Niger: Declaration de la Coalition pour une Alternance Politique (CAP20-21), l’Alliance des Candidats pour le Changement (ACC), le Front Republicain pour le Changement (FRC) et Allies (18.04.2021)

Opinion: The European Super League [it’s all about the money(!)] and forgetting the fans

It is now officially that there been made a deal or an agreement to form an European Super League. This has been made with the American Bank JP Morgan and other owners of European Clubs. This being the owners of the 15 big Football Clubs.

The clubs who is involved is Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Athletico Madrid, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus. These together will form the core of the league. That is 12 clubs with additional 6 teams to become 18 teams league.

This is a formation made with the financial backers and owners of the clubs. These are oligarchs and wealthy hedge-fund owners who is trying to make their own cash cow, which they control and not involving either UEFA or FIFA. These clubs will run the tournament and be the chiefs in their own house. These is all founded by the financial backers and the ones owning the clubs. It is their own drive to make a more profitable enterprise.

The Super League at this point is slated to start in the 2023-24 season. This means the club will be preparing for the shift and the machinery behind the launch of the League until then. The managers and the clubs will be making preparations for it. While they might focus less on the National Leagues or the European Cups (Euro League and Champions League). They maybe not even care about the FIFA Club World Cup. Therefore, this is creating their whole own additional thing without considering the implications of the current tournaments the clubs already participate and is members off.

The modern day football have been driven by money. The salaries and the revenue have reached epic sums. The clubs, the merchandise and licensing is profitable enterprise for the European elites. The clubs has fans worldwide and the stars has posters everywhere. That is why these clubs who signs up to this Super League could profit and make vast fortunes to cover the eventual debt or prices of operation. However, they are also not respecting the football’s governing bodies or the traditional tournaments, which have made the sport and the clubs big in the first place.

This clubs didn’t grow on a island. They grew as a part of a football body and part of the evolution of football. These clubs have been part of the changes with UEFA and their National Leagues. If they feel to big for these bodies now. Then they are disrespecting the national associations and their roles in supporting their growth. The clubs are grand and great, because the Football Associations and supporters made them huge.

If they would pick the Super League and do this deal. Take the bait and the funds. They would have fight for relevancy and be a secondary league or tournament to the ones already existing. These are sort of making their “upper echelon” Champions League and formalizing it. The elite making their own league and ignoring the other champions of Europe. They are not caring for the second tier from the other states who also can get their cut and sometime meet the giants at their field. That is the beauty of this game.

Now this will block the greatness of the possibility of seeing the Messi’s and Ronaldo’s against the national heroes of Eastern Europe or Central Europe who could only dream about challenging such big stars on the pitch. They are now relegated by default and by the cynic approach of outside owners who see the money, but not the heart of the game.

If I we’re a Liverpool support. I would turn to Everton. Similar with the other clubs. If they decide to do this. Yes, UEFA and the National Association have to take their turns. They got to show force and enforce strict rules. So, that the ones that betrays the leagues get punished. However, this only proves what the American Money-Ball people thinks. They can juice up the clubs and make them invisible to the rest. Instead of investing and securing a better football product for all supporters.

This is corporate greed, which has grown strong into the Football Community. This is the market driven and profit thinking. Instead of loving the game. This is the owners taking it all in their hands, using their leverage and trying to forge their own rules. Instead of using all governing bodies of Football. Yes, FIFA and UNICEF have become cash-cows and big business too. Still, they are capable of exporting and making the sport more interesting for the supporter. Yes, they have made greedy agreements and shady transactions, which the manner they have traded the World Cup on the International Stage.

However, the National Leagues and European Cups have been successful and grown massive interests. That’s because of the competitive nature and international interests on these competitions. This is why the world is following Champions League, Euro League and the other National Leagues like Premier League, Serie A, La Liga and others. Which has all created interests and fans all across the globe.

If the big-teams ditches this and creates their own by corporate interests, instead of their fans. They are losing their key ingredient to why they became big-clubs in the first place. If the fans and supporters ditches the Super League and forget these clubs. Then they are losers and have huge bills to pay for empty stadiums. It maybe not happening at first. However, when they are not participating in ordinary leagues or competitions. What will drive them to make them better or challenge for titles? When they are in their secluded little league… of giants… who just plays along themselves.

That will end hurt themselves. It might work for a few seasons if the backers are lucky, but the prospects and the greatness will fade. As these will not have growth potential or glory in their respective fields anymore. They will be lonely in their own tournament and maybe not allowed to return to respective leagues and such.

In previous times, when clubs have demoted or breached rules. They have lost points, been relegated and even pre-fixed to struggle in the up-coming season. If these clubs abandon their respective leagues and wants to return “home”. Then the associations should use measures to stifle and make them pay for their disloyalty. Also, in a way where the club pay a hefty price and also on the pitch. Since the owners didn’t value the additional support or the traditional leagues.

