Liverpool FC Official Thread

Steadman wrote:You'll never get him so it's all good anyway.

Cadbury wrote:

Steadman wrote:You'll never get him so it's all good anyway.

I know, he wouldn't pass the medical .

Jelavic9|RFC wrote:

Cadbury wrote:
I know, he wouldn't pass the medical .

Says differently.

NZG wrote:6th again?

depressing.

JMB_94 wrote:Don't think Spurs will have a dip in form at any point this season, they'll struggle against the likes of Man City, United, Chelsea, Arsenal etc. But they'll get wins against the teams below them. Think they'll get 4th this season.

If I mention the name 'Craig Bellamy' to you, what words come to mind? Thug? Arrogant? Moaner? Talented? (If you happen to be a ginger, Norwegian left back the words 'mentalist with a golf club' could spring to mind). What about compassionate? Caring? Considerate? No? Well maybe reading this article will change your mind.

In 2007 Craig Bellamy visited a friend in the West African nation of Sierra Leone. Best known for its ‘blood diamonds’ and devastating civil war, Craig saw the country’s desperate poverty. To understand more about the foundation, I will firstly give a very brief 'lesson' about Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone is a small country located on the west coast of Africa. Though rich in fertile land and natural resources, it is one of the poorest counties in the world. A brutal civil war between 1991 and 2002 left the country devastated. After 10 years of peace, life expectancy in Sierra Leone is 48 years (18 below the global average) and the likelihood of a woman dying in childbirth is greater than anywhere on the planet.

Considerably less than half of the population are literate, with adults averaging less than 3 years schooling each. Despite government efforts since the war, with less than 45% of children currently attending school, this is unlikely to change. The vast majority of these go to primary school, as it is now compulsory and free, while access to secondary school remains very limited as fees are out of reach for most families.

Although the conflict is over, recovery has been challenging and many of the root causes of the decade-long fighting are still present. Most urgent among these is the exclusion of youth from education and employment opportunities.

Sierra Leone has a very young population, with children accounting for over 40% of the country’s 6 million population. A further 35% are classified as youth – currently 70% of young people in Sierra Leone are unemployed. Many of them grew up during the war and are unprepared to make the transition into sustainable livelihoods.

Craig Bellamy saw what was happening in Sierra Leone and decided to use his influence and money to do something about it. With a car full of footballs he traveled through the country, stopping wherever he saw kids playing the game they love, to give them a ball.

Everywhere he went he saw how much passion and commitment there was for the beautiful game but he also witnessed the lack of education and poor health. Craig had the idea of using football to inspire positive personal and social development among the children.

He wanted to build an academy of excellence to give promising players the support they would need to develop on and off the field. From the foundations of the Academy, and with UNICEF’s generous support, the CBF youth League was born.

The CBF Youth Development League is a ground-breaking initiative that uses football to empower a new generation of children to change their own and their communities’ lives.

Established in 2009 with the support of UNICEF, the League provides a nationwide football structure to nearly 2,000 boys and girls, whilst tackling the country’s urgent social development priorities – education, health, youth exclusion and gender inequality.
Its unique model ensures that children playing in the League regularly attend school, learn and adhere to principles of fair-play. Players also deliver health messages and social development projects that benefit other children and communities.

Children participate in the League in under-12 and under-14 age groups. There are 84 teams in the country’s four major regions of Freetown, Makeni, Bo and Kenema. Each Team is led by a Manager and Coach, who are trained youth educators.
Unlike other football leagues, teams earn points not only for match results, but also for attaining personal and social development goals. These include school attendance, adherence to principles of fair play, and participation in community development projects.

This innovative point-scoring system incentivises education and helps address the culture of youth violence. It also contributes to developing local communities and improving health.

By participating in the League – on the pitch, in the classroom, and in the community – children become positive role models, further enhancing their personal development.

So, you might ask; What has Craig's help achieved?

School attendance of participants is above 90% – double the national average of 45% (UNDP 2010). Teams also run ‘homework clubs’ after training to supplement their education.

The foundation's focus on fair play has reduced aggressive behaviour both on and off the pitch – addressing the culture of youth violence.

The foundation has implemented over 500 community development projects around the country, improving sanitation and local environments.

The foundation has reached over 50,000 people with life-saving health messages on malaria and HIV prevention.

The foundation places youth at the centre of community development to tackle social exclusion. By employing and training 100 youth leaders, it has created career pathways, built leadership skills, and developed local economies.

Within 6 months of girls joining the League, their school attendance rose to almost 100%. By leading community development projects, the girls are helping to shift negative gender stereotypes that restrict life opportunities.

The teamwork and fair play on display during matches draws hundreds of fans, local media interest and many more children are eager to join up.

The Craig Bellamy Foundation also runs Sierra Leone’s only professional football academy. Operated on a not-for-profit basis, it offer schildren the opportunity to reach their true potential by nurturing their sporting and academic excellence.

Five year scholarships are awarded to children aged 11 to 13 who are selected from an extensive national recruitment process, ensuring that children from across Sierra Leone are afforded the same opportunity to make their dreams come true.
The Academy aims to create a stable and positive environment to encourage development in three core areas – athletic, academic and personal – with each given an equal focus.

So far, Bellamy has invested £600,000 of his own cash and pledged a further £800,000, making it clear he is in it "until [he is] a very old man".

So next time you hear a rival supporter calling him a thug for having an altercation with a United fan after the Manchester derby, or for mistaking John Arne Riise for a golf ball, just remember to mention that Craig Bellamy is doing something far more important than winning football matches, he's helping people improve their lives. The people of Sierra Leone appreciate all of Craig's hard work, maybe we should do the same?

