Ghana sought first in twenty eight years
As Gyan led the line devoutly
Against glorious Egypt unbeaten in eighteen
With nerves they defended stoutly
Chaps without the suspended Fatalla
Hossam Ghaly slotted into place
Ahmed Hassan on his latest appearance
Raring to win his latest race
Pragmatic in the forty degree heat
Black Stars ditched pretty football
50,000 packed in the Chinese built stadium
Hoping things wrapped up before night fall
And so, the return of the Gedo
Arena summoned Mohamed Nagy
Scoring from the bench in Egypt's last four
Adios Ittihad El-Iskandary
Grandad entranced on the sixty third
Dimming the shine of the Black Star
Produced his magic with five left on the clock
Cementing Egypt as the kings of Africa
On defeating a youthful Ghana
Hassan Shehata’s men thanked Angola
Super coach winning a history making third
Cairo, Accra and now Luanda
Luxor, Cairo and Dahab erupt
Evening dusk is lit up ever so bright
Cacophany of horns clout the senses
Amidst much jubilant cheering tonight
Said, Gomaa, El Hadary,
Moawad, Fathi, Salem, Shafy
Abd Rabou, Hassan, Moteab, Ghaly
Zidan, Gedo, El Mohamady
31.01.10
Mabrook Egypt!
Number 7
© Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Trot, trot - Liverpool 2-0 Bolton
Reebok boys with the first salvo
Cavalier Moses set the shackles free
Spartan colossus Kyrgiakos off the line
Stopping an opener by Chong Yong-Lee
Aquilani with a rare headed assist
Insua with an optimistic punt
Super Kuyt lashed in his third in three
Kop appreciative of He Man's stunt
Lead doubled at subdued Anfield
Insua with Davies helping hand
Without which it may well have fluffed
Cue more derision for Rafa's brass band
Backline frailties have cost a bomb
Frankly they've driven us plain insane
Now with one conceded in the last five
It's squeaky bum time at the Lane
Perched a point behind the cockerel
Harry looks nervously over his shoulder
Two precious points dropped
Reds gain pace like a downhill boulder
30.01.10
Number 7
Emdad Rahman
http://www.football-poems.com
Eagles take third - Nigeria 1-0 Algeria
Nearing finale for the storyteller
A last chance dance at Benguela
In came Kanu and Olofinjana
Complimenting a fine winner from Obinna
Flashes of positivity in the field
From which Super Eagles can go onto build
No more escapades from Chaouchi
To replace came in Zamomouche
Best tournament since their last hosting
Foxes still smarting from their semi roasting
Saadane's men will go a stage up
6 months now till the World Cup
30.01.10
Number 7
Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Science Museum brings 1,001 Inventions: Discover the Muslim Heritage in Our World
This 20-foot high (6m) clock is as part of an exhibition of science from the Islamic world. The clock also features Chinese dragons, an Egyptian phoenix and wooden robots dressed in Arabian clothing.
Al-Jazari was an outstanding mechanical engineer from what is now Iraq, who wrote a book detailing how to build dozens of machines including suction pumps, crank shafts and water-raising devices.
1,001 Inventions: Discover the Muslim Heritage in Our World runs the Science Museum, South Kensington until April 25, although it is closed from February 25 to March 12 inclusive.
Al-Jazari was an outstanding mechanical engineer from what is now Iraq, who wrote a book detailing how to build dozens of machines including suction pumps, crank shafts and water-raising devices.
1,001 Inventions: Discover the Muslim Heritage in Our World runs the Science Museum, South Kensington until April 25, although it is closed from February 25 to March 12 inclusive.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Egyptian foxhunting - Egypt 4-0 Algeria
Brutal massacre from Shehata’s cohort
Indulging in a spot of vicious blood sport
Wary wily Fennecs had laid their mark
No more a stroll in the park
Extending the Pharaohs' unbeaten run
Eighteen adding to glorious fun in the sun
Twice defending Egypt held their will
Blitzing eight-man Algeria by four to nil
Gawky Halliche felled Moteab in the box
Red card for the ill-fated green fox
Hosni converted a 37th minute penalty
Belhadj red for assaulting Mohamady
Lead bettered through Mohamed Zidan
Switch from defence to attacking master plan
Doubling the lead with a left-footed shot
Shafy then made it three on the trot
Chaouchi went Loco, the fans prayed
Kung Fu Faouzi got the red he so craved
Bushy tail slayers fled the scene of crime
Gedo superstar hit a fourth in injury time
Retribution for missing out on a World Cup spot
Egypt meet Ghana for the exalted tin pot
Ref at the centre of Fennecs allegations
Misr now stand poised for a seventh Cup of Nations
29.01.10
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.footballpoems.com
Indulging in a spot of vicious blood sport
Wary wily Fennecs had laid their mark
No more a stroll in the park
Extending the Pharaohs' unbeaten run
Eighteen adding to glorious fun in the sun
Twice defending Egypt held their will
Blitzing eight-man Algeria by four to nil
Gawky Halliche felled Moteab in the box
Red card for the ill-fated green fox
Hosni converted a 37th minute penalty
Belhadj red for assaulting Mohamady
Lead bettered through Mohamed Zidan
Switch from defence to attacking master plan
Doubling the lead with a left-footed shot
Shafy then made it three on the trot
Chaouchi went Loco, the fans prayed
Kung Fu Faouzi got the red he so craved
Bushy tail slayers fled the scene of crime
Gedo superstar hit a fourth in injury time
Retribution for missing out on a World Cup spot
Egypt meet Ghana for the exalted tin pot
Ref at the centre of Fennecs allegations
Misr now stand poised for a seventh Cup of Nations
29.01.10
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.footballpoems.com
Ghana take you to the final - Ghana 1-0 Nigeria
Semi success for the men in white
Black star shines ever so bright
Near-post header in the blistering sun
When Asamoah made a clever darting run
Tide turning header directed with great aim
"Unbelievable," said Gyan after the game
Black Stars stayed ahead thereupon
Inspired work by Richard Kingson
Semi heartbreak for Eagles left for dead
'My contract is till August,' was Amodu's dread
Nigeria did maintain a slick passing stance
But couldn't convert that polished dominance
Vorsah's head-to-head with clubmate Obasi
Hoffenheim chums didn’t break into a hissy
Yakubu came close, but Super Eagles pipped
Stars make the final bout with Egypt
28.01.10
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.footballpoems.com
Black star shines ever so bright
Near-post header in the blistering sun
When Asamoah made a clever darting run
Tide turning header directed with great aim
"Unbelievable," said Gyan after the game
Black Stars stayed ahead thereupon
Inspired work by Richard Kingson
Semi heartbreak for Eagles left for dead
'My contract is till August,' was Amodu's dread
