… are soon with us. Campaigning has already started and this year it seems to be rather tense and all signs show that it will be a close call since there are two groups contesting, SDM and ACT; the latter formed by members from various student organisations. At a glance one might say that SDM are PN’s representatives on campus whilst ACT are independent, but when one sees that in ACT’s ranks there is PULSE, it might make one think whether they really are 100 % ‘independent’. On seeing the comments made by students on ACT’s website and on the Times of Malta, one can see that this might be one of the few elections that will go down the line.
Heavy campaigning has already started, with team launches, handing out of glossy manifestos, tents set up on quad with Wii and table-soccer games available to be used by all and sundry so as to lure every possible vote.
What is most important is that the winning group continues with the initially shown enthusiasm all throughout the year and that it does not fizzle out just like a Coke that is left for too long in the sun. Any decision taken should be done taking into account the student and not a party’s particular fancy. Many would appreciate if politics are left out completely within university boundaries… Malta is already exasperated enough with politics as it is!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
A regeneration of the Italian national football team
The term 'young players' is not really synonymous with Italian teams as is with the case of English and Spanish teams. This because Italian teams prefer to buy and have faith in tried and tested players rather than some unknown promising talent. The rationale behind this way of seeing things being that success can be 'acquired' quicker when buying experienced players rather than having patience in nurturing young talent. In time this has backfired on Italian teams for they now find themselves in a quandrum having to revolutionise their teams at a relatively high cost so as to become competitive as they once were, especially in Europe, whilst English and Spanish teams have the luxury of aiming to buy one or two quality players to complement their already existing competitive teams.
Yet Italy has always produced good quality young players and testimony to this are the 5 European Under-21 championships won since 1992.
Following is a list of potential young players that may have an important role to play with the Italian football national team in the coming years:
Goalkeepers: Amelia (Palermo), Consigli (Atalanta), Viviano (Brescia), Curci (on loan with Siena from Roma).
Defenders: Santacroce (Napoli), Santon (Inter), Criscito and Bocchetti (Genoa), Chiellini, De Ceglie and Ariaudo (Juventus), Motta (on loan with Roma from Udinese), De Silvestri (Lazio), Andreolli (on loan with Sassuolo from Inter), Bonera and Darmian (Milan).
Midfielders: De Rossi and Aquilani (Roma), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Marchisio (Juventus), Cigarini (co-owned between Atalanta and Parma), Dessena (co-owned between Sampdoria and Parma), Bolzoni (Inter), Pirlo (Milan).
Attackers: Giovinco (Juventus), Rossi (Villareal), Acquafresca (co-owned between Cagliari and Inter), Gilardino (Fiorentina), Balotelli (Inter), Paloschi (co-owned between Parma and Milan), Cerci (on loan with Atalanta from Roma), Lanzafame (on loan with Bari from Palermo), Paolucci (co-owned between Catania and Udinese), Osvaldo (Bologna), Pepe and Quagriaella (Udinese).
This is obviously not an exhaustive list and I am pretty positive that their are other promising Italian players that can be included in this list.
Many Italian teams have started to realize that the way forward without spending too much money is investing wisely in their youth academies. It is often the case that players that manage to make the grade from the youth team are usually a bit more passionate when playing than other players so this can be considered as an added bonus when investing and having patience with young players.
One hopes that in a year's time, there will be more than one Italian team in the combined final draw of the Champions League and the newly rebranded Uefa Europe League that will replace the current Uefa Cup as from July 2009.
Yet Italy has always produced good quality young players and testimony to this are the 5 European Under-21 championships won since 1992.
Following is a list of potential young players that may have an important role to play with the Italian football national team in the coming years:
Goalkeepers: Amelia (Palermo), Consigli (Atalanta), Viviano (Brescia), Curci (on loan with Siena from Roma).
