Monday 30th September / Sport Page39
Bluebirds left empty handed Report by David Williams FOR CARDIFF City supporters the last year has dealt them the highs and lows of modern day football. From the ecstasy of the FA Cup win over Leeds to the dramatic defeat in the play-offs to Stoke, the past nine months have been a rollercoaster ride. With the Sam Hammam regime firmly in place and a solid start to the season, the prospect of a 3rd round FA Cup meeting with Premiership giants Leeds United was almost too good to be true. The incentive for the Cardiff players was not just a financial one, but a real chance to show other clubs that they meant business. However, after a goal by Mark Viduka the prospect of progressing to the next round seemed far away. Yet, a superb free-kick just before half-time though from player of the season Graham Kavanagh brought the scores level and with only five minutes remaining Scott Young pounced to score and send the Cardiff supporters into raptures. However, the repercussions of the celebratory pitch invasion which followed had lasting effects on Cardiff's season.
And the ensuing crowd trouble led to a severe reprimand by the games governing bodies. After defeat in the 4th round to Tranmere the players were able to concentrate on the league. But it was not long before another set back for the club when manager Alan Cork, after a successful term in charge was replaced with Lennie Lawrence. Lawrence's impact was immediate. He went back to his old club Middlesbrough to sign youngster Andy Campbell, an England under21 international. Campbell teamed up with another million pound man, Peter Thorne, and together they proved to be the most potent attack in the second division. With the automatic places going to Brighton and Reading, Cardiff had to settle for the play-offs, where Stoke City would be their opponents in the semi-final. A 1-1 draw in the first-leg looked promising as the teams met for the return at Ninian Park, and Cardiff's prospects had looked even better when they took a 1-0 half-time lead. With the game entering the last minute and Stoke throwing everyone forward the unthinkable happened and the Potters equalised. And with the Bluebirds in shock, Stoke struck five minutes from the final whistle to end the dream of the Cardiff supporters. The pre-season period was a time of reflection for the players and supporters. What could have been a new season in division one, is another in division two. Exactly what Sam Hammam hadn't planned for his club. With a long season ahead and a poor start already, the 20022003 campaign could be another tough one for the
Controversial Sam Hammam
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Buck tooth wonder returns Rugby preview Cont. from back page
Report by Riath Al-Samarrai
STANDING TEARFUL in the Yokohama Stadium clutching the Jules Rimet Trophy, the token of a life’s work, Ronaldo, third time lucky had claimed football’s greatest prize. Arguably one of the greatest players of the modern day era, Ronaldo had always been on the verge of the crowning glory that would define an already distinguished career. Four years previous, Ronaldo cut an all together different picture. Coming into the fifteenth FIFA World Cup Finals at France ‘98, only 21 years of age, already twice crowned World Player of the Year, Ronaldo carried the weight of a world’s expectations on his shoulders. The pace, strength and skill that had set the football world alight would be on display for all to see and failure was not an option. Not since the flair exploits of Maradona, Pele and Best has any one player courted so much attention. In the Parisian moonlight at the Stade d’France, on the night of the final against host nation France, Ronaldo was again tearful, though not with joy. The pressure had told. Lining up to take to the field Ronaldo looked unfit and was clearly not himself. Ronaldo was slow, his usually sharp cutting edge had been blunted, and the smile he wore had been turned upside down. Ronaldo looked like a man just going through the motions. It was an impostor out there, not the shining light of the samba boys that had shone in the build up to the finals. Brazil lost that final 3-0, and the rumour mills were turning at pace with stories suggesting reasons why, on the ideal stage to show his superiority, Ronaldo failed to perform. Ronaldo allegedly suffered a fit on the eve of the final, and was subsequently removed from the Brazilian squad, only to be drawn back in the last minute, fuelling speculation that national team sponsors Nike had demanded that their most marketable face would have to play. This was the spark to the touch paper that would instigate four years of hell. Exhausted and humiliated after Paris, Ronaldo returned to play for Italian side Inter Milan at the start of the 98/99 season.
However, the tide was turning, after enjoying numerous successes as the world’s most gifted player, things started to go wrong, beginning with him being struck down with a crippling knee injury that would keep him on the sidelines for seven months. In the space of just a few weeks, Ronaldo, known as "The Phenomenon" in Italy for his immense talent, had fallen from grace. One minute he was billed as "the next Pele," but soon became the game’s biggest underachiever since George Best. Only minutes into his highly publicised comeback Ronaldo again incurred the wrath of the football gods. Turning to escape a challenge from Lazio defender Fernando Couto, the right knee went again but this time it was more serious. Staring up to another year in the stands Ronaldo brakes down, and even considered quitting the game that has given him so much heartbreak. From the hostility of the Parisian crowd to the humidity of the San Siero, "The Phenomenon" had seen it all come and go. Over the next couple of years of rigorous rehabilitation and numerous cancelled comeback attempts, Ronalo’’s big comeback could not have been any more dramatic. Playing a few games at the back end of the Italian domestic season, and a couple of meaningless international friendlies Ronaldo would be put on trial in front of the world all over again. Japan and Korea would play host to the football extravaganza Eight years after watching Romario and co lift the cup in America as an unused squad member aged just seventeen, and four years after his heartbreak in France, Brazil’s favourite son would return to the world stage with a point to prove. Forget Zidane, Rivaldo, Figo and any other who dared to contend for the title of world’s greatest player, Ronaldo was back to reclaim the title that injury had robbed from him. Lacking match fitnes, many expected Ronaldo to struggle, but moments after the whistle sounded in Brazil’s opener against Turkey, donning his famous number nine jersey, the bucktoothed wonder was again tormenting defences with that mesmerising pace and predatory instinct, and got himself on the
score sheet. The first of six strikes that would help Brazil through to their third final in succession. The final would mark Ronaldo’s comeback. The second attempt to cap his career. Standing on the brink of the Golden Boot award, Ronaldo was back with a vengeance but was far from finished. In the final Ronaldo claimed both goals in a 2-0 defeat of Germany to not only return Brazil to the pinnacle of world football, but to reinstate himself as the face of football. The Bernabeau of Real Madrid is the new stomping ground, and though he is yet to make his debut, expect more fireworks from the samba star.
