UEFA Champions League groupings

The Draw for the UEFA Champions league group stage was held in Monaco yesterday 30th August 2012. The 32 teams were allocated into four pots based on their 2012 UEFA club coefficients, with the title holders, Chelsea, being placed in Pot 1 automatically. They were drawn into eight groups of four, with the restriction that teams from the same association cannot be drawn against each other.

In each group, teams will play against each other home-and-away in a round-robin format. The matchdays will be 18–19 September, 2–3 October, 23–24 October, 6–7 November, 20–21 November, and 4–5 December 2012. The group winners and runners-up will advance to the round of 16, while the third-placed teams will enter the round of 32 of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League.

A total of 17 national associations are represented in the group stage. Montpellier, Nordsjælland and Málaga are set to make their debut appearances in the group stages.

The final will be held at Wembley Stadium in London.

Below is the complete list of the 2012 – 2013 groupings.

The Champions League group stage draw in full:

GROUP A
PORTO
DINAMO KIEV
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN
DINAMO ZAGREB

GROUP B
ARSENAL
SCHALKE
OLYMPIAKOS
MONTPELLIER

GROUP C
AC MILAN
ZENIT
ANDERLECHT
MALAGA

GROUP D
REAL MADRID
MANCHESTER CITY
AJAX
BORUSSIA DORTMUND

GROUP E
CHELSEA
SHAKHTAR DONETSK
JUVENTUS
NORDSJAELLAND

GROUP F
BAYERN MUNICH
VALENCIA
LILLE
BATE BORISOV

GROUP G
BARCELONA
BENFICA
SPARTAK MOSCOW
CELTIC

GROUP H
MANCHESTER UNITED
BRAGA
GALATASARAY
CLUJ

A typical Clumsy day

In our world, you get to meet all types of people. You don’t just get to meet them, but get to experience them when they are in a state that they do not feel like putting up any pretenses. If you think our job is hard think again. It is very hard. I am talking about being a waiter. Especially if you are new. The clients don’t really care if you are fresh from college with only theory on how to serve but they expect value and good service. So woe unto you if you woke up on the wrong side of the bed and lady luck took a sudden disliking to you.

Like in every job, there are good days and bad days. Then those are the same days that fate likes listening to you whining and taking it as a challenge. I mean, how do you explain exclaiming that what would just make the night worse is dropping a drink, and then you drop one? That is called sadistic luck or a fairy godmother with horrible timing and no iota of heart. Not only is it utterly embarrassing but you will hear of it from fellow staff for the whole week, The good thing is when you get a nice guest who tells you sorry and can genuinely feel your embarrassment. It makes it less painful and a little less awkward wiping your mess.

Those are the clumsy days of our lives. Other days, you see us balancing bottles and loads of glasses effortlessly and skirting through the restaurant. But on some days, we just stepped on the wrong foot as we entered the restaurant. A little empathy would hurt now would it?

Bingwa Sports Night review

Blanco’s Sport’s Grill holds a monthly sports quiz on the first Wednesday of each month and this month was no different. Hosted by the outspoken Radio presenter, Edward Kwach we were proud to have held the tenth edition of Bingwa Sports Quiz, dubbed The Olympics Edition. Just last week, we hosted groups of sports enthusiasts and fanatics who came to test their sports knowledge and goolgling speeds. For those unfamiliar with this Sports night, here are some of the things that go on.

• Guests arrive and register teams of a maximum of four people.
• The questions are given in four rounds. In each round, the questions are all read out with an interval of a few seconds between them. After all the questions of the respective round are read out, the groups have 30 seconds to hand in their answer sheets to the ladies that are stationed strategically.
• The last round is pictorial where pictures of sports personalities are shown and groups are expected to figure out who they are.
• The scores are then all tallied and the winning team is decided. If there is a tie, a tie breaker question is answered.The second team wins Jerseys. The winners walk away with Kshs 20,000 and each of the members walks away with a One year subscription to Go- Places privilege card from Go Places Kenya, which allows them access to 15 – 30% discounts from over 600 discount partners .

( The winners proudly displaying their winnings)<—- This could easily be you!!

Last week’s Bingwa night was full of energy and all teams came guns blazing. Even new comers to the night managed to scoop the third position. The defending champions emerged second place after they lost the tie breaker question that tested their inner sports fanatic. The Deejay kept the spirits and energy upbeat with his music mixes and with all matters considered, it was a night to remember for all who participated or watched.

( The third place team holding the Blanco’s Food Vouchers that they won.)

