Today Brazil v. Chechnya. Tomorrow Argentina v. Myanmar. [Puppet] Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov along with Terek Grozny, Lothar Matthaeus and Oliver Kahn will take on Brazil’s 2002 World Cup winning team in Grozny later tonight.

You might remember Kadyrov from previous episodes such as being a militia leader and leading the slaughter of numerous innocents during his rise to power. He declares himself to be in excellent health and ready to lead Terek Grozny as captain.

“Ramzan Kadyrov himself will be the team’s captain,” Khaidar Alkhanov, the [Russian occupied] republic’s [puppet] sport minister, said this week. “This will be a powerful stimulus for [the] players and a huge present for Chechen supporters.”

Dunga, Roberto Carlos and Romario will line up for Brazil. Bebeto, Cafu, Denilson and others from the World Cup winning team are expected to play as well.

Many leaders have considered themselves to be athletes regardless of their actual skill or fitness. Remember Bolivia’s Evo Morales?

Anyone who takes out Kadyrov during the match could find their head on a pike or disappeared. That’s something to think about. The home side better fight for a win tonight. No telling how he’ll react if they lose. Ask the Iraqi national team how well it went for them under Uday Hussein.

World leaders have used sport to advance their political agendas such as Franco with Real Madrid. They also use it to placate the masses as well as increase their popularity. This has been happening since the beginning of the city-state. Chechnya may be calmer than at the height of the Chechen war but there’s still an ongoing insurgency. Kadyrov has been credited with bringing normalcy to Grozny at least on the surface. However he’s also accused of spearheading human rights abuses and corruption.

It’s bad enough that Ruud Gullit took the Terek Grozny job after Kadyrov personally hired him. Brazil is doing nothing but taking part in a showcase simply meant to glorify Kadyrov and take attention away from the numerous social and political issues affecting Chechnya. The last thing the people need is for other countries to give the Chechen leader legitimacy. On his part, it’s a familiar move. How long until Robert Mugabe decides to turn out for Zimbabwe against Italy? The military junta in Myanmar could almost put a whole side together themselves and take on Australia or Portugal.

If soccer is not your thing, stick around for the concert. Enrique Iglesias and Lara Fabian will be performing. There’s nothing like a singer or musician who will sell out for a quick buck. They shouldn’t feel bad. Several a-list singers have performed for the Gaddafi family over the years. There’s something for everyone in Grozny tonight. Just sit back and enjoy the show. Don’t mind the persecuted people. They’ve all been removed from the city limits and dumped in a mass grave.

Saying that, I intend to find highlights of the match and watch them. Don’t act like you won’t either.

Mustafa Redonkulous

Nutmeg Radio Comment – 08.03.2011