Humber College freshman badminton player Renee Yip was named the Ontario
Colleges Athletic Association’s (OCAA) 2009/2010 Female Athlete of the
Year.
Yip was also recognized as an Academic All Canadian for achieving 81 per
cent in her first year of studies at Humber. The Fitness and Health
Promotion student led Humber’s badminton team to its first provincial
championship this year, while accumulating an array of individual awards.

“It is rare to have a freshman athlete win the OCAA Athlete of the Year
but Renee is that rare individual who has the ability and maturity to play
like an experienced champion,” said Doug Fox, Humber Athletic Director.

Blair Webster, Executive Director, OCAA, presented Yip with an award at a
ceremony held at Humber. “The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association takes
great pride in honouring our student-athletes who show success on the
field of play as well as in the classroom.  Each year the OCAA recognizes
one male and one female student-athlete for their athletic and academic
successes and awards them as the OCAA Male and Female Athlete of the Year.
In only her first year at Humber, Renee Yip reached the ultimate success -
a National Championship in Badminton Mixed Doubles as well as Academic
All-Canadian honours,” said Webster.

“I am honoured, happy and surprised about receiving this award. I couldn’t
have gotten here without the many hours our coaches put in, the support
from my teammates and the help from everyone in athletics,” said Yip.

Kabbadi is now on the world map. Primarily it was a South Asian game. Generally we say that kabbadi is the mother game of Punjabis. Wherever Punjabis live, they hold kabbadi tournaments. Now kabbadi has reached Rogers’s cable from the fields of Punjab. Like cricket kabbadi has become a professional game.
The first world kabbadi cup was held in Punjab from 3rd to 12th April 2010. Nine kabbadi teams from Australia, Canada, Italy, Iran, India, U.K, Spain and Pakistan participated in the event. Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, Sukhbir Singh Badal inaugurated the tournament at Yadwindera stadium, Patiala. Bollywood film star Dharmindera and Sunny-Deol were also present. Artists from different parts of India performed  colourful dances including bhangra.

The final match of the world kabbdi cup was played between the arch rivals India and Pakistan. Like other matches it was telecasted by PTC Punjabi channel. Canada defeated Italy securing 69 against 22 points, landing on the third position.

Unexpectedly India thrashed Pakistan  58-24. India secured first four points and maintained their lead to last to become world champions. India won 1st prize of almost $222,000 and being runner-up Pak won $110,000.  Canada got prize of $500,00 for third position. Sukhwinder Singh, bollywood singer amused the gathering with melodious songs. Parkash Singh Badal, chief minister of Punjab distributed the prizes and announced hiring all Indian players in Govt. service.

Kulwinder Singh Kinda from Canada and Mangat Singh Mangi (C)  of the Indian team was declared best raider and best chaser respectively. They both were awarded with Swaraj tractors.

The RCGA, which has been known as the Royal Canadian Golf Association since 1895, adopted Golf Canada as its new consumer facing brand with the full approval of association’s Board of Directors.

“Our operating structure and the day to day operation of our business will remain the same, but going forward, we will be working under the new Golf Canada brand, ” said Scott Simmons, Executive Director and CEO of Golf Canada.  “Adopting Golf Canada as our new brand is more than simply changing our logo – we are committing to a new brand promise of customer service and inclusiveness; working together with the entire Canadian golf industry to grow and shape the future of our sport.  We are confident that launching Golf Canada as our new consumer facing brand will increase our relevance to all golfers and improve our ability to effectively communicate with our customers and stakeholders across the country for the betterment of golf in Canada.”

THE RATIONALE

The RCGA is adopting Golf Canada as its consumer facing brand for the following reasons:

• Golf Canada is better understood and more relevant within the sporting community.  Many NSO’s use the same concept (Basketball Canada, Hockey Canada, Rugby Canada, Skate Canada, etc.)

