“The King of Sting” reveals all on how the Sheikh has succeeded in the world of tabloid journalism

Mahmood, after years of investigative journalism, has revealed how his big scoops were done

Ever dreamed of what life must be like as a rich, flamboyant Sheikh living in the sunny climates of the Arab world? The News of the World’s investigative journalist Mazher Mahmood became a Sheikh himself, not to take advantage of the plush lifestyle that accompanies the title (He can’t afford it anyway!) but as a disguise to fool the wealthy and prosperous personas in the public eye.

“The King of Sting” reveals all in his book, Confessions Of A Fake Sheik how he fooled some of the world’s biggest personalities into his fake Sheikh persona and get front page splashes for his paper.

Mahmood’s first investigative scoop came back in his home city of Birmingham, where he uncovered the sales of pirate videos being sold. This was the spark that ignited his fire for investigative journalism. After phone calls and discussions with the News of the World, it wasn’t long till he had his desk at the newspaper, the man behind their investigations team.

Thus began a journey filled with exposes of football chairman’s lining their pockets at the expense of their fans, raunchy meetings with porn stars and one who charged a mad $60,000 for just one night of passion and meeting royalty in the form of the Countess of Wessex.

The News of the World, as a entertaining, celebrity driven red top has similar characteristic to Mahmood’s book as it’s written with humour, but also genuine disgust at the people he’s uncovered and successfully brought charges against.

One example is the raiding of a children’s hostel that was owned by Terry Vaivona and his wife Rosemary, a seemingly caring, law abiding couple. After a tip off, Mahmood went undercover and obtained a gruesome video tape that showed the couple abusing young girls and boys. This resulted in one young girl writing to the NoW journalist to thank him for saving her life.

Mahmood does have his critics, which he believes is unjust. Broadsheet writers have attacked the Birmingham-born reporter for his journalistic methods, but Mahmood has strenuously rejected their thoughts.

Investigative journalism is a tool that is needed by journalists to uncover those of wrongdoing, when children are saved from abuse by those who are supposed to be looking after them, Mahmood deserves nothing but praise.

Although admittedly, some of the scoops entailed in his book, I do wonder what the motivation was for them besides an easy front page splash. Did the public really want to know the world’s most expensive hooker wanted $60,000 for a night of sex?

His book is still an enjoyable read for those who wanted the inside track on how Mahmood created the Sheikh after purchasing the costume from an Islamic shop in Birmingham, to laying on parties on expensive yachts and dining in fancy restaurants, all in the name of exposing the rich and famous the things they don’t want you to know.

Confessions of a Fake Sheik by Mazher Mahmood, Harper Collins, 303 pages, £16.99

Book Review: Blood spilled