For the last decade, AS Monaco’s goalies have been under the watchful eye of coach André Amitrano. This week, they say goodbye to the dedicated 62-year old who has decided to take early retirement ahead of his contract ending in June.
Though Amitrano, affectionately known as Dédé, has been goalkeeping coach since 2009, his history with the Red and Whites goes back to 1977, when he was recruited at age 19 from amateur football club US Cannes-la-Bocca.
He was second string goalie for Monaco until 1982, the year he was part of the Championship team of France, when he moved across town to OCG Nice, playing there until 1988, then on to AS Cannes until 1994. After nearly 300 games, he retired from playing and embarked on his second career as coach, where he worked with goalkeepers from Valencia, Rennes and Guingamp.
In 2009, Dédé returned to Monaco, remaining faithful to the team despite ups and downs, including a slide into Ligue 2 in 2011 and the reinstatement to Ligue 1 in 2013. He has outlasted five head coaches in his tenure and has coached stars such as Benjamin Lecomte, Stéphane Ruffier and Daniel Subasic, who was goalie for the Croatian National Team in 2018 when they reached the finals for the World Cup.
His out of the box training methods proved successful over the years and earned him the love and respect from his players. AS Monaco has wished him well on his next steps and sadly say goodbye to a consummate professional.
International airlines are cancelling or changing the routes of flights scheduled to fly over the Middle East in the wake of retaliatory strikes by Iran on two Iraqi military bases housing US troops. The attacks on the bases were reprisals for a US bombing attack that killed General Qasem Soleimani last week.
Mounting tensions between the US and Iran are making it increasingly hard for airlines to fly over the Middle East. With vast swaths already out of bounds due to war or political unrest, the current situation has blocked even more airspace.
Major carriers such as Air France, Malaysia Airlines, and EVA Air have reported they will steer clear of the airspace over both countries, whilst Singapore Airlines has stated they will not fly over Iran.
The United States Federal Aviation Administration has curtailed commercial flights flying over both countries and has additionally restricted flying over the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. Russian authorities have followed suit.
These restrictions mean not only inconvenience for the pilots, but also cost airlines money. Added kilometres flown to avoid hot spots means higher jet fuel costs, an expense which typically gets passed onto passengers.
Just hours before the ban was announced, a Ukrainian International Airlines flight crashed after taking off from Tehran’s airport, with an estimated 176 passengers and crew aboard. More than 80 Iranians and over 60 Canadians are reported dead, according to official sources in Ukraine.
The cause of the crash is as yet undetermined, with some speculation that it was due to technical malfunctions. The website for the Ukrainian Embassy in Iran posted earlier that terrorist attacks were not ruled out but has since removed the post.
Parents and the wider community in Monaco are invited to attend a talk on internet safety, hosted by the International School of Monaco, this Friday. It is the first of a series of talks organised by the school on important themes which affect us all.
The new school term is kicking off with an informative talk and discussion on internet safety in English by Nick Danziger, of Action Innocence, and psychologist Cédric Forino.
With an explosion in the use of smartphones, apps and social media, and the increasing pressure on ever-younger people to connect, it has never been more important to understand what your children are doing online, how to help them use the internet safely, and responsible use of social media.
This event is open to all parents of school age children and will be held at the ISM Cafeteria, 16 quai Antoine 1er, from 8.45am to 10am on Friday 10th January. Refreshments will be served.
Another important and informative talk entitled ‘Teenagers Translated’ will follow on Wednesday 29th January, with guidance on coping with the particular challenges facing teens. Led by the authors of the successful book ‘Teenagers Translated’, Janey Downshire and Naella Grew, who also have extensive experience in counselling, the talk (second of a three part series) will focus on anxiety, stress, eating disorders and drug/alcohol abuse along with over-dependence on technology. The session will focus on how parents can help their child develop a sense of self and provide coping strategies. There will also be time for questions. It will also be held at the ISM Cafeteria at 8.45am. For more information, contact lindsay.wright@ismonaco.com
Top photo: Pixabay.com
Opinion: My homeland is burning, here’s how the world is responding
I always thought Australia would be my safe haven, the place I would return to if things became critical in Europe through terrorism, political unrest, or even the effects of climate change. Australia always seemed untouchable, immune to the problems of the world. But now I watch in horror and disbelief as monstrous fires consume the very heart and soul of my homeland – its bush, its native wildlife, and its heroes. 12.35 million acres up in flames. Close to half a billion animals disintegrated. 26 lives lost, some of whom were volunteer firefighters. And we are only halfway through bushfire season.
