 Good afternoon and welcome back to the Touchline on Y25. My name is Max. I want to discuss about he and Mrs. of FIFA World Cup ahead of the final tomorrow, but continue being part of the short talk to us as well as touchline Y254 at Waseke Maxwell. Which team are you rooting for? As far as tomorrow's finale is concerned, France up against Argentina two time World Cup champions and France holders of the tournament currently coming to a culmination tomorrow. So tell us also what's happening in your neighborhood especially during this Christmas festivities a lot is happening at the grassroot level where football forms the basis of you know the sport that enjoys huge following. Like where I come from in Mumi as a good friend of mine and brilliant legal mind Robert Ojo, organizing a great football tournament bringing several teams together from Navamadi Ward and Nate Day tournament happening to Lunganyiro Primary School and you know trying to give back to the site and enabling young people to showcase their prowess and you know ensure that they sharpen their talent. I am sure the people in studio with me Ken Andrew and Barry Seela they also have what's happening in the neighborhood. Good to see you Barry. How are you doing man? Very well thank you. Where you come from? What's happening? Of course it's a football season and now I'm busy with the tournament. Which is good for the clubs at the grassroot? Wow and now straight into the interview. It's amiss of the people of World Cup Ken. The team you were supporting got eliminated. Now tomorrow you're saying you're siding with the African brothers in Quartz France. Ah yes, yes, yes. I already know. Amazing fit if they do it again because you know back to back especially the talent that you have seen in this World Cup that will be a really amazing fit. Amazing fit indeed. Barry yourself the team you're supporting is it in the finals of the World Cup? No it's not but now like my friend Ken we will just have to support France. Not because Argentina is a bad team or anything but because I would like to see Didi Odishu make history. Didi Odishu was won as a coach and as a player including Champions League. If he hs his name on history books I think we can wish him a happy retirement now. Happy retirement for Didi Odishu looking for to defend the title he bagged in Russia in 2018 FIFA World Cup. So tomorrow's finale but what has been your outstanding moment for the tournament? My outstanding moment has to be the group stages. Aside from what you have seen in the knockout stages I think the group stages this year have been amazing. I'm going to cut you short Ken Andrew a little bit of technical hitches on his end but it's being rectified in not too long but what caught your attention in Qatar? What caught my attention will surprise everyone is that Vaar was not controversial. Is that the referees were in fact who are a bit controversial in some of these games in the group stages. I'm happy VR for the most part did their job but also we've seen exciting talent in the group stages. We've seen players from like let's say Morocco. A young man called Unwai has been a standout. We've seen Vape improve game by game. He's one of the best now in the world. I think overall Qatar has done a good job in organization and we have to give them plaudits for that. You remember when the tournament was kicking off there were a bit of concerns over Qatar hosting the tournament with some people raising questions that probably they won't be in position to excellently host the tournament but they have defied all odds and done what is contrary to many people's expectations. Yes, yes. I think what Cliff has helped they have managed to host a good tournament. They've brushed aside the politics, the controversies and focused on the end game and which has seen them deliver one if I'm not wrong. It's not the best one or the best World Cup server because it's been a tournament of surprises, a tournament of goals, a tournament of fun, good fun experience. And then when they close it tomorrow, I'm sure it will be one to be remembered for ages. Ken, you were talking to us about the most outstanding thing that probably caught your attention since the tournament kicked off last month until tomorrow as it comes to finale of course France playing against Argentina. As Ken's mic gets rectified, you can continue talking to us Barry and tell us about the whole experience. Qatar hosting the tournament in 2026 going to United States of America, Canada and makes it in terms of facility. It's been excellent. They spent I think around 2 billion dollars of course some chunk of the money coming from FIFA but it means for you to host a world class tournament. You need investment, you need what you call good political environment and I believe if I'm not wrong, Qatar would have made double the amount they spent because first of all of the element of sports tourism. The fans enjoyed a great experience. TV gave the world great view and we have watched excellent football. So overall the whole package has been good and we have to give blood to Qatar Football Association and the government as a whole plus FIFA for giving us this great tournament. Last weekend you were talking about you know, Qatar defying all odds and doing what people never imagined of them but we are going to talk a little bit regarding officiating. Do you think it has met the standards expected of how much officials who have presided over several matches? I think first of all there has sort of been something new with officiating because we have seen rather new rules on added time and extra time you know it's been really really long. So many added minutes. I think that came as a shock to a lot of people because we are not expecting that after a game 10 more minutes 14 more minutes so that was something about officiating that was different but also there has been serious outcry from a lot of players on the level of refereeing you know. You know you'd expect after World Cup games were the best referees from across the world