The Super League is the Money-Ball experiment in Europe. American investors and corporations thinking they can juice up a cash-cow and call it a day. Where they can use strong brands and huge platforms to make a “World Series” and hope for a “Super Bowl”. While forgetting about the UEFA cups and the importance of national leagues. This is why this is a destructive move and as a supporter of football. A tragic move. A move made only for the pockets and not for the heart of the game. Peace.

Russian Probe: Proven collusion between Manafort and Kilimnik [and don’t be shocked, it was bound to come out eventually]

The Trump Campaign of 2016 was a house filled with Russian associates and meeting Russian individuals. They held meetings and people who are connected to Kremlin, Moscow and GRU. There was so many meetings from Trump Associates and leaders within the Trump Campaign. Therefore, the latest news from the U.S. Treasury finally let the cat out of the bag.

They are focusing on Konstantin Kilimnik who was associated and worked close with Paul Manafort and Richard Gates. These two were also parts of the Trump Campaign and Gates was also a part of the Trump Transition Team into the White House in 2016. This is why this news is important.

First I will drop the news from the U.S. Treasury. Second is some more context from U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee Report from 2020 and the third is the charges put on Manafort in 2018. This is just to prove the close connection between the fellas.

U.S. Treasury charges 2021:

Konstantin Kilimnik (Kilimnik) is a Russian and Ukrainian political consultant and known Russian Intelligence Services agent implementing influence operations on their behalf. During the 2016 U.S. presidential election campaign, Kilimnik provided the Russian Intelligence Services with sensitive information on polling and campaign strategy. Additionally, Kilimnik sought to promote the narrative that Ukraine, not Russia, had interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. In 2018, Kilimnik was indicted on charges of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice regarding unregistered lobbying work. Kilimnik has also sought to assist designated former President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych. At Yanukovych’s direction, Kilimnik sought to institute a plan that would return Yanukovych to power in Ukraine” (U.S. Treasury – ‘Treasury Escalates Sanctions Against the Russian Government’s Attempts to Influence U.S. Elections’ 15.04.2021).

U.S. Committee Russia Probe Report oversight into Manafort:

Paul Manafort is a former lobbyist and political consultant with ties to numerous foreign politicians and businessmen, most notably in Russia and Ukraine. In March 2016, Manafort joined the Trump Campaign as convention manager. By May 2016, then-Candidate Trump officially elevated Manafort to be the Campaign’s chairman and chief strategist. On August 19, 2016, following press articles related to his past-work in Ukraine for a pro-Russia political party headed by former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, Manafort resigned from the Trump Campaign” (…) “In numerous occasions over the course of his time on the Trump Campaign, Manafort sought to secretly share internal Campaign information with Kilimnik. Gates, who served as Manafort’ s deputy on the Campaign, aided Manafort in this effort. Manafort communicated electronically with Kilimnik and met Kilimnik in person twice while serving on the Trump Campaign. Manafort briefed Kilimnik on sensitive Campaign polling data and the Campaign’s strategy for beating Hiliary Clinton. At Manafort’s direction, Gates used an encrypted messaging application to send additional Campaign polling data to Kilimnik” (U.S. Senate Select Intelligence Report on Russian Interference in the 2016 Elections, August 2020)

Charges and Connection with Kiliminik:

““In furtherance of the scheme, from 2006 until 2014, both dates being approximate and inclusive, MANAFORT, with the assistance of Gates, KILIMNIK, and others, engaged in a multimillion dollar lobbying campaign in the United States at the direction of Yanukovych, the Party of Regions, and the Government of Ukraine. MANAFORT did so without registering and providing the disclosures required by law” (2018).

The U.S. Treasury is stating in the collusion between the Trump Campaign and Ukraine/Russian partners. As Kilimnik is in connection with Kremlin. He had worked with the Russian Friendly Political Parties in Kiev and also been supported of Moscow friendly President in the past. Therefore, giving him intel and documents of sensitive nature. This is now the reasons for why the U.S. sanctioned Russian for interference in their elections.

The reason why it’s coming out now? Well, there is no “executive privilege” anymore and ex-President Trump cannot stonewall the process or interfere in the investigation. While he and his allies did withhold documents and didn’t want to testify even. This is why the U.S. Special Counsel or Intelligence Committee could get all information of the actions made in time. As the President or his allies was interested in giving it. They tried to block or make it impossible to get to the bottom of it.

Now, there will be drip-drops of information on this. As the U.S. Treasury and other agencies might uncover more of the heinous crimes. The Trump Campaign and such never did vet Paul Manafort, but appointed him still as the Campaign Chairman. He become the second one after Cory Lewandowski. Clearly, Manafort found ways to be useful, but also profit from his time there. That he could by the connections he had in Kiev and Moscow. Which he had earned millions of dollars on in the past.

