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The most entertaining goal celebration during the 2010 FIFA
World Cup Celebration Award will be presented by Coca Cola.

During the 2010 FIFA World Cup, all players’ goal celebrations
will be uploaded on to a Celebration Award section of www.fifa.com and fans
will be invited to vote for the most outstanding player celebrations online.

The eventual winner will be rewarded with the first ever FIFA
World Cup Celebration Award, to be presented by Coca Cola.

Players are being asked to “release their African rhythm” and
create some iconic moves that will rival those of the legendary Bebeto of
Brazil doing the cradle dance at the 1994 World Cup; Marco Tardelli’s fainting
run after scoring in the 1982 final against West Germany; Brian Laudrup’s
signature posture in 1998; and Cameroonian, Roger Milla’s corner flag jig in
1990. These spur-of-the-moment celebrations have become embedded in history and
in fans’ hearts.

As an added incentive for players, Coca Cola will contribute
$1,500 to fund the ‘Water for Schools’ initiative in Africa each time a player
celebrates a goal.

Coca Cola will also donate, on behalf of the winning player, an
extra $50,000 to the ‘Water for Schools’ programme to mark the historic
occasion for an anticipated total contribution of $300,000.

Celebrations for water

Coca Cola is using the occasion of the first FIFA World Cup on
African soil to raise awareness of the vital role clean drinking water plays in
developing communities.

For every 10 goal celebrations in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, it is
estimated an entire school could gain clean water access, benefitting nearly 500
children.

By participating in the voting, football fans can have a hand in
supporting clean water initiatives that will leave a lasting legacy of water
sustainability in Africa and beyond.

The Coca Cola award was inspired by Cameroon’s Roger Milla’s iconic
corner flag dance in the 1990 tournament.

Emmanuel Seuge, Group Director, Worldwide Sports and
Entertainment Marketing, The Coca Cola Company, said: “The award has been
created to give players and fans the chance to not only show their passion for
football, but also to tackle the hugely important issue of water sanitation.”

The RAIN community water projects throughout the African
continent by The Coca Cola Africa Foundation reflect the company’s water
stewardship goal of returning to communities and to nature an amount of water
equivalent to what the company uses in all of its beverages and production.

The strategies to achieve this include: reducing the water it
uses; returning all water it uses for manufacturing to the environment, at a
level that supports aquatic life and agriculture; and replenishing healthy
water herds.

It’s finally here;
the first World Cup on African soil! It’s an exciting event anyway,
made even better by the fact that it’s happening on our continent. The
build up is always great too, only slightly blemished this edition by
the fact that there are so many injuries to key players of various
squads. We’ve already lost Mikel Obi to the ‘Chelsea curse,’ so I
joined all Ivorians in a shared gasp of horror when Didier Drogba had
to have surgery. The weight of expectation from African fans is firmly
on the broad shoulders of the premiership top scorer. It would be good
for the game to have a fully fit Drogba at his most lethal.

Injury scares have
dominated recent headlines, with a host of well known internationals
ruled out of the World Cup. Michael Essien, Michael Ballack (that curse
previously mentioned), Rio Ferdinand and Nani to name a few: It’s a
tale for the grandchildren – I was there when Africa first hosted world
soccer.

How will the
African teams fare in the motherland? Looking at the Super Eagles in
Group B], much has been said about remodelling our midfield and
increasing the potency of our attack. Our defence is made up of players
who have barely kicked a ball for their clubs so we are going to need
all those prayers that we are so fond of. The focus is on our first
group game against Argentina on tomorrow.

Though they boast the world’s best player in their squad, Argentina hardly convinced in qualifying.

Add to that an
unpredictable coach who runs over journalist’s feet and we might just
have a look-in. Getting the points from Greece and South Korea will
obviously determine whether we progress or not and I believe we are in
with a chance, but the Eagles must show true grit and passion and
Lagerback had better prove that he is a better tactician than his
predecessor.

In Group A, hosts
South Africa face Mexico in their opening game. Not many people expect
too much from them; however they will enjoy massive crowd support.
Unfortunately, I don’t see the vuvuzelas ushering them past the group
stage. Although fellow group members France qualified by le hand of
Thierry, they might just come good on the world stage and erase a
dismal couple of years.

