Khadija Shaw
Hue Menzies, coach of the historic Reggae Girlz, who became the first team from the Caribbean to qualify for a World Cup, and Minister of Sport Olivia Grange, are in agreement that Guardian Newspaper’s Footballer of the Year, Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, is a great role model.
Shaw led Jamaica’s scoring during their qualification run to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France next year, is bestowed on a player, male or female, who has had a remarkable achievement inclusive of non-footballing ones like overcoming adversity, helping others, or setting the kind of example worthy of a good role model.
In winning the award, Shaw joins the likes of Fabio Piscane and Juan Mata, who had one in the previous two installments of the three-year-old award.
"Most young ladies who live in poor communities that are struggling should look up to Khadija. She is a perfect role model. She has created history for her country, family, and her community. You can't have a better person for those young girls to look up to," said Menzies.
Grange, in responding to Shaw’s award, gave a stamp of approval to Menzies’ comments, pointing out that she has been a wonderful example not just with the national team, but with her club.
"Khadija has been a great role model not just on the football field but also with her league team, the Lady Volunteers, and her national team, the Reggae Girlz. She has demonstrated the ability to rise above personal tragedy by keeping her eye on the ball,” said Grange.
Grange was speaking of Shaw’s personal losses. The star striker lost four brothers to violence in her home community of Spanish Town, but still had the fortitude to follow her dreams and not stray from the path of success.
"It must have been very difficult to have lost four brothers and still find the fortitude to pursue her dreams. It gives me even greater pleasure in congratulating her knowing that she is from Spanish Town. I want young ladies across the country to look at her and the other Reggae Girlz and see what is possible in life," said Grange of the 21-year-old.
According to the minister of sport, the world is beginning to take notice of Jamaica’s women’s football and that has some thing to do with stories like Shaw’s.
Paul-Andre is the Managing Editor at SportsMax.tv. He comes to the role with almost 20 years of experience as journalist. That experience includes all facets of media. He began as a sports Journalist in 2001, quickly moving into radio, where he was an editor before becoming a news editor and then an entertainment editor with one of the biggest media houses in the Caribbean.
RFEF postpones decision on new date for El Clasico
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has been unable to make a final decision on a new date for the postponed Clasico clash originally set for October 26 due to new input from LaLiga.
RFEF confirmed the postponement of the match last Friday following political unrest in Catalonia.
Violent scenes have broken out in Barcelona after nine Catalan political leaders received long prison sentences for their roles in the region's 2017 referendum and subsequent declaration of independence last Monday.
A rally in Barcelona has been called by pro-independence politicians for October 26, ultimately resulting in El Clasico's postponement for security reasons.
RFEF left Barca and Madrid to agree a date between themselves and they mutually accepted to reschedule the match for December 18, but that now looks unlikely.
LaLiga is reported to have insisted on the game being played on December 4 and RFEF has passed its comments on to the clubs, who have been given until 20:00CET Tuesday to respond.
RFEF's statement read: "The Competition Committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation will return to Barcelona and Real Madrid tomorrow [Tuesday] after receiving new statements from the National Professional Football League [LaLiga] on the date of the Clasico [originally] to be played on October 26 and was postponed due to exceptional circumstances.
"The clubs will have a deadline to answer by 20:00 on Tuesday, and the Competition Committee must meet again to assess their responses.
"During the day, the Competition Committee has analysed the proposals of both clubs, which it invited to agree to a day and who have agreed to play the postponed match on December 18.
"It [the Competition Committee] has also analysed the various reports sent by the National Professional Football League during these days.
"In addition, the Committee requested a report from the RFEF Competition Area, which has been sent to them in a timely manner."
Ballon d'Or: Rapinoe, Bronze and Morgan lead women's nominations
Megan Rapinoe, Lucy Bronze and Alex Morgan lead the nominees for the 2019 Ballon d'Or Femenin in the award's second year.
Publication France Football revealed their 20-woman shortlist on Monday, acknowledging the successes of Lyon and United States in particular.
Women's Champions League winners Lyon have six players in the running, including Bronze and 2018 winner Ada Hegerberg, though the latter is not thought to be among the favourites given her World Cup absence.
United States lifted the trophy in France and four of their squad have been nominated, with Tobin Heath, Rose Lavelle, Morgan and Rapinoe flying the USA flag.
Rapinoe is regarded by many as the favourite, however, with the Reign FC star inspirational in the World Cup campaign, finishing joint top-scorer on six with Ellen White and Morgan, while she also added three assists.
She won the Golden Boot and Golden Ball in France, before also taking home The Best FIFA Women's Player award, edging out Morgan. Bronze came third.
Full list of nominees:
Lucy Bronze (Lyon), Ellen White (Manchester City), Sam Kerr (Chicago Red Stars), Nilla Fischer (Wolfsburg), Amandine Henry (Lyon), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal), Dzenifer Marozsan (Lyon), Pernille Harder (Wolfsburg), Sarah Bouhaddi (Lyon), Megan Rapinoe (Reign FC), Lieke Martens (Barcelona), Sari van Veenendal (Atletico Madrid), Wendie Renard (Lyon), Rose Lavelle (Washington Spirit), Marta (Orlando Pride), Ada Hegerberg (Lyon), Kosovare Asllani, Sofia Jakobsson (both CD Tacon/Real Madrid), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns).
Freund: Germany have 'no chance' of winning Euro 2020
Ex-Germany midfielder Steffen Freund believes Joachim Low's side are not capable of winning Euro 2020.
Germany have not won the event since 1996, when they beat the Czech Republic in a Wembley final.
Next year's edition of the tournament will also conclude at Wembley and Germany have a strong recent record, having been finalists in 2008 before finishing third in 2012 and 2016.
But Germany did not make it out of the group stages at last year's FIFA World Cup and Freund said the side's depth is a problem.
"We have no chance of winning the Euro [2020]," Freund told Omnisport, speaking courtesy of the UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour, driven by the new Nissan Juke.
"You will always have injured players and we need everybody healthy … in the past, World Cup 2002 for example, an easy start [and] so you can get on a run.
"This could be possible because this time, 24 teams will play [at the Euros].
"Of course I hope Germany will be able to win the Euro [2020], but I can't imagine it at the moment."
Freund said that Germany's recent form showed why they are unlikely to seriously contend at Euro 2020, citing the first half of a 3-0 win against Estonia in Tallinn earlier this month as the perfect example.
It took a below-par Germany 51 minutes to open their account in that fixture.
"Looking at the team, there are many talented players new in the team," Freund added.
"There were so many players injured during the last two games – that was not great and you could see in the first half against Estonia, how far away we are from the best in Europe, especially when we are missing key players.
"I'm not even talking about the world's top."
Germany sit second in Group C of Euro 2020 qualifying, with five wins from six matches.
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