• Canada’s provincial golf associations have been presented the opportunity of using similar consumer facing brands, therefore providing a better alignment between Golf Canada, the national governing body, and the 10 provincial bodies.

• Golf Canada is a bilingual name, consistent in both official languages.

• Golf Canada does not have an acronym and therefore will help limit confusion.

• The RCGA board, officers and staff have decided that for the long term growth of the organization, to refer to the association in the consumer marketplace as Golf Canada.  They have determined that this is the best brand name to define and reflect their role as the NSO responsible for shaping golf’s future.

As of April 22, the following golf programs, services and championships will be officially operated under the Golf Canada brand:

GOLF CANADA – YOU BELONG

Golf Canada is a member-based organization governed by the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA).  Recognized by Sport Canada as the National Sport Organization (NSO) for golf in this country and representing more than 350,000 members and 1,600 golf clubs, Golf Canada is responsible for promoting participation in and a passion for the game of golf in Canada.

Golf Canada actively conducts championships, programs and services to help shape the present and future of golf in Canada.   Canada’s National Amateur Golf Team program, National Golf in Schools, Golf Fore the Cure, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum and CN Future Links, Canada’s national junior golf program, are only some of the initiatives the association leads for golf in Canada.   As the authority for the game of golf in Canada, the association also administers the Rules of Golf and Amateur Status as well as Handicapping and Course Rating under the esteemed RCGA brand.

In addition, Golf Canada conducts Canada’s most prestigious golf championships.  The RBC Canadian Open and CN Canadian Women’s Open attract the best professional golfers in the world, while regional junior and national amateur championships provide world class competitive opportunities for Canada’s top golfers to showcase their talents.

For more information about what Golf Canada is doing to support golf in your community, visit us online at www.golfcanada.ca.

Excited, Bharat Kaura, Jt. Director General (Protocol), notes that people will forget Beijing when they witness the inaugural ceremony of Commonwealth games to be held at New Delhi between October 3^rd and October 14th. “Vancouver should be forgotten too for different reasons,” Mr. Kaura says. Winter Olympic games were held in Vancouver earlier this year.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is shown the Queen's Baton by Sydney Benoît, a 10-year old Commonwealth Games hopeful, in the presence of current Commonwealth Games athlete Asmir Arifovic

Indian will be showcasing more than 5000 years of its civilization with modern technology in the opening ceremony. 10,000 artists Indian artists would be performing on stage. And athletes from more than 70 countries will be battling for more than 280 medals.

Asha Luthra Presdient of ICCC

India has invested more than $170 million into Indian athletes’ training, says Mr. Kaura. The goal is to beat Canada that won 3^rd position in the last games. Australia was at the first place with most medals and England won the second place.

Mr.Bharat Kaura, Jt. Director General Protocol Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games

The latest equipment is given to the New Delhi Police to maintain law and order in Delhi during the games. Extensive security would be provided to athletes, athletes’ families, media, and foreign delegations. “Trust us,” says Mr. Kaura to the world. Green buses run on green energy would be replacing the old eye sore buses. There would be a dedicated lane for these buses for efficient transportation, he notes.

Mrs. Preeti Saran Indian Consul General,Toronto

While London is running on a very tight budget in anticipation of Olympics in 2012, Mr. Kaura notes that the government of India has spent $5.2 billion on infrastructure – to build roads, flyovers and underpasses.

Mr. Kaura along with other members of Indian delegation was speaking to Generation Next at the Rotunda at Toronto City Hall.

Earlier, the Queen’s Baton arrived in Canada and a Relay ceremony was held at Metro Hall, Toronto. The Queen’s Baton Relay is a traditional curtain raiser to the Games. Subsequently, the ICCC, the Consulate General of India in Toronto and the CII hosted a reception to honour athletes of Team Canada that would be participating in Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games. ICCC is a bronze sponsor for Commonwealth Games Canada.

Asha Luthra, President, ICCC, BB Kaura, Joint Director, Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi and Renuka Singh, Director, International Relations, CII, signed the MoU on behalf of their organisations. Tarlochan Singh, Member of the Indian Parliament, was present at the signing.

