplinary record bears out – who relishes the defensive side of the game, Annan is a refreshing antithesis to the “vibrant, good going forward, porous at the back” stereotypes that have grown up around African football. His qualities may not be the most obvious, nor his style the easiest on the eye, but Annan is arguably – in the absence of Michael Essien – his country’s most influential player.

As the anchor in what is otherwise a relatively adventurous Ghanaian midfield, it is Annan’s positional awareness and ability to deal with runners from midfield that allows the likes of Kevin Prince-Boateng and Kwadwo Asamoah to get forward with a greater freedom. Although at 5 feet and nine inches he is hardly an imposing physical presence, Annan makes up for a lack of stature with an impressive amount of strength that is not always obvious when you first see him play. His muscularity in the tackle in combination with a sheer bloody-minded determination allows the Rosenborg man to hold his own against far larger opponents and give both his club and country a certain snap and bite (sometimes a little too literally) in the midfield.

His ability on the ball, the subtler side of his game which is all too often overlooked, was another major factor behind Ghana’s success this summer as he controlled the tempo of matches from deep, calmly linking all facets of the Ghanaian side. Both his regaining of possession and distribution of the ball were key driving forces behind the cohesion of Milovan Rajevac’s Black Stars in what was a superb tournament for the former Hearts of Oak player.

Despite being overlooked by a number of “big” club since moving to Norway – initially with IK Start before moving to Rosenborg – Annan’s performances in South Africa look to have given him an excellent chance of securing a move to one of Europe’s major leagues this summer. The player has recently expressed his desire to move to the Premier League and, with Chelsea and Manchester United rumoured to be looking at Annan, the Ghanaian talisman could have his wish granted in the very near future.

Agentina Fans Hot Cup

And this is why Argentina will win the Soccer World Cup. Their fans like to dress in the nude!

With support from babes like this, how can Argentina go wrong in the Cup? She should be the official Argentina team mascot! The official logo on the shirt! As for after match functions..... I couldn't possibly speak.

Africa Unity Kit won the 2010 Football Boot Awards - PUMA

Thanks to all of your votes, the PUMA Africa Unity Kit won the award for best kit in the 2010 Football Boot Awards hosted by footy-boot.com. The Africa Unity kit was approved by FIFA and it was recognized as the official 3rd kit of all 13 PUMA sponsored African football teams. It even made its way to the first World Cup held in Africa, where it served as the 3^rd kit for the four PUMA sponsored African teams competing.

The award recognizes the visually striking appearance of the kit, but its design is about more than just good looks. The bespoke colourway represents Africa’s sun, skies, and rich soil. The earthy brown of the jersey was created by mixing actual soil samples from Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and South Africa.

PUMA athletes were big supporters of the Unity Kit. Samuel Eto’o, Emanuel Eboue, and John Mensah all posed for a painting by artist Kehinde Wiley while wearing the Unity Kit. Footballer Samuel Eto’o appeared in the “Play for Life” advertising campaign featuring the kit.

And the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt joined the cause and wore an African Unity inspired singlet for his victorious 100-meter race at the Diamond League Series in Shanghai to commemorate International Biodiversity Day on May 22, 2010.

The African Unity Kit helped raise funds and awareness for the “Play for Life” campaign between PUMA and the United Nations Environmental Programme. PUMA donated a portion of the proceeds from the sale of replica PUMA Unity Kits, Unity Tees, and PUMA Lacelets to support conservation projects in Africa chosen by the fans on Facebook.