The country of "the All Whites"? It's New Zealand.

Hello. Here is Ken.


We came to the country of "the All Whites" New Zealand.


The national rugby union team of New Zealand is known as "the All Blacks" as they wear all black. The national soccer team, on the other hands, wear all white. So they're called "the All Whites".


This is the largest city of New Zealand, Oakland. 

Contrary to rainy Sydney, it's perfect weather!

But it's cold. You need a jacket at night.


Oakland is said to be the largest city in this country. 
But it's with a population of just 430,000.


For reference, the overall population of NZ is 4,320,000.
It's so small, although its land area is nearly as same as that of Japan (75%).


By the way, there are 34,000,000 sheep in this country!
It follows that about 8 sheep are owned by per person.


Actually, this is the 18th stop of our round-the-world journey.
We completed 56.3% of 32 countries participating in 2010 FIFA world Cup!!
What do you say about it? Still half to go? Finally half completed?

The hotel room we stayed last night was so comfy that I woke up at 1:30 pm today. Oh my goodness. I slept for more than 12 hours. 

Then we got out for lunch and found an elegant-looking Japanese restaurant.

We got in there.

The restaurant is run by a Japanese couple.

Then I ordered a Japanese-style curry.

This is festive red rice. 
It's so rare to see it in overseas.

There are many Japanese restaurants in overseas. 
But it's rare to encounter the traditional Japanese curry.
I was really happy about that.


The curry cost NZ＄11.
NZ is more expensive than Australia.

The below is NZ bill. The upper one is AU's.

By the way, they are vinyl-coated paper.
They are water proofed and hard to be ripped by hand.


One of my Aussie friends said to me, "You can jump into the water with this."
I will never do that.


I think the exchange fee for old bills is quite cheap.


Anyway, Oakland is located in the most eastern part of the world.
This indicates that they become the first to see the old year out.


One of our aims is to become one of those and join the countdown event.


But a local person told me, 


"The venue has been under construction throughout this year. So I don't think the countdown is on this year. Also, Christmas is the biggest event in NZ. The New Year is not a big deal."


Oh, my goodness.


But I heard there is a fireworks at a casino, which is close to the hotel.
Then we decided to go for the broke now!!


It's a BETTER OFF DEAD !!


I will bet on black when playing a roulette game, following "the all BLACKs"




The World Cup year is just around the corner!
If I won this gambling, the Japanese national soccer team would win, too!


Happy New Year!!








Follow us on Twitter!!
http://twitter.com/2010Libero 


 We appreciate if you would publicize our blog and Twitter within your circle of your soccer friends or acquaintances.

The rise of African soccer

Bonjour, guys. This is Atushi.


Now we're in Cameroon and staying at Eboｌawa city, which is about 2 hours away from the capital Younde. 


We came here to see one of our friends Shihoto, who is a member of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV). He is also one of the greatest soccer fan among JOCV.


In the evening, a lot of people come together in the park to play soccer. Neighbors, workers, students... many many people there.
 Some of them are 10's, others are 20's.

The guy standing third to the left is Shihoto.

 Three of us all wearing Japanese blue jersey.

We split into two teams having 9 players in each and the half are naked.
The field is about half of the regular size.

Look at their six-pack stomachs ! 

 African are so tough guys.

After about one hour, the game ended in draw 0-0.


Then, when it's dawn, the people stop playing and beginning to go home.


Anyway, you know what. There is a reason for the scoreless game.

The length of the goal is maybe less than 1 meter. 

I saw this tiny goal everywhere in Africa. Some of them are normal size goals made up with trunks.
But, generally speaking, they are all tiny. 


Even if they don't have anything to build up with, they make a goal by putting together some stuffs. I don't know why they make it so small.


What if a person is lying down in front of the goal? 
Don't worry. No ones are willing to do so. 
Of course, it's unfair to have a goalkeeper.


Look, if you play sluggish, you'll be enclosed like below.