Defenders: Santacroce (Napoli), Santon (Inter), Criscito and Bocchetti (Genoa), Chiellini, De Ceglie and Ariaudo (Juventus), Motta (on loan with Roma from Udinese), De Silvestri (Lazio), Andreolli (on loan with Sassuolo from Inter), Bonera and Darmian (Milan).
Midfielders: De Rossi and Aquilani (Roma), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Marchisio (Juventus), Cigarini (co-owned between Atalanta and Parma), Dessena (co-owned between Sampdoria and Parma), Bolzoni (Inter), Pirlo (Milan).
Attackers: Giovinco (Juventus), Rossi (Villareal), Acquafresca (co-owned between Cagliari and Inter), Gilardino (Fiorentina), Balotelli (Inter), Paloschi (co-owned between Parma and Milan), Cerci (on loan with Atalanta from Roma), Lanzafame (on loan with Bari from Palermo), Paolucci (co-owned between Catania and Udinese), Osvaldo (Bologna), Pepe and Quagriaella (Udinese).
This is obviously not an exhaustive list and I am pretty positive that their are other promising Italian players that can be included in this list.
Many Italian teams have started to realize that the way forward without spending too much money is investing wisely in their youth academies. It is often the case that players that manage to make the grade from the youth team are usually a bit more passionate when playing than other players so this can be considered as an added bonus when investing and having patience with young players.
One hopes that in a year's time, there will be more than one Italian team in the combined final draw of the Champions League and the newly rebranded Uefa Europe League that will replace the current Uefa Cup as from July 2009.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
The English Job
I would have preferred using 'The Italian Job' as a title but unfortunatly because of a number of factors all the Italian teams have been eliminated from the Champions League... and we haven't yet arrived at the quarter-finals stage! On the one hand English football has registered an impressive en plein with Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd and Arsenal qualifying for the quarter-finals but all three Italian teams, namely Juventus, Inter and Roma have been eliminated uncerimoniously by the current greatness of English football.
The signs have been there for quite some time that Italian football is losing its allure when compared to the English and Spanish leagues. Teams from these two leagues have been dominating in Europe for the last few years, taking over from what was once an undisputed dominance from the Italian teams.
Even though the English teams have an advantage financially-wise when compared to teams from other countries when it comes to money derived from television rights, what is needed is an overhaul in the Italian football culture. New, modern and more comfortable stadiums where whole families can watch a game without the risk of violence erupting are badly needed, less exasperation when it comes to dealing with referees and relations between Italian teams have to improve. Also English and Spanish teams put alot of faith in young players while this is rather lacking in Italian teams, with the odd exception here and there.
The signs have been there for quite some time that Italian football is losing its allure when compared to the English and Spanish leagues. Teams from these two leagues have been dominating in Europe for the last few years, taking over from what was once an undisputed dominance from the Italian teams.
Even though the English teams have an advantage financially-wise when compared to teams from other countries when it comes to money derived from television rights, what is needed is an overhaul in the Italian football culture. New, modern and more comfortable stadiums where whole families can watch a game without the risk of violence erupting are badly needed, less exasperation when it comes to dealing with referees and relations between Italian teams have to improve. Also English and Spanish teams put alot of faith in young players while this is rather lacking in Italian teams, with the odd exception here and there.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
The parking situation at University and in Msida...
... is utterly ridiculous! Spending over an hour to find parking in the University/Msida area has become the norm rather than something that only occasionally takes place. Some time ago the idea of a new undergound/multi-storey car park had been mooted but shot down because of environmental reasons. While this point of view is understandable because of the ever-increasing number of building sites that are mushrooming around the island, neither are the innumerous ammount of cars going around University and/or Msida on a daily basis being very healthy for the residents and people who work in this area.
A plausible solution could be that of building a car park in an area in Car park 6. In this way no virgin land will taken away for this cause and it is pretty close to the hospital and can reach two aims; the first being that it won't be the only building in the area and thus will not jar with the surrounding landscape. I am also sure that with the number of quality architects that there are, a practical and pleasing design may be found. Second, it can help solve the parking quandrum both for hospital visitors, students and for the Msida residents and all those working in the area. This because less students will park in the Msida area whilst medical students can leave their cars in this car park without taking up additional space in the hospital car park.
