Mohamed Kallon's Profile

Currently topping the table by twelve points and judging by their outstanding performance, seemingly, it is now widely believed by many that the gunners are well prepared to continue producing good results in their remaining matches and probably continue their premiership unbeaten run to eventually win the championship.

It could also be realized that the team is very much prepared to prove many of critics wrong. My colleague, Stewart Coggin (SoccerAge.com Intl Chief) shares his views exclusively with me on the current form of the team.

While many football lovers might be wondering where the secret of the team's success lie, Stewart Coggin has some of the answers: "The great form of Thierry Henry, the settled back four and the remarkable team spirit are some of the main reasons behind the success. Kolo Toure has proved a vital player for us this season, and few would have predicted that. Jens Lehmann -barring a couple of embarrassing errors in goal- has been another boost."

Very much composed, Frenchman Arsene Wenger and his boys might be aware that such form is also accompanied with the desire and thirst for winning trophies, but, can they really win any? "This Arsenal team has the right balance of pace, power, technique and flair to achieve big things." Says Coggin.

However, Arsenal's unconvincingly slow start in this year's UEFA Champions League raised sentiments that their participation in the top competition would again be a failure as they nearly crashed out during the early stages.

Nevertheless, a sound comeback has left them in contention for the championship and they have regained great confidence, high momentum and winning spirit.

Having now reached the quarterfinals, the question is whether their European campaign will culminate in the winning of the competition: "Yes, I genuinely believe Arsenal can win the Champions League this season," says Coggin.

But they might face tough challenges ahead: "I think Milan are the greatest threat to them achieving this. I would also say Real Madrid are a threat, but I'm not sure they have a strong enough defence to go all the way. Arsenal have this deep inner belief these days, and this will help them go far," he noted.

Undoubtedly, striker Thierry Henry has been in magnificent form this season. Presently the leading goal scorer in the premier league with 21 goals, Henry has been the lynchpin of a deadly attack spearheading the team in their run to triumph and with his undoubted skills; he has created an impact in every match he has played this season. "I do think Henry is now the world's greatest player," admits Coggin.

"He is surely the most spectacular. His dribbling abilities, his pace and superb technique dazzle defenders week in, week out. Not just in the Premiership either. We all saw what he did to Javier Zanetti and the Inter defence at the San Siro...," he concludes.

Henry's hot form this season may have caught the eyes of many European club presidents including Real Madrid's Florentino Perez. The 27-year-old striker was the closest opponent to French compatriot, Madrid's Zinedine Zidane - in the 2003 FIFA World Player of the Year Award. Many pundits and football lovers are predicting him to deservedly win the next World Player of the Year Award.   

'The Addicted's British sound is blended with a Naturally Italian Style'

23rd.Oct.2003. Exclusive Interview With Seb Beierling, Manager, Dreaming Management, a company overseeing a young Italian Band -Addicted-. Mr. Beierling is a former Serie A special reporter for SoccerAge.com - Italy.

IBRAHIM DABO: The performance of African players in Italy is however sometimes affected by racism and this applies not only among fans but certain clubs as well. How difficult is it to fight racism in Italy?

SEBASTIAN BEIERLING: It is becoming a rather serious problem that should be long gone from football all over the world. Unfortunately Italy is going through a time where it is having to adapt to the constant arrival of foreigners from poorer countries and this is proving difficult. Furthermore the government is doing nothing to solve the constant hooligan behavior of the fans of both the Serie A and B teams leaving the crowds free to attack any one they want, both verbally and physically. This factor goes alongside the growth of the neo-fascist groups that live side by side with the hooligans making life very difficult for African players, but not only for them.

Al Saad Ghaddafi, son of Libyan leader Muammar Ghaddafi and captain of the national team as well as deputy president of the Libyan Football Federation, joined Perugia during the transfer season. Would you say his move comes within the realms of the investments the Ghaddafi family has in Italian football in recent times?
Personally I consider this move a joke. We are talking about the Serie A, one of the most difficult leagues in the world, if not the most difficult, and Perugia sign a mediocre player such as Al Saad Ghaddafi. This move is solely a financial one, connected to others the Ghaddafi family have made (such as buying shares in Juventus), which underlines the confusion in Italian football (Roma and Naples allowed to play in their divisions even if they failed to pay the inscription fee within the deadline and a second division with 24 teams because the government decided so after a extraordinary voting session that brought the politicians back from holiday: something that the war on Iraq didn't).

