No mo’ MoMo

By: Chris | June 29th, 2008

So long Mohamed Zidan, we hardly knew you.

A story today details a deal between HSV and Saudi side Ittihad Jeddah which sends erstwhile striker Mohamed “Zizzou” Zidan on a one-year loan. Jeddah beat out Fulham for the Egyptian national’s services. It is a move that ends the drama between Zidan and the club, that culminated in a series of he-said/she-said quarrels in the media with former manager Huub Stevens. Zidan alleged that Stevens hated him and held a grudge against him; Huub maintained that the club’s directors told him (Huub) to bench Zidan and that Zidan was hated in the dressing room. Whatever. It’s over.

Vincent Kompany and Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe have been named to Belgium’s provisional roster for the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing. There is some consternation between the club andthe Belgian national side, as the players’ inclusion in the side was never discussed before hand with the club. There are several clubs (notably Barcelona-Messi, and Bremen-Diego) who are withholding young stars from the Olympics so that the players can train and play in early season matches with their clubs. My opinion is that HSV should let Ofoe play and withhold Kompany–it’s a long season and we don’t need him suffering an injury in Beijing or wearing down next spring.

Also: Rafael van Der Vaart’s personal website is only available in Dutch and English now. It was formerly available in German too. So, can we narrow down where VDV is likely to transfer? Probably. Let’s see . . . Eredivisie? Been there, done that. English Premier League? Hmmm. What do you think?

On a personal note, much like the Cedar River, it appears that I have surpassed all former high water marks. Going into today’s final of the Euro, I currently sit 2nd in the table on 71 points, right behind Leslie of Victoria, BC (On a side note, Victoria BC is, without question, the most beautiful city in the world. Categorically. It’s a lot like a small London, without the unfavorable exchange rate and 7 hour flight. But I digress. . .). The real irony would be if I somehow managed to win the bracket, and with it the $200USD prize to UKSoccerShop.com, because I tore my left Achilles tendon in a recreational match on Monday night, and won’t be playing football for another nine months or so. Ha.