Torres: Spain yearns to add Confederations Cup to past international triumphs

Fernando José Torres Sanz, born 20 March 1984), nicknamed El Niño (The Kid in Spanish). is a Spanish footballer who plays as a striker for Chelsea and the Spain national team. Torres started his career with Atlético Madrid, progressing through their youth system to the first team squad. He made his first team debut in 2001 and finished his time at the club having scored 75 goals in 174 La Liga appearances. Prior to his La Liga debut, Torres played two seasons in the Segunda División for Atlético Madrid, making 40 appearances and scoring seven goals.

He joined Premier League club Liverpool in 2007, after signing for a club record transfer fee. He marked his first season at Anfield by being Liverpool's first player since Robbie Fowler in the 1995–1996 season to score more than 20 league goals in a season. Torres became the fastest player in Liverpool history to score 50 league goals. He left the club in January 2011 to join Chelsea for a record British transfer fee of £50 million, which made him the most expensive Spanish player in history. In his first full season at Chelsea, Torres was integral in the club winning the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League, despite receiving criticism for a comparatively low goal-scoring record. The following season he scored in the final of the 2012-13 UEFA Europa League, helping Chelsea to win the competition for the first time. On 15th May 2013, Torres won the UEFA Europa League with Chelsea, joining team-mate Juan Mata to become the first players to have held all 4 of the Champions League, Europa League, World Cup and the European Championships simultaneously.

 

Those counting on Spain to take the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup lightly just because it is less prestigious than the international trophies the world's top-ranked team has already won in the recent past may want to rethink things. Chelsea striker Fernando Torres says Spain is putting plenty of emphasis on emerging from this month's tournament in Brazil with a trophy, adding that this generation of La Furia Roja players is still hungry for more success.

"For this generation of players, it would be massive to win the European Cup, World Cup and Confederations Cup all in a row. The approach of this competition has to be like a World Cup or a European Cup. This generation we still want to win trophies."

In 2009, Spain bowed out of the Confederations Cup in the semifinals, when the United States upset the heavy favorite with a 2-0 result in South Africa.

"2009 was a big, big disappointment for us to lose in the semifinal against the USA," Torres said. "Because of that we know how important this competition is. It's the only competition we didnt win in the past. 

"We don't want to have the same feelings from 2009 and going back home and losing in the semifinals. Especially because we play in Brazil and we know how important it is for Brazil as well to win the Confederatrions Cup and show the supporters that they can beat Spain. We are the team to beat, and we can handle the pressure and we're ready for the chance."

 

Torres recalled the loss to the Americans, one that snapped Spain's 35-match unbeaten streak and sent shockwaves around the world but also showed the likes of Torres that U.S. players were on the rise.

"We played against a great team," Torres said. "I think we had over 40 shots that game and we could not score. It was not the best memory, but I remember players like [Clint] Dempsey, [Landon] Donovan, [Jozy] Altidore, who scored the first goal, [Tim] Howard in the goal, [Oguchi] Onyewu as a center back, he had a great game. Many players played in Europe and for America, that day they had a great game.

"It's not a surprise for everyone that the USA is winning games against the best teams in the world," Torres said. "There are players that can play in the best teams in the world, and in a few years we will see many American players playing in Europe in the top teams.

"I think they showed to everyone in 2009 what they can do in the future. We're ready for the next time we're going to play against them." Torres said that even though Spain lost in 2009, the experience of being able to play in South Africa and get acclimated to the surroundings was a major factor in the team's 2010 World Cup success.

"The Confederations Cup, it's a great opportunity to know the country for the World Cup, the kind of grass it has in the stadiums, everything it looks like it's not important, but I think for us to play in South Africa, it helps a lot for the World Cup the year after," Torres said. "You know more or less what are you going to find in the country. We hope the Confederations Cup in Brazil is going to give us a good contact for the country, the stadiums, everything in Brazil to be ready for the World Cup."

Prior to departing for Brazil, Spain will play two friendlies in the United States starting with Saturday's clash with Haiti at Miami's Sun Life Stadium. La Roja will then take on Ireland at New York's Yankee Stadium on Tuesday. For Torres, it marks the second of his three slated summer trips to the United States. Chelsea already played against Manchester City in St. Louis and New York and will be returning later this summer for the International Champions Cup, a tournament featuring eight teams.