and selected it's a bit quiet on the refereeing but you've seen teams who were said to be favored themselves saying that the referee was not good in the case of Argentina and Netherlands. Both teams had complaints against the refereeing so you know it's sort of it was I think it was it is something to do with the game itself always there will be complaints about refereeing but in the next tournament I think they have to really really scrutinize the referees they are taking because I know they received a lot of noise for taking the referee from AFKON who finished the game in the 85th minutes you know. So some of those decisions really need to be looked at by FIFA but I'd say personally I think the officiating was not the best but it was just okay. 2010 World Cup in South Africa 2014 World Cup in Brazil and 2018 in Russia now in Qatar. You think Qatar has been able to surpass you know the performance as we witnessed a few years ago. I think it has you know. The tournament has lived up to the daily. It has gone even beyond expectations because you know people are expecting a flat tournament because of everything that was being said about it but from the first game to the last game in the group stages you've seen huge shock as you know African teams beating the likes of Brazil you know South Korea beating Portugal, Saudi Arabia beating Argentina. You know these are the things that were not happening in the previous tournaments because you know in the previous tournaments big teams will be big teams in 2010. Netherlands will beat Brazil you know that sort of okay but Brazil being beat by Cameroon you know no one saw it coming. Brazil being eliminated this team of theirs has been eliminated by Croatia in the run of 16 you know no one saw it coming in the quarterfinals sorry. So the hits in this World Cup have been a lot on the pitch because the quality itself in the football and the number of shocks we have seen even though your team went out you still have to stay in awe and just say you know you never saw that coming so you know how crazy is that. You accept and move on and accept that the tournament is indeed fantastic. Cadmus Doctor, Cadmus Doctori Wahadas is reminding us that you know there's a third playoff happening this particular evening and he's saying Croatia are going to dismantle the Morrocan team and Morroco under Coach Regragui has been fantastic. Though getting eliminated at the same fight on stage by France but you know they have done very well. They have shown that they have good players you know the likes of Amrabat have been amazing. Ziek has sort of done it with Chelsea form and has played really really well for Morroco and Nasri has been amazing for them you know they've come together they play as one unit. Yes. You look at the hard work they put in after the score goal to defend you know it's something unreal and you know from the expectations of everyone the African team that was going to do well was Senegal and then Cameroon. No one had Morroco you know in it but you know they have shown and become the best African team and you know you also have to mention Tunisia even though they didn't make it out of the group stage. I feel like they had game you know they had enough game to really come and do something that Morroco is doing is just that you know they were unlucky at the final point that Australia won their game but Morroco has been really outstanding and you know after this World Cup we love to respect them as the best team in the history of Africa in the World Cup. Africa getting represented by 5 African nations in the tournament unfortunately all of them except for Morroco got eliminated at the group stage Senegal made it to the ground of 16 and you know at least each one of those teams did you know amazing and wonderful achievements. Morroco you know getting an opportunity to beat Belgium and you know getting to the semifinal stage Tunisia beating holders France and Cameroon Muhamed Abbakare removing in start after they beat Brazil I think the first African nation to beat Brazil Cameroon though a mix of results but Ghana also doing very well beating the legs of Serbia and South Korea and Senegal also not getting not left behind as they did. So what has been your take home point regarding performance of African teams at the World Cup? I think overall the surpassed expectations a lot of people would imagine we are not going to win even matches but to be honest we did well. Everybody has to remember for the first time in the history of the tournament all the 5 African representatives had local coaches and people were shouting loudly are they going to make it. The Morroco coach I think 60 days before the tournament he was employed by Morroco Federation to take over. So it tells you with determination we believe with good preparations Africa can go fast so for me kudas to them they've done their best especially Morroco. We've showed why Morroco showed why Africa can no longer be taken for granted so it's up to other teams to pull up their socks and show the world what they are made of. I think now proper policies need to be put in place if we can complete at the big stage because the last time an African side did very well was in 2010 World Cup when Ghana went up to quarter final stage getting eliminated by the Uriyan side right? Yes. So this time round getting into semi final stage which means in 2026 we can get into the final stage. Yes and you also have to think of the teams that have been left out of this World Cup you have the Super Eagles Ivory Coast and Egypt they didn't make it so the sports will be increased to 9 in the next World Cup for Africa. So you have to think that we will still do well in the coming because we still have great teams that missed and also there's a lot of development on the continent in terms of sports. We know the game in South Africa has improved significantly. We know in Kenya there are plans to improve the game and also the existing countries that have been making the World Cup but they don't make this one. They have