Which African player has impressed you most recently?
It will definitely have to be Obafemi Martins; a player that has the potential of becoming a world class striker.

Italy has been well known for their defensive style of playing. Is this a key factor that led to their early exit in the last World Cup?
Definitely, even if Italians are still blaming the referee Moreno. One has to admit that Moreno was not up to refereeing a match at the World Cup, Italy has only itself to blame for not having beaten S. Korea. The attitude of the manager is that of one who scores a single goal (preferably in the first 10 minutes) and then 11 men defend for the remaining 80: which is a ridiculous tactic when one considers the immense talent the Italians strikers have, Totti, Del Piero, Vieri and Inzaghi to name a few.

Their exit from the World Cup was however later overshadowed by the top achievements of Italian clubs in the Champions League and UEFA. Is it worth noting that Italian sides have regained momentum in Europe?
Italian teams have understood that they are not the best in Europe any more and they are working on their attitude, a complacent one in the past, in order to change this. Last season's Champions League final is proof of an immense improvement even if one will have to wait and see if they can confirm this performance again this year, or if it was just a one off thing.

The wave of financial constrains have also been blowing among Serie A clubs recently. Top players such as Alessandro Del Piero and Paolo Maldini have accepted cutbacks while about 20 Lazio players have accepted to see their contracts extended in which part of their salaries will be paid for via shares in the club. Are cutbacks or the latter for example, the only way to solve such obstacles or is this problem likely to continue?
This problem is destined to continue when teams like Roma, Naples, Lazio and others with financial problems are still allowed to take part in the Serie A or B. Unless the Lega Calcio decides to take a real stand and clean up Italian football throwing anyone out of law out of the professional Leagues no matter who they are, this will never change.

The recent acquisition of Chelsea by the dynamic Russian Billionaire oil Tycoon has shown that there are people still committed to pumping money into soccer. Do you think the acquisition was a worthwhile deal despite what we hear in terms of clubs finances?
If one has money to throw away then buying a team and signing the top players from all over the world is certainly an fun game to play. Unfortunately there are not that many Roman Abramovich in Serie A and so we are stuck with the Geddafi's who pay to play.

On to a soccer unrelated topic; you are presently the Manager of Dreaming Management, which promotes the ' Addicted', a young and promising Italian band. How would you rate this group?
Even if they are all Italian (apart from the singer who was born in London) their music has to be defined as British rock, influenced by the likes of the Who and the Rolling Stones. They are, at this present moment in time, on tour in London and are playing numerous gigs, with 2 extremely important venues on Friday the 24th [Oct] and Saturday the 25th [Oct]. Time will tell how far they can really go, but they have the potential to go all the way and find themselves on the same levels as their idols.

Suppose I have a program in Africa, am I welcome to invite this group to perform in their usual Italian style, which I am very sure many people might like out here?
Of course! And we would be honored to come to Africa. The power of Africa's heritage would be of great inspiration for the band and the mix between their British sound and their naturally Italian style could be well appreciated.

Thanks a lot for your special time Mr. Beierling. What are your last words?
Thank you Mr Dabo for this pleasant interview I enjoyed answering your questions and I would like to wish you the best of luck for the future.

Related link:
>> The Addicted

25th.June.03. No matter what, without hard work, no viable amount of success would be achieved whether in business or administrative sectors, etc. However, if success in life was synonymous with hard work, then Miatta T. Dabo would amply deserve it.

Being a model, Miatta was among the participants in the Miss Sierra Leone USA beauty pageant 2003 which was held in Washington D.C. on June 21st. She won the first runner up position and she feels really good, as one of her aims was to raise funds for children in the Sierra Leone Orphanage home.

As one would start to think that this young talented beauty focuses only on modeling, Miatta - with a lot of courage and determination in hard work - is rather more ambitious with a proffession in law and accountancy.

Coming from a Country that had been greatly affected by a decade of civil war, she has also been a panelist on law club panels educating judges about the war in Sierra Leone and its effects on international communities. She is also a 'passionate child advocate' and also works with several human rights organizations.