Sumber :

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/torres-spain-yearns-add-confederations-192000383--sow.html

The Kingdom of Mandura

The kings of Mandura Kingdom were descendants of the king of Ayodya. Prabu Basuketi was the son of Prabu Rama Batlawa, a king of Ayodya, the son of Rama and Sinta.

Basuketi had a son Prabu Kuntiboja who had five children: Dewi Sruta, Prabu Basudewa, Dewi Kuntitalibrata, Raden Harya Rukma and Raden Harya Ugrasena.

Dewi Sruta married to Prabu Damagosa the King of Magada. They had a son, Prabu Sisupala who was extremely arrogant, since his childhood Sisupala always boasted himself as a very rich knight and had a big power. He had a habit to insult others including Kresna, who was his cousin. Kresna respecting his aunt Dewi Sruta, had always restrained toward Sisupala’s arrogancy. Once he told Dewi Sruta that he should give a lesson to Sisupala if he insulted Kresna in front of 100 persons. It was happened during RajaSuya ceremony, the inauguration of Yudistira as a great king (Ratu Gung Binatara) of Amarta Empire, attended by more than 100 kings.

Prabu Basudewa was entrusted by Kuntiboja to take the throne of Mandura. The choice was correct, under the leadership of Basudewa the kingdom was peaceful and prosperous. Basudewa married Dewi Maerah. It was a happy marriage but ended in trouble. Maerah gave birth of a giant son-Raden Kangsa. How it could happened? One night, a giant-king, Prabu Gorawangsa using his magical spell became “Basudewa“. Dewi Maerah was not aware when she made love with the Basudewa. Wiping out the shame, the giant baby was sent to live in the jungle accompanied by his giant uncle – Suratrimantra. In the wayang performance this story is called “Kangsa Adu Jago” (Kangsa organizes a cock fight).

Kangsa was drilled several years by his uncle to master martial art. Then he took over by force the throne of Mandura. The other children of Basudewa were evacuated to the village of Widara Kandang under supervision of Antagopa. Kakrasana (the name of Baladewa as a boy) and Narayana (Kresna) they carried on an ascetic life while learning art of self-defense.

Kangsa always wanted to eliminate Kakrasana and Narayana, the legitimate heirs of Mandura. In order to easily capture both princes, Kangsa organized a “cock fight”.

Suratrimantra was his cock/fighter. He was sure, Kakrasana and Narayana should appear to see the fight. Then they would be killed. But in the thrilling fight the robust giant Suratrimantra was killed by Bratasena (young Bima). Kangsa was caught and assassinated by Permadi (Arjuna). Kakrasana was assigned as a new king of Mandura, his official name was Prabu Baladewa.

Prabu Baladewa

The kingdom of Mandura under Prabu Baladewa, the eldest son of Basudewa returned to normal. The country was peaceful and prosperous. He married Dewi Erawati, the daughter of Prabu Salya of Mandaraka. Arjuna had helped him to get Erawati. It was one of the reasons why he loved Arjuna very much, the other reason: Arjuna had killed the giant Kangsa. He was a kind-hearted man, but he was too temperamental. When he got angry, only Arjuna could easily cool him down. He loved also very much Kresna and Sembadra. When he got married, many gods (dewa) had escorted him friendly (Bala). That was the origin of the name Baladewa. His name as a boy was Raden Kakrasana, his mother was Dewi Rohini. He was tall with athletically body, his skin was light yellow. He had another names:

1.      Wasi Jaladara, as a youth in the village of Widarakandang, lived with strong self-denial.

2.      Basukiyana, incarnation of god Basuki, the god of snake.

3.      Kusumawalikita, name given by gods

4.      Balarama, name given by gods

5.      Alayuda, a name given by god Narada.

In reigning Mandura, Baladewa were assisted by two loyal persons:

1. Patih Pragota, his father was also a Patih (first minister of king Basudewa) he was big, tall, talked rudely but he was nice and loyal.

