Why a Hazard move to Real Madrid makes sense this summer

“For starters Hazard has won everything that is there for the taking in the English Premier League. He has won two premier league titles, one FA Cup and two league cups with the Blues.”

— Siphosethu Thwala, FirstTouch Africa

Eden Hazard is a wanted man, for his impeccable football talent that is. For a long time now, news of Hazard being linked with a transfer from Chelsea to Real Madrid have been making the rounds. Considered by most to be the best player in the premier league. Eden Hazard has proven his worth in the most competitive league in worldwide football and now might be the right time for him to take his career to the next stage.

For starters Hazard has won everything that is there for the taking in the English premier League. He has won two premier league titles, one FA Cup and two league cups with the Blues. Not only that, Hazard has also won the PFA Player of the year award during the 2014-2015 season. Nonetheless, Hazard is still missing a UEFA Champions league medal in his list of accolades, and with Real Madrid having dominated Europe the way they have over the last three seasons, it would make sense why the 28-year old could go to Madrid as chances of him getting his hands onto the Champions league trophy might be more realistic in Los Blancos’ white.

Eden Hazard of Chelsea applauds fans after the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Chelsea FC at St Mary's Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Southampton, United Kingdom.

(Oct. 6, 2018 - Source: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Europe)

Chelsea are sitting in sixth position in the Premier League and face an uphill battle in earning a place in the very competitive top four race. This means that they are most likely to miss out on a UEFA champions league spot, unless they win the Europa League. What’s more, Hazard will be entering the final year of his contract with the blues next season, and with the club not showing strong intentions of keeping him, perhaps selling him at the end of this season might make financial sense compared to losing him on a free next summer.

Real Madrid on the other hand, are facing a major overhaul in the summer, with Zinedine Zidane reported to have been handed a handsome £300m transfer kitty to spend on revamping the ageing squad.  At present, the team comprises of many players who are on the wrong side of 30 and in the twilight of their careers. Players such as Luka Modric, Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema only but to name a few. Furthermore, from an offensive standpoint, Madrid have run dry of goals due to Ronaldo’s departure, and with Bale not likely to be the main figure, it becomes apparent that the team needs a star player that can get them the goals as well as create chances for the side. Hazard ticks both boxes. Thus, in order to bounce back from a disastrous season, Madrid are most certainly going to be very active in the transfer market and Hazard may be the main target for the club.

Considering the above, making a move to La Liga would be the noble thing to do for Hazard. For starters, he would be fulfilling his dream of always wanting to play for Real Madrid. Moreover, this move would help him have a shot at challenging for the coveted Balon d’Or award which has become rather elusive for most players. Most football fans are aware of the immense talent that Hazard has, some even arguing that it is worthy to rival the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi both who for the past eleven years, have shared the Ballon d’Or equally amongst themselves. Now, with Hazard hitting his prime age, being at the Santiago Bernabeu would most certainly boost his chances of competing for the prize provided he adapts well and faster to Spanish football.

Mbwana Samatta is carrying Tanzania's torch in Europe

“He is currently the league’s top scorer with 16 to his name and a crucial member of the title-chasing Genk setup who are ten points ahead of second-placed Club Brugge. The Tanzanian captain also bagged 3 UEFA Europa League goals in 5 matches as Genk reached the last 32 where they will now play Czech Republic’s Slavia Praha in February 2019.”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

He might not be a Didier Drogba but the 26-year-old Tanzanian’s style of play does remind us of the Chelsea legend and his stats are starting to look a lot like those of the retired Ivorian. Mbwana Samatta is a man who is currently unleashing fire from his boots, hot enough to grill whatever it is that can’t be easily grilled. With 16 goals to his name in only 19 league appearances, Mbwana is crafting the stuff of a legend. That’s almost a goal every match! He won our attention and we know no better way to celebrate him than following through the career of the first ever Tanzanian to play European football.