We couldn't score today. 
But, according to Shioto, they normally get golas even with this small goals.
I guess they are sharpshooting.


I wonder how they manage normal size game if you get used to this, though.


I doubt they hit long distance shot. Oh yes, I remember they shot wide as I saw a local soccer game last time.


My guess is that African soccer players are not good at long distance shots.


Somehow I think all African people play in the same way.


That is, they like passing each other! Their passing skill is so great.


They don't care if the field is rough or not.


Their ball controlling technique is just fantastic !!
They play like FC Barcelona!!


If they are stack in short passing, they posses the ball and sometimes make a great switching pass!!

Sometimes, the ball are over the wall.

It's natural that the trained players have good passing skills. 
They might have a coach who puts an emphasis on passing skills.


But how could these untrained people become so skillful enough to do short accurate passings instead of making wild kicks.


 Everyone plays fantastically like Ronaldinho or Christiano Ronaldo !! 


Who could help them to do so? This is middle of nowhere!




My first impression about African soccer was that African players are physically tough and have individual skills. They emphasize a individual tactics rather than team operation.


But it has been changed.


I guess Samuel Etho, who was playing for FC Barcelona, had a big influence on Cameroon. 


Young people seem to copy FC Barcelona's style.


It's nonsense to generalize it just based on my sole experience, but, somehow I can tell the African soccer is on the rise.


Most of all, African grass-root level of soccer is definitely on the right track, although the infrastructure needs further improvement, I mean "soccer field".


If they are improved in terms of good coach, good facilities, African soccer has a great potential.]


I wonder if you see it in 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Follow us on Twitter to be updated news!!

 http://twitter.com/2010Libero

Thank god the suicide attempt prevented.

Bonｊuor! This is Atushi.


Aiming at traveling 32 countries in the world cup, the most difficult country to visit is Nigeria.


We've already got visas and booked flight tickets for Nigeria. But we're hesitating to enter the our credit cards numbers to purchase the tickets.

Everything is ready to visit there.

But we Libero are being chickens.


Since we have visited Johannesburg known as a the world-most insecure country several times, we've become familiar with this city.


But when it comes to Nigeria, it's another story.


The rumors are that;


1. 700 people died in the collusion between security authority and armed group.


2. According to the Japanese ministry of foreign affairs, the kidnappings of foreigners have increased recently. 16 incidences (41 people) in 2008. 14 incidences (53 people) from January to June in 2009.


3. My acquaintance, who is an expatriate staff in Nigeria, told me that 857 armed people were shot by the police. He hires bodyguards in his duty.


4. Police officers are occasionally corrupt by armed groups.


5. In response to my question to a travel agent, " How much it the flight ticket for Nigeria?". He replied, "Are you insane?"


6. All the black guys we met during our trip advised us that Nigeria is the last country to visit.


Why was U17 World Cup held in such a dangerous country?


In fact, we stopped at Lagos on our way to Ghana.

In that sense, do you mind if I say "I've ALREADY been there."?

We are eager to complete 32 countries as we've set up the goal.
However, we have families and friends. But we have already got visas and booked flight tickets. But I don't wanna die. But but but.. go round and round.


At last, we've come to the conclusion that we can't make a decision on our own.


Then,


I would like you to choose the way we should take.


Do you think we should still go to Nigeria or not?


I want you to vote for it on the vote form placed on the side of this blog. 
The due day for the voting is on 15th December 2009.


(The voting period ended) (16/12/09)


246 people voted as shown in the below.

No, you should not.

Yes, you should.

As a result, we decided not to go to Nigeria!!


Then I cancelled our flight and extended our staying in Cameroon to check the first country we're playing in the world cup!


Thank you for helping our ass.








Follow us on Twitter!! 
http://twitter.com/2010Libero 


 We appreciate if you would publicize our blog and Twitter within your circle of your soccer friends or acquaintances.