__________________________________________________________________________________________-

Canada at the XIX Commonwealth Games

Delhi, India October 3^rd – 14^th, 2010

• Team Canada’s planning and preparation for the Delhi Commonwealth Games is unprecedented. Athletes and coaches will benefit from new and stronger partnerships with a number of key organizations including Own the Podium, Coaches of Canada, Athletes CAN, and Sport Canada.
• Canada will send one of the largest teams to the Delhi Games, numbering 400 people including more than 250 athletes.
• Canada expects to finish in the top three nations in total medals, as it did four years ago in Melbourne, Australia. (Australia finished first, England second).
• The overall goal is to surpass the 87 medals Canada won in Australia in 2006  (26 gold, 30 silver, 31 bronze).
  • The Delhi sport programme includes the following sports:

×           Aquatics

• swimming, diving, synchro

×           Archery

×           Athletics

×           Badminton

×           Boxing

×           Cycling

• road, track

×           Gymnastics

• artistic, rhythmic

×           Field Hockey

×           Lawn Bowls

×           Netball

×           Rugby 7’s

×           Shooting

×           Squash

×           Table Tennis

×           Tennis

×           Weightlifting

×           Wrestling

• Canada will compete in all sports except Netball and Tennis.
• Canadians will compete in the following events for Elite Athletes with a Disability (EAD): Athletics, Swimming, and Table Tennis.

Author: Asma Amanat

On the last day of the winter Olympics, Canada defeated the United States of America in overtime. This marked another milestone in the history of Canadian hockey. Canada now had gained both golds in men and women’s hockey. Before I focus on the game, let me shed some light on a bit of history on the country’s national winter sport and pass time.

Fans Cheering and Roaring During the game

Hockey is a Canadian sport, mostly because it was created and developed in Canada, but also because there is such a large following of the sport throughout Canada. Modern day hockey was created and developed by students and sports enthusiasts in Montreal. Canadians of all ages have enjoyed this game since the late 1800s. Since those early days hockey has taken on a more important role by representing a national icon and a symbol of the people of Canada.

Now that the games are coming to a close with Canada on top with the most gold medals, many Canadians were all looking forward to the final hockey match between Canada and USA. From young to old almost everyone either follows the NHL or gather around the television every four years to watch the national teams fight for the gold medals. So, the gold medal final was a very important event for everyone.

The Olympic final was a question of skill and pride not only for the players but also for every Canadian, because the game is more than just a sport. From the instant the puck dropped to every goal, the nation’s eyes were fixed on the movements of each of the players and the movement of the puck. When the game went into overtime with a  tied score of 2-2 every Canadian was as anxious as ever, fearing the loss of the gold to the Americans. But, when Sidney Crosby flew in with the game-winning goal the entire nation erupted in an explosion of celebration from the East coast all the way to the Vancouver games. Canada had won gold in it’s game.

The winter Olympic games came to an epic conclusion. Even though the games started out slow for the Canadians, they pulled back near the end and displayed a tremendous show of athleticism, which a nation could be proud of. By winning the most gold medals, Canada set a new world record for itself and for the rest of the world. If I had to sum up the whole Olympic experience in a sentence it would be: Canada had won not only as a nation but as a people representing all the faces of the world.

Author: Daanish Maan

It has been an incredible Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver during the past two weeks.  Athletes from all over the planet came to Canada’s west coast and gave it their best in the quest for gold.  While the focus here in Canada was on hockey, there were a few stories at the Games you may not have heard about, stories that inspired athletes and spectators to go beyond the call of duty.

Shiva Keshavan Kannan Palan

It proves the point that a sporting event like the Olympics is one of the very few institutions where people from throughout the world can come together, forget about any conflicts or disagreements they may have, and have fun.