Algeria in group C
have a good defence; let’s hope that they can keep their men on the
pitch for long enough to actually win a game. Their disciplinary record
at the Cup of Nations was dreadful. I don’t think they will make it
past the group stage. Ghana will face Germany, Australia and Serbia.
The main news is that there will be no Michael Essien. They could do
with his skills and leadership, but they gave a good account of
themselves at the Nations Cup and should progress to the round of 16. I
hope their goalkeeper returns completely fit.

Cameroon is teamed
with Germany, Denmark and Japan. It’s probably better for them that
there is more hype surrounding Cote d’Ivoire. The Drogba-led team got
the short end of the straw in the ‘group of death.’ But a team with so
much talent on paper must make the most of this opportunity to shine on
the world stage. Portugal qualified through the playoffs but still have
a weapon in Ronaldo. Brazil is a very efficient side under Dunga and
are always tournament favourites. For me, Cote d’Ivoire is the great
African hope. They are most likely to progress further than any other
African side. I will be cheering myself hoarse for Africa in Africa and
expect to see a month of great football.

Super Eagles’ captain Nwankwo Kanu believes the Nigerian team is capable of making it all the way in South Africa 2010.

Kanu, who captained
the Nigerian team to a historic gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in
the United States, and who will be making his third World Cup
appearance in South Africa after featuring at the 1998 and 2002
tournaments, believes the Nigerian team can still be in South Africa by
July 11 when the final comes up at Soccer City in Johannesburg.

“Considering what
we have done in 94, 96, 98, everybody believes we are one of the big
countries in Africa, so definitely we have to produce. When we are not
producing, that is when it is difficult. So the pressure comes,” said
Kanu, in an interview with Fifa.com. “For me, I can say we are going to
be up to the semi-finals… maybe even the final. We believe we can
beat any team any time, but you’re going to have to play very well.”

With a team made up
of some of the continent’s best players such as Aiyegbeni Yakubu, Osaze
Odemwingie, Taye Taiwo, and the experienced goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama,
the Super Eagles are capable of springing a couple of surprises in
South Africa. But they also have something going for them which Kanu
feels will help the team’s aspirations in South Africa.

Team spirit

“Our happiness
together is what makes us strong,” continued Kanu. “That’s what makes
the team tick because everybody is friends with each other like family
and brothers and with that we tend to go far. The spirit is like that
now.”

This winning
attitude has also made an impression on Lagerback who only took over
from Shuaibu Amodu in February. “The players have really been
professional in training and everything,” Lagerback told Fifa.com. “We
have travelled a lot and they have done that in a marvellous way. You
see a lot of smiles going around so I really enjoy working with these
guys.”

Mikel loss not a disaster

Not even the late
loss of Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel to a knee injury has dented
this optimism that is coursing through the Super Eagles. “An injury in
football is never a disaster,” said Lagerback. “It’s very sad for
Mikel, and of course for the Super Eagles. He has been one of the best
players for Nigeria. So of course we will miss him, but at the same
time other players step in so it all works, I know it’s a cliché, but
it all works.”

With the previously
unheralded Lukman Haruna playing so well in the team’s build-up
matches, it appears Mikel’s absence won’t be felt by the Super Eagles;
and Kanu attributes this to the country’s talent base.

“Nigeria is always blessed with talented players, quality players,”
he said. “The most important thing is to work as a team and that is
what we are doing. Nobody knows what we can come up with on any day. On
our good day it’s difficult to handle us.”

With a successor already been named to take the reins of affairs
off him after the World Cup, French coach, Raymond Domenech, will today try to
shame his critics as he leads the ‘Les Blues’ out against U.ruguay in the
second match in this year’s World Cup Finals tournament in South Africa.

Both France and Uruguay made their way to the World Cup via the
back door after missing out on automatic qualification from their respective
regions and had to bank on playoffs to make it to South Africa. For France, who
only narrowly made the finals after controversially beating Ireland through a
dubious goal tagged the ‘Hand of Henry,’ they will be looking to prove this
isn’t going to be another poor World Cup for them.

Despite previous good performances, winning the World Cup in
‘98, and coming second in 2006, they have also had their less glorious moments,
such as their famously terrible run in 2002, where the holders of the cup went
out in the group stages without scoring a single goal; the first time in
football history this had happened.

Unimpressive preparations

However their warm-up matches were anything but impressive; with
a narrow win over Costa Rica being followed by a draw with Tunisia and a defeat
to China. Things aren’t right yet in the French camp to outrightly suggest them
to turn it around against Uruguay, who may turn out to be their toughest
opponents in Group A.

