Respectful I. Coast wary of inexperienced Nigeria

Ivory Coast midfielder Max Gradel reckons coach Sabri Lamouchi has introduced a title-winning mentality to the Africa Cup of Nations favourites.

The Ivorians go head to head with Nigeria Sunday in the billboard poster clash of the quarter-finals.

It has been well documented how the Ivorian ‘golden generation’, led by captain Didier Drogba, is facing its last throw of the Nations Cup dice — a case of now or never.

So if the 2013 title is to go back to Abidjan, the Elephants must first overcome a young, inexperienced but up-for-it Nigerian side that booked this last-eight meeting with the Group D winners by filling the runners-up spot in Group C.

Saint Etienne’s Gradel believes Lamouchi has added an ingredient to the squad that was missing 12 months ago when the team coached by Francois Zahoui lost on penalties to Zambia in the final in Libreville.

“The new coach has shown us how to respect each other, that’s important.

“We’re ready to fight for one another, that’s a big difference for this Nations Cup. I hope that will help us to finally win the title,” said the former Leicester City and Leeds United player

Ivory Coast took time to kick into gear in South Africa, labouring to an error-strewn 2-1 opening win over fellow quarter-finalists Togo, turning on the style to see off Tunisia 3-0 in their second game, before a near-reserve side featuring Drogba came back to draw 2-2 with Algeria.

Former Serie A midfielder Lamouchi, in his first coaching job, had the backbone to drop the continent’s most famous footballing son Drogba to the bench for the Tunisia game in a bold tactic that worked a treat.

He has refused to be drawn when pressed on whether Drogba would start against Nigeria.

“Didier has made clear progress, he’s working hard.

“Like the rest of the group, Didier is essential for the rest of the competition. I won’t change anything in the way I pick my team — I’ll try to put the best one forward.”

And he insisted on the importance of his side putting in a blemish-free display at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace.

“We don’t have the right to make mistakes now. If we win this one we continue, if we lose we’re going home.”

With his team dripping with experience and quality, Lamouchi’s men are favourites to see off a Nigerian side that is largely inexperienced at this level, aside from the likes of captain and centre-back Joseph Yobo, at his sixth Nations Cup.

Lamouchi cautioned against over-confidence.

“This team may not have the experience of the great Nigerian sides of the past, but they have young, talented players and we respect them.”

Despite the Ivorians holding the aces in terms of experience, Yobo suggested it would be foolhardy to treat an Ivorian victory as a foregone conclusion.

“On paper the Ivory Coast are favourites, so people might class us as the underdogs, but we know the importance of this game and are very focused.

“It’s not about star names, it’s not about individuals, it’s about going through to the next stage.”

Nigeria made it to the last eight with 1-1 draws against Burkina Faso and champions Zambia and a Victor Moses-inspired 2-0 win over Ethiopia.

A captivating west Africa derby is in store, with the victors earning the right to play South Africa or Mali in the semi-finals in Durban next Wednesday.

Respectful I. Coast wary of inexperienced Nigeria

Angels in Singapore help young local companies spread their wings

Angel investors are pumping their personal funds – usually $25,000 to $200,000 – into early-stage start-ups.

These self-made millionaires and corporate bigwigs are also providing guidance to these young companies, and hoping for large returns in investment when the company is eventually acquired or when it goes public.

The Business Angel Network Southeast Asia – a network for angel investors – which is based in Singapore, says it has 75 members, of whom 40 are active; while Spring’s Angel Investors Tax Deduction scheme has about 80 angels signed up.

Investors say they do it to be involved in a business, without the burden of dealing with day-to-day operations and also for the satisfaction of seeing young companies grow.

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Angels in Singapore help young local companies spread their wings

Louisiana native Carville plays politics with Goodell

NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) – Democratic strategist, political pundit and media guru James Carville admits there are few things he’s more passionate about than the New Orleans Saints.

And despite his zeal, the architect of Bill Clinton’s path to the White House insists he’s over the angst the rest of the city still feels toward NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

“You just can’t obsess on the past,” the Louisiana native told Reuters this week in an interview this week during the run-up to Sunday’s Super Bowl between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens.

Goodell suspended Saints coach Sean Payton for a year, and levied suspensions of varying lengths to various coaches and players for a “pay for pain” system of bounties.

Although most of the suspensions were ultimately overturned by arbitrator (and former commissioner) Paul Tagliabue, the Saints’ 7-9 record this year did not sit well in the Big Easy.

Pictures of Goodell’s face have been plastered outside Bourbon Street bars saying in big block letters, “Do not serve.”

Carville contends he’s no longer angry at Goodell but he is a career politician and he certainly knows you don’t want to antagonize the man who makes the decision on who will host the Super Bowl down the road.

“He’s a guest of ours and we love having the Super Bowl here,” the 68-year-old Carville said with his Bayou drawl and a glint in his eye.

“Put it this way, if you like bacon and bacon being the Super Bowl, let’s not fight with the guy that runs the smokehouse. That’s not a very good idea.”

Goodell joked with reporters about how well he’s been treated in New Orleans.

“You know when you look back at it, my picture is in every restaurant,” he told reporters. “I had a float in the Mardi Gras parade (a giant vagina eating Goodell). We got a voodoo doll.”

But, he added: “I understand the fans’ loyalty is to the team. They had no part of this. They were completely innocent in this. So I appreciate the passion.”

New Orleans has hosted the Super Bowl nine previous times but Sunday’s match-up will be the first since Hurricane Katrina devastated much of the city in 2005.

Judging from the crowds in New Orleans this week and the festive atmosphere, the event has already been a success.

Carville, a longtime Big Easy booster and co-chairman of the Super Bowl 47 Host Committee with wife Mary Matalin, said everywhere he’s been this week people are telling him the Super Bowl should be an annual event at the Superdome.

“If I had a dollar for everybody that told me that, I could probably put it on myself,” he said. “It’s a real culture here. But yet you can have fun, you have good food, the music.

“But the big thing people like that I keep hearing, ‘Man we can walk everywhere. We can do everything, we’re not stuck in traffic. It’s people-friendly.’

“You just keep hearing that over and over.”

Carville believes the Saints will rebound next year to 10-6 or 11-5. He is certain the club will move beyond the distractions of this year’s bounty scandal.

“They’re professional athletes, c’mon,” Carville, ever the optimist, said with a broad smile. “That’s what they do for a living. They’ll be more motivated by it.

“As opposed to putting it behind them but I think they want it ahead of them. It sustains them. Good locker room stuff.”

(Editing by John Mehaffey)

Louisiana native Carville plays politics with Goodell