to pull up their socks and have to do something better than Morroco because Morroco has set the standards. African teams are not just there to be an experience and to live at the group stages. It has happened in many many tournaments. If Morroco can reach a semi final and you watch AFKON they don't reach the semi final AFKON. That tells you something can happen. There is Ivory Coast we have to back them to make the next World Cup. Egypt Mohammad Zala has to play another World Cup because before he is done with football and the Super Eagles. There is a lot of Nigerian talent in the Premier League in Europe that can be brought into mount our successful bid to the World Cup final maybe. The light at the end of the tunnel for Africa after very long while is shining brighter than ever. We are talking about hits and misses of FIFA World Cup in Qatar coming to a culmination tomorrow. Do we include the ban of sale of rote liquids as one of the miss because there was a huge complaint but it was around the stadium. But what do you make of the side shows in terms of fans outside the stadium turned away from the main stadium and what was happening just before they came? I think the fun experience from my view based on what I have watched and what we are hearing maybe or seeing in TV has been amazing. This country Kenya sent some journalists who are sharing some of the experience they are even having as foreign journalists. It's been amazing and we have to congratulate Qatar for giving us this experience. I remember Qatar is a very highly Islamic state and some rules can be strict especially when you spoke about alcohol and alcohol consumption. I think to some extent it brought some kind of order and discipline. But fans also got opportunity now to do other things, mingle and share experiences. For me if the fans have got their money is worth. Value for their money? Value for their money yes. Ken? I think that ban mostly had the English fans probably because the rest of the teams there nothing was made of it. After the first group games everyone forgot that there was a ban on alcohol because the football was too good for you to remember. The beauty of the football matches of Ashadot, the ban? It carried everything and also they had their chances outside of the stadiums. They were well established fan points where they could have everything they want. Outside the stadium you have your fans in Qatar but in the stadium you are restricted to enjoying the football which has been in great quality. So kudos to them that making that ban was not an easy fit because we have seen the other World Cups. It has always been allowed but when you come into someone's house you play by their rules. And as he said Qatar is an Islamic state where they do not necessarily allow the drinking of alcohol. And the ban was made. They did a lot, a good thing in my view because now people are focused on the games. And as Barya said again their money is worth of payback. And nothing can be perfect? Do you think there was some undoing in terms of the organisation of the tournament? What can you make of the negative take away points that characterise the two team competition? I think the only thing that I would say is that they come in World Cups because there is a lot of talk about immigrant deaths. And they are not being looked at in the same way local Qatari deaths will have been looked at. I think that was the only big thing because if all the deaths were caused by the building of stadiums. I think even one of the Kenyans to infuia old young man who was working there collapsed him. Yeah, things like that are not easy to take for the families of migrant workers. So maybe in the next World Cup the minimal deaths are something you like to see because the numbers have been staggering if you compare them to previous World Cups. So I think for me that's the only negative thing that really overshadowed the World Cup. Even after the World Cup should be looked at better to establish exactly whether the causes were natural or unnatural. But aside from that the rest of the tournament I'd give all the credit in the world because from the stadiums to the fun experience and to the visas and everything they've been amazing. So for me maybe to add to what Kenyans said the bad parts of the tournament was the politics that was drawn in. I remember the pre Iran US march, the pressure was heated. One Iranian journalist was not very happy with the without the American captain Tyler Adams was calling their country Iran instead of Iran. And also LGBTQ, I don't understand how it had to be, the politics was drawn right into the field including small issues like the Amban. And some of these things FIFA should manage better. The politics must completely be kept away from football and because if we start mixing these issues then we lose the focus. And yes FIFA to some extent and Qatar maybe managed to quell it but social media was spreading it like fire. So maybe the other negative was now Twitter, Facebook, the social channels, platforms especially the Israel sorry the Iran and US issue was blown out of proportion. But it's a good thing the players kept their heads and managed to settle it on their heads. And despite the elimination by host Qatar there has been that theory that whenever hosting nation gets eliminated at the early stage of the tournament it loses its umf. But still fans showed up in large numbers at the stadium pool including the nationals of Qatar themselves. Yeah and you know also coming with the Alkab you know no one expected the Qatar football team to mount anything. It was expected. Yeah it was you know they were in a tough group. But the debut was just hosting. Yeah just hosting I think for them is enough because even if you look at you watched the first game against Taekwondo and people are already saying you know Senegal will be this guys. So it was already an easy match for the other teams in the group and they didn't make a good account of themselves. And once they left you know the football was normal because there