Will The Games Play On?

I was literally planning a piece on the African Cup when I found out about the ambush on the Togolese team. And all I could ask was why on earth would anyone want Togolese football players dead?

Was it an intricate plot from the powers that be to ensure that prominent players aren’t lost biennially to seemingly insignificant tournaments in future? Was it a case of mistaken identity? Or was it genuinely connected to Angola’s rocky political history? Unfortunately for those who lost their lives in the senseless attack, it appears that the latter is the reason for the innocent bloodshed.

According to the rebels responsible for the attack, they were aiming for ‘the Angolan armed forces escorting the Togolese team’. .. They even went on to commend the sporting efforts of Adebayor and others but maintained that they were justified in their attack.

What I find most disturbing is how frequent these types of attacks are becoming - cricket, volleyball and now football. These rebels think that they are communicating messages, but in reality, they are ruining one of the few guiltless indulgences left in this world – sport.

Now the ball is in the Angolan government’s court. Do they cancel the tournament and satisfy the rebels? Or do they continue with the tournament and hope that the threats are empty. I suppose we’ll find out over the next few days.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/angola/6958012/Rebels-who-attacked-Togo-footballers-on-way-to-Angola-competition-vow-more-attacks.html