Nigeria did maintain a slick passing stance
But couldn't convert that polished dominance
Vorsah's head-to-head with clubmate Obasi
Hoffenheim chums didn’t break into a hissy
Yakubu came close, but Super Eagles pipped
Stars make the final bout with Egypt
28.01.10
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.footballpoems.com
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Molineux, Reds didn't - Liverpool 0-0 Wolves
Yawn draw away to the Wolves
Lost ground in the scramble for fourth
This one won't make the club DVD
Reds still heading west of north
Sporadic chances failed to build
As both tickled and teased
On the uplifting Spurs momentum
Big Mick relatively more pleased
Endeth a glutch of three losses
Recalled Doyle played hard
Rafa too was able to call
Upon Kaiser Steven Gerrard
After a two week injury lay-off
First start too for Maxi Rodriguez
A game with no shot in anger
'unbeaten in three,' our gaffer say's
Liverbird showed greater urgency
Offense play forced Wolves to error
Hahnemann almost found napping
With a snap-shot from Reira
Vigour couldn't break the deadlock
Gerrard sweated from every pore
With slim chances the home side hung on
valuing the point that much more
26.01.10
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Lost ground in the scramble for fourth
This one won't make the club DVD
Reds still heading west of north
Sporadic chances failed to build
As both tickled and teased
On the uplifting Spurs momentum
Big Mick relatively more pleased
Endeth a glutch of three losses
Recalled Doyle played hard
Rafa too was able to call
Upon Kaiser Steven Gerrard
After a two week injury lay-off
First start too for Maxi Rodriguez
A game with no shot in anger
'unbeaten in three,' our gaffer say's
Liverbird showed greater urgency
Offense play forced Wolves to error
Hahnemann almost found napping
With a snap-shot from Reira
Vigour couldn't break the deadlock
Gerrard sweated from every pore
With slim chances the home side hung on
valuing the point that much more
26.01.10
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Drawer of Hope
Victoria Senett of Hungamunga arts and events has produced a piece of work in honour of Leon Greenman – author of ‘An Englishman in Auschwitz’.
Leon, who died in 2008, dedicated his life to telling people about his experience of the Holocaust in a crusade to stopping anything like it happen again.
Victoria explained: “Leon’s motto was ‘Never forget, always tell people’. I created this portrait of Leon to represent the feelings that people often want to put the Holocaust away in a drawer – to forget about it and pretend its not there, not part of our history.”
Leon, who died in 2008, dedicated his life to telling people about his experience of the Holocaust in a crusade to stopping anything like it happen again.
Victoria explained: “Leon’s motto was ‘Never forget, always tell people’. I created this portrait of Leon to represent the feelings that people often want to put the Holocaust away in a drawer – to forget about it and pretend its not there, not part of our history.”
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Shoot out prey-ers - Zambia 0-0 Nigeria (Nigeria win 5-4 on penalties)
Skipper Yobo absent for the Super Eagle
Yet partisan fans played the victory bugle
Down to ten-man they relied on Obafemi
As Nigeria reached the Cup of Nations semi
Edged through 5-4 with a flawless spotkick list
Zambia's Nyirenda was the only player to miss
Flawed attempt saved by Vincent Enyeama
One miss in ten a total screamer
Especially after hits by Chivuta and Christopher
Keeper Mweene, Katongo, Mayuka
Perfect five from Mikel, Martins, Obinna
Each a clinically green deadball master
Thus Odemwingie and Vincent Enyeama
Sealed a sizzling semi date with Ghana
25.01.10
Number 7
© Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Yet partisan fans played the victory bugle
Down to ten-man they relied on Obafemi
As Nigeria reached the Cup of Nations semi
Edged through 5-4 with a flawless spotkick list
Zambia's Nyirenda was the only player to miss
Flawed attempt saved by Vincent Enyeama
One miss in ten a total screamer
Especially after hits by Chivuta and Christopher
Keeper Mweene, Katongo, Mayuka
Perfect five from Mikel, Martins, Obinna
Each a clinically green deadball master
Thus Odemwingie and Vincent Enyeama
Sealed a sizzling semi date with Ghana
25.01.10
Number 7
© Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Monday, January 25, 2010
Pharoahs stroll in Hassan – Egypt 3-1 Cameroon (AET)
Giants meeting honoured Captain Ahmed Hassan
One hundred and seventy caps since it all began
Led his men to a battling victory over Cameroon
With humid heat reflecting off the dazzling sand dune
Skipper gifted Lions the lead by heading in his corner
Near post blunder from a cross by Achille Emana
Old hand Hassan scored again at the other end
Long-range bouncer past Kameni the best way to amend
A goalless second half was far from sublime
Forcing the Benguela game into extra time
Contentious third goal dulled a lot off the shine
Yes from Ref Damon, despite the ball not crossing the line
Lions cried out for a flash of skill from Eto’o
Instead a fatal sealing strike from Mohamed Gedo
Shoddy intercepted back-pass from Geremi
Tucked away with ease through the legs of Kameni
Le Guen's men hard done by the popular opinion
Bad to worse as Chedjou sent packing late on
Mouth watering semi with foes Algeria and Egypt
Football gets set for yet another thrilling script
Number 7
©Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
One hundred and seventy caps since it all began
Led his men to a battling victory over Cameroon
With humid heat reflecting off the dazzling sand dune
Skipper gifted Lions the lead by heading in his corner
Near post blunder from a cross by Achille Emana
Old hand Hassan scored again at the other end
Long-range bouncer past Kameni the best way to amend
A goalless second half was far from sublime
Forcing the Benguela game into extra time
Contentious third goal dulled a lot off the shine
Yes from Ref Damon, despite the ball not crossing the line
Lions cried out for a flash of skill from Eto’o
Instead a fatal sealing strike from Mohamed Gedo
Shoddy intercepted back-pass from Geremi
Tucked away with ease through the legs of Kameni
Le Guen's men hard done by the popular opinion
Bad to worse as Chedjou sent packing late on
Mouth watering semi with foes Algeria and Egypt
Football gets set for yet another thrilling script
Number 7
©Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Elephants tamed - Ivory Coast 2-3 Algeria (AET)
Tournament favourites Ivory Coast
Devoured like hot beans on toast
Ivorian backline shy of the ball
In this astonishing quarter final
Kalou and Matmour led to huge bated breath
Until Kader Keita struck at the death
Sufficient to take the Elephants through?