The South Americans have a weak defence, but a formidable attack
which contains two very good strikers in Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez, and one
of them should be able to break through against a French defence that has
conceded in each of its last five outings. If Uruguay is unable to beat France,
they would definitely be happy with a draw. France has never beaten Uruguay in
the World Cup. La Celeste Olímpica beat Les Bleus 2-1 in the group stages of
England 1966. France’s impotent run during the 2002 World Cup continued against
Uruguay with a 0-0 draw.

On two different occasions he missed the chance to play in the
finals of two big tournaments in his young career. Now he has a rare chance to
showcase his football talents at the highest stage.

Lukman Haruna, who also has an Igbo name, Ifeanyi- his mother
hails from the South-Eastern part of Nigeria- is the new sensation soccer
followers across the country are banking on to help the Super Eagles stop the
La Seleccion of Argentina tomorrow at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg in
our opening group game of the South Africa 2010 World Cup.

Haruna was one of two key players who missed the final of the
CAF U-17 Championship in Togo in 2007(Daniel Joshua was the other player) after
they were knocked out by knee injuries. He was the captain of the team but he
watched from the sidelines as an extra time pile-driver from Kabiru Akinsola
propelled gave the Golden Eaglets to a lone goal victory over host Togo at
Stade Kegue in Lome.

And less than a year after being fingered for playing a part in
the Flying Eagles’ elimination at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt, Haruna has
found himself a key figure in the Super Eagles’ quest for success at this
year’s Mundial. Surprisingly, it took barely a week of training and two
friendly games for Eagles handler, Lars Lagerback to include him in his World
Cup squad, while former coach, Shuaibu Amodu had the opportunity of working
with the former Eaglets’ skipper for almost two years, yet he was only good
enough as a training material. Haruna played some part in Nigeria’s
preparations during the 2010 World Cup qualifiers but he never got the chance
to prove his mettle under Amodu.

Instant impact

No other Eagles player has enjoyed media frenzy more than the AS
Monaco midfielder in the past one week, which is not surprising because he
seems to possess that important quality that has been lacking in the Eagles
midfield for a long time now- creativity. Even Yakubu Aiyegbeni is already
hoping the young midfielder would help him to achieve his tall dream of
becoming the top scorer in South Africa! With Haruna in the Eagles, the loss of
John Mikel Obi to injury is not expected to have a damaging impact on the
Eagles, like the absence of Didier Drogba may have on Cote‘d Ivoire.

Most people were already giving Haruna the nod ahead of Mikel
(his idol) for the Eagles playmaker role before the Chelsea midfielder decided
to pull out of the competition last weekend. Mikel has not been convincing
going forward, and that is where Haruna has shown promise in the last three
friendlies against Saudi Arabia, Colombia and North Korea. Indeed, Haruna is
one of our few options to produce goal out of nothing against Argentina from
either set plays or in the run of play. He is said to have emerged the best in
shooting practice among the Eagles as the ferocious power of Taiye Taiwo is
fast fading into oblivion.

Talented but fiery

But Lagerback has our own version of Wayne Rooney in the Monaco
man. Talented, yet fiery. The British media have focused their attention on the
need for the Manchester United striker to keep his cool as opponents could wind
him up to be sent off, with their opening game against the United States
tomorrow at Rustenburg looming. They believe Rooney’s dismissal would spell
doom for the Three Lions.

Our Eagles cannot afford to play with numerical disadvantage
against Argentina, so it is hoped our Swedish coach and his technical crew must
have emphasized the need to maintain calm and get the job done for Haruna ahead
of this game. He has so much to prove to Nigerians with his talent. We only
hope he would deliver.

On paper, Nigeria and Argentina are not in the same class.
Argentina has won the World Cup twice, while Nigeria has never advanced beyond
the second round; but such is the weight of expectations on these two sides as
they head into Saturday’s Group B opener in Johannesburg.

The pressure is even more on the Argentines who come into the
game as outright favourites no thanks to the immense quality they possess in
every department of the field from a defence line marshalled by Inter Milan’s
Walter Samuel right down to a forward line boasting of the world’s best player,
Lionel Messi, and an embarrassment of other riches such as Carlos Tevez and
Diego Milito.

“People talk a lot about Messi, forgetting that there are other
very good players in the Argentine team, such as Tevez and Milito,” said
Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins. “It’s a team game and we also have our own
stars for the day.”

