THE JAMES RODRIGUEZ DEAL
July 20, 2017
German side Bayern Munich shocked many when they quietly completed the loan deal for Real Madrid playmaker James Rodriguez.
There were rumours that the Columbian could exit the Santiago Bernabeu soon but many likely never expected it to happen this way.
Manchester United were rumoured to be involved at some point as well as other top contenders in European football. The 2014 World Cup star was believed would cost more but Zinedine Zidane opted to release him on a two year deal with an option to buy for an almost below market valuation – very unlike Madrid!
The deal had the potential to be the stealth move of the summer. The player is set to prove himself at the Allianz Arena when the football season resumes. After being signed at the back of major tournament, there were expectations. While Rodriguez is a decent player and one of the biggest names in football, the team was a wrong fit. Continue Reading
Jason Kreis is unhappy with his team
May 26, 2017
Jason Kreis is unhappy with his team being able to fetch just one point playing Sporting Kansas City the other day. As it was a home game, the coach wanted full three points from it.
The Ghanaian winger Blessing opened the scoring for the visitors in the 7th minute itself, giving a huge blow to Orlando, but, Larin quickly nullified that early advantage of Sporting by putting one into the back of the net in the 16th minute.
Just ten minutes after that leveller, Kaka delivered a beaut of a strike for Orlando to make the score 2-1 in their favour.
Orlando managed to hold onto that lead for a very long time, but, the game came to level terms again in the latter part of the second half courtesy the second goal off the boot of Blessing. Continue Reading
KAKA GIVES NEYMAR ADVICE
March 31, 2017
Brazil football legend Kaka has dropped words of advice for his compatriot Neymar regarding his desire to be the world’s best player.
The MLS star says that Neymar should think about a change in his name if he wants the honour.
Neymar has revived his career in the last games after a goal-drought that saw him descend to levels unlike the previous seasons since his move to Camp Nou. He was spectacular in the 6-1 magic Barcelona pulled to restore their Champons League hopes after an earlier 4-0 mauling by French side PSG.
Neyamr, 25, netted two crucial late goals that turned the table around for the Catalan club. He scored his 14th striker in the game but he would be adjudged far from being the best player in the world.
Kaka thinks Neymar can be the best in the world but he advised, jokingly, that the player change his name to “Reymar.” Kaka explained that the rationale behind the advice was that all the successful football stars from Brazil have names that begin with “R.” Continue Reading
MKHITARYAN: KAKA WAS MY IDOL
January 14, 2017
Manchester United winger Henrikh Mkhitaryan has revealed that his idol while growing up was Brazilian legend Kaka.
Mkhitaryan joined Manchester United over the summer for £28million from Borussia Dortmund but the Armenia international had a far less conventional beginning in football.
The winger went to Brazil as a youngster for four months to train with Sao Paolo before kick-staring his career with Armenian side Pyunik.
And the 27-year-old has revealed he did so to be more like his idol Kaka and to learn the ‘ginga’ style of Brazilian football.
Kaka was a huge influence on Mkhitaryan growing up.
“By the time I was 10 years old, my entire life was football. Training, reading, watching, even playing football on PlayStation,” Mkhitaryan told The Players’ Tribune.
“I was totally focused on it. I especially loved the creative players — the maestros.
“I always wanted to play like [Zinedine] Zidane, Kaka and Hamlet [his father].
“That was one of the most interesting times of my life [going to Brazil]. Continue Reading
Kaka on Jesus Christ
November 17, 2016
Kaka was recently present in a certificate distribution ceremony of a college in the USA where he spoke about his belief in Jesus Christ.
As per Kaka, both his mom and dad considered themselves the children of Jesus and they reckoned that Jesus is behind anything and everything that’s happening around them and in this whole world in general.
And because they imparted those thoughts in him through his childhood and teenage, he also developed that belief in Jesus and that’s why whenever he does something good in his life, he wants to be thankful to Jesus.
As per Kaka, his gestures upwards after his glorious moments on the pitch are also just for showing that thankfulness to the almighty.
In the words of Kaka, “Those who stay around me say I never keep Jesus out of anything. Well I can’t because Jesus is my life. When I find the net and wave upwards, I don’t mean to suggest that Jesus found the net for me. Of course, I did it myself, but, I did it because Jesus blessed me with the potential to do it.” Continue Reading
Injuries are taking a toll on Ricardo Kaka
September 23, 2016
Ricardo Kaka is part of a small group of players that has received the Ballon d’Or award and the performer that does get this recognition basically means that for a specific period of time, that player was the best in the world.
For Kaka, this period of time was back in 2007 as the Brazilian was hands down the most dominating player in the world of football and he was one of the main reasons of why Ac.Milan lifted major pieces of silverware during the years of 2006 and 2007.
When the Brazilian player left Ac.Milan on June of 2009, he joined Real Madrid where his career took a downhill road as he was being overshadowed by other players and even though his price tag was €68.5 million, Kaka was not the main focus of the Spanish club as there were other players who took center stage and something else that affected his playing time was injuries as the Brazilian player had to stay on the sidelines for a significantly long period of time on the bench due to injuries.