Last gasp and Bougherra’s legend grew
Game of heart wrenching, nail biting sweat
Fuming Ivorians had it in the net
Koule Toure saw red and lost control
Ruled out with an ‘offside goal’
Terrible Elephants defending in big trouble
Bouzza poached another from the rubble
With Hameur’s full use of his cnemis
It was enough to send the foxes to the semis
24.01.10
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Devoured like hot beans on toast
Ivorian backline shy of the ball
In this astonishing quarter final
Kalou and Matmour led to huge bated breath
Until Kader Keita struck at the death
Sufficient to take the Elephants through?
Last gasp and Bougherra’s legend grew
Game of heart wrenching, nail biting sweat
Fuming Ivorians had it in the net
Koule Toure saw red and lost control
Ruled out with an ‘offside goal’
Terrible Elephants defending in big trouble
Bouzza poached another from the rubble
With Hameur’s full use of his cnemis
It was enough to send the foxes to the semis
24.01.10
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Hosts head home – Angola 0-1 Ghana
Home nation crash with heads held high
Ghana edged the first quarter final tie
Sixteen on the clock and the visitors went on a roll
Asamoah Gyan with the only goal
Club Rennes hitman hit one right side lower
Deftly set by Kwadwo Asamoah
Goals against Ghana could’ve been more
Palancas Negras squandered chances to score
Manucho’s boots toiled for a happy wave
When he did Kingson pulled a splendid save
Second half Angola posed a bigger test
But the Black Stars held on to progress
24.01.10
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Yucky moment from Doritos - Part 2
Friday, January 22, 2010
Gaza: Beneath the Bombs
Author Interview with Emdad Rahman
Gaza: Beneath the Bombs is an eyewitness account of events in Gaza that brings home the horror of life in a war-zone, based on the author’s candid and dramatic blog.
The Israeli offensive in Gaza was described by Amnesty international as ‘22 days of death and destruction’. Sharyn Lock’s eyewitness account brings home the horror of life in Gaza beneath the bombs.
Sharyn Lock went to the Gaza strip with the Free Gaza Movement, thinking the greatest danger she faced was making it past the Israeli sea blockade in a fishing boat, but soon after her arrival Israel attacked Gaza’s 1.5 million inhabitants by land, air and sea. With others from the International Solidarity Movement, Sharyn volunteered with Palestinian ambulances, assisting them as they faced overwhelming civilian casualties. Her candid and dramatic blogs from Gaza gave the world an insight into the conflict that the mainstream media - unable to enter Gaza - couldn’t provide.
Gaza: Beneath the Bombs provides a view of Gaza difficult to glimpse from outside - of a people who face their oppression not only with courage but with humour.
Sharyn has been volunteering in Palestine since 2002. She writes for New Internationalist, Red Pepper and the Big Issue North.
Sarah Irving is a freelance writer. Her work has appeared in New Internationalist, Big Issue North and Electronic Intifada. She has been reviews editor at Red Pepper and Peace News, and features editor at Ethical Consumer. She has been an active campaigner on Palestinian issues since 2001.
1: Please describe some of the horrors of life in a war zone?
It's really hard to pick out one thing, and the problem with Gaza is that most people focus on a small amount of time during the 'Operation Cast Lead' invasion because it catches their attention. But everyday in Gaza is still a warzone everyday, even when Israel declares there is a 'ceasefire' it's still attacking fishing boats and carrying out so-called 'targeted assassination,' which often don't just kill so-called militants but also ordinary people around them. And then there's the blockade, so people can't get in or out to see their families or study or get healthcare, and the Israelis stop almost everything, even building materials after they've bombed thousands of houses, and stupid things like the batteries that people need for their hearing aids, and even certain types of food, like pasta. So there are the big horrors, like the people we had to collect in the ambulances who had been killed and injured by shrapnel or burned by white phosphorus, but there's the everyday horrors like the number of children in Gaza who are malnourished because of the blockade.
2: Did you write a daily blog online?
Yes, the book of Gaza: Beneath the Bombs was based on my blog at http://Talestotell.wordpress.com, which I really started for my friends and family but which ended up with thousands of readers and links from places like the Telegraph newspaper, because the Israeli's were banning journalists from entering Gaza so there was so little information really getting out.
3: Tell us about the Free Gaza movement?
The Free Gaza Movement (www.freegaza.org) was set up by a group of us who had worked, mainly in the West Bank, with the International Solidarity Movement. That was mainly accompanying Palestinian people who we just trying to do things like get to school or harvest their olives, but can't because of Israeli soldiers and settlers. But a lot of us were blacklisted by Israel, so we can't get to the West Bank any more, so we thought about how we could get to Gaza and make a statement about the Israeli blockade and try to get through that. We realised we were going to have to use boats, so we fundraised and worked on that for two years, and we got the first boat through in August 2008, and I was on that. There have been eight trips in total, although not all of them have succeeded in reaching Gaza – some of them have been stopped and rammed or kidnapped by the Israeli navy. But FreeGaza is planning a flotilla of six more boats this spring...
4: Tell us a little about the fishing boat trip
If you mean the first trip to get to Gaza, In August 2008, it seems so long ago, so the best thing to do is probably just give you the email I wrote to all my friends as soon as I arrived:
We left Cyprus August 22, in the morning, and were very lucky to have it and the following day be the only two slightly cloudy days I've experienced onboard, because normally there simply wasn't enough shade for 25 above deck on the Free Gaza, and below was steaming hot. The sea was good in sailors terms but enough so that most people were a little sick and about 8 very sick. Medicing with former nurse Kathy turned out to be the perfect job for me. I spent most of the night feeling a little queasy unless lying flat on the deck, but one of my comrades was so ill all night that we had to give her dioralyte at 15 minute intervals most of the night. I simply lay down beside her, drowsing in between dosing her, observing our fantastic crew (including the wondrous OJ, and Vik who along with me learned the basics of driving) as they stepped over me and Donna to keep the Free Gaza going through the night in two hour watches. The sense of being in a great randomly rocking cradle was intensified by watching the unchanging stars above me.
Sometimes I could get up for a little while and gaze at the horizon, sea-edged in all directions, watching lights of the occasional other ship (which always unnerved us a little) as well the red port light of the Liberty moving parallel with us. In the day, the sun was harsh, but in the sea at night there is just beauty. By early evening, we were getting what I considered the best quality Channel 16 harassment of the trip. Channel 16 is the emergency channel which must always be kept unobstructed, but ever since sailing from Greece there'd been regular strange messages in Hebrew, Arabic music played us, etc. This time, someone was just repeating: “They're lost. They're lost.” Simple yet very sinister under the circumstances! Who was lost? Us? The Liberty? But we could see their lights over there. Or could we? Was that really the Liberty? And if it was – did it still have people aboard? How could we be sure...
