Changing China
Giant on the move
Is there a place for soccer at the Olympics?
Kaka’s dream of helping Brazil win their first Olympic gold medal in soccer has been scuppered by his club AC Milan, who have announced that they will not allow him to play in the tournament in August.
“He is already part of the Brazil national side. The club does not think it is right for Kaka to also be involved in official matches for Brazil’s Olympic team,” the Italian club said in a statement.
The Olympic tournament is restricted to under-23 teams but Kaka, 26, had been hoping to take part under a rule which allows each side to field upto three over-age players.
Brazil’s eagerness for Kaka to play shows how seriously Olympic soccer is taken in Latin America.
The Brazilians, five-times winners of FIFA’s World Cup, are so determined to break their duck that Dunga, coach of the senior side, will be in charge of the team in Beijing as well.
He could lose both jobs if he fails.
Hugo Sanchez has already been fired as Mexico’s senior coach this year after he took charge of the Olympic team and they failed to qualify for Beijing.
