A Five Star Stadium

The Camp Nou has been the FC Barcelona stadium since 24th of September 1957, the date of it's inauguration


It was still not big enough to cope with the surging interest in the team though, especially after the arrival of Hungarian superstar Ladislau Kubala and the new Barça stadium was built to replace it.

The stadium was designed by architects Francesc Mitjans Miró and Josep Soteras Mauri, with the collaboration of Lorenzo García Barbón, and it was constructed between 1955 and 1957, using mainly concrete and iron. The whole project cost a staggering 288 million pesetas, which meant the club would spend the following years in heavy debt.

Although it was originally going to go under the official name of ‘Estadi del FC Barcelona’, it soon came to be popularly known as the 'Camp Nou' (the ‘new ground’), as opposed to the club’s old home at Les Corts. It was not until the 2000/2001 season that, following a mail vote made by the club membership, that the decision was made to make ‘Camp Nou’ the official name of the stadium. Of the 29,102 votes the club received, a total of 19,861 (68.25%) preferred Camp Nou to Estadi del FC Barcelona.

The stadium’s maximum height is 48 metres, and it covers a surface area of 55,000 square metres (250 metres long and 220 metres wide). In accordance with UEFA stipulations, the playing area has been downsized to 105 metres x 68 metres.

With a capacity of 99,354, it is now the biggest stadium in Europe. However, the total capacity has varied over the years owing to different modifications. When it was first opened in 1957, it held 93,053 spectators, which would be increased to 120,000 in 1982 on occasion of the FIFA World Cup. However, the introduction of new regulations outlawing standing areas reduced the stadium’s capacity in the late 1990s to just under 99,000.

In the 1998-99 season, UEFA recognised the services and functionalities of the Camp Nou by awarding it five star status. In the whole of Spain there are only four other stadiums that can claim that, the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, also in Barcelona, the new Cartuja Olympic Stadium in Seville, the Vicente Calderón, home of Atlético Madrid, and the Santiago Bernabeu, also in Madrid.

Of the different facilities on offer inside the stadium, of particular note are a chapel next to the changing rooms, the presidential box, the VIPs lounge, the press rooms, several television studios, the Sports Medicine Centre, the Operative Control Unit (UCO), the veteran players area, the FC Barcelona club museum, the nursery and the offices of all of the many different club departments.
 

Facts on Didier Drogba

Who is Didier Drogba  

Didier Drogba has frequent emotional outbursts due to his fiery temper and emotional impulsiveness. Drogba expresses himself very directly and honestly and no one has to guess what his true feelings are. However, Didier Drogba dislikes showing any personal weakness or his need for support, comfort and nurturing. He is often impatient with himself and others. Didier abhors emotional dependency and dislikes "complainers".