Left-back, Taye Taiwo also echoed the views of his team-mate.
“We know Messi is a good player and we can’t allow him to roam round the park
just like that,” he said. “But we also have our great players. They’ve got a
couple of great players and we’ve also got a couple of great players.”

Self-destructive Maradona

On paper, Argentina should be contending with the likes of
Brazil and Spain but in Diego Maradona, they have a coach who many consider as
the biggest obstacle to their quest of winning the World Cup for a third time.
It is for this singular reason that Nigerians back home will be glued in front
of their TV sets confident of the Super Eagles chances of scraping out a result
against the South Americans even though that is something that has never been
accomplished by a Nigerian side at the World Cup.

In the Super Eagles’ three previous tournament appearances, they
have met the Albiceleste on two occasions, most recently a lone goal defeat in
2002 which was preceded by a 2-1 loss eight years earlier in the United States
which marked the last of Maradona’s 91 caps for Argentina following which he
was disgraced out of the World Cup after testing positive for banned
substances. Argentina also defeated Nigeria 2-1 at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in
2005 as well as 1-0 in the final of the Olympic Games in 2008.

Nigerian domination

But it hasn’t always gone the way of the Argentines as both
sides played out a goalless draw at the 1995 FIFA Confederations Cup before
Nigeria defeated them 3-2 at the Atlanta 1996 Men’s Olympic Football Tournament
with a side captained by the legendary Nwankwo Kanu. Now 33, Kanu, if he plays
on Saturday, will be meeting the Argentines for the fourth time, the first of
which was at the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Japan where the Golden Eaglets
defeated their Argentine counterparts 4-0 before that slim loss in 2002, and he
believes the encounter at Ellis Park can go Nigeria’s way.

“Argentina have the big-name players and everyone respects
them,” Kanu told Kickoff.com. “We also acknowledge that they are good and great
players. But Argentina also have the same respect for us because they know the
quality of our team and know that there is plenty that we can come up with at
anytime. Yes, it will be tough but I believe we can overcome on the day. It is
the World Cup and things do happen.”

The fear of Lagerback

Under Lars Lagerback, the Super Eagles appear to have a newfound
confidence and don’t seem as predictable as they were under erstwhile coach
Shaibu Amodu. The Swedish strategist will be hoping to come out unscathed once
again against the Argentines after overseeing a 1-1 draw back in 2002 which
sealed Argentina’s elimination from the tournament. No wonder the Argentine
team has been working overtime at their training sessions as revealed by their
defender Gabriel Heinze.

“We’re all really good without any problems and fired up to get on the
field. We’ve been practicing at a very good level, and you’ll see it on
Saturday,” the defender who plays alongside Taiwo at French champions Marseille
told reporters in Pretoria shortly after Wednesday evening’s training session.
Nevertheless, Heinze says his teammates should beware as the Super Eagles “are
a strong and direct outfit” under Lagerback. “They are very athletic and
physically strong, and they have some quick players,” he continued, before
adding: “We know many of them from playing them in European clubs.”

About 30 hours to
kickoff and Johannesburg, where the opening ceremony will hold, is agog
with people blowing the vuvuzela on the streets, flags aloft on every
conceivable place, the fever is endemic.

What has added to
D-day hype is the fact that Madiba, Nelson Mandela will be present at
the opening ceremony at Soccer City, Soweto. This was confirmed by SAFA
boss, Irwin Khoza on Supersport on Tuesday and Mandela’s grandson,
Mandla who said: “We’re trying to see how long he will stay. At least
10 to 15 minutes,” he stated.

Vuvuzela banned

It seems the fear
of the vuvuzela is the beginning of wisdom. The trumpets have been
banned whenever national anthems are being rendered. The Jacob Zuma-led
government urged soccer fans on to refrain from blowing vuvuzelas while
national anthems are being played in stadiums during the World Cup.
“The government calls on South Africans to stand to attention – with
their hands placed at their sides – while singing the national anthem,”
government spokesman, Themba Maseko said on national television. “The
government urges audiences not to move around, hold conversations or
blow vuvuzelas during performances of the anthem.”

Roads will be closed

For Friday’s
opening match between South Africa and Mexico, and for others at Soccer
City, the entire Soweto Highway between Mentz Street in Booysens and
the N1 freeway will be closed 24 hours before kick-off. Other major
routes that cannot be accessed without special permits include Rand
Show Road, Nasrec Road and the new N17 link. Residents will be diverted
to alternative routes on match days.

With the
commencement of the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa just hours
away, Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagles, has continued to
receive support from within and outside Nigeria.