Although these Games got off to a solemn start.  We cannot forget the tragedy of Armenian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, who died in a training run the very day of the opening ceremonies.  The organizing committee held a tribute to Kumaritashvili during the ceremonies and a moment of silence.

Figure skating: Rochette puts heartbreak aside to claim bronze

Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette also suffered a huge loss.  Her mother passed away just two days before the start of her event.  No one was sure if Rochette was even going to compete, but after much thought, she decided that the show must go on.  During her short skate, the crowd roared at she entered the rink, and she went on to deliver a flawless skating performance.  The CTV sports announcer said it best: “Joannie is the bravest athlete in the world.”

Nodar Kumaritashvili (Georgia) - Luge

The Games also saw new nations competing.  Pakistan participated in its first ever Winter Games, with 24 year old Muhammad Abbas competing in the Giant Slalom, and garnering a respectable time.  Although there were no medals for Abbas, just imagine how proud he must have made millions of people back home and tens of thousands of Pakistani Canadians throughout the country.  There are no doubt kids throughout Pakistan who will want to become Winter Olympic champions one day after seeing Abbas ski in Vancouver.

And how about Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong, the famous “Snow Leopard” from Ghana?  He was also participating in the first Winter Olympics for his country as well, and in skiing.  Nkrumah made headlines last week when he recorded a benefit song with Canadian fiddler Ashley MacIsaac that will raise funds for his Olympic journey.

Mohammad Abbas from Pakistan competing in Alpine Skiing

But the one story that truly symbolizes the Olympic spirit is what Indo-Canadians did for the Indian luge team.  Luge competitor Kannan Palan Shiva Keshavan, also known as “India’s fastest man,” revealed to the media that the Indian luge team’s uniforms were mismatched and in poor condition.  The South Asian community of Greater Vancouver sprung into action and raised over $8,000 almost overnight for the team to purchase new uniforms and equipment.  Keshavan was more than impressed: “To feel this kind of support from our community on the other side of the world from India, it is such a great feeling.”

This is what the Olympic Games are all about, recognizing that each of us, no matter who we are or where we are from, can live our dreams and accomplish anything we want in life.

Author: Bilal Rajan

The Cricket Champions League launched the ‘LSM Insurance Cricket for Haiti’ February 20, 2010 at the North Albion Collegiate Institute and February 21, 2010 at the Malvern Community Centre to ensure a citywide Cricket initiative to raise awareness and funds for Haiti.

Cricket for Haiti NACI

Approx 200 people including Under-19 and Women cricket players, participated and attended the launch on the West-end and East-end of Toronto.

Present at the launch were Mohan (Mike) Kendall, President, Ontario Cricket Association, Jim Persad, Secretary, Ontario Cricket Association, Rita Jethi, Director, Ontario Womens Cricket, Lorne Marr, President, LSM Insurance, Aman Kapur, Sr. Consultant, LSM Insurance, Priti Lamba, Candidate for MP, Conservative Party.

Cricket for Haiti Malvern.jpg

LSM Insurance Cricket for Haiti at North Albion Collegiate Institute will be played over 8 weeks with its final game April 24.

The LSM Insurance Cricket for Haiti at Malvern Community Centre will be played over 3 weeks with its final game March 7.

The contests over the weekend were exciting and the intensity is expected increase.

Two photos are attached, one taken at the launch at North Albion Collegiate Institute (NACI) and the other taken at the launch at Malvern Community Centre (Malvern).

Author:Atul Ahuja

Here’s your chance to represent; India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies, England, Bangladesh or World X1 in Canada. If you had a dream of representing your home country one day, and if that dream was shattered as a result of your parents moving to Canada – we’ve got some great news for you;

The Canada Cup T20 will help you dream and dream “BIG” again as we pave the way for some talented cricketers to reach International stardom in the Cricketing arena. The tournament will no doubt energize cricketers from India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, England, Bangladesh, West Indies, South Africa,etc to follow in the foot steps of their Cricket Stars whether be Sanath Jayasuriya ( Sri Lanka), Sachin Tendulkar ( India), Shaid Afridi ( Pakistan), Brian Lara ( West Indies), Graeme Smith ( South Africa), Mike Hussey ( Australia) or any other Internationally recognized top cricketer. 

