So first off, I would like to wish all of you a very happy new year. I hope that 2011 fills all your sports wishes (unless they are against Arsenal, Cheetahs, Chiefs, Mclaren, Clare Vale, Ernie Els, Andy Roddick, The Titans, Bafana, Proteas or Ryan Sandes!) come true this year.
So as we look towards 2011, it seems only right that we do the All Things Jabu Thing and identify some sport highlights for the year ahead!
9 September - 23 October (New Zealand)
The Springboks are defending champions and after a very very mediocre 2010 will definately not be favourites for the World Cup. Nobody has ever defended the title and further no one has won the World Cup three times. New Zealand are a different force when they are playing at home and coach Graham Henry has surely learnt that they do not want to play France again! Its going to be brilliant!
19 February - 2 April (India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh)
South Africa are Chokers at World Cricket tournaments, but never before has a World Cup been so up for grabs. Australia are in serious decline, England are World T20 champions but struggle in the sub continent. South Africa have an inability to play spin and lack a talented all rounder which leaves a rather long tail. I'm thinking its all pointing at the Indians. Although do not discredit the Sri Lankans or even dare I say it, the Pakistanis.
11 March - 27 November (all over the world)
Last year was the best Formula 1 season in years. There were four drivers in the title race until the last race. Will we see another Brawn / Red Bull emergence this year. Will Ferrari and Mclaren finally deliver a faultless season. Will Massa finally realise he races for a big team? Will Hamilton and Button clash over who is the best brit? It bodes to be an exciting series. Where hopefully Mclaren will win the constructors title!
14 November - 20 November (Melbourne)
The one and only outright win for the International team came in 1998 at Melbourne. 2011 will again take place down under. Greg Norman is the captain of the International side and for South Africans we currently have 5 golfers who would qualify. Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Louis Oosthuizen, Tim Clark and Charl Schwartzel. Trevor Immelman will return to the golf course this year as well and he will definately be someone pushing for a captains pick. As a non European this is as big as it gets in terms of team golf. I really think the Internationals can do us proud this time around!
The one and only outright win for the International team came in 1998 at Melbourne. 2011 will again take place down under. Greg Norman is the captain of the International side and for South Africans we currently have 5 golfers who would qualify. Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Louis Oosthuizen, Tim Clark and Charl Schwartzel. Trevor Immelman will return to the golf course this year as well and he will definately be someone pushing for a captains pick. As a non European this is as big as it gets in terms of team golf. I really think the Internationals can do us proud this time around!
27 August - 4 September (South Korea)
We all know what happened at the 2009 World Athletics Championships. Insane Bolt blitzed all before him. So much so that he slowed down before the finish and still smashed the world record. Rumours have always amounted that he holds back in the smaller events because he wants to do it when the world is watching. Come August of this year, the most exciting 9.50 seconds of Athletics could very well be seen. You will also remember that the last time the World Athletics Champs were held, was the start of the Caster Semenya saga. Will she run this year? Will she be allowed to?
18 February - 9 July
A brand new format. A brand new Australian team. A confusing conference system. Some sort of Qualifier. Then Semi finals. More home derby games (which makes no sense, super rugby is about testing yourself against the Oceanic sides, Currie cup is for the derby games). Not playing one of the foreign sides. Stopping two months before the World Cup. Can anyone spell Burnout? And this when there have still been rumblings of a champions league for rugby. That all being said, there is no tougher provincial tournament and features players from the best 3 rugby unions in the world.
A brand new format. A brand new Australian team. A confusing conference system. Some sort of Qualifier. Then Semi finals. More home derby games (which makes no sense, super rugby is about testing yourself against the Oceanic sides, Currie cup is for the derby games). Not playing one of the foreign sides. Stopping two months before the World Cup. Can anyone spell Burnout? And this when there have still been rumblings of a champions league for rugby. That all being said, there is no tougher provincial tournament and features players from the best 3 rugby unions in the world.
January - May
Many people asked what would change in our local football post World Cup. I can answer honestly, the quality. What a first half of the season its been (my next post will be a half way report card). As it stands the top 4 are separated by 3 points. Sundowns started exceptionally well but back to back losses has closed the gap. Kaizer Chiefs are an infuriating team, good enough to beat Sundowns and Pirates (two 3 goal hidings!), they then lose to Vasco da Gama and Free State Stars. Orlando Pirates are plugging away and have a top coach in Ruud Krol and Ajax Cape Town have taken it upon themselves to make sure its not a Gauteng only party. Further to this Vasco da Gama have been a breath of fresh air (much like Blackpool) who I wrote off at the start of the season (much like Blackpool) but continue performing far above expectations (much like Blackpool). Tickets are only R40 to most games and we have some world class stadiums out there. All things jabu will be giving a pair of tickets to a PSL game away with the next blog post so make sure you tune in!
Barcelona vs Arsenal
16 February & 8 March
98% of you will say this is a foregone conclusion. I agree, on paper and current form Arsenal don't have a chance. 3 world players of the year finalists. 7 World Cup winners. Lionel Messi. But there is something about Arsenal that on their day they are one of the few teams in the world who can match Barcelona in the passing game. They will have learnt from last year. And Cesc Fabregas will be itching to go to Barca and show the world why he can be better than Xavi (7 years his senior). It could be the beautiful beautiful game!
All Things Jabu
Yes your favourite sporting blog is also an exciting event this year. We have interviews lined up with Clare Vale, the first lady of racing, Ryan Sandes, the ultra marathon runner and Brian Baloyi the legendary former Bafana keeper. More will surely follow. Stay tuned for the exciting changes including guest posts.
Don't forget about United winning the EPL and Madrid snatching the La Liga!
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