Because for long stretches at a time, we couldn't contact each other. Never trust technology, I tell you – statellite phones, radios, extremely expensive satellite internet and video streaming – the last had apparently been sabotaged pretty thoroughly from long distance before we even set sail, though
we had a little capability left sometimes, and the rest entirely stopped working on both boats shortly after the “they're lost” broadcast. We no longer were able to use the normal sea communication systems even for SOS messages. We heard later that the Greek government, wondering how the MP they sent with us was doing, had tried every method to contact us and eventually decided we must have been sunk. Before the comms system when down however, we'd heard that media coverage had taken off and that the Arab League had announced its support of us, and stated that Israel must act in every way to protect our peaceful mission. Then there was silence.
But we had two secret weapons – one, our walkie talkies, too low tech to be sabotageable apparently. They worked at least some of the time, meaning we could talk between boats. Secondly, Mr Ramatan and Mr Aljazeerah – our captive journalists – had between them a working satellite phone. On this we put out a press release accouncing the apparent sabotage, calling particularly on the Greek government to protest this as we were sailing under Greek flags. (Actually we were sailing under about 50 flags, including a Free Leonard Peltier one, but you know what I mean.)
Morning was a blessing. Everyone cheered up, I felt fine again, the sick people attempted some dry Greek bread, the undefeatably cheerful Lauren stopped juggling walkie talkies and made yet another round of tea. (Let me apologise now for thinking her most useful role was going to be being related to Tony Blair.) The single working satellite phone began ringing and didn't stop – Musheir giving interviews in Arabic, Vik in Italian, Jeff in Hebrew. We began to put up more flags. Conflicting messages came in about whether a media boat was coming from Israel or not to try to meet up with us. We kept grabbing passing crew and asking them – how many hours now left of international waters? Two, one.
...20 minutes after that, we got a call from the Israeli media. The Foreign Minster had just stated, “We are not going to stop the boats.” We weren't going to prison. Vik wasn't going to be climbing the mast. I wasn't going to be shot for refusing to co-operate with the Israeli Navy. We weren't going to get to eat our seige supply of vine leaves. Lauren wasn't going to get to sing “Israeli men” to the tune of “It's raining men” as we were boarded, which was just as well since we hadn't worked out the dance routine yet. None of that was happening. The impossible was happening instead. We were going to go to Gaza.
5: What did you do as a volunteer?
When I went in December 2008 I was supposed to be doing the kind of things I'd done with ISM before – accompanying farmers and fishermen, writing stuff up to send out from the ISM website and things like that. None of us, I think, expected the invasion to be quite so bad. So during that, yes I was writing the blog and talking to the international press, but I was mainly riding with the ambulances, being an international presence on them in case that was useful and helping with some of the medical stuff.
6: What can the international community do to help the indigent?
There are so many things that individual people can do. It's really important to be supporting the boycott of Israeli goods – it really is starting to make an impact on the economy. There are lots of charities trying to work in Gaza as well, but one that I visited and appears in the book is the Atfaluna Centre for Deaf Children, where you can donate at www.atfaluna.net. And a campaign was started from Gaza to support the ambulancemen and other emergency workers that we worked with. It's called Defend the Rescuers and its at http://defendtherescuers.wordpress.com – in future we hope to be able to supply them with better safety equipment but at the moment the blockade makes that impossible to get in. In terms of what the international community can do at the level of international governments and the EU and the UN, well they need to be withdrawing funding and support from Israel right now.
7: Do you intend to go back?
I hope so. At the moment I'm doing a midwifery degree, so I'm in Britain for the moment, but afterwards I'd love to go back to practice as a midwife or work with the ambulances again.
For further information, to request a review copy or to speak to the author please contact Jon Wheatley at jonw@plutobooks.com or on 0208 374 6424.
Readers can gain advantage of a special offer by visiting www.plutobooks.com. Click on promotions and enter the code GAZABANGLA. Readers can get the book for the bargain price of £8.99. (RRP £12.99).
TESTIMONIALS:
This is an honest, forthright account full of compassion and insight; it plunges the reader into Gaza.
Jeremy Hardy
Moving and understated ... Sharyn Lock manages to humanise the inhuman...Unforgettable.
Richard Falk, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Palestine and Professor Emeritus of International Law at Princeton University
Gaza: Beneath the Bombs is an eyewitness account of events in Gaza that brings home the horror of life in a war-zone, based on the author’s candid and dramatic blog.
The Israeli offensive in Gaza was described by Amnesty international as ‘22 days of death and destruction’. Sharyn Lock’s eyewitness account brings home the horror of life in Gaza beneath the bombs.
Sharyn Lock went to the Gaza strip with the Free Gaza Movement, thinking the greatest danger she faced was making it past the Israeli sea blockade in a fishing boat, but soon after her arrival Israel attacked Gaza’s 1.5 million inhabitants by land, air and sea. With others from the International Solidarity Movement, Sharyn volunteered with Palestinian ambulances, assisting them as they faced overwhelming civilian casualties. Her candid and dramatic blogs from Gaza gave the world an insight into the conflict that the mainstream media - unable to enter Gaza - couldn’t provide.
Gaza: Beneath the Bombs provides a view of Gaza difficult to glimpse from outside - of a people who face their oppression not only with courage but with humour.
Sharyn has been volunteering in Palestine since 2002. She writes for New Internationalist, Red Pepper and the Big Issue North.
Sarah Irving is a freelance writer. Her work has appeared in New Internationalist, Big Issue North and Electronic Intifada. She has been reviews editor at Red Pepper and Peace News, and features editor at Ethical Consumer. She has been an active campaigner on Palestinian issues since 2001.
1: Please describe some of the horrors of life in a war zone?
It's really hard to pick out one thing, and the problem with Gaza is that most people focus on a small amount of time during the 'Operation Cast Lead' invasion because it catches their attention. But everyday in Gaza is still a warzone everyday, even when Israel declares there is a 'ceasefire' it's still attacking fishing boats and carrying out so-called 'targeted assassination,' which often don't just kill so-called militants but also ordinary people around them. And then there's the blockade, so people can't get in or out to see their families or study or get healthcare, and the Israelis stop almost everything, even building materials after they've bombed thousands of houses, and stupid things like the batteries that people need for their hearing aids, and even certain types of food, like pasta. So there are the big horrors, like the people we had to collect in the ambulances who had been killed and injured by shrapnel or burned by white phosphorus, but there's the everyday horrors like the number of children in Gaza who are malnourished because of the blockade.