If a minimal fee is put into place, I doubt it would irk the students, including me, for I can safely bet that more money is wasted in fuel when going round in circles in an attempt to find a parking slot. Outsiders may also use this car park but preference should be given to students, especially during peak hours when finding a parking slot is tantamount to finding the infamous golden pot at the end of a rainbow.
Other solutions do exist, aimed mostly at students and hospital visitors. The first involves the implementation of a sensible and well studied car-sharing system aimed primarily at students. Another possible answer to this problem would be a marked improvement in the public transport system.
A plausible solution could be that of building a car park in an area in Car park 6. In this way no virgin land will taken away for this cause and it is pretty close to the hospital and can reach two aims; the first being that it won't be the only building in the area and thus will not jar with the surrounding landscape. I am also sure that with the number of quality architects that there are, a practical and pleasing design may be found. Second, it can help solve the parking quandrum both for hospital visitors, students and for the Msida residents and all those working in the area. This because less students will park in the Msida area whilst medical students can leave their cars in this car park without taking up additional space in the hospital car park.
If a minimal fee is put into place, I doubt it would irk the students, including me, for I can safely bet that more money is wasted in fuel when going round in circles in an attempt to find a parking slot. Outsiders may also use this car park but preference should be given to students, especially during peak hours when finding a parking slot is tantamount to finding the infamous golden pot at the end of a rainbow.
Other solutions do exist, aimed mostly at students and hospital visitors. The first involves the implementation of a sensible and well studied car-sharing system aimed primarily at students. Another possible answer to this problem would be a marked improvement in the public transport system.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
The beauty of football
I was easily tempted to comment about Mourinho's uncalled for and shameful outburst or about Balotelli's arrogant goal celebrations in Inter's game against Roma, which certainly don't put Italian football in a very good light. Instead I'd like to focus on the beautiful aspect of the world's most popular sport, that is spectacular goals which become part of football history.
One of these goals was scored by Mascara from an even further distance than the one scored by
Maradona. Apart from its beauty this goal holds a special significance for Mascara as it was scored against Palermo, Catania's most bitter rivals. Following is a link of this grand goal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z4s7qPc790
Other memorable goals include Quagliarella's goal against Chievo 2 seasons ago, Vieri's goal against Siena when playing with Atalanta in the same season, Maradona's coast-to-coast goal against England in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, Adriano's bullet freekick against Real Madrid in a summer friendly a couple of years ago, a wickedly curving freekick by Roberto Carlos in a Brazil-Italy Confederations Cup match of 1997 and Beckham's goal from midfield in the beginning of his career against Wimbledon... just to mention a few!
Following are a few links that should appease most football fans with a couple of fantastic goals!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_dRwsx9ERs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-nDwt4_q8E&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr7FAACFoQ8&feature=related
One of these goals was scored by Mascara from an even further distance than the one scored by
Maradona. Apart from its beauty this goal holds a special significance for Mascara as it was scored against Palermo, Catania's most bitter rivals. Following is a link of this grand goal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z4s7qPc790
Other memorable goals include Quagliarella's goal against Chievo 2 seasons ago, Vieri's goal against Siena when playing with Atalanta in the same season, Maradona's coast-to-coast goal against England in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, Adriano's bullet freekick against Real Madrid in a summer friendly a couple of years ago, a wickedly curving freekick by Roberto Carlos in a Brazil-Italy Confederations Cup match of 1997 and Beckham's goal from midfield in the beginning of his career against Wimbledon... just to mention a few!
Following are a few links that should appease most football fans with a couple of fantastic goals!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_dRwsx9ERs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-nDwt4_q8E&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr7FAACFoQ8&feature=related
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