After three games in the Premiership, Chelsea are clearly looking like the team to beat, their 2-0 defeat of Stoke yesterday, has them leading the table with nine points and a goal difference of 14, with not a single goal conceded, this is champions material, however, injuries to John Terry and Frank Lampard, which have excluded them from England's European qualifying games this week, may also have an impact on Chelsea's progress??? Arsenal, after last years disappointments, have started well now having seven points from a possible nine, after an excellent performance away at Blackburn,...

It might only seem like yesterday that Chelsea won the 2009/2010 title, but the new season is upon us, the early money is going on Chelsea to hold on to the title, but with Manchester United having their noses put out of joint last year they will be determined to change things, and their 3-1 victory in the charity shield game against Chelsea last week, has sent out a clear message. Arsenal have stumbled their way through the last few seasons and Arsene Wenger will be under a little bit of pressure this season, Liverpool are going to have to up the ante this year, Roy Hodgson is a good...

Africa was the theatre, South Africa was the stage and the shows that were delivered, were of the best quality of anywhere in the World I have now returned to the UK, after a most incredible month at the World Cup, I have worked as an Ambassador on the 2010 finals for eight years and after telling the world that we would deliver the best World Cup ever, the People of South Africa even surpassed my expectations, by the way they showed the World what the people of Africa can do, the embracing of every nations supporters, the way they treated the guests to the country and by showing the...

This has truly been the biggest carnival of football the world has ever seen and most people will agree that South Africa have delivered the best World Cup ever. We’ve seen fans from all nations partying together, enjoying themselves and taking in the African culture as much as the fantastic football that has been on offer. No matter the colour, creed, race or religion, everybody has come to these finals to integrate and enjoy. Flags are still flying and the vuvuzela’s still being blown. We are nearing the end of the World Cup, but it is just the start of the next stage of the African...

WORLD CUP BLOG I am eating some humble pie at this moment. The number of calls I have received following England's amazing defeat against Germany has been amazing. Yes it was 4 – 1 to Germany, and yes Mr Capello said it would have been different had the Lampard goal that was, been given. But even still the result would have been 4 – 2. Still a defeat and still elimination from a tournament that I firmly believed we could win. Before I came out to South Africa and also whilst out here I have backed England to go a long way and achieve. Now that’s no longer possible, I think that there...

I am really enjoying the World Cup so far, but there are a couple of issues that need a mention. For all those pundits, journalists, producers, broadcasters and supposed politicians out there – can you please, please, please, stop going on about the vuvuzela . Just get over it and enjoy this most colourful of World Cups. This is not some stale European affair, it’s basically the most fantastic African event ever held, giving the continent, and not just South Africa, a massive boost. At Premier League matches in the UK, you hear the obscenities being shouted out by supporters,...

We have had the the opening ceremony and the matches have started. Maybe now the prophets of doom and gloom, who felt that Africa could not deliver, can sit back and enjoy the biggest Carnival of football that they have ever seen. I thought it was a fantastic opening ceremony, an African who’s who were in the VIP area, where I was fortunate enough to be. Jacob Zuma, the South African President was obviously there, along with the Mexican president, but Nelson Mandela unfortunately could not attend due to the sad loss of his great granddaughter Zenani. From the West, OK we didn’t get...

I have been in South Africa for the last two days and the atmosphere and vibrancy is amazing, everyone has smiles on their faces and I can categorically say that after years of planning, the hard work, the up's and down's, South Africa is ready to host the World. Please see below an interview that I did with Sky television from Cape Town. http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid29318049001?bctid=91017008001 I am off to Johannesburg to attend the opening ceremony and the opening game. Good Luck Bafana Bafana (and England!!!! ) KE NAKO Gary

World Cup fever has been building up since the bid to host the finals was won in 2004, but it has now reached epidemic proportions, the teams and their fans are finally touching down on African soil and now is the time for everyone in the country to show what Africa can do. The opening ceremony is only four days away, most of the teams preparations are nearing completion and the Carnival of Football is ready to commence. Of course along the way, teams have encountered a few injury problems, England, already without David Beckham and Wayne Bridge, lost Rio Ferdinand who damaged his...

Last week Chelsea won the Premiership title in style and last weekend they were going for the league and cup double. They were up against Portsmouth, who were relegated, have gone bankrupt and were only intermittently paying their players salaries, hence it was a foregone conclusion that Chelsea would continue to add to Portsmouth's woes, or would they!!!!!! Despite controlling much of the game, the Portsmouth goal looked jinxed against Chelsea, in the first half Chelsea hit the goalpost five times, but went in at half time on level terms 0-0, was it going to be a magical afternoon for...