The Eagles are
billed to face 1978 and 1986 champions, Argentina in the opening game
of Group Bat the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. The
outcome of that match will have serious implications for Nigeria’s
quest for a semi-final slot at the tournament. And Starcomms, one of
Nigeria’s leading telecommunications companies, has called on the
Eagles to lift their game at the World Cup.

The company’s Chief
Commercial Officer, Tushar Maheshwari, in a goodwill message to the
players urged them to put in their very best and refuse to be
intimidated by any team, noting that like any other team in the
tournament; they have the chance of winning the trophy.

Describing the
Super Eagles, as one of Africa’s best teams at the tournament, he urged
them to use their unmatched skills to score goals that would bring
honour to their fatherland during the month-long football fiesta.
According to him, the Super Eagles have been known to perform very well
when least expected, saying that the boys have “the capacity to perform
miracles.”

On the
all-important clash with Argentina, Maheshwari said the Eagles have the
swiftness to demobilise the Argentines urging the Nigerian players not
to see the South Americans as mountains they cannot. He added that the
Eagles should not to resign themselves to finishing second in the group
as the Argentines are not unbeatable.

Rallying fans

Maheshwari has
urged Nigerians not to focus on how the team qualified for the World
Cup, noting that: “The Argentines struggled to qualify for the world
cup as well, let us not forget that at all.”

As part of plans to
ensure that its subscribers get a feel of the World Cup, Starcomms has
made available a number of football based caller tunes that will excite
them as they enjoy the tournament. The Eagles are drawn to play
Argentina, South Korea and Greece in the competition’s group stage.

Argentine defender
Nicolas Burdisso has declared Saturday’s World Cup opener against the
Super Eagles in Johannesburg a must win encounter for the South
Americans if they are to have a successful campaign in South Africa.

The Albiceleste are
one of the favourites for the World Cup, and are widely expected to
qualify from Group B where they have for company Nigeria, Greece and
South Korea. Argentina’s quest for a third World Cup title, and their
first since 1986, begins on Saturday with a tie against the Super
Eagles at Ellis Park and most pundits expect them to secure a win
against a Nigerian side that has always lost to South American
opposition at the World Cup.

Nigeria’s South American hoodoo

The Super Eagles
lost 2-1 to Argentina at their debut World Cup appearance in 1994
before losing 3-1 to another South American side, Paraguay four years
later at France 98. This was followed by a 1-0 loss to the Argentines
in both sides opening match of the 2002 World Cup co-hosted by South
Korea and Japan, where the Super Eagles and the Albicelestes failed to
advance beyond the first round. Despite parading a star studded side
and playing a brand of football that was pleasing to the eye, it was
the first time since the 1962 tournament in Chile that the Argentines
didn’t qualify for the knockout rounds of the World Cup.

And as they get set
to meet the Super Eagles for the third time in the World Cup, Inter
Milan defender Burdisso has told his team-mates that victory over the
Nigerian side, and not playing well is all that matters, even though he
admits it will be a difficult task getting a win over the Super Eagles.

Win first, entertain later

“I give more value
to starting the tournament with a win than to playing well,” said
Burdisso in an interview with Fifa.com. “There is a lot of anxiety and
to start with a win would mean a lot to us. We must win our first game
and although it will be difficult, we have to know that a good result
is all that matters.”

The Argentines, who are in South Africa with a team comprising of
some of the best players on the planet such as current World and
European Player of the Year, Lionel Messi; Real Madrid’s leading scorer
from the just concluded season, Gonzalo Higuain; and Inter Milan’s
Champions League final hero, Diego Milito. There’s also Manchester
City’s Carlos Tevez, Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano, as well as Atletico
Madrid’s Sergio Aguero who is the son in-law of their superstar coach
Diego Maradona.

The Super Eagles have been urged to go
all out and defeat Argentina in the opener with the guarantee that
their winning bonuses will be promptly paid by the Nigeria Football
Federation.

Issues arising from unpaid bonuses have
always had a disruptive effect in the Super Eagles especially at
international tournaments but the football house is out to ensure that
nothing like that happens at the World Cup.

“We know it is not about the money, as
every player wants to play in the World Cup and give his best,
especially against the very big teams (such as Argentina),” said NFF
President Sani Lulu who is presently in South Africa.

“Our players have made it clear they are not after the money at this
tournament,” continued Lulu. “But the money could also serve as added
incentive as they go for the three points.”