The fires have been raging since September, but the images that emerged around Christmas time are what captured the world’s attention. Media started picking up nightmare scenes of glowing red skies, a smoke-covered Sydney Harbour Bridge, people fleeing to the sea to escape the flames, mass evacuations from Australia’s popular holiday spots, and the country’s most emblematic creatures singed and burned.
It is true that Australia has always had bushfires. In fact, it is written in to our culture. The worst fires have acquired names and become historical milestones, like Red Tuesday (1898), Ash Wednesday (1983), Black Christmas (2001), and Black Saturday (2009).
But the extent, the severity, and the intensity of these fires is nothing like we have ever seen before. PHOTO: A satellite snapshot of the devastating fires across the east coast of Australia in December. (NASA)
The world reacts
The response across the globe has been immediate and genuine. World leaders have expressed their solidarity with Australia, including Prince Albert II of Monaco who, in a statement released on Monday, said: “I have sadly seen that entire towns have been engulfed in flames, that residents across several states have lost their homes… and that wildlife and the environment have undergone extensive damages; a situation exacerbated by persistent heat and drought. My family and the population of Monaco join the grief of the bereaved and wish to thank and commend the emergency services who are struggling to contain the massive blazes”.
French President Emmanuel Macron, US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson were also among those to call Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in support. Meanwhile, in a tweet, Mr Morrison thanked the US, New Zealand, Canada and Singapore for their support on the ground.
Celebrities are rallying behind fundraising efforts. US singer Pink, Australian pop star Kylie Minogue, Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman, British singer Elton John and Australian actor Chris Hemsworth are among those to make major donations. Ellen DeGeneres is on a mission to raise $5 million, while Comedian Celeste Barber’s bushfire appeal raised a staggering $44 million in less than a week.
Meanwhile, people around the world have also been knitting blankets and protective pouches for animals which have lost their homes in the crisis. https://www.instagram.com/p/B7AG8XHp-wQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/tv/B689UOeDtSj/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
When will it end?
Despite a minor reprieve earlier this week, firefighters and residents in south-eastern Australia are bracing for the return of dangerous weather conditions on Thursday and Friday.
Temperatures of 40C and above, coupled with unpredictable winds, are set to sweep through a range of fire zones.
By the time this bushfire season is out, which is technically March, the toll on Australia will be unfathomable. Entire native species could be wiped out completely. Already, ecologists from the University of Sydney put a figure of 480 million on the number of mammals, birds and reptiles that have been killed since the bushfires started. The actual number is likely to be much higher. A joey kangaroo in its mother’s pouch
What can we do?
It is tough to watch all of this unfold and feel helpless. And despite the enormous outpouring of generosity from celebrities, philanthropists, individuals and businesses from Australia and overseas, much more is still needed.
The economic impact of these devastating mega-fires is predicted to exceed $4.4 billion. So far, $140 million has been raised. Here are some of the trusted charities that need your support:
Please note that the New South Wales and Victorian Rural Fire Services are government-funded organisations, therefore donated money will go to the respective governments, who have their own recovery plans in place.
Australia needs more than money
Additionally, once the bushfires are over, one of the best ways to help is to visit Australia and put your money into the communities that have suffered so much loss: Kangaroo Island, the NSW coastal towns, East Gippsland and northeast Victoria – all popular for their beach towns and wineries. Kangaroo Island
A sign of things to come?
While most climate scientists are reluctant to attribute climate change impacts to a specific weather event, all agree climate change exacerbates the conditions in which bushfires occur. A combination of a record-breaking drought, Australia’s hottest year on record, dry and windy weather, and plenty of fuel on the ground created the perfect conditions for Australia’s summer of hell.
“There are now disingenuous efforts to downplay the clear role of climate change in worsening the intensity and severity of the Australian fires, or to blame ‘arson’ as a way to distract from the growing threat of climate change. These efforts should be called out for what they are: gross climate denial,” Peter Gleick, a climate scientist and co-founder of Pacific Institute in California told TIME. “We’ve only seen a tiny fraction of the climate change that we’re going to see in the coming years and the coming decades. If we’re seeing these disasters with a 1 degree warming of the planet so far, and we know that we’re headed for a 1.5 or 2 or 3 degree warming, we can only imagine how bad these disasters are going to get.”
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