Eric Djemba-Djemba was once regarded as one of the greatest footballing talents to emerge from Cameroon. While he was under contract to French club Nantes, Europe’s top clubs were queuing up to sign the midfielder. In the event, it was Manchester United who won the race. But the 26-year-old did not find his feet in the UK and Manchester
United first loaned him to Aston Villa before he moved on to Burney and then answered a call to Qatar last July. Compatriot Bill Tchato, well known for his performances with Montpellier, Nice and Kaiserslautern, moved to the Gulf at about the same time and is therefore feeling very much at home. Other players who have been drawn to the desert country are Morocco’s defender Talal El Karkouri, Iran’s spektacular striker Ali Karimi (previously with Bayern Munich) and Senegal international Mamadou Diallo.

In early November, she celebrated her 100th match (a 1-0 defeat by Denmark) in Perth, Scotland, at the end of October her 100th goal in a 5-1 win over Slovenia, and just before Christmas her 27th birthday. Scotland’s Julie Fleeting, a striker for Arsenal in London, could not stop celebrating or partying. Coached by her father, Jim, she was already a feature in the senior national team at the age of 15. In celebration of her achievements, her sponsor presented her with a special 100-match jersey and golden shoes. While she works as a sports teacher in her birthplace, Kilwinning, Scotland’s no. 10 jets backwards and forwards to London at weekends for Arsenal’s matches. Seven other women footballers in addition to Fleeting have collected 100 caps: Mia Hamm (USA, 1 58 goals), Kristine Lilly (USA, 129), Birgit Prinz (Germany, 116), Elisabetta Vignotto (Italy, 107), Michelle Akers (USA, 105), Carolina Morace (Italy, 104) and Tiffany Millbrett (USA, 100).

World champion Sonja Fuss is patron of the girls’ football project of the Hamburg-based children’s charity “Plan” that is active in 49 different countries. The 29-year-old German is supporting three projects in Ghana, Togo and Brazil. “As a team sport, football teaches girls to show respect and team spirit while at the same time boosting their confidence and giving them a better status in society,” comments Fuss. The projects also disseminate information on health care and education and broach problems such as child labour, prostitution, sexual abuse, teenage pregnancies and violence. “Social and emotional attributes such as compassion, fairness, honesty and a sense of responsibility help to prepare these girls for a better future,” asserts the player.