MAN UTD V CHELSEA (as seen in Libya)

Sky News Report from Libya

Man Utd v Chelsea (as seen in Libya) Share
Comments (34)
Share the post
Man Utd v Chelsea (as seen in Libya)

Delicious Newsvine Digg Facebook Google Bookmarks Live Mixx MySpace Reddit Stumble Upon Technorati Twitter Yahoo Bookmarks Yahoo MyWeb
Tim Marshall
April 13, 2011 10:24 AM

Recommend post (15)


In the Benghazi souk, souking up the pre-match tension, the talk was of war, revolution and the big game.

Shopkeepers shouted to us as we walked by, "Manchester good eh? 'Chelsea good", pointing at the replica shirts in their stalls.

Back in the hotel, similar shirts were to be seen on the backs of Libyan men gathering in the coffee bar to watch the game.

A fog of cigarette smoke made it difficult to see the giant TV screen on the bar wall so we retired upstairs in time for the kick-off.

The game was broadcast here by Al Jazeera Sports in Qatar.

Their studio was partially filled by the presence of Big Sam Allardyce.

Over in Manchester, the Tunisan commentator, Issam Al Shawali was brilliant.

He displayed an excellent knowledge of British history and the ability to speak at 100mph using a mixture of Arabic and English.

It went something like this..

First Half: 'Arabic arabic arabic, Old Trafford Stade Football! Arabic, goalkeeper, arabic, el semi final European, arabic, Sir Alex, Rrrrryan Giggs,Torres, Wayne Ronnie, arabic, Wayne Ronnie Golden Boy! Arabic,Everton, tackle, arabic, FOUL! Arabic, Englisi, arabic - EL RED CARD RAMIREZ! Arabic,INCREDIBLY LOUD ARABIC - GOAL GOAL GOAL! Hernandez! Arabic, Denis Law, Bobbby Charlton, Georgie Best,Teddy Sheringham, David Beckham, Herandez, Hernandez, Hernandez!

HT Break: Pepsi, Right Guard, Ford Taurus. Arabic chat, Big Sam Allardyce "No I don't agree, Arabic voiceover...should have cleared him out...Giggs on the ball" ...

Second Half: As above but now including - Drogba! Gooal!! Arabic Arabic ARABIC! ARABIC! ARABIC! JI-SUNG PARK GOAL GOAL GOOOOAAAL! Arabic Arabic. Liverpool, Arabic, Leeds United, Arabic, Hartlepool Monkey Hangers! (I made that one up) arabic, Sky Sports, arabic, El Englisi classico! Arabic, Winston Churchill, arabic, To Be Or Not To Be. Goodnight Manchester, Goodbye Chelsea. My name is not Martin Tyler.

Or words to that effect.

If those watching in Libya needed a break - Shawali did them proud.

blimey, i got wore out just reading that.

Marky wrote:blimey, i got wore out just reading that.

Can you imagine the English Speaking Reporters watching the Match ? I bet they missed half the action because they were laughing so much.