Although Cricket has being played in this great nation for well over a century, the recent influx of immigrants from cricket playing nations especially, from South Asia and the Caribbean have made the game the fastest growing sport in Canada. Almost every ground has some Cricket activity although the necessary funding has not kept up with the pace of its rapid growth, in Canada.

Organizers. In March 2008 we initiated a very important meeting between the Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket Hon. Arjuna Ranatunga M. P. and the Canadian Cricket Association officials which in turn paved the way for much needed funding to the Canadian National Cricket Side and more importantly Canada’s biggest cricket tournament worth $2 million dollars in October, 2008. The relationship that the Canadian Cricket Association built with Sri Lanka Cricket also saw the Canadian Cricketers arrive in Colombo, Sri Lanka for a high performance coaching camp and more of these training programs will take wing in the coming years.

Now, we are ready to undertake this exciting venture that will see Canadian Cricketers gain the knowledge and the experience needed to win the Cricket World Cup for Canada, in the near future.

Here’s How It Works;

CANADA CUP T 20 will allow cricketers who have arrived in Canada from:
India,Sri Lanka, Pakistan, England,Bangladesh,Gayana,Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Babados,Leeward Islands,Windward Island,South Africa, Zimbabwe,Tanzania,Kenya, Uganda,Afghanistan,UAE, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland,etc to come alive and represent their favourite team in Canada.

The Teams that will take the field are as follows;

Team Canada India
Team Canada Sri Lanka
Team Canada Pakistan
Team Canada West Indies (Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, Leeward Islands, Windward Island) Team Canada England (England- Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand) 
Team Canada Bangladesh
Team Canada World X1 (South Africa, Zimbabwe,Tanzania,Kenya, Uganda,Afghanistan,UAE)

The Selection Process Interested parties are requested to register online by visiting www.CanadaCupT20.com and a nominal Administration fee of $10 is in place to encourage cricketers who are serious about representing their home country participate. Once the registration process is in place the “Canada Cup T20 – Organizing committee” will schedule a suitable location to screen every player on their ability to represent the team of their choice.

We will select a pool of players for each team and the Coaches, Captains and their Managers will then select the Top cricketers off that pool to represent their country in Canada. No player will be encouraged outside our normal selection process and we encourage only serious candidates to be a part of this exciting venture.
   
Plans are underway to include 2 international players to represent each team, should budgets permit. We hope that this will allow Canadian Cricketers to gain much needed experience to make their dream a reality in the world of cricket. 

The games will take place in Toronto, Canada and entertain scores of South Asians, Caribbean’s and all other Canadian cricket fans in July 2010. 

What should I do? If you are the cricketer that we’re looking for then simply fill out the registration form and once the registration is approved by the Canada Cup T20 -organizing committee, you will receive an online confirmation. Please keep this confirmation handy as you will be required to present it to the Team Manager at the selection process and there after.

We welcome you to be a part of this exciting moment in Canadian history and wish you all the very best as you step into your cricket future in style by being a part of Canada’s hottest cricket tournament the CANADA CUP Twenty20 – 2010.

Canadians aged 18 to 34, those who would be least likely to remember some of these events of the past, are more likely to believe that the Vancouver games are more of a defining moment than the Calgary Olympics (70%), Montreal Olympics (60%), 1972 Hockey Summit Series (60%), or Expo 67 (55%). Three in ten (28%) Quebecers believe the Vancouver games are more of a defining national moment than the Montreal Olympics, and two in ten (21%) Quebecers say the same about Expo 67. Four in ten (41%) Albertans agree the Vancouver games are more of a defining moment than the Calgary Olympics.

