SOCCER IN AFRICA 

We all know that soccer is the most popular sport in the world. In Africa, soccer is the most popular sport. Soccer is a major part of the African society. Men and women alike play soccer in Africa. Soccer bonds the rich and the poor, young and old, able and disabled. Soccer plays a huge role in the African community. Africa is a third world continent so the continent is not equipped enough to have most sports. The most popular sports are soccer, basketball, track & field and cross country. 

There are a lot of poor countries in Africa. Some people go on for days without food or water. People go around walking in the fields and goofing around with soccer balls (not actual soccer balls). Soccer helps them out to get rid of their domestic stress. My aim for this blog is to put the poor Africans who need help out there. People in Africa need help especially with financial matters. It will help out a lot if people are willing to sponsor some of the young talented soccer players in Africa would help out a lot of African communities. 

Like I always say and will always say "soccer is a way of life." 

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SOCCER, A WAY OF LIFE ? ? ? ? 

What is soccer? A lot of people have very different and diverse answers to this question, is it a sport? Some people think that soccer is just a sport others think that its way beyond that. Some people also think that soccer is a team sport and nothing more nor less, others think that it isn't really a team sport due to the fact that individual players work to better themselves not others. No matter how you interpret what soccer is, you are still going to have most likely the same ways that it affects and influence your life. There are so many ways that soccer affect both soccer players and non soccer players (specifically referring to soccer fans both club and country). 

As an athlete and a soccer player, soccer affects and contributes to my life (social life, personality, work ethic, dedication, optimism etc.) in so many different ways. To break it down, soccer is a way of life in my opinion. This blog is not to be focused on me (not my personal diary) but to explain why I think soccer is a way life, I definitely must refer to first hand experience. I have been playing soccer since I was four (4) years old. I have always had a passion for the beautiful game and still have an even greater passion for soccer. Socially, soccer brings my family together. Again, since when I was four, both my mom and dad drive me to soccer practice. They were always excited to drive me and brother. To this day, my parents have never missed any of my soccer games and not planning on missing any of my soccer games anytime soon. Sometimes during the weekend, we just sit home, relax and watch a beautiful game of soccer on TV, preferably the Barclays Premier League. When we go on vacations to big cities like Chicago, Kansas City and others, we almost always go in time for a match live at the stadium.  

It is true that a good soccer program requires a lot of money, but is it worth it? I would say that soccer is worth every penny spent on it. To my family and I, soccer is priceless. It is true that we have spent enough money on soccer over the years satisfactory to pay off our mortgage.  Soccer calms me down! Just like most teens out there, I also get mad and or irritated sometimes on some really silly stuff. When I am not in the mood to talk to anyone, I take my ball and go out to the soccer field or my backyard and play for hours and hours. Soccer is like my therapy. When my uncle died in 2015, it was a punch in the stomach. I was a little bit depressed, I couldn't stop thinking about him but guess what, I went to a couple soccer practice sessions and goofed around with a ball at home and in no time, I got all better. 

A lot of people have different perspectives on what soccer is and everyone has a right to his or her own opinion. At anytime if one asks me or even goes to the extent to waking me up from my sleep asking what is soccer? I will always say that soccer is my life. 

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U.S. WOMEN NATIONAL TEAM

The U.S. women national team are in the spotlight for winning the 2015 women's world cup hosted in Canada. The USWNT had a fantastic tournament, they played really well in every single game they played. The 2015 world cup is the 3rd world  cup the USWNT has won. The team was lead by players like, Wambach, Alex Morgan, and others.
            The purpose of this blog is to analyze the significance of the USWNT winning the 2015 women's world cup tournament. First off, when it comes to sports, women are downgraded compared to men. Women are considered weak and physically unable to do sports that men can do. A lot of soccer fans do not even know that there are women club teams around the world. I bet you are wondering why I am saying this, so here's my reason; the U.S outstanding performance in the tournament placed not only the USWNT on the spotlight, but also women's soccer as a whole. At the beginning of the world cup, people weren't so excited about watching the tournament. After a couple games went by, the public began to recognize the level; of competition between the ladies. Outstanding performances by players like Hope Solo made the game really fun to watch. Due to people realizing the level of competition between the women, they started thinking about how competitive the women club teams were.
           The girls also brought together communities. During game days, big cities like Chicago, Kansas City, New York, display the game in the city center were a lot of different people come together and have a good time watching the game. Families get to hangout and have a wonderful time while cheering on their players.
           The USWNT winning the world cup encouraged the empowerment and appreciation of women. It contributed to women in societies getting more respect from people. On aspect, male athletes support the work ethic and dedication of women in societies. They made us go back and think about the impact women have in communities.
         The team winning the world cup also inspires little girls and other people facing difficulties. There are a lot of athletes who inspire all kinds of people indeed but the USWNT proved that nothing is impossible. They make people go beyond their background, race, disability, and other difficulties, to achieve their dreams.
       This glorious world cup winning led to women achieving a long desired goal. Women around the world have always wanted to have female players, club and national teams on FIFA. The feminist public have tried times and times without number but to no avail. During the year of 2015, FIFA confirmed the addition of female players, club and national teams in FIFA 16 coming out this fall. This is a big achievement in the world of both male and female soccer, now both genders can play FIFA and enjoy the ability to play with their role models and heroes.
       These women are considered heroes in the soccer society and planet Earth as a whole, they've proved that no matter what situation you are in, if you put 110% in your dreams everyday, one day it will come true.
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KEY MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER TRANSFER