Didier Drogba inspires others to take positive action in their lives through his own enthusiasm and eagerness to meet life's challenges, and he is attracted to people who are adventurous, courageous and independent. Didier is rather bossy but does not like to be with people that he can boss around too much. He enjoys a good fight sometimes. Relationships that are built on mutual respect and emotional freedom are ideal for Drogba.
Didier Drogba becomes very cross if he lacks vigorous physical activity. Drogba feels his best if he frequently "does battle" on the tennis or racquetball court (or engages in another form of competitive sport).
Drogba works well with the public and has an instinct for what the public wants and will respond to. Having a "nest" is not especially important to Didier, and he may invest more of his emotional energy into his career or public life than in his private life. Providing and caring for others, in a professional capacity is very likely.
He is temperamental and impatient and can be very difficult to live with. Didier Drogba tends to respond with a temper tantrum (overt or subtle) if his desires are frustrated. Didier Drogba becomes very irritable and bad-tempered if he lacks vigorous physical activity or other outlets for his aggressive, feisty spirit.
Although Drogba gets hot under the collar rather easily (as mentioned above), he also has a certain degree of emotional self-control and composure, which enable Didier Drogba to rein in some of his more aggressive tendencies. This side of his is described below.
Didier Drogba has an inner poise and balance that enables him to act in a cool, efficient manner during emotional trauma and stress. He maintains his perspective and objectivity about highly charged emotional issues - sometimes to the chagrin of others who might wish that Drogba would react more intensely. Didier is quietly supportive and faithful to his friends and loved ones.
Although Didier Drogba was portrayed above as being assertive and combative, he also has a diametrically opposed tendency - namely the urge to escape all contention and ugliness. This may mellow Didier's fiery reactions somewhat, or he may seesaw between the two. His softer side is described in the following paragraphs.
The beauty and harmony of his surroundings have a very powerful effect on Drogba's emotions. He is very sensitive and cannot stand to be in an atmosphere where there is discord or dissonance. Gentle, kindhearted, and peace loving, Didier Drogba is prepared to sacrifice a great deal in order to avoid a fight and to "make everyone happy".
His intimate and close personal relationships are often intense, highly-charged and difficult, as they trigger deep emotional responses in Didier Drogba that have more to do with unsatisfied hungers and unmet childhood needs than with the present situation. He may feel like a voracious, bottomless pit when it comes to nurturing and emotional reassurance, and Drogba's neediness often drives others away. When Didier Drogba does let himself feel close to another human being, painful, long-buried feelings bubble to the surface as do - perhaps - grief at the losses he suffered or anger at the neglect or hurt he endured. He may also reenact these situations in his present day relationships, in an unconscious effort to resolve and heal old issues. Drogba will do a lot of cleansing if he can listen to what his feelings are telling him. If not, Didier Drogba will simply have a tumultuous, passionate and stormy emotional life.
Didier Drogba tends to be a bit pessimistic and is inclined to feel emotional depressed a lot. Didier may feel like withdrawing from everything, but should try to listen to others' point of view in order to balance his overly pessimistic views.
His love feelings and desires are easily aroused but he may find it difficult to sustain his romantic interest in relationships after the initial, exciting "chase and conquest". Didier Drogba enjoys a dynamic partner with a strong independent streak, and he does not like things to become too peaceful or predictable in the love arena. Didier wants to see sparks fly once in awhile, even if it means instigating a fight.
Promoting beauty, the arts, or entertainment can make Didier Drogba very happy. Didier wants to contribute something positive and loving to the world at large and he wants to be recognized for his beauty, artistic gifts, or loving generosity. Didier Drogba may "marry" his work - that is, being more involved in his career than in his private life. Drogba is a natural host or diplomat.

OUR PERSONALITY OF THE WEEK

CHIEF SEGUN ODEGBAMI

Patrick Olusegun Odegbami, often shortened to Segun Odegbami (born August 27, 1952, in Abeokuta) is a retired Nigerian footballer who played as a forward.^[1]

Odegbami was brought up in the northern city of Jos, Plateau State.^[2] He won 46 caps and scored 23 goals for the National Team, and guided Nigeria to its first Africa Cup of Nations title at the 1980 tournament in his homeland. Nicknamed Mathematical, he was famous for his skill on the ball, speed and precision of his crosses from the right wing. He played for IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan his entire career, from 1970 to 1984. His last game was the 1984 African Champions Cup final defeat to Zamalek of Egypt. The original source of the nickname "Mathematical" was because Segun Odegbami attended and was graduated from Nigeria's premier technical institution, The Polytechnic, Ibadan. He studied Engineering.

His younger brother, Wole Odegbami, is also a former national team player. He is currently a columnist in Nigeria. In 2007 Chief Segun Odegbami appeared on Nigerian Who Wants To Be A Millionaire hosted by Frank Edoho. He played a game for charity with the much loved Zebrudaya and donated all his winnings to The Little Saints’ Orphanage on the Strong Tower Mission.

English FA to appoint technical head

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27 March 2012, 14:45

The English FA announced plans on Tuesday to appoint a technical director who will run operations at the FA's new national training centre at St George's Park and help improve England's prospects of international success.

England last had a permanent technical director in 2002 when Howard Wilkinson left the post. The new man will report to the FA's director of football development Trevor Brooking and help make the new base in central England a centre of excellence for coaches.

Alex Horne, the FA's general secretary, said in a statement on the FA's website (www.thefa.com): "The role of technical director will be crucial as we continue to strive towards improving the technical ability and knowledge of our players and coaches both now and in the future."

The new technical director will have to have a UEFA Pro License or the equivalent and is part of the FA's drive to raise the standards of football at both elite and grassroots level.

The FA are also looking for a new manager for the national side with Tottenham Hotspur's manager Harry Redknapp the favorite to be offered the post towards the end of the season.

England's only major trophy is the 1966 World Cup despite its Premier League being the richest in the world and football having been born in the country.