Since this is Canada’s moment to shine, Canadians aren’t being bashful about putting their pride on display: seven in ten (71%) ‘disagree’ (39% strongly/32% somewhat) that ‘there is too much Canadian nationalism on display during the Olympics’. In fact, many Canadians are showing their pride for their nation in various ways. For example, four in ten (40%) agree they’ll fly/display the Canadian flag during the Olympic Games, and one in three (34%) agree they’ll wear Olympic/Canada clothing during the Olympic Games.

Moreover, 14% of Canadians – which could represent roughly 3 million adult Canadians – agree (4% strongly/10% somewhat) that they’ll miss work to watch the Olympics!

When Canada Wins…

While Canada has put a lot of money into its Own the Podium programme, most (84%) Canadians ‘disagree’ (49% strongly/35% somewhat) that ‘if Canada fails to win the most medals of any nation or lead in the medal count, the Games will be a disappointment’. Only 16% ‘agree’ (3% strongly/13% somewhat) that that result would be a disappointment.

In the areas where Canadians truly dominate – Women’s hockey, for example – Canadians are not being humble about their dominance. Just one in three (32%) ‘agree’ (9% strongly/23% somewhat) that they ‘feel uncomfortable’ when Canada wins 18-0 at women’s hockey’. The vast majority (68%) ‘disagrees’ (46% strongly/22% somewhat) with that position.

Canadians aged 18 to 34, those who would be least likely to remember some of these events of the past, are more likely to believe that the Vancouver games are more of a defining moment than the Calgary Olympics (70%), Montreal Olympics (60%), 1972 Hockey Summit Series (60%), or Expo 67 (55%). Three in ten (28%) Quebecers believe the Vancouver games are more of a defining national moment than the Montreal Olympics, and two in ten (21%) Quebecers say the same about Expo 67. Four in ten (41%) Albertans agree the Vancouver games are more of a defining moment than the Calgary Olympics.

Canadians are Showing their Pride…

Two in three (66%) agree that the opening ceremonies reflected Canada as they knew it, but some Canadians had a higher propensity to believe that this is the case:

Atlantic Canadians (77%) are most likely to agree, followed by residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (72%), British Columbia (69%), Ontario (68%), and Alberta (67%), while Quebecers (57%) are least likely to agree. Women (71%) are more likely than men (62%) to agree that the opening ceremonies reflected Canada as they know it. Those aged 35 to 54 are most likely (72%) to agree, followed by older (66%) and younger Canadians (59%).

A Sense of Belonging…

Nearly one half (45%) of Canadians say they belong first and foremost to their country, while significantly fewer say that distinction belongs to their town/city (20%), province (19%) or the world (16%). But allegiances change slightly depending on who you are:

Ontarians (57%) are most likely to say they belong first and foremost to their country, followed by those living in Saskatchewan and Manitoba (50%), British Columbia (48%), Alberta (44%), Atlantic Canada (40%)

Usually, after the final of an international football tournament, YouTube clips and highlight reels on mass media focus on goals scored, post-match celebrations, and star players. But after the Club World Cup final in Abu Dhabi a few weeks ago, the cameras and Spanish media were focused on a balding man sobbing uncontrollably in his palms.

It was Joseph ‘Pep’ Guardiola, the boy from Santpedor who grew up as a ball boy at the Camp Nou, then joined the Barcelona football academy at La Masia, became the fulcrum and captain of Johann Cruyff’s Dream Team in the 1990s (the precursor to modern-day Xavi) and went on to coach FC Barcelona to…no less than SIX titles in a single calendar year. It is a world record that will probably not be broken in our lifetimes – an achievement unsurpassed by any team before in football’s long and distinguished history.

That game against Estudiantes provides a perfect example of the many reasons behind the Blaugrana’s extraordinary success last year: champions are made of grit, talent, luck, organization, and inspiration, and this team is no exception. It had everything in spades, and as the year continued, pieces of the jigsaw kept falling into place.