Dar Es Salaam streets

Mbwana Ally Samatta was born and bred in Tanzania, started following his football dream in the dusty streets of Dar Es Salaam before he was in the books of Tanzanian Premier League side, Africa Lyon as a 16-year-old. He has never been a late bloomer and by 2010, when he was 18, Samatta became a professional footballer and made his senior debut with Simba SC, one of the biggest football clubs in the East African nation. He amazingly scored 13 goals in 25 appearances for the club, inevitably attracting one of the big boys of African football. It’s not everyday that you come across an incredibly good East African in the football circles and this I say with utmost respect. They are just uniquely endowed in many other ways, but Samatta is one of the outliers. It became evident when he transferred to one of Africa’s most successful clubs.

Mbwana Samatta of TP Mazembe in action during the FIFA Club World Cup fifth place match between Club America and TP Mazembe at Osaka Nagai Stadium on December 16, 2015 in Osaka, Japan.

(Dec. 15, 2015 - Source: Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images AsiaPac)

TP Mazembe came calling and the second most successful club in the CAF Champions league with five titles, got their man. Samatta wasted no time at the DR Congo outfit, scoring 60 goals in 103 appearances between 2011-16. In that time period, he won the Linafoot, DR Congo’s top flight league title, four times and two other domestic cups. Perhaps the highlight was 2015, when he helped Mazembe to their latest CAF Champions League title after defeating USM Alger of Algeria by 4 -1 on aggregate. The Tanzanian finished the tournament as the top goal scorer with a total of 7 to his name and his crowning moment came that particular year. He won the 2015 CAF African Player Of The Year Award (Based In Africa) ahead of teammate and the “donkey dance” goalkeeper, Robert Kidiaba as well as Algerian Baghdad Bounedjah. Once more, there he was, on the move.

Touch-down Europe

Samatta’s exploits in the year 2015 meant that Belgian Professional League side, K.R.C Genk gave in to the temptation of bringing the Tanzanian to Europe. Up to this day, they have lived not to regret that decision as Samatta already has 31 goals in 73 appearances since joining the three time Belgian First Division A champions in 2016. He is currently the league’s top scorer with 16 to his name and a crucial member of the title chasing Genk setup who are ten points ahead of second placed Club Brugge. The Tanzanian captain also bagged 3 UEFA Europa League goals in 5 matches as Genk reached the last 32 where they will now play Czech Republic’s Slavia Praha in February 2019. With a further 17 goals for the Taifa Stars of Tanzania, Samatta is becoming a national icon and could help his nation to a rare AFCON finals appearance in June 2019 if they can win their final qualifiers match at home, against group leaders Uganda. Also in the Genk squad are African stars, Joseph Aidoo and Joseph Paintsil of Ghana together with DR Congo’s Dieumerci Ndongala.

Make no mistake about it, Samatta has become one of Europe’s most lethal strikers with simplicity marking his style of play. He is not your super skillful footballer but a goal poacher always prying in the box ready to hurt the opponent at all costs. No wonder Premier League side, Cardiff City were interested in bringing him to England in the January transfer window. They are desperately in need of goals and goals is what he can give to them, on a silver platter

Romelu Lukaku - "The Belgian of Congolese descent"

Romelu Lukaku of Manchester United applauds the travelling fans after the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Manchester United at Turf Moor on September 2, 2018 in Burnley, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 1, 2018 - Source: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Europe)

Some call him the Belgian Beast and at a local watch party during the 2018 FIFA World Cup semi-final against Brazil, an ecstatic Manchester United fan from the crowd shouted, “Cristiano” Lukaku! The 25-year-old Manchester United forward had outpaced Paulinho and dribbled past Fernandinho to assist Kevin De Bruyne for Belgium’s second goal as they stormed into the semi-finals after beating the Samba boys 2-1 in a thoroughly entertaining match-up. This was a few days after Romelu Lukaku had pulled off a world class dummy to allow Nacer Chadli to steal a third goal for the Red Devils as they remarkably came back from 2 goals down against Japan to get passage into the quarter-finals. The year 2018 became one of the highlights for the forward’s outstanding career, but what other juicy details are there to it?