Who still thinks Craig Bellamy is just a thug then?


For more information on The Craig Bellamy Foundation, and to see where I got the information for this article, please visit the website: http://www.craigbellamyfoundation.org/

Mr Leiva wrote:

If I mention the name 'Craig Bellamy' to you, what words come to mind? Thug? Arrogant? Moaner? Talented? (If you happen to be a ginger, Norwegian left back the words 'mentalist with a golf club' could spring to mind). What about compassionate? Caring? Considerate? No? Well maybe reading this article will change your mind.

In 2007 Craig Bellamy visited a friend in the West African nation of Sierra Leone. Best known for its ‘blood diamonds’ and devastating civil war, Craig saw the country’s desperate poverty. To understand more about the foundation, I will firstly give a very brief 'lesson' about Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone is a small country located on the west coast of Africa. Though rich in fertile land and natural resources, it is one of the poorest counties in the world. A brutal civil war between 1991 and 2002 left the country devastated. After 10 years of peace, life expectancy in Sierra Leone is 48 years (18 below the global average) and the likelihood of a woman dying in childbirth is greater than anywhere on the planet.

Considerably less than half of the population are literate, with adults averaging less than 3 years schooling each. Despite government efforts since the war, with less than 45% of children currently attending school, this is unlikely to change. The vast majority of these go to primary school, as it is now compulsory and free, while access to secondary school remains very limited as fees are out of reach for most families.

Although the conflict is over, recovery has been challenging and many of the root causes of the decade-long fighting are still present. Most urgent among these is the exclusion of youth from education and employment opportunities.

Sierra Leone has a very young population, with children accounting for over 40% of the country’s 6 million population. A further 35% are classified as youth – currently 70% of young people in Sierra Leone are unemployed. Many of them grew up during the war and are unprepared to make the transition into sustainable livelihoods.

Craig Bellamy saw what was happening in Sierra Leone and decided to use his influence and money to do something about it. With a car full of footballs he traveled through the country, stopping wherever he saw kids playing the game they love, to give them a ball.

Everywhere he went he saw how much passion and commitment there was for the beautiful game but he also witnessed the lack of education and poor health. Craig had the idea of using football to inspire positive personal and social development among the children.

He wanted to build an academy of excellence to give promising players the support they would need to develop on and off the field. From the foundations of the Academy, and with UNICEF’s generous support, the CBF youth League was born.

The CBF Youth Development League is a ground-breaking initiative that uses football to empower a new generation of children to change their own and their communities’ lives.

Established in 2009 with the support of UNICEF, the League provides a nationwide football structure to nearly 2,000 boys and girls, whilst tackling the country’s urgent social development priorities – education, health, youth exclusion and gender inequality.
Its unique model ensures that children playing in the League regularly attend school, learn and adhere to principles of fair-play. Players also deliver health messages and social development projects that benefit other children and communities.

Children participate in the League in under-12 and under-14 age groups. There are 84 teams in the country’s four major regions of Freetown, Makeni, Bo and Kenema. Each Team is led by a Manager and Coach, who are trained youth educators.
Unlike other football leagues, teams earn points not only for match results, but also for attaining personal and social development goals. These include school attendance, adherence to principles of fair play, and participation in community development projects.

This innovative point-scoring system incentivises education and helps address the culture of youth violence. It also contributes to developing local communities and improving health.

By participating in the League – on the pitch, in the classroom, and in the community – children become positive role models, further enhancing their personal development.

So, you might ask; What has Craig's help achieved?

School attendance of participants is above 90% – double the national average of 45% (UNDP 2010). Teams also run ‘homework clubs’ after training to supplement their education.

The foundation's focus on fair play has reduced aggressive behaviour both on and off the pitch – addressing the culture of youth violence.

The foundation has implemented over 500 community development projects around the country, improving sanitation and local environments.

The foundation has reached over 50,000 people with life-saving health messages on malaria and HIV prevention.

The foundation places youth at the centre of community development to tackle social exclusion. By employing and training 100 youth leaders, it has created career pathways, built leadership skills, and developed local economies.

Within 6 months of girls joining the League, their school attendance rose to almost 100%. By leading community development projects, the girls are helping to shift negative gender stereotypes that restrict life opportunities.

The teamwork and fair play on display during matches draws hundreds of fans, local media interest and many more children are eager to join up.

The Craig Bellamy Foundation also runs Sierra Leone’s only professional football academy. Operated on a not-for-profit basis, it offer schildren the opportunity to reach their true potential by nurturing their sporting and academic excellence.

Five year scholarships are awarded to children aged 11 to 13 who are selected from an extensive national recruitment process, ensuring that children from across Sierra Leone are afforded the same opportunity to make their dreams come true.
The Academy aims to create a stable and positive environment to encourage development in three core areas – athletic, academic and personal – with each given an equal focus.

So far, Bellamy has invested £600,000 of his own cash and pledged a further £800,000, making it clear he is in it "until [he is] a very old man".

So next time you hear a rival supporter calling him a thug for having an altercation with a United fan after the Manchester derby, or for mistaking John Arne Riise for a golf ball, just remember to mention that Craig Bellamy is doing something far more important than winning football matches, he's helping people improve their lives. The people of Sierra Leone appreciate all of Craig's hard work, maybe we should do the same?

Who still thinks Craig Bellamy is just a thug then?


For more information on The Craig Bellamy Foundation, and to see where I got the information for this article, please visit the website: [url=http://www.craigbellamyfoundation.org/

Mr Leiva wrote:Make that 5-1.

Mr Leiva wrote:6-1 now.

Alan wrote:

Mr Leiva wrote:6-1 now.

Could be worse, imagine if your team got beat 6-1 for real.

6(six) 1