Football Special

By Devna and Manan Luthra

DID YOU KNOW…
The first FIFA World Cup was held in 1930.
The FIFA World Cup Trophy is made of real gold and weighs 6.2 kgs. It was made in 1970 by an Italian designer. Winners have to return it at every tournament, but they get a gold-plated replica to keep.
Before 1970, there used to be another trophy, but it was stolen. It has never been found – it is believed the thieves melted it down for its gold. FIFA also organises the FIFA Futsal World Championship and the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
The average age of the FIFA 2010 players is 27 years.                                                                                …Manan

VUVUZELA
The “vuvuzela” is a South African instrument with roots in traditional music. It means “vuvu-ing”, or, making the “vuvu” noise. It could also be related to the word “shower” because it showers the spectators with noise, or maybe simply because it looks like a showerhead.

I LEARNT A NEW WORD

Clean Sheet: When a goalkeeper doesn’t concede a single goal … Manan

Dead Ball: When the ball is ‘dead’ it is temporarily not playable, and neither team may attempt to advance it and or take possession … Devna

LAUGH OUT LOUD

Football jokes
By Julian Moshegov

The Laws of Football
During a football match the coach said to one of his young players, “Do you understand what cooperation is? What a team is?”
The little boy nodded.
“Do you understand that what matters is how we play together as a team?”
The little boy nodded again.
“So”, the coach continued, “When offside is given, or a foul is not seen, you don’t argue or swear or attack the referee. Do you understand that?”
Again the little boy nodded.
“Good,” said the coach, “Now go over there and explain it to your mother”.

Life Saver
A goalkeeper was walking along the street one day when he heard screams from a nearby building. He looked up to see smoke billowing from the top and a woman leaning out holding a baby.
“Help! Help!” screamed the woman, “I need someone to catch my baby!”
A crowd of onlookers had gathered, but none was confident about catching a baby dropped from such a great height. Then the goalkeeper stepped forward. “I’m a professional goalkeeper,” he called to the woman. “I’m renowned for my safe hands. Drop the baby and I will catch it. For me, it will be just like catching a ball.”
The woman agreed. “Ok, then. When I drop my baby, treat it as if you were catching a ball.”
On a count of three, the woman dropped the baby. Everyone held their breath as the goalkeeper lined himself up to catch it. There was a huge sigh of relief, followed by wild cheering as the goalkeeper caught the baby safely in his arms.
Then he bounced it twice on the ground and kicked it 50 yards down the street.