are better quality teams left in the tournament. For them credit for hosting but I do know that they have great projects to produce better teams in coming tournaments. Them and Saudi Arabia you know they are really investing in their football at the grass roots level all the way to the top. And also you look at the amount they are willing to push in football you know you can only see better things to come because they have been doing well in the Arab Cup and also in the Asian Asian competition. So maybe give them 2026 if you want to come up because we saw it in Saudi Arabia in 2018. They had the 30th World Cup. The ones who are considering they considered 6 goals to the hosts Russia but you look at them they moved now they beat Argentina. So you know it's a matter of time then maybe Qatar can be proper in the next tournament. And I think another maze was to see several teams which had been tipped by the pandits as favourites to clinch the title. Getting eliminated early Germany following suit what happened to them in 2018 alongside Belgium which he got to the same final stage of last tournament. Getting eliminated so early and that was you know. I think that was fun to see. It shows that the competition is growing and it's getting extremely harder. The quality that Germany has for them to be beat by Japan it was really unforeseen because they are leading that game. But you know Germany are one of the teams who really took the politics to the field and you know that cost a lot of talk after the game as to how they should carry themselves. But aside from that Belgium had their own internal problems with Kevin De Bruyne saying some things in the press that his teammates do not like. And also you have to give credit to the smaller teams. A team like Japan you know has been really amazing. Japan beat Germany and Spain. Yeah they beat Germany and Spain and the Spain team you know it's unreal you know the number of touches they'll have in a game. But Japan was sure in the second half two goals one was you know people contested it but you know credit to them. So the things people like to see in the world cup you know the effort that Japan has put in developing the game are from their side you know being repaid. So you know in the next tournament maybe teams will try to focus on the football way more than having political messages right before much because you know it takes a little bit off the edge. So plenty of upsets in this tournament. So maybe beating now the probable winners of before World Cup Argentina during the group stage. Japan beating both Spain and Germany. What else was witnessed. Cameroon, Cameroon Brazil. Cameroon you know beating Brazil Tunisia front the holders. So huge upsets were witnessed right. Yeah huge upsets even if you ask me U.S. drawing with England that's an upset because we expect you know England to run all over U.S. Upsets means teams of invested and teams are developing. There is no longer for you to be in the 32 going to the World Cup. You are not a small fry. So it's a good thing to see even especially the big big big teams falling. It tells you no team is safe anymore. So you cannot go to the pitch and say you rank 10th and then is 80th then you say this is easy. Nadis football is crazy and results as we have witnessed speak for themselves. Someone is saying that you know one of the misias of FIFA World Cup was to see you know the likes of Christian Ronaldo living on a low after getting benched for pojo giz two successive games and you know not lifting the title and playing it for the last time. The last dance both Christian and Lionel Messi. And you know it's not only the two of them you know guys like Suarez. Suarez, Suarez. Look a mud rich you know they wanted to. 37 year old. Yeah they really wanted to win this thing but you know football is a crazy game. You never what you want to happen will never happen at time. So you know it is sad to see especially Cristiano because he's a man who's won almost everything in football and he had a really good chance to the pochugi squad because he's a good squad but they just couldn't make it past a great Morocco side you know. It is sad to see him live without the trophy but you know he's had a great career. All of the guys Edinson Cavani great career Suarez you know even Busquets has already won it and now he's retired. You know this is football itself if Messi can win it you know well and good for him because he deserves it with the career he's had. But then again you also have to look at guys like Amjiru he can still get it you know. So we just have to wait and see but the number of good players bowing out of this World Cup you know it is alarming because it's a whole generation of a whole generation who have grown up watching this type of players leaving. So it is it is bittersweet. Bittersweet indeed. Ken Barry your last comment regarding beats and misses of World Cup before you take a break and come with a review of tomorrow's final. For me I think Fifa again much. Anjali Infantino watchtower most every match. Ya ya he's the president he gets three things I guess. For me as I maybe close this topic is Fifa honestly you know this is the biggest tournament with over two billion views. They must improve on officiating. There are no two ways about it. For me that's the biggest miss. We have seen some scandalous officiating and I'm surprised some of this analysts on TV don't even look at that. For me I still believe Moroka should have under penalty at least one. And you know we need to be consistent. Some of this matches officiating have not been consistent. And if Fifa cannot do anything about a key a central bit of the game called officiating then we are doomed. Then we are doomed indeed. We taking a short commercial break before we come back next with the preview of what is said to happen later today. Croatia up against Moroka in third place play of them tomorrow the culmination of the tournament. With the final piting. Holders and reigning champions France up against Utaimoa Kaptenina sergeantin.