2.  Prabawa, Pragota’s younger brother, he was assigned to handle the safety and security of the country.

He had two powerful heirlooms:

1.      Nenggala, received during his meditation as a young hermit.

2.      Alugara, from Batara Guru as a wedding present.

From his marriage with Erawati, he had two adopted sons: Wisata and Wimuka. Baladewa did not involved in Baratayuda, before the big war started, diplomatically Kresna asked him to meditate in the cave of Grojogan Sewu (one thousand waterfalls). Kresna presumed that Baladewa who likely should join Korawa was too strong for Pendawa. When Baladawa ceased his meditation, Baratayuda was over. Until the end of his long life on earth, he became a protector of Parikesit, the new king of Hastinapura.

Prabu Kresna

His name as a boy was Raden Narayana, the son of Basudewa with Dewi Badraini. He was the twin brother of Sembadra, both of them had smooth black/dark color of skin. He was tall with slender body and a good-looking face, brilliant and wise. No wonder many ladies fell in love with him. He loved very much Sembadra and Arjuna. He always patiently took care of his temperamental elder brother Kakrasana/Baladewa. He was the incarnation of Betara Wisnu, the protector of life. After defeating King Yudakala Kresna of Dwarawati, Narayana became the king of the kingdom of Dwarawati and his official name was Prabu Kresna.

Dewi Wara Sembadra

The twin sister of Narajana/Kresna was a charming, ‘black-sweet’ lady Dewi Roro Ireng. She was also very wise as an incarnation of Wisnu. She married her own cousin, Arjuna, as wished by their parents, Basudewa and Pandu. Their wedding ceremony illustrated as the most sacred and extravagant court party on earth. The decoration, food and gamelan and dance entertaiment were supplied by gods from heaven. It was attended by courtiers from many kingdoms, blessed and attended by gods and goddesses. A handsome and sakti son, Abimanyu was born, who was the father of Parikesit, the new Emperor of Hastinapura after Baratayuda. Her other name was Dewi Bratajaya.

Dewi Kuntitalibrata

The daughter of King Kuntiboja, the sister of king Basudewa, the loyal wife of Prabu Pandu Dewanata, the king of Hastinapura. Since her young age, she was sakti (having supernatural power). She could call gods by her mantra. One night, attracted by Kunti’s mantra, Betara Surya, god of the sun arrived. The young Kunti was trapped by god Surya and became pregnant. His father was very angry. Betara Surya admitted his responsibility. With his magical strenght, Kunti delivered a son through her ear, so she remained a virgin. The name of her son was Karna (means ear) or Suryaputra or Suryaatmaja (the son of Surya). The baby was put in a small boat in the river and found by a chariot driver, Radeya, who raised him as his own son. Betara Surya was always supervising his son from faraway. In Javanese traditional teachings, ears are the gate of amorous desire.

In her marriage with Pandu, the son of Kresna Dwipayana or Abiyasa, they got three sons, Puntadewo (Yudistira), Bratasena (Bima) and Permadi (Arjuna). But she got to take care also of Nakula and Sadewa, the sons of Pandu with Madrim. Pandu and Madrim died at young ages. After Pandu’s death, she was patiently protecting the five sons – Pendawa, from the humiliation of Korawa and their parents (Destarata, the elder blind brother of Pandu and Gendari, his tricky wife) and their loyal cronies such as Sengkuni and Durna. After the Baratayuda where all Korawa were dead, she apologized wisely Destarata and Gendari and they lived together peacefully in the palace and then as ascetics in a remote place for purification. Kuntilalibrata was a model woman, the symbol of a high valued woman, a loyal wife, a good mother, a fighter of justice, spiritually and physically, a wise person who could apoligize other people’s mistakes.

Raden Harya Rukma/Prabu Bismaka

After the death of his father Basudewa, he became the king of Kumbina, his royal name was Prabu Bismaka. He had two children:

1.      Dewi Rukmini, married with Kresna

2.      Raden Rukmana

Raden Harya Ugrasena/Prabu Setyajid

He was the youngest son of Prabu Kuntiboja. The young powerful Ugrasena had succesfully beaten king Kala Wredati and his army who attacked Suralaya (the domain of gods). As a gratitude, he married a goddess, Dewi Wresni and became the king of Lesanpura. From this marriage, a son – Setyaki was born. Later-on Setyaki became the chief warrior of Dwarawati kingdom under Prabu Kresna. A daughter was also born, Dewi Setyaboma, became Kresna’s wife.