lomar do Nascimento, better known as Mazinho, was one of the key midfielders in the 1994 Brazilian football team that claimed FIFA World Cup™ glory by defeating Italy in a penalty Shootout at Los Angeles’ Rose Bowl stadium. Now 42, Mazinho has been living in Barcelona for two-and-a-half years and he is totally focused on the fledgling football careers of his three sons. His two eldest, Thiago and Rafael, are currently in Barcelona’s youth team setup and they could hardly have wished for a better adviser than their father, who has nothing but praise for his sons. “Apart from the fact that I am their father and naturally excited, I can honestly say that they definitely have what it takes to make a career in football.” The world champion’s sons have already caught the eye of various national youth team coaches and Thiago was just 16 when he received his first call-up for the Spanish U-17 team. “I would love him to play for Brazil, if only because of my past,” admits Mazinho, who was also part of the Brazilian football teems that won Olympic silver at the Seoul Games in 1988 as well as the Copa America title in 1989. “Sadly, players who have been coached abroad are very rarely called up by Brazil. He’ll probably end up playing for Spain. He is very happy there … and that is all that matters.”

Former Bundesliga football star Reinhold Fanz is off to the Caribbean after being appointed as the new coach and technical director of the Cuban national football team. “It’s an interesting job and one I am very much looking forward to. The obvious target is to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa,” explained the 54-year-old in a recent interview with the German football association (DFB). Fanz has signed a contract with the Cuban FA until July 2010. The first test for Fanz and his team, who are currently in 71st position in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, will be when Cuba take on the winners of the Aruba v. Antigua & Barbuda match in the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ preliminary competition in June.

Andre Urbing grew up in an orphanage. “I received a lot of help and love there,” recalls the 62-year-old. “I wanted to be able to give a little bit back.” With that in mind, the Luxembourger, who received a diploma from the Luxembourg football association (FLF) in January after refereeing his 2,000th match, has been donating his match fees to Doctors without Borders, an organisation that is active all over the world, since January 1995. “I referee about three or four football games every week,” explains Urbing, “and am paid about 20 or 30 euros for each match.” So far, the generous match official has donated around 60,000 euros to the grateful institution. Quite an impressive gesture.