With a lot more in mind, this devoted young prodigy talks exclusively about her career, how she felt on winning the first runner up in the Ms. Sierra Leone USA 2003 and lots more.

IBRAHIM DABO: Now, how was it like to represent your Country in the Miss Sierra Leone/USA Beauty Pageant 2003?

MIATTA T. DABO: It felt really great. I am very proud of my culture and heritage and use every opportunity I get to show that talent, beauty and history of Sierra Leone.

How did you feel winning the 1st runners-up spot?
My goal in participating in the competition was to raise money for the children in the Sierra Leone Orphanage home. I work with amnesty international, children international, equality now and children international. The focus of these organizations, includes in pertinent part, promoting the interests of underprivileged children in developing countries. As a passionate child advocate, ending up as first runner up is winning what I set out to achieve and that is raising funds for these innocent children. Moreover, I am sure that Ms. Sierra Leone USA 2003 will work to achieve the goals of the organization and work toward helping the plight of the orphans.

Also been an attorney and accountant, do you really enjoy being a model?
I love being a model. Its very very different from being an accountant and a lawyer. Because, law and accountancy are such conservative professions, I use modeling as an outlet for my fun, creative and free spirited nature.

You were the first student at Morgan State University to graduate from their 2 year MBA (Masters in Business Administration) program in 1 year in 1998. With a lot of hard work, was this initially what you expected?
Well, I set out to graduate in one year because I was tired of school and just wanted to get it over with. It was intense but it was actually the best experience of my life. God really got me through it. Everything fell into place as the right classes were offered at the right time and my colleagues and teachers were very supportive. I had expected to work hard and I enjoy working hard. It didn't hurt that most of my professors were former professors from undergraduate classes.

Graduating as a business student, what inspired you to do law?
I have always loved law - I guess I was inspired by perry mason - I probably did not feel like I was ready to go out into the workforce.

One of the worse atrocities on mankind in the last century, occurred in your Country during a decade long civil war. Thousands of people were killed and about 1,500 (young & old) had their limbs amputated. Don't you think more awareness should be created by concerned citizens to help the displaced?
Of course, I agree with you wholeheartedly. Its so sad that the impact of the war is an afterthought in places other than Sierra Leone. Our priorities have shifted so much and we have become so selfish that all we worry about are our finances and immediate family. I have said this before and continue to stand by it -- the need for reform and peace in a country plagued with ignorance, war, destruction and mass genocide is great. Raping, killing, mutilating and intimidating innocent civilians is wrong and those who partake of such atrocities should pay dearly for their actions. It is a basic tenet of humanity that we as Sierra Leoneans work together to help the plight of the land that we love--"our Sierra Leone."

Being a panelist on law club panels, you have been educating Judges about the war in Sierra Leone and its effects on International Communities. Can you please tell us more about this significant move?
It is important that judges or law professors or anyone involved in international law or any kind of international human rights class be schooled on what exactly happens in "international" law. Speaking on such panels allows me to put a face with the theory. It allows the judges to understand exactly what the international court is all about.

A lawyer, accountant and model; a combination of three major professions. Don't you get too occupied at times?
No, not professionally I don't. I love all three and enjoy them immensely.

How do you spend your leisure times?
Dancing, hanging out, movies, reading, sleeping or writing.

What are your last words?
The children are our future and it is our implicit duty as humans to make sure they have access to education, food, shelter and clothing. Thank you Ibm.

Miatta was Ms. Sierra Leone International in 2004.
>> Miatta's Profile

Pier Luigi Giganti (Senior Engineer, H3G - Italy)

-Jan.03- Pier Luigi Giganti - International Billing Programme, Head Of Balance Manager, Provisioning And Mediation, IT Development - H3G Italy. Mr. Giganti is a former OSS Design Consultant - Hutchison 3G UK

Ibrahim Dabo had the opportunity of conducting an exclusive interview with Pier Luigi Giganti, who has vast knowledge and experience in the field of telecom. While responding to questions, Mr. Giganti talks exclusively about Hutchison 3G and its services, the difference between the Third Generation Mobile services and that of the present technology and football. READ INTERVIEW

>>> More Exclusive Interviews

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