Manafort clearly helped and used this time for this and withheld this communications from the authorities. Just like he had held it a secret and not been registered as a Foreign Agent for them previously either. He clearly was interested in doing this and finds way to still make money out of it.

Manafort is pardoned by Trump, but the extent and what sort of pardon doesn’t stop new prosecution of him or new charges. They maybe taken on state level instead of federally and then he can be sentenced again. Because, he has already been a felon and could be severely punished this time around for collusion and conspiring with an enemy. That would be a serious charge and could face a long time in prison.

People cannot say that the Russian thing is a hoax, when all the evidence is there and the proof is official. The U.S. Treasury, one arm of the government is stating it and Kilimnik worked directly with Manafort. Peace.

Tchad: Front pour l’Aternance et la Concorde au Tchad (FACT) – Communique de Presse No. 008 – Haut Commandement des Forces de la Resistance Nationale (17.04.2021)

Tchad: Declaration Commune pour le Dialogue National Inclusif (16.04.2021)

Opinion: Hon. Peter Mayen Majondit needs to resign [no reason to shoot in the air at a football match]

To be honest … it thought this was fake news until a credible reporter from South Sudan verified this one. I saw it on a Facebook post and couldn’t believe this was real. I read it last night and it was just to much to be true.

I read a Facebook post from “Hot in Juba” called: “Minister Peter Mayen disrupts football game in Aweil, shoots in the air”. That sounds like a far fetched thing right?

The Minister showed up at the match clearly in anger, as he expected his wife to be nursing their three month baby. However, she was one of the members of the team and playing in the South Sudan’s Woman League. The wife of the Minister is an player on the Aweil Women Football Club. Who happened to have a match and the Minister suddenly stopped the match in his anger.

Here is some of the information from “Hot in Juba”:

The national minister of Humanitarian Affairs Peter Mayen Majongdit this afternoon disrupted a football match at Aweil Freedom Square as he demanded why his wife was allowed to play in the match.His wife, Aluel Garang, popularly known as Aluel Messi is part of Aweil Women’s Football Club which is taking part in the recently launched South Sudan Women’s National League” (…) “He was told to wait but he was so impatient and had to fire his pistol in the air disrupting the game. The game was later stopped to allow the minister to go home with his wife” (Hot In Juba, 17.04.2021).

This here shows how the minister lacks understanding and understand the role of parenting. The baby is also his and for the moment of the match. He could have taken care of the baby until she returned from the match. She’s a player on the team and was apparently playing. Just as his allowed to go to the office and do his job. The wife should have the ability to play, if that is something she can and will do. She will still nursing the baby when she’s not on the field.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs should be a bit humble and actually be human. The Human in humanitarian is lost on this fella. A man who is also supposed to lead Disaster Management created a disaster at that football field. He could have managed and carried this out differently. The minister could have been a man and taken care of his kid. It isn’t only her baby… it is their baby and joint responsibility. However, that wasn’t the case.

The Minister in his day-job is too “To oversee all humanitarian assistance to the needy, respond to disasters and reduce the risk to hazards”. Clearly he created hazardous action on that field yesterday and wasn’t reducing it. Secondly, the mission of his day-job is: “To save lives, restore dignity and sustain hope for development”. This man didn’t restore dignity of his family or his wife. Instead he has shamed her publicly and mocked family values to the general public. He couldn’t even bare the idea that his wife was playing football. That is how little he see in his wife. How is this man going to bring any hope, when he cannot even shelter and keep his wife safe?

This Minister cannot even ensure the wife safety or her team-mates. He cannot even reduce the hazard on that football field. How can he run the Ministry? Which is mandated to do this for the ones in need. That seems like a task, which is to big for this man. When he has to settle the score and finding only solution with using guns. Instead of talking and being a man. He didn’t take care of baby, but instead blamed her. That is the sort of gentlemen he is. Self-serving individual who cannot dually care of his own family. That is disgrace of a man. He should grow a pair and also respect his wife. However, that is to much to ask for the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs… Peace.

Zimbabwe: Movement for Democratic Change – Alliance (MDC-Alliance) – Zimbabwe @ 41 the Convergence Call Re-Imaging the Promise of Independence (18.04.2021)

Burma: Woman’s League of Burma (WLB) – Release Thin Thin Aung & All Woman Human Rights Defenders in Burma/Myanmar (18.04.2021)

RDC: Lamuka – Le Presidium de Lamuka – Communique (17.04.2021)

Tchad: Commission Nationale des Droits du l’Homme (CNDH) – Communique de Presse No. 004 (17.04.2021)