The major league soccer also known as the MLS is the North American soccer league. It is not one of the top leagues but it is surely making its way up there. It has some talented players making their way into the history books. Since Thierry Henry transferred to the New York Red Bulls (P.S he retired), many world class players transferred to MLS clubs towards the end of their careers or at least thinking about transferring. Major transfers occurred this season so this blog is mostly going to focus on the significance of these events.
                  Andrea Pirlo transferred to New York City FC from Juventus in the Serie A league. Juventus has a good record on winning the Serie A and other championships like, the Champions league, Europa cup, etc. Andrea Pirlo was born in Italy and plays for the Italian national team. He plays a vital role in the pitch, which is center defensive midfield. He is a world class player which is equivalent to been in the NFL Hall of Fame. His transfer to New York City Fc had a lot of significance because of what he brings with him. His moving to the American team placed a spotlight in the MLS. He also raised the MLS professional status up a level which attracted more world class players to the MLS.
                  Due to Andrea Pirlo moving to the MLS, it attracted the English star Frank Lampard to join the same team. Frank Lampard plays for the English national team and used to play for Chelsea FC. Lampard is a fantastic player, he captained Chelsea to winning the first ever Chelsea Champions League title in 2012. Lampard is getting close to retiring from professional soccer, so he decided to transfer to New York City FC to end his career. His movement is also significant because it is raising the American economy due to the fact that a lot of people admire Frank Lampard so they would go to soccer games just to see him. Just like Pirlo he also attracted other world class players like Didier Drogba who now plays for Montreal.
                MLS is still not as big as the Barclays Premier League, the La Liga or the Serie A but for sure it is making its way up there with the help of these world class players.
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BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS
 http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2015-16/sep/180915-matchweek6-chelsea-vs-arsenal-preview.html
The Barclays Premier is the most competitive soccer league in the world. One of the big news is that, Jose Mourinho, the Chelsea FC manager still believes that Eden Hazard is the best player in the Barclays Premier League. Eden Hazard was born in Belgium and he was the 2015 best player of the Barclays Premier League. Eden Hazard is a current Chelsea player and his team won the Barclays Premier League last season and also won other major trophies. Hazard is a very talented player who also plays for his national team Belgium. 
              The news came out this week about Eden Hazard still been the best player in the Barclays Premier League according to the Chelsea manager. I have no doubt that Hazard is a very talented player but the best in the Premier League, I am not so sure. I am a Chelsea FC supporter so obviously I will be going in favor for my player, but that is not the case this time around. There are a lot of youngsters in the league right now who match Hazard. The Senegalese native, Diafra Sakho is a very good example. Diafra Sakho plays for West Ham United and he is a striker or otherwise known as a forward. He scores a lot of goals and won a couple player of the month awards.  Diafra Sakho could match Hazard based on his productivity on the pitch. Hazard scores some goals and have some assists (which is his primary job) and Diafra Sakho scores goals which is the main job of a striker.
            
                   MORE BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS
          The Chile native, Alexis Sanchez made his Arsenal debut last season. He previously played for the Spanish giants, FC Barcelona. He had a very successful season in Barcelona as a youngster and he now plays for Arsenal making millions of pounds. He made his English debut around the beginning of the 2014/2015 English League season. He is doing really well and is having a very successful season. The latest news about him is that he is one of the top five forwards in the Barclays Premier League. To some people this is nothing out of the ordinary but to me I think that it is very impressive. My reasons are as follows, for one the language barrier; he has no idea how to speak English and communication is a very big aspect of the game. Secondly, he played in the Spanish league which is a totally different style of soccer. In Spain their style of soccer is more about moving the ball around and been conservative, were as in England it's more about long balls and athleticism. These are the biggest reasons why I think that it is  very impressive for a Chilean and an ex Spanish league player to be featured in the top five best forwards in the Barclays Premier League.

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RONALDO VS. MESSI

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are without a doubt the best soccer players in the world. Whether or not they are the best players in the world is not the question, the question is whose better? Since when Cristiano Ronaldo transferred to Real Madrid a few years ago, joining Messi in the Spanish league known as the La Liga, people started to compare him with the FC Barcelona player Lionel Messi. Ronaldo plays for Real Madrid which is the number one Barcelona rival. Whenever Barcelona and Real Madrid play, the game is called El Classico due to the fact that it is always a very tensed and classic game. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have nothing against each other but their teams made them arch enemies. They both obviously want to be the best player in the world so they both think that they are the best in the world.
              This blog is not necessarily bound to argue about whose better but the significance of these two genius players in the world. We could look at the significances with different lenses. These players bring us socially together not directly though. For example when two good friends or family members like different players, they have something to talk about not necessarily argue. I for one when I hang out with my friends or relatives, talking about which player is better always keeps us entertained. This topic forces my friends and I to do some kind of research and come up with some evidence to prove that one player is better than the other.
             Economically speaking, these athletes are significant to our economy. Big industries and companies use these famous athletes to advertise their products. Since a lot of people like one player over the other, they go for the brand that their favorite player represents. Cristiano Ronaldo advertises for Nike were as Lionel Messi advertises for Adidas, so some people wear a lot of Adidas or Nike products just to "be closer to their player."
             Culturally, these players are kind of forced to be role models and have good images on and off the pitch. They both help out less fortunate people especially kids, emotionally, and financially. They are a big part of their society for example, Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't have tattoos because he donates blood every year. Lionel Messi has some foundations in less developed countries especially with the building of schools.
             These reasons and many others is why I believe that we shouldn't be focused on who's better technically, but how they give back to their communities and societies around the world. I like both players because of how they give back socially, economically, and culturally.