| |
| | Friday 29 February, 2008 | | Blog: Curse of the Ballon d’Or | | Winning the Golden Ball may not be the pinnacle of a career but, as James Horncastle explains, the ending of it |  |  | | On winning the Ballon d’Or in December Ricky Kaka told his peers that he would love to imitate Milan legend Marco Van Basten and pick up another two World Player of the Year awards before the end of his career.
The Dutchman collected the accolade three times while with the Rossoneri, inspiring the club to an incredible 16 major titles in eight years throughout which he scored 90 goals in 147 games. He, like Kaka, was a match-winner but tragically had to retire at the age of 30 after being hacked to pieces by opposing defenders. The man they called the ‘Swan’ was given as much respect as the ‘Ugly Duckling’ by hard-men keen to make a name for themselves.
One would think that the similarity between Kaka and Van Basten ends here, but the Brazilian is now being treated to the same overzealous, malicious and downright dangerous tackles that robbed the game and Milan of one of its most outstanding proponents.
The Rossoneri’s outspoken Vice-President Adriano Galliani, who compared the club’s loss of Van Basten to the passing of Leonardo Da Vinci, said: “I am fed up of going into the dressing room and seeing Kaka with ice on his knee. This boy is made to play football not to go into battle. Every game, three or four players take it in turns to hit him. We cannot go on like this.”
So how do we protect the embattled fantasista who, after taking a considerable whack on his left knee against Palermo, will be out of action for at least two games? While Kaka shouldn’t be wrapped in cotton wool and given any special treatment by referees, officials should be made to punish those who systematically target the 25-year-old.
Opposition Coaches should be responsible enough to tone down their war cries. We’ve all heard: “Don’t give’em too much respect, let’em know you’re about and hit’em hard.” Ronaldo and Eduardo have been recent victims of those. But do we want to see football become a non-contact sport like netball? Apparently not! Referee Frank De Bleeckere was chastised by the media for sending off Marco Materazzi for two ‘soft’ offences against Fernando Torres in Inter’s Champions League tie with Liverpool.
If you ask me, the problem lies with the cursed Ballon d’Or itself which hangs like an albatross around the neck of its recipients. Ronaldinho hasn’t been the same player since winning it, Roberto Baggio and Andriy Shevchenko missed crucial penalties after collecting it. Oh, and the dazzling prize brought unwanted and ultimately fatal attention to Ronaldo and Van Basten. So, here’s a little piece of advice for our Ricky. Follow the example of teammate Paolo Maldini – never win the blasted thing again and eternal youth will be yours.
| | | |
| Kaka has looked disinterested this season, particularly in the League. This is not to say that he considers himself above his opponents – as he is far too humble for that – it may just be that he is becoming sick of all the rough, and unjust, treatment he is being subjected to on the field.
Personally, I believe he needs to add to his resolve and show defenders that he is not content with being pushed around. We all know of his childhood and how he overcame a life-threatening injury to become the best at what he does, but right now he needs to draw upon his reserves of steel – and perhaps some anger as well – to remove all doubts over his temperament.
AC Fan
Oh poor Kaka – the defences are out to get him. Are you guys serious? That's the price No 1 players have to pay. Does Kaka want the defences to part like the Red Sea when he makes his way to the goal? Kaka may be a good player, but I've yet to see him deliver for Brazil where he is mediocre at best. To me Kaka is just a club player and nothing more. Before the Press showers him with accolades they should wait and see what he does on the world stage, which so far has been nothing!
Romulo Tejera, New York, United States
|
| | | | |