Football with a purpose

Speaking to the Players’ Tribune, Romelu reminisced of his tough childhood , highlighting that he had made up his mind a schoolboy to lift his mother and family out of poverty by kicking the ball as hard as he could. The 25-year-old was born in Antwerp, Belgium to a Congolese mother and a father who played football and represented Zaire (present day DR Congo) at international level

“I kept my promise to myself for a while. But then some days I’d come home from school and find my mum crying. So I finally told her one day, “Mum, it’s gonna change. You’ll see. I’m going to play football for Anderlecht, and it’s going to happen soon. We’ll be good. You won’t have to worry anymore.” I was six.”

— Romelu Lukaku, Manchester United & Belgium Forward

He grew up a more than determined kid, playing the game he loved for with a purpose most dearest to him. That was, giving his mother a better life. Fast forward a few years, it all went out as Rom had envisioned. He weathered all there was to brave, even recalling the tough times where criticisms flew in left, right and center during dry periods that are common to most football players. Even racially inspired critics would also say their piece:

“When things were going well, I was reading newspapers articles and they were calling me Romelu Lukaku, the Belgian striker. When things weren’t going well, they were calling me Romelu Lukaku, the Belgian striker of Congolese descent.”

— Romelu Lukaku - Belgium's Record Goal Scorer

With the kind of scrutiny that Mourinho and Manchester United are currently experiencing, Lukaku is one such player who would probably not flinch in all these times.

Giorgio Chiellini of Italy (L) and Lukaku of Belgium compete for the ball during the intermational friendly match between Belgium and Italy at King Baudouin Stadium on November 13, 2015 in Brussels, Belgium.

(Nov. 12, 2015 - Source: Claudio Villa/Getty Images Europe)

Pure grit

I remember not being Lukaku’s biggest fan when he signed for Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United for a fee reported to be £75 million, plus £15 million in add-ons. I have always thought that his services were overpriced and perhaps they are. One thing is for sure though, you cannot take anything away from the forward’s strong mental fortitude, physicality and grit. He may not be the most talented footballer but gets what he sets out to, on the field of play. On his way to become a professional footballer, he always mashed up the goals and putting on record, some weird numbers. From 2004-06, Romelu scored 121 goals in 68 matches for Belgian Pro League club called Lierse before banging 131 goals in 93 matches for Anderlecht’s youth academy. He also became the fifth youngest player to reach 100 English Premier League goals and also one of only five players to have scored 50 premier league goals before their 23rd birthday.

An evolving footballer

Belgium players celebrate after Fernandinho of Brazil scores an own goal for their sides first goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Quarter Final match between Brazil and Belgium at Kazan Arena on July 6, 2018 in Kazan, Russia.

(July 5, 2018 - Source: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Europe)

The Belgian forward is one such a player we have seen add new dimensions to his game from time to time. Popularly known for having a bad first touch by fans who don’t like him the most, displays such as the ones narrated above of dummies and dribbling past players have recently become more established in Lukaku’s game. His physical strength that is often likened to that of an ox, pace and power together with bits of finishing “tools” learnt from Thierry Henry during his tenure as Belgium’s striker coach could surely, slowly lead him to emulate his boyhood hero,the Brazilian Ronaldo. The former “marksman” that Lukaku often watches on YouTube.

Belgian Legend

The Belgian striker of Congolese descent has become the Belgian legend at only 25 years of age. He has since surpassed the previously held record of all time record goals by a single player for the Red Devils which was 31. Lukaku has 45 record international goals to his name and still counting. He has represented his country at the 2014 world cup, Euro 2016 and the 2018 FIFA world cup in Russia. Even money has since started following the forward, becoming the first English Premier League player to sign for Jay-Z’s management sports agency called Roc Nation Sports and also signed a record sponsorship deal with Puma, the largest endorsement deal the Germany company has over offered.