2: Did you write a daily blog online?
Yes, the book of Gaza: Beneath the Bombs was based on my blog at http://Talestotell.wordpress.com, which I really started for my friends and family but which ended up with thousands of readers and links from places like the Telegraph newspaper, because the Israeli's were banning journalists from entering Gaza so there was so little information really getting out.
3: Tell us about the Free Gaza movement?
The Free Gaza Movement (www.freegaza.org) was set up by a group of us who had worked, mainly in the West Bank, with the International Solidarity Movement. That was mainly accompanying Palestinian people who we just trying to do things like get to school or harvest their olives, but can't because of Israeli soldiers and settlers. But a lot of us were blacklisted by Israel, so we can't get to the West Bank any more, so we thought about how we could get to Gaza and make a statement about the Israeli blockade and try to get through that. We realised we were going to have to use boats, so we fundraised and worked on that for two years, and we got the first boat through in August 2008, and I was on that. There have been eight trips in total, although not all of them have succeeded in reaching Gaza – some of them have been stopped and rammed or kidnapped by the Israeli navy. But FreeGaza is planning a flotilla of six more boats this spring...
4: Tell us a little about the fishing boat trip
If you mean the first trip to get to Gaza, In August 2008, it seems so long ago, so the best thing to do is probably just give you the email I wrote to all my friends as soon as I arrived:
We left Cyprus August 22, in the morning, and were very lucky to have it and the following day be the only two slightly cloudy days I've experienced onboard, because normally there simply wasn't enough shade for 25 above deck on the Free Gaza, and below was steaming hot. The sea was good in sailors terms but enough so that most people were a little sick and about 8 very sick. Medicing with former nurse Kathy turned out to be the perfect job for me. I spent most of the night feeling a little queasy unless lying flat on the deck, but one of my comrades was so ill all night that we had to give her dioralyte at 15 minute intervals most of the night. I simply lay down beside her, drowsing in between dosing her, observing our fantastic crew (including the wondrous OJ, and Vik who along with me learned the basics of driving) as they stepped over me and Donna to keep the Free Gaza going through the night in two hour watches. The sense of being in a great randomly rocking cradle was intensified by watching the unchanging stars above me.
Sometimes I could get up for a little while and gaze at the horizon, sea-edged in all directions, watching lights of the occasional other ship (which always unnerved us a little) as well the red port light of the Liberty moving parallel with us. In the day, the sun was harsh, but in the sea at night there is just beauty. By early evening, we were getting what I considered the best quality Channel 16 harassment of the trip. Channel 16 is the emergency channel which must always be kept unobstructed, but ever since sailing from Greece there'd been regular strange messages in Hebrew, Arabic music played us, etc. This time, someone was just repeating: “They're lost. They're lost.” Simple yet very sinister under the circumstances! Who was lost? Us? The Liberty? But we could see their lights over there. Or could we? Was that really the Liberty? And if it was – did it still have people aboard? How could we be sure...
Because for long stretches at a time, we couldn't contact each other. Never trust technology, I tell you – statellite phones, radios, extremely expensive satellite internet and video streaming – the last had apparently been sabotaged pretty thoroughly from long distance before we even set sail, though
we had a little capability left sometimes, and the rest entirely stopped working on both boats shortly after the “they're lost” broadcast. We no longer were able to use the normal sea communication systems even for SOS messages. We heard later that the Greek government, wondering how the MP they sent with us was doing, had tried every method to contact us and eventually decided we must have been sunk. Before the comms system when down however, we'd heard that media coverage had taken off and that the Arab League had announced its support of us, and stated that Israel must act in every way to protect our peaceful mission. Then there was silence.
But we had two secret weapons – one, our walkie talkies, too low tech to be sabotageable apparently. They worked at least some of the time, meaning we could talk between boats. Secondly, Mr Ramatan and Mr Aljazeerah – our captive journalists – had between them a working satellite phone. On this we put out a press release accouncing the apparent sabotage, calling particularly on the Greek government to protest this as we were sailing under Greek flags. (Actually we were sailing under about 50 flags, including a Free Leonard Peltier one, but you know what I mean.)
Morning was a blessing. Everyone cheered up, I felt fine again, the sick people attempted some dry Greek bread, the undefeatably cheerful Lauren stopped juggling walkie talkies and made yet another round of tea. (Let me apologise now for thinking her most useful role was going to be being related to Tony Blair.) The single working satellite phone began ringing and didn't stop – Musheir giving interviews in Arabic, Vik in Italian, Jeff in Hebrew. We began to put up more flags. Conflicting messages came in about whether a media boat was coming from Israel or not to try to meet up with us. We kept grabbing passing crew and asking them – how many hours now left of international waters? Two, one.
...20 minutes after that, we got a call from the Israeli media. The Foreign Minster had just stated, “We are not going to stop the boats.” We weren't going to prison. Vik wasn't going to be climbing the mast. I wasn't going to be shot for refusing to co-operate with the Israeli Navy. We weren't going to get to eat our seige supply of vine leaves. Lauren wasn't going to get to sing “Israeli men” to the tune of “It's raining men” as we were boarded, which was just as well since we hadn't worked out the dance routine yet. None of that was happening. The impossible was happening instead. We were going to go to Gaza.
5: What did you do as a volunteer?
When I went in December 2008 I was supposed to be doing the kind of things I'd done with ISM before – accompanying farmers and fishermen, writing stuff up to send out from the ISM website and things like that. None of us, I think, expected the invasion to be quite so bad. So during that, yes I was writing the blog and talking to the international press, but I was mainly riding with the ambulances, being an international presence on them in case that was useful and helping with some of the medical stuff.
6: What can the international community do to help the indigent?
There are so many things that individual people can do. It's really important to be supporting the boycott of Israeli goods – it really is starting to make an impact on the economy. There are lots of charities trying to work in Gaza as well, but one that I visited and appears in the book is the Atfaluna Centre for Deaf Children, where you can donate at www.atfaluna.net. And a campaign was started from Gaza to support the ambulancemen and other emergency workers that we worked with. It's called Defend the Rescuers and its at http://defendtherescuers.wordpress.com – in future we hope to be able to supply them with better safety equipment but at the moment the blockade makes that impossible to get in. In terms of what the international community can do at the level of international governments and the EU and the UN, well they need to be withdrawing funding and support from Israel right now.
7: Do you intend to go back?
I hope so. At the moment I'm doing a midwifery degree, so I'm in Britain for the moment, but afterwards I'd love to go back to practice as a midwife or work with the ambulances again.
