ramblings.....of olympics and futebol

Nothing much spectacular has occurred over the week, although we have received continued reports of sporadic incidents in Dili and in districts, including a 100-men stone throwing activity over the Comoro River last Friday...wished i was there to witness the warriors...

Do you think that if they included stonethrowing or hurling as an Olympics item, Timor-Leste might just win? Or if there was a 'primitive, self-made' weaponry category, our rama ambons, darts, and slings might stand a chance of getting top spots? Or would the headhunters still living in the forests of Sabah/Sarawak and other more isolated regions triumph? Anyways, our car got a small dint on Saturday night and that does suck. Luckily it's a small scratch but still it means some dough to fix it so it won't rust.

Anyways, just thinking of the Olympics is getting me excited. Already some of my journo friends are heading to Beijing to stake out their turf, and developing their contacts for Olympics reporting.... Ahh... my envy turns me greeen....Also, those working in spinning PR stories have moved their HQ to Beijing to ride onto the press wave. I wonder what Timor's plans are? So dear Mr Olimpio (even your name bodes well!) Branco - if you see this blog, can u hire me to cover our atheletes in Beijing? I am fluent in Mandarin, and English and can speak a smattering of Tetum!

Speaking of sports, kudos once again to Joao 'Choque' Becora for the series of football matches he and his guys have organised. From now till the end of October, matches are played in Becora every Friday, Saturday and Sunday amongst 14 clubs from various bairros, including Bairro Pite, Kampong Alor, Surik Mas and of course Becora. It's nice to see the young boys and men trooping out in their colourful uniforms, clutching their footballs, instead of machetes, and united in sporting spirit instead of gang bravado. Choque's even got young boys on the organising committees so as to get them to learn how to organise and plan these events. So well done! Timor needs many more guys like him, but of course, we all know, Choque also has his formidable reputation behind him that earns him much respect and perhaps fear (?) so people won't really mess with him. Interesting guy he is... multi-layered for sure....

Have a safe, stone-free week ahead folks.............