things couldn’t be more critical. With only seven points and a win over Ulster to show for their efforts, they will need to call on their international players to take them into the knock-out stages of the competition. With the seemingly impossible task of beating New Zealand in November, Welsh coach Steve Hansen will at least have the chance to build up his team’s confidence with a match in Wrexham against Romania. Hansen will then have Fiji and Canada to face before the All Blacks and the Six Nations starting in March. With the current form of the Welsh teams in the Celtic League, Hansen will be hoping for a turnaround in fortunes for the Welsh.
GR SPORTS QUIZ The definitive sports quiz, with prizes to match. This week, a signed copy of the official FAW Yearbook from Ryan Giggs, a signed pot noodle from Gary Linekar, and (oddly) a copy of Bar Wars:Exposed from George Best. Don’t ask. Email entries to grsport@hotmail.com 1.Who holds the longest standing men’s track record? 2.Who was Glamorgan’s leading wicket-taker in their Norwich Union Championship winning side this season? 3.Which football team plays at the Walkers Bowl? 4.Richie Burnett competes in which sport? 5.Where do Wigan Warriors play their rugby league home games? 6.Alan McNish features in which sport? 7.Which football team did Ian Botham play for? 8.Who holds the men’s long jump World record? 9.Sheffield Steelers play which sport? 10.How many players are on a netball team? 11.Who has scored the most international goals for the England football team? 12.Which rugby union team plays at the Gnoll? 13.Who won cricket’s County Championship first division this season? 14.How many times has Tim Henman reached the Wimbledon semi-finals? 15.Who won the men’s 100m at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester?
16.How many times has Michael Schumacher won the World Driver’s title 17.Where do Hampshire play their home cricket matches? 18.Where was this year’s Ryder Cup held? 19.Who contested the first rugby World Cup final? 20.Who won the 1996 cricket World Cup? 21.What is Everton’s nickname? 22.Where were the 1968 Olympics held? 23.What is the maximum break in snooker? 24.Who is the only footballer to have played in Manchester, Merseyside and Glasgow derbies? 25.What is the maximum checkout in darts? 26.How many ways can you be out in cricket? 27.What sport has the largest playing surface: 28.What is the minimum number of points needed to win a set in tennis? 29.Who did Mark Williams beat to win snooker’s World Championship in 2000? 30.And finally, name one sport featured in the International King of Sports tv show?
Giggs and his carrier bag, Helsinki and Tai Chi Geraint Rowlands and Meurig Hughes reporting from Helsinki FLYING OUT with a band of Welshmen on a trip to Scandinavia seemed pretty daunting at first. The preparations were made in a pub last April and all seemed well. Now, sitting in the departure lounge at 9:00 am with the bar full of red shirts and singing, it didn’t seem so cosy. Touch down in Helsinki about 4:00pm having negotiated Copenhagen Airport on the way. Being rather drunk, travelling to two different time zones and
visiting England, Denmark and Finland before 4pm was no mean feat considering this had all been planned by two idiots at closing time from a little pub half way up some mountain in North Wales. The FA of Wales had been kind enough to supply us with two press passes to all the pre-game press events, the game itself and post match interviews. Bargain! The power of gair rhydd had once again achieved so much, but we had eaten so little so Mr Ronald McDonald came to the rescue. In the middle of Scandinavia what would be more appropriate than to sample the local drinking
establishments, and of course Molly Malone’s Irish Bar fitted the bill nicely. Guinness appears to have conquered the majority of the Western world and Helsinki was no exception. Saturday morning came all too quickly and the beauty of Helsinki came to light. The wonderful lakes and parks that are scattered around the city are an ideal place to chill out and practice some Tai Chi. The people of Finland were a breath of fresh air, as everybody seemed adamant to help us have a blinding weekend in their Capital City. The match itself was a
storm of emotion, as most Welsh matches tend to be. Finland being dominant in possession, and yet Wales leading at half time. The second goal simply personified the whole weekend. Wales taking all three points from Helsinki but the Finn’s were still pleasant and far more jovial than we would have been having lost 2-0! Meeting the Welsh team after the game gave us the opportunity to chat with Gary Speed and Ryan Giggs, though why Giggsy chose to carry his kit in a bin bag compared to the Gucci offerings the rest of the squad were carrying, was beyond us both.
A slightly aggressive banner is a must Take some advice – travel to watch your team abroad on
the next available occasion.