For further information, to request a review copy or to speak to the author please contact Jon Wheatley at jonw@plutobooks.com or on 0208 374 6424.
Readers can gain advantage of a special offer by visiting www.plutobooks.com. Click on promotions and enter the code GAZABANGLA. Readers can get the book for the bargain price of £8.99. (RRP £12.99).
TESTIMONIALS:
This is an honest, forthright account full of compassion and insight; it plunges the reader into Gaza.
Jeremy Hardy
Moving and understated ... Sharyn Lock manages to humanise the inhuman...Unforgettable.
Richard Falk, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Palestine and Professor Emeritus of International Law at Princeton University
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Lions roar through - Cameroon 2-2 Tunisia
The potent pressure in Lubango grew
Cameroons Lions scraped barely through
Carthage Eagles Chermiti bagged within a minute
Though not quite breaking the record time limit
Souissi’s cross unexpectedly headed home
As Cameroons defence holidayed in Rome
But Samuel Eto'o’s got his shooting boots firing
In the second period promptly equalising
Chedjou's own goal for advantage Tunisia
As again the Indomitables became austere
Reprieve when N'Guemo again equaled for two
And saw the boys in green safely through
21.01.10
Number 7
© Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Zeros to Heroes - Gabon 1-2 Zambia
Making a mockery of their early plummet
Rock bottom Zambia reached the summit
Rainford Kalaba scored and waltzed like a swan
In the Chipolopolo conquest of Gabon
A nifty chip over Gabon keeper Ebang
Colour coded fans danced and sang
Chamanga made it two in the second half
Great for a team deemed good for a laugh
Do Marcolino’s late strike made it tough
But for Gabon it was nearly not enough
Needing only a draw was a detail overlooked
Instead Cousin hit the net and got booked
Renard fêted his team for coming on strong
For they had proved countless experts wrong
21.01.10
Number 7
© Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Rock bottom Zambia reached the summit
Rainford Kalaba scored and waltzed like a swan
In the Chipolopolo conquest of Gabon
A nifty chip over Gabon keeper Ebang
Colour coded fans danced and sang
Chamanga made it two in the second half
Great for a team deemed good for a laugh
Do Marcolino’s late strike made it tough
But for Gabon it was nearly not enough
Needing only a draw was a detail overlooked
Instead Cousin hit the net and got booked
Renard fêted his team for coming on strong
For they had proved countless experts wrong
21.01.10
Number 7
© Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Knock Kuyt - Liverpool 2-0 Tottenham
Reds make up critical ground in the race
In line for the venerated fourth place
Rafa had honestly added to Red blues
Declaring Liverpool could not afford to lose
Inspirational win over Spurs at Anfield
Diligent Reds led to cuts being healed
Dirk Kuyt's early knock set the platform
Subduing the powerful and brewing storm
Rounding off with a retaken penalty
Sweeping up Bassong’s ill judged debris
Perpetual workrate and superior passion
Cockerels dispatched with brutal compassion
Howard Webb ruled out Defoe’s strike in between
Harry’s winless streak exceeds unlucky thirteen
Sixteen years since Spurs won at Anfield
Dirk ensures the formula remains concealed
20.01.10
Number 7
© Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
In line for the venerated fourth place
Rafa had honestly added to Red blues
Declaring Liverpool could not afford to lose
Inspirational win over Spurs at Anfield
Diligent Reds led to cuts being healed
Dirk Kuyt's early knock set the platform
Subduing the powerful and brewing storm
Rounding off with a retaken penalty
Sweeping up Bassong’s ill judged debris
Perpetual workrate and superior passion
Cockerels dispatched with brutal compassion
Howard Webb ruled out Defoe’s strike in between
Harry’s winless streak exceeds unlucky thirteen
Sixteen years since Spurs won at Anfield
Dirk ensures the formula remains concealed
20.01.10
Number 7
© Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Easy, easy! Egypt 2-0 Benin
Champs the only team with a full win quota
Maximum points and a cup rollercoaster
Convincingly disposing of hapless Benin
Starting with Al Muhammadi's cross shot gliding in
Soon after Emad Moteab made it two
Game, set and match, very thank you
Djidonou made an inspired attempt to clear
But the assistants ruling cost him dear
Judged that the ball crossed over the line
No possible smears on the Pharoahs shine
Coach Shawki - "We should have scored more
“Important that we won this game,” was the roar
20.01.10
Number 7
© Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Maximum points and a cup rollercoaster
Convincingly disposing of hapless Benin
Starting with Al Muhammadi's cross shot gliding in
Soon after Emad Moteab made it two
Game, set and match, very thank you
Djidonou made an inspired attempt to clear
But the assistants ruling cost him dear
Judged that the ball crossed over the line
No possible smears on the Pharoahs shine
Coach Shawki - "We should have scored more
“Important that we won this game,” was the roar
20.01.10
Number 7
© Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Talons tear Mambas - Nigeria 3-0 Mozambique
Nigeria clawed with talons, claws and beak
Three goal butchery of Mozambique
Odemwingie brace spurned immense chagrin
Cherry with a late one from Oba Martins
Mambas not in any mood to hail and greet
Paito was doomed not to get on the scoresheet
Lokomotiv Moscow player gifted measureless space
Splendidly punting past Rafael with an exquisite place
Coach Shaibu Amodu said he would enjoy the win.
"I can't avoid the critics," he added with a grin
20.01.10
Number 7
© Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Three goal butchery of Mozambique
Odemwingie brace spurned immense chagrin
Cherry with a late one from Oba Martins
Mambas not in any mood to hail and greet
Paito was doomed not to get on the scoresheet
Lokomotiv Moscow player gifted measureless space
Splendidly punting past Rafael with an exquisite place
Coach Shaibu Amodu said he would enjoy the win.