So next month, make sure to drop by and participate in this fun competition. It is open to all and sundry. The only requirement is yourself, lots of energy and your team mates then the fanfare begins!

Here are some moments in pictures from the Bingwa quiz night:

The second place team receives their Jersey’s from the Judges and Operations Manager at Blanco’s.)

The winners confirming their prize money from Mr. Zawadi, the Operations Manager at Blanco’s(Far right). Catch the two in the middle on twitter at @ThatBoyInno and @NotMugo

The guy on the far left is a walking Sports Encyclopedia if you ask me. He knew things that would even make search engines shy off. A man worth of the title sports fanatic. Kudos to him and if you fancy to come and stun us too u can come for the next Bingwa night and give him a run for his money.

Its Swoon Olympics for the Ladies

Whether you care to admit it or not, some people are watching the 2012 London Olympics for reasons other than sheer sportsmanship or the love of one’s country. If everyone was half honest, you would probably hear that most people indeed do watch for alternate reasons than the love for the game. Olympics give the perfect excuse to drool and watch in awe as the fabulously endowed athletes flex their perfectly sculpted physiques. Even previously oblivious people to the world of sports cannot help but stare at the ridiculously attractive athletes. Especially for the ladies. (See what I mean?)

             

 

The first guy is the devilishly handsome Ryan Bailey from USA who is hands down the hottest in the 100metres line up, and one contestant who proves to be a surprise in waiting at this years’ race. He has qualified for the Semis and we hope to see him in the finals. The other guy is Jamaica’s Yohan Blake who besides being quite some eye candy, is also a strong contender for the gold.

The heats for the 100 meters men’s race were held today and it was not hard to see why many ladies chose to watch (and shriek at) these heats. The athletes looked like demi – gods in their tight attires and standing tall with their bulging muscles, oozing pure masculine energy. Any lady would hold her breath, where in full view of others or secretly in her mind. I mean, if you can’t have him, whats the harm in admiring. Anyone selling sports posters should produce a few featuring these guys and sell them in ladies havens. You are guaranteed a killing in revenue.

Here are a few more pictures of the top contenders who also happen to be appetizing to the eyes. 😉

           

From the top; USA’s Justin Gatlin, USA’s Tyson Gay, and the favorite UsainBolt from Jamaica.

Ladies, the list is endless of all the drop dead hunks in the Olympics so gather a bunch of your girlfriends, go out and have some cocktails and fell free to feast your eyes on the gorgeous athletes. if you are in Nairobi Kenya, a perfect suggestion is right here at Blanco’s Sports grill at Galleria Mall near Bomas . After all, life has a few pleasures and they are there to be enjoyed. Right?

HAPPY NELSON MANDELA DAY!

In this very uneventful month of July, we at least have a good enough day to look forward to. Nelson Mandela is iconic by all means and thoughts of him bring a certain warmth and sense of warmth in his tenacity and heroism in his life time struggles and eventual monumental achievements. He is one of the none controversial political figures of all time and its hats off to rare men like him who sell out their own lives and interest for a greater good. The day was created to inspire people to do acts o good and selflessness and help someone in society or make someone smile. It’s a noble day that seeks to bring out the suppressed inner hero.

However, on the note of heroism, there is also a flip side to it. There are the seemingly pointless heroic antics floating around. Case in point is this whole Miguna Miguna saga of his “whistle blowing” book. So as not to seem like I dismiss his book, I question the timing of the book. However I also believe that the book must have a lot of truth in it because so many feathers wouldn’t feel ruffled if he didn’t step on one or a few toes in his book. Plus you have to credit this guy with the gift for sensationalism. I think his would be a bestselling book if Kenyans would not be so into the habit of expecting someone to read the book on their behalf and summarize it for them. Be a hero today and go out to buy the book. Then don’t forget to do a chapter by chapter analysis which you happen to conveniently make available to the general public. You will be dearly remembered in our hearts for hopefully longer than a week. (Lets be real here)

Just in case you feel the spirit of Nelson Mandela day, let me give some suggestions on nice things that you could do today:

• Say thank you to a tout
• Smile at a supermarket attendant
• Give an extra ordinarily generous tip to a waiter
• Buy a friend a random extravagant gift( What else says I’m a hero than digging into your pocket for no apparent reason?)

On that note, have a lovely day and help someone you usually wouldn’t today. P.S: feel free to ignore my last suggestion. Its rather extreme. But you can come to Blanco’s Sports Grill Galleria Mall if you’re around Nairobi area.

Here is a quote to ponder on:

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” ~Nelson Mandela~