The 2007 Ballon d’Or winner is now performing for the MLS side Orlando City and injuries have once again hampered his playing time as some physical problems have made it impossible for the Brazilian player to perform in a few games for the American club.
Back on July 4 of the ongoing year, Kaka had to be removed from the pitch after sustaining an injury and this injury forced the Brazilian player to stay on the sidelines when his team, Orlando City faced off with Houston Dynamo a few days later.
Continue Reading
Kaka Positive About Orlando’s Turnaround
July 22, 2016
Kaka being the team captain of Orlando City is confident that they will be able to break out of the slump that has come up in the team’s performance in recent times.
There is a home stretch coming up which will begin this Saturday in Montreal. Once the home stretch is concluded the team will then prepare to proceed to the playoffs. Kaka feels that they should be able to make it to the playoffs. Those who have been worried about Orlando City falls off the edge, it might not be time yet to press the panic button.
There is, however, reason for the fans to be worried. They have not won any of the last six games that they have played. A pivotal moment has come upon them. They are in a position when they will be playing four games out of five games that are scheduled to be played on home ground. Kaka feels that these matches will help to dictate the future of the club. He admits that the period is tough for the club. Continue Reading
KAKA FINE WITH NOT MAKING COPA AMERICA
May 20, 2016
Brazil International, Kaka says he is okay with not making the continental tournament.
The AC Milan legend and currently Orlando City midfielder added that it was “no problem.” He was comfortable with the decision by Brazil manager Dunga to leave him off of the 23-man squad for this summer’s Copa America Centenario.
Given that Brazil will play its second group-stage game against Haiti in Kaka’s home stadium, the Citrus Bowl, there was speculation that the former Ballon d’Or winner might make the final 23. However, a thigh injury has limited Kaka to just three appearances this season for Orlando, though he did record two goals and two assists in that time. While Kaka is expected to play this in Orlando’s home match this Friday against the New York Red Bulls, that return to health wasn’t enough to make the final cut.
Kaka’s most recent appearance for Brazil was in October, when he came on for the final 15 minutes of a 3-1 World Cup qualifying victory over Venezuela.
The star player told ESPN FC:
“I respect Dunga’s decision.
“I tried, I’m ready to play, no problem at all. I still have my team [Orlando City] here, so I will keep playing and if the opportunity comes in the future, I will be happy to serve my national team.”
Kaka has played 91 times for the Selecao since making his debut in 2002, appearing in three World Cups — including the cup-winning side of 2002 — and scoring 29 goals. But incredibly, none of those appearances have come at a Copa America.
Kaka continued saying:
“It was different situations. Continue Reading
Kaka Inspires And Directs Fan Sentiments For Real Madrid
May 4, 2016
Sometimes it is not so much as the goals they win but the passion they show for the team and the game that makes players immortal and larger than life.
Kaka has gained that position with the continued dedication that he has showed to his game and performances over the years. There have been failings which are an essential part of the maturity of any player. Kaka still admits that AC Milan’s game in the Champions League finals haunts him.
It might be rare for players to voice their fears but not everyone is like Kaka who voices not only his fears but how fans need to support their players even during tough times. When Milan lost to Istanbul Kaka was unable to fathom how the loss happened. Kaka is considered a Brazilian icon to most football fans. To him, the game between Liverpool and AC Milan was a haunting one though it proved to be thrilling and dramatic for the onlookers. Though it has been about eleven years after that game, the way Liverpool was able to win at a score of 3-2 and that too on penalty shots is something that Kaka finds daunting even today. Continue Reading
The 2015 Gold Cup is shrouded in controversial decisions
November 15, 2015
Mexico defeated Jamaica with a final scoreboard of 3-1 and are the winner of the 2015 Gold Cup but it was a controversial and difficult path for the Mexican national side as they barely squeezed past Panama in the semifinals and it was only due to a number of dubious and questionable decisions from the referee in the pitch that Mexico managed to overcome Panama in the semifinal stages of the continental tournament.
In Mexico’s match against Panama, the referee Mark Geiger gave away a red card to Panama’s Luis Tejeda but this decision was a controversial one as the player was given a rather harsh punishment in the early stages and when it appeared as Panama was going to take the victory, in the very last moments of the match, the referee decided to give away 2 penalty kicks in favor of Mexico.
The quarter-finals match between Mexico and Costa Rica was another controversial one as the Mexican side was awarded with a last minute penalty kick which allowed Mexico to take the late victory.
After all of these incidents occurred, the Costa Rican Football Federation and the Panamanian Football Federation suggested that the members that form part of the Refereee Committee at CONCACAF to be removed from their respective positions.
Despite everything that had occurred, it didn’t take anything away from Mexico as all of the players and the manager were overwhelmed with joy and happiness as the Mexican national side proudly held the 2015 Gold Cup trophy and celebrated ecstatically. Continue Reading