"I can't avoid the critics," he added with a grin
20.01.10
Number 7
© Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Shining Black Stars – Burkina Faso 0-1 Ghana
Paul Duarte’s Stallions swore not to falter
Les Etalons from the Republic of Upper Volta
Milovan Rajevic’s Meteors vowed not to fall
To the Fédération Burkinabé de Football
Raucous fans from Luanda to Ouagadougou
Fourth as 98 hosts refused to bid adieu
Andre Ayew settled a most decisive dual
In the absence of Ghana’s crown jewel
Without injured Chelsea star Michael Essien
No less than a win, all seemed not “Très bien”
Lack of pace in the Burkinabe backline
Space for Ghana’s shining stars to shine
Koulibaly’s acrobatics couldn’t connect or flick
Cleanly with his lissome overhead kick
Four time winners the Black Meteors through
To join an prominent Quarter final crew
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Monday, January 18, 2010
Maliawi go home- Mali 3-1 Malawi
Mali start with a rough and ready start
Cups quickest goal tore the manual apart
Forty seconds, Kanoute shot the Eagles ahead
Looking to displace the Black Antelopes instead
Keita’s mighty free-kick for the Mali wolf pack
Flames Mwafulirwa promptly yanked one back
Bagayoko the third was a punch to the jaw
But Antelopes and Foxes through with a draw
Head to head many find hard to follow
Algeria’s joy a bitter pill to swallow
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Cups quickest goal tore the manual apart
Forty seconds, Kanoute shot the Eagles ahead
Looking to displace the Black Antelopes instead
Keita’s mighty free-kick for the Mali wolf pack
Flames Mwafulirwa promptly yanked one back
Bagayoko the third was a punch to the jaw
But Antelopes and Foxes through with a draw
Head to head many find hard to follow
Algeria’s joy a bitter pill to swallow
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Head to head time - Angola 0-0 Algeria
With much at stake defences remained tough
Coach Sadaane felt his side did enough
Adequate for Algeria and hosts Angola
Anxious goalless draw in luminous Luanda
Games best effort with Ger Bougherra
Feeble attempt commonly trial and error
Ze Kalanga freekick tipped over the bar
With Mali out both lit the cigar
Second and third finishing level on four
Malawi on three failed to reach the shore
Algeria and Mali’s head-to-head used
Rule change leaving most of Africa confused
Palancas Negras top, Foxes runners up
Living another day in the Nations Cup
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Coach Sadaane felt his side did enough
Adequate for Algeria and hosts Angola
Anxious goalless draw in luminous Luanda
Games best effort with Ger Bougherra
Feeble attempt commonly trial and error
Ze Kalanga freekick tipped over the bar
With Mali out both lit the cigar
Second and third finishing level on four
Malawi on three failed to reach the shore
Algeria and Mali’s head-to-head used
Rule change leaving most of Africa confused
Palancas Negras top, Foxes runners up
Living another day in the Nations Cup
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
London Double Decker Busfire
The Indomitables - Cameroon 3-2 Zambia
Thrilling victory for the Indomitable Lion
Swapping toiled shirts for Zambia to try on
Chamanga's pace bit much for Rigo Song
Kameni's relex brilliance worthy of a gong
But jitters when Mulenga tapped in to gain the lead
Mweene gifted Geremi when failing to take heed
Advantage Cameroon as Eto'o began to tick
Katongo again levelled with a timely spot kick
Nerves frayed the kings of the jungle upped the pressure
Nations relief with Iddrisou's saving late header
18.01.10
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Swapping toiled shirts for Zambia to try on
Chamanga's pace bit much for Rigo Song
Kameni's relex brilliance worthy of a gong
But jitters when Mulenga tapped in to gain the lead
Mweene gifted Geremi when failing to take heed
Advantage Cameroon as Eto'o began to tick
Katongo again levelled with a timely spot kick
Nerves frayed the kings of the jungle upped the pressure
Nations relief with Iddrisou's saving late header
18.01.10
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Panthers claw draw - Gabon 0-0 Tunisia
Spectacle not much to write home about
Giresse best pleased with the goal drought
Best chance of the encounter for Chermiti
Non conversion means Panthers still top D
Poll position to progress for only the second time
Carthage Eagles will still have to wait in line
A vital point earned in drizzly Lubango
Big cats indulge the celebratory Tango
17.01.10
Number 7
Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Giresse best pleased with the goal drought
Best chance of the encounter for Chermiti
Non conversion means Panthers still top D
Poll position to progress for only the second time
Carthage Eagles will still have to wait in line
A vital point earned in drizzly Lubango
Big cats indulge the celebratory Tango
17.01.10
Number 7
Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Gedo superstar - Egypt 1-0 Mozambique
Experts say Pharoahs still to hit their peak
Easily shrugged off a poor Mozambique
Fifteenth win notched on the tournament board
Ousting Cameroon's impressive unbeaten record
Jinxed Dario Khan may now hide up a tree
In the net again for his second OG
Egypt attack sleek even without star Mido
Crisp cliinching volley by Mohamed Gedo
Champions secure their place in the last eight
Mambas face the Eagles and a nervous wait
16.01.10
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Easily shrugged off a poor Mozambique
Fifteenth win notched on the tournament board
Ousting Cameroon's impressive unbeaten record
Jinxed Dario Khan may now hide up a tree
In the net again for his second OG
Egypt attack sleek even without star Mido
Crisp cliinching volley by Mohamed Gedo
Champions secure their place in the last eight
Mambas face the Eagles and a nervous wait
16.01.10
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Eagles prey on squirrels - Nigeria 1-0 Benin
Aerial Kings victory bought about a grin
Benin on the end of a tight Eagles win
Under pressure Gaffer rang in two changes
Danny Shittu given a first start in ages
Yakubu fluffed an elementary one on one
Hand of Boco then reloaded the gun
Toffee hit the penalty straight and true
Releasing the tension from Shaibu Amodu
Task in hand crystal clear for next week
Three points required against Mozambique
16.01.10
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Benin on the end of a tight Eagles win
Under pressure Gaffer rang in two changes
Danny Shittu given a first start in ages
Yakubu fluffed an elementary one on one
Hand of Boco then reloaded the gun
Toffee hit the penalty straight and true
Releasing the tension from Shaibu Amodu
Task in hand crystal clear for next week
Three points required against Mozambique
16.01.10
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Huth hurts – Stoke 0-0 Liverpool
At Britannia it was not meant to be pretty
Red Rafa’s outfit very short on pity
Six changes made from the FA Cup downer
Still dreadfully short of Crimson fire-power
Tuncay available, so too Salif Diao
Anfield awash by news of Gerrard to Real
Ahead through Kyrgiakos’ toe stub
Cracked home his first goal for the club
Passing game grueling against a combative Stoke
Rory’s Delapitator threatening to choke
Debuting Maxi Rodriguez tasted Premier fame
Beheld the Potters' renowned long ball game