Grit

A key characteristic differentiating Frank Rijkaard’s 2008 outfit and Pep Guardiola’s 2009 team is that the latter has an incredible aura of self belief and a will to win that has triumphed over many a stubborn parked bus. Although the Blaugrana are at their best when they score an early goal, they have conceded goals at crucial times often enough, but even more crucially, they have fought back with immense determination every single time. It was Andres Iniesta’s injury time screamer that enabled Barcelona to stride past Chelsea into the Champions League Final in April, and in December, Pedro Gonzalez and Lionel Messi were on hand to score the equalizer and winner, respectively. Reportedly, Guardiola told assistant coach Tito Vilanova that the team would win La Liga almost exactly one year ago, in a 3-2 win forgotten in the mists of Pamplona. The 6-1 drubbings Barcelona handed out last year only confirmed their…

Talent

The best player in the world, Messi. The best central midfield pairing in the world, Xavi and Iniesta. A Highbury legend, Thierry Henry. One of the best fullbacks in the world, Daniel Alves. This team of champions was made up of, quite literally, individual champions. To take one example, Seydou Keita, who is not even an automatic starter in the side, was captain of French giants Lens for two years before moving to La Liga. It was an almost obscene collection of attacking talent, but as Real Madrid’s failed Los Galacticos era proved, teams are not collections of extravagantly gifted players, but well organized groups that have synergy.

Organization

The tremendous individual skills of every single squad member enables Barcelona to play a uniquely attacking style which revolves around pass-and-move triangles and always, always lines up as 4-3-3. The roles are clearly defined too: for example, there is a left wing outlet (usually Henry), a defensive midfielder (man-mountain Yaya Toure) and a deep-lying playmaker (Xavi, arguably the world’s finest). Within that constrained system, players are given a freedom of expression that elevated football into a Catalan art form last season. Almost every player could play multiple roles and frequently did so; one of the most fervent debates in fan clubs was whether Iniesta should play on the left wing or center midfield. It didn’t matter much as far as the team was concerned, because each player knew his job intimately well. Xavi was quoted saying that many times, he made passes without looking, knowing that the position would be covered by someone. Those passes often went to either Dani Alves or Lionel Messi, who provided the spark.

Inspiration

Every great team has at least one great player; Barcelona was lucky to have many. Against teams resolutely prepared only to defend and not interested in playing football, it took magic to turn the tide; a shoulder-shake by Messi, an outrageous piece of control by Samuel Eto’o, goals fashioned out of five consecutive one-touch passes, a diving header by Keita where he seemingly forgot that goalposts exist and almost hit steel instead of ball – but he was too busy celebrating the goal. Even benched veterans got into the act; the Copa Del Rey victory’s key was a Jose Manuel Pinto penalty save where he indicated to the confused striker where he would dive.

Luck

Of course, though, there are times when beauty alone could not win the day; there are times when Lady Luck’s smile swung matches: balls bouncing to Blaugrana feet instead of the opposition, referees missing slight offsides, the infamous penalties at Stamford Bridge, and a few more. However, as Ernest Hemingway has said, one makes their own luck. Fortune did not place those titles in the Camp Nou trophy cabinet; it was a combination of the elements detailed above that led to success.

That combination was effected by none other than Pep Guardiola, initially doubted for his inexperience but later hailed for his ability to connect with superstars and transform them. Lionel Messi was always destined to be a legend, but it was Guardiola who paired him with Alves throughout the season and then, in a tactical masterstroke, moved him to a faux-center forward position in the two most important games of the year to leave the opponent’s plans in disarray. It was Guardiola who repeatedly warned against complacency and disciplined the team so tightly that players were fined for arriving to practice only five minutes late. And finally, it was Pep’s pep talk before the CWC final that enabled his men to win the only trophy they had never won before:

“Gentlemen, if you lose today you will continue to be the best in the world – but if you win today you will be eternal.”

 Author: Nabeel Ahmed