posted Jan 3, 2008

Having read most of the comments already submitted on this matter, I have to agree with Gavin Peacock on this - Clubs know the situation when they buy these players so they should stop moaning.

Fully agree also with the comments that this is about African football - not European football or the Premier League. Clubs like Chelsea & Portsmouth should spend more time investing in British talent rather than moaning about how unfiar this tournament is. To be fair to Chelsea though, they do contribute to the England team with the likes of the Coles & Terry. They should therefore see the rewards of using British players.

In short the debate is simple - if you don't like it don't buy African players as I am sure Aston Villa are not complaining abo9ut the African nations tournament, why ? send your answers to the manager of Portsmouth.

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posted Jan 3, 2008

Africa is an emerging football nation but how many of the star players are based in Africa ?

The Premier League has a lot a great African talent on show and long may that continue but it may not if teams start to think twice about buying players who they lose for a month every 2 years

It should be moved for that reason but also for another

If it was held in the summer when there was no European Championships or World Cup it would bring a lot of TV revenue for the African countries involved and that could be ploughed back into football in Africa

Plus the fact summer with no footie is dull and having watched some African Nations matches in the past, they were brilliant !

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posted Jan 4, 2008

Has RVTurnbull et al listened to or read the facts surrounding the African nation tournament ? I think not as it has been quite clearly explained (& justified) why this tournament is played when it is, and why it is not played in the summer months.

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posted Jan 4, 2008

no sirDragao

there has been no real explanation

1) many clubs and nations play all over the continent during the summer months

2) as regards to the date and frequency of the CAN

• it has been held in
march
February
December
November
January
april
• its frequency has been 2, 3 ,4 and 5 years

3)" Ibrahima Sonko, Reading and Senegal defender

"My preference would be to play the African Cup of Nations in May. Holding the tournament in the middle of February means that the African players cannot be with their clubs, which can create tension"

4) many coaches like berti vogts advocate a move to summer

5) Chelsea ( acting within their rights) gave drogba an operation which meant he is likely to miss the ACN

6) Portsmouth have held their playsre to letter of the call up

7) the "charerloi case" will influence

- compensation for call ups

-compensation for actual and consequential loss

- who pays for the insurance of a player

- the calender

- the very nature of FIFA approved call up

8) the CAF originally agreed some 8 years ago to move and regularize the CALENDER

the real issue is the idea that ACN could be moved to suit European football - it is not being moved to suit Europe's RICH clubs but to synchronize the FIFA calender

Kind regards

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posted Jan 6, 2008

I found this a ridiculous comment. The African players come to England because of the financial and carreer oppurtunities which they do not have in their countries.It comes down to supply and demand; If clubs find that it is not worth buying Africans because of the ANC then they will not do so.Perhaps this will then make the organisers of the ANC either play the competition every 4 years or change the timing so not to effect the clubs who pay the wages. Are these players stopped 4/6 weeks wages?
To compare the people who disagree with the timing of the ANC to events of 400 years ago is irresponsible and obviously trying to play the race card.

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posted Jan 15, 2008

Europe should not attempt to decide for us what they cannot!They have atleast for this time to dance our tune! It is perfectly fine for us to continue the way we wish it to be based on our environment. If however, we feel there is need for change we shall do so when we want!
Since they need the african players and the players need their money, it is upto them to change the timing of their leagues to fit in ours and not the vice verser.
They should struggle to change their leagues to fit in the timetable of their treasured players and stop capitalising soccer the beautiful game.

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posted Jan 15, 2008

dear sparkleroberto

it is not about Europe or Africa it is about business

that is what what will determine when the tournament is and the ACN needs the best players and a needs income and the players are not contracted to the CAF but to clubs who provide for their lifestyle

kind regards

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posted Jan 18, 2008

The idea that the championship cannot be moved to June-July (too hot) is ridiculous. Why can't they play the games in the evening/night. ... ANd before you start complaining about infracstructure, if a country cannot guarantee electricity supply, it has no business bidding to host the tournament.

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posted Jan 18, 2008

If the Africans continue to hold this tournament in the middle of the European season,eventually, most of the major clubs will stop buying their best players, and they will be forced into playing for the minor teams in Europe for less money, and eventually earning their living on the African continent, which would be a great shame, and would eventually put back African football decades

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posted Jan 29, 2008

The woolly thinking behind European FA's, who should really know better, as to why the African Nations Cup is not played during European summers shows the utter greed and ignorance that they have of world affairs. Just like we in Europe have seasons, so does Africa. Europe and England in particular have created this media circus of big money from TV and brought in players from all over the globe and are now subjecting then to do things on their terms.The sooner with all that mineral wealth in Africa that it gets used to create stronger leagues on that continent and building stronger infrastructures the more say it will have in its own affairs.

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