Stoke launched a relentless aerial assault
Huth in the 89th the one to fault
Reina booked, time wasting his crime
Kuyt's close to a dramatic twist in injury time
With vultures demanding the Gaffer’s head
Stokeites aimed giant P45s at Benitez instead
Derided Reds needed to lose the bridal gown
And stood very tall in a physical showdown
Number 7
© Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Friday, January 15, 2010
Elephants stampede - Cote d'Ivoire 3-1 Ghana
Ten-man Ivory Coast trounced the Black Stars by three
Flattened in the African Cup of Nations Group B
Gunner Eboue saw red for a rash tackle
Gervinho’s opener adding some snap and crackle
Great assist play by Kings Road gent Kalou
Against the run of play the Ivorians make it two
All it took was a time-honoured cultured flick
Tiene curled in a glorious free-kick
Didier Drogba’s header not quite the final nail
Gyan’s spotkick did nought to dull Ghana pain
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Flattened in the African Cup of Nations Group B
Gunner Eboue saw red for a rash tackle
Gervinho’s opener adding some snap and crackle
Great assist play by Kings Road gent Kalou
Against the run of play the Ivorians make it two
All it took was a time-honoured cultured flick
Tiene curled in a glorious free-kick
Didier Drogba’s header not quite the final nail
Gyan’s spotkick did nought to dull Ghana pain
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Second half bang bang – Angola 2-0 Malawi
We continue to savour the African Safari
Angola meet bolt from the blue Malawi
Nathi Lions at Estadio 11 de Novembro
Noisy home crowd all vibrant and aglow
Angola commence at breakneck speed
Half time they reach missing a lead
Second half sees Falvio head his third
With the leap and timing of an Indigo bird
Manucho mugged the centre dawdling on the ball
Real strikers second heralding the home bugle call
14.01.10
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Angola meet bolt from the blue Malawi
Nathi Lions at Estadio 11 de Novembro
Noisy home crowd all vibrant and aglow
Angola commence at breakneck speed
Half time they reach missing a lead
Second half sees Falvio head his third
With the leap and timing of an Indigo bird
Manucho mugged the centre dawdling on the ball
Real strikers second heralding the home bugle call
14.01.10
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Les Fennecs Halleiched - Mali 0-1 Algeria
Six dropped as Stephen Keshi swung the axe
Daringly advising Omar Kanoute to relax
Lemmouchia’s storm out no great harm
Algeria got that necessary shot in the arm
Lowpoint arrived amid the razzmatazz
Bakary booked for hacking down Bezzaz
Ziani glided in the consequent freekick
Halliche past Diakite with a deft head flick
Les Aigles beaten by the wily Desert Fox
Head coach Saadane took to the soapbox
"The perfect answer to all our critics”
Exulted with Rabah’s joyous acoustics
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Evens stevens - Zambia 1-1 Tunisia
Toothless Lions - Cameroon 0-1 Gabon
Four timers Cameroon thought fates were sealed
Minnows awestruck just to be on the same field
Targer Cousin was in no mood to be bled
With a slick shot put the Gabonese ahead
Emana and Eto'o came close, yet tripped
Underdogs bullishly rewrote the script
At times the Indomitables entered the fray
Ovono Ebang kept the Lions well at bay
Gallic battler Giresse's men top the group
Bottom of the table for Paul Le Guen's troop
13.01.10
Number 7
Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Benin's first point - Mozambique 2-2 Benin
Omotoyossi tucks a 15th-minute penalty
Culprit Rafael upending him so clumsily
Dario's own goal from a defensive muddle
Squirrels 2-0 up with a victory huddle
Lobo headed a return for Mozambique
Blunder gifting lucky Goncalves a streak
All square as Benin's keeper guilty of sin
The Mambas and the Squirrels still seek that very first win
12.01.10
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Culprit Rafael upending him so clumsily
Dario's own goal from a defensive muddle
Squirrels 2-0 up with a victory huddle
Lobo headed a return for Mozambique
Blunder gifting lucky Goncalves a streak
All square as Benin's keeper guilty of sin
The Mambas and the Squirrels still seek that very first win
12.01.10
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Champs off the mark - Egypt 3-1 Nigeria
Ready benchmark for the pretenders and beginners
Defending champs Egypt turned on the style
Nigeria yielded to the gutsy Pharoahs guile
Riposte to seal a most fine victory
Enough to pierce the Super eagles armoury
Flying eagles first through Obasi’s rapacious threat
Goalies error leaves Moteab with an empty net
Skipper Ahmed Hassan drives his charges ahead
Gedo's hammer leaves the Green Falcons brown bread
“I think we deserved the victory"
"We didn't give up," added Zidan eagerly
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Defending champs Egypt turned on the style
Nigeria yielded to the gutsy Pharoahs guile
Riposte to seal a most fine victory
Enough to pierce the Super eagles armoury
Flying eagles first through Obasi’s rapacious threat
Goalies error leaves Moteab with an empty net
Skipper Ahmed Hassan drives his charges ahead
Gedo's hammer leaves the Green Falcons brown bread
“I think we deserved the victory"
"We didn't give up," added Zidan eagerly
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Monday, January 11, 2010
Outfoxed - Malawi 3 - 0 Algeria
Underdogs Malawi stunned much fancied Algeria
3-0 hammering in near empty Luanda
Mwafulirwa profited from a back line tangle
Thumping in the opener from a very tight angle
Elvis swayed his hips and cuffed a header
My, my, the little guy was playing a blinder
David Banda with the third past the Algerian keeper
Faouzi Chaouchi beaten by the son of Madonna
Desert Foxes tipped as potential champs
Now face a character test to climb the slippery ramp
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Elephants and stallions deadlock - Ivory Coast 0-0 Burkina Faso
Came to town Cup favourites Ivory Coast
To shake Burkina Faso from pillar to post
Stubborn tactics see a goalless draw
Drogba failed to connect with the elusive upper jaw
For this Group B match at the Estadio do Cabinda
Ivorians were squeezed victims to the Anaconda
Halilhodzic's team dominated possession
Held by Burkinabe defensive aggression
11.01.10
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Big kick off Africa – Angola 4-4 Mali
Friday’s despair still hard to believe
Desolate Togolese went home to grieve
11 November Stadium completely full up
See a breathtaking start to the Nations Cup
Flavio brace for Angola and one from Gilberto
Fourth by ex Red Devil and Tiger Manucho
Brilliant Mali’s Kanoute and then Keita too struck a brace
Yatabare at the death incredibly saved face
11 minutes, the omen for such incredible drama
Quite possibly the greatest comeback ever
11.01.10
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Desolate Togolese went home to grieve
11 November Stadium completely full up
See a breathtaking start to the Nations Cup
Flavio brace for Angola and one from Gilberto
Fourth by ex Red Devil and Tiger Manucho
Brilliant Mali’s Kanoute and then Keita too struck a brace
Yatabare at the death incredibly saved face
11 minutes, the omen for such incredible drama
Quite possibly the greatest comeback ever
11.01.10
Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)