Mama, Romelu Menama Lukaku Bolingoli, made it!

Post-Ronaldo Real Madrid: Can they compete?

Julen Lopetegui, manager of Real Madrid instructs his team during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and Getafe CF at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on August 19, 2018 in Madrid, Spain.

(Aug. 18, 2018 - Source: Denis Doyle/Getty Images Europe) 

The 2018/19 season commenced less than a month ago and the departure of Real Madrid’s greatest ever goalscorer made the headlines. Not many expected the player to leave the club that he claims to love, but who could blame him if he was not feeling wanted anymore. The Portuguese star averaged at least 40 goals per season since 2009 when he moved to the club from Manchester United and has been the focal point of the club’s successes in the past decade. He picked up 5 Ballon D’Or (World’s Best Soccer Player) Awards in his career to date which is the same as fellow GOAT, Lionel Messi of Barcelona. Tinotenda Magiya writes how Real Madrid plans to cope with the loss of their greatest asset.

Gareth Bale seems to be the answer to many questions. The Welsh forward was brought to Madrid in a world record transfer from Tottenham Hotspur back in 2013. It is only when he arrived that the club managed to win the UEFA Champions League after 9 failed attempts. Bale was brought with the expectation to rival Ronaldo for the best player within the camp and ensure that healthy competition translated to trophies. It is fair to say that the Galactico signing has not quite lived up to those expectations as he suffered many injuries throughout his time in Spain. Instead of scoring those huge number of goals, Bale was turned into a provider for the Portuguese No.7 because the team was built around him. His goal scoring contribution was a bit limited which saw his pedigree fall from being one of the best players in the world to being an impact substitute under Zinedine Zidane’s tenure. Ronaldo’s departure means that the player is granted the freedom he always desired, and he has since scored 3 goals and provided 1 assist in just 3 appearances so far this term. If the Spanish giants put their faith in the Welsh wizard, they will surely get the best out of the player who has that fear factor that can only be found in the best attackers in world football.  

Benzema is another player whose style of play suffered for the good of Ronaldo. The striker also focused more on assisting Ronaldo than doing his primary job which is to put the ball into the net. Opta Stats reported in April that he assisted Ronaldo’s 23 goals in La Liga, more than any other player. No wonder Ronaldo did not object to Higuain’s departure because Benzema was unselfish and was always ready to feed him the ball in dangerous positions and allow him to shine. Now that Ronaldo is gone, the French striker is also looking like a more effective player ready to compete for the Golden Boot (highest goal scorer) award. He looks potent in front of goal and does not think twice when the ball falls at his feet. He has scored 4 goals already in La Liga and another in the UEFA Super Cup to make it 5 goals in 4 appearances. Real Madrid will need these goals if they are to compete against Barcelona and Atletico Madrid for the domestic titles as well as to defend their European crown. There is more to come from the 30-year-old, and his style of play has been restored to default settings.

“They managed to achieve this over many generations even when they lost players like Di Stefano, the Brazilian Ronaldo, Raul, Casillas, and now Cristiano Ronaldo. They seem to always find a way to exist and dominate. They have, and always will. Be sure to hold your heart in your hands when your team is matched against Real Madrid”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

Karim Benzema #9 of Real Madrid celebrates with Gareth Bale #11 after scoring a goal during the first half of the International Champions Cup match against Manchester United at Hard Rock Stadium on July 31, 2018 in Miami, Florida.

(July 31, 2018 - Source: Rob Foldy/Getty Images North America)

Real Madrid head coach, Lopetegui, is certain that his youthful talent will play an integral part in their quest for success during his tenure. He has since deposed the young Vinicius Jnr on the left of an attacking three for the La Liga opener before playing Marco Asensio and Isco Alarcon in the other two matches. The club has maintained a perfect record since the start of the competition and does not look like they miss Ronaldo. It is not the first time that the young players have delivered for Real Madrid. Even during Zidane’s time, Asensio shined against Barcelona in 2017 when they beat the Catalonians by 2 goals to nothing in the Spanish Super Cup. Gerard Pique of Barcelona was quoted as having said, “I feel inferior to Real Madrid for the first time,” and Ronaldo was not on the pitch on this night. There were signs that the club could live without the aging striker and the new coach has gone with that strategy. Dani Ceballos has also been used in midfield in place of the UEFA Best Player of the Year, Luka Modric who is turning 33 years in a few days. On other parts of the pitch, the club also acquired Mariano Diaz to provide competition for Benzema up front and Odriozola to compete with Dani Carvajal at right back. The club’s latest recruitment strategy could prove to be a masterstroke if they go on to win the La Liga trophy this season.

Besides, Courtois signature fits into the plan of making a competitive team post the Ronaldo era at Real Madrid. The club finished third behind Atletico Madrid and Barcelona conceding 44 goals in the process. This was twice as many goals that Atletico conceded and the club sought the expertise of the Belgian goalkeeper to prevent conceding so many goals. If the above-mentioned players maintain their current form and Courtois shields the goal-line like he knows how to, Real Madrid will definitely be a force to reckon this season and beyond.

In essence, Real Madrid does not look doomed now that they have lost a player who is arguably the greatest of all time. The status of the club does not allow it. Real Madrid has existed since 1902 and is the most decorated club in European soccer with 13 UEFA Champions League trophies. They managed to achieve this over many generations even when they lost players like Di Stefano, the Brazilian Ronaldo, Raul, Casillas, and now Cristiano Ronaldo. They seem to always find a way to exist and dominate. They have, and always will. Be sure to hold your heart in your hands when your team is matched against Real Madrid because they will have enough to deal with anyone they face.

Gareth Bale of Real Madrid celebrates with Marco Asensio after scoring his teams second goal during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and Getafe CF at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on August 19, 2018 in Madrid, Spain.

(Aug. 18, 2018 - Source: Denis Doyle/Getty Images Europe) 

FT World Cup 2018: Tunisia goes down hard but they go down swinging

The odds really seem to be against the North African Les Aigles de Carthage in this tournament as they once again lost a game that they really needed to win to stay in the competition. Belgium did not just beat them, they scored more than double what Tunisia produced in an overwhelming 5-2 win. In case you are wondering how so much was accomplished, here is a snippet below.

Wahbi Khazri capitalized on the assist from Hamdi Nagguez and scored for Tunisia just before the referee blew the whistle. What a redemption for Tunisia! Earlier in the game, Dylan Bronn had taken a free kick from Saif-Eddine Khaoui which he then headed into the center of the net. Maybe this undesirable outcome can be accredited to the change of the players that started off the game from the Tunisian side. Farouk Ben Mustapha had to step in for the Tunisian goalkeeper who got injured during the game with England. Such a critical change during a desperate time is least likely going to yield good results in most cases, and this one happened to be one of them. Two of their players also had to exit the game before the end of the game, due to injury and this may have had an impact on the team too.

On the Belgium side, the drops of the victory started to pour in early into the game. Just after 6 minutes, a foul that worked in Belgium’s favor gave Eden Hazard a chance to capitalize with a penalty and he easily put the ball into the net while the Tunisian goalkeeper just knelt in front of the goal post. Lukaku was on fire too! Just before the teams adjourned for the first half, he had two goals under his belt for the Belgians. Even though he eventually left the game due to an injury, it did not stop the Red Devils from pouring in goals. Hazard and Batshuayi also each contributed one goal to the game which led to this incredible victory.

Tunisia needed to win this game, but we do not always get what we need. Tunisia will face Panama on Thursday, the 28th of June which might be their last game. As they pack their bags, they will say “we did not win the World Cup, but we participated and represented Africa in the World Cup!”