Cuban Doctors to Provide Anti-Ebola Services for African Cup
On Thursday, the Cuban Embassy in Equatorial Guinea confirmed that Cuban doctors will be training health professionals at the African Cup of Nations, CAN 2015.
The Caribbean physicians, who will begin their work January 17th have specialized in the control and prevention of the Ebola virus. They have offered training to the staff at hotels, airports, borders and ports, in preparation for the upcoming soccer games.
Thousands of travelers are expected for this year's tournament despite concerns over Ebola.
Cuban doctors will offer specialized training in the cities of Malabo, Bata, Mongomo and Ebeiyin where matches will be taking place said Barabo Fraginal, one of the coordinators of the Cuban brigade in Equatorial Guinea.
Lucas Nguema Esono, Vice Prime Minister of the host country said Cuba will offer medical training and will be on hand at the tournament until February 8th, when the tournament concludes.
Equatorial Guinea assumed the organization of CAN 2015 after Morocco requested a year long delay over Ebola concerns. But the Confederation of African Football (CAF) rejected Morocco's petition.
Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Congo, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, Zambia and Equatorial Guinea will compete in this year's edition of Africa's premier soccer tournament.
Cuba's Mijain Lopez Eyes Fourth Pan Am Title
Cuba's five-time world wrestling champion Mijain Lopez is looking to win his fourth continental gold medal at the upcoming Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada, in July.
Lopez (130 kg) said he was confident and well prepared," as he always is. "With the effort and dedication that I have always devoted to wrestling, everything will be fine," said Lopez, who won world titles in Greco-Roman wrestling in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2014.
The wrestler said he also had his sights set on the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
"The 2016 Brazil Olympics could provide my third Olympic gold medal, another joy I owe my people", said 32-years-old Lopez.
Asked if he was concerned about a particular rival, Lopez said no, because all of the competitors presented a challenge.
"Everyone stands ready and everyone knows how to fight on the mattress. I think each athlete's strongest opponent must be his dedication to training and to his athletic life. These are indeed rivals that require us to always to be in good shape," he said.
A December 2014 survey by Cuban media and the National Sports Institute saw Lopez voted Cuba's best wrestler for the fourth year in a row.
Maradona Gets Ready to Hit De Zurda in Havana
Former Argentine football player Diego Armando Maradona is returning to TV sets in south and Central America.
The Argentinian legend released a video on social media sites, confirming that he has begun filming his soccer TV show, De Zurda. Maradona is recording the first two episodes of the show here in Havana.
The show will be broadcast on TelesurTV, as a follow up to Maradona’s soccer program which was so successful during the 2014 World Cup.
Maradona said he wanted to invite all Latin Americans to watch the program on January 10th and 11th. In a promotional message sent by Maradona to his fans, he said: De Zurda is coming back with Victor Hugo Morales and Diego Maradona. We will do it from Havana, Cuba. The beautiful Cuba of Fidel Castro. '
The program, aired during the World Cup Brazil 2014 with high impact, returns to the small screen with two special editions. 'I come to do two programs with journalist Victor Hugo Morales for Telesur, which will analyze the world of soccer, "Maradona said recently upon his arrival at Jose Marti International airport in Havana.
It is expected that these two issues are the prelude to a new season, scheduled for mid-year when the Cup of America in Chile is played.
UEFA.com users' Team of the Year 2014 revealed
UEFA have announced their Team of the Year 2014, an increasingly popular way of evaluation in football, rather than, or as compliment to the traditional season awards.
UEFA’s team is:
Neuer, Sergio Ramos, Diego Godin, David Alaba, Philipp Lahm, Toni Kroos, Angel Di Maria, Arjen Robben, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
It may be a bit top heavy and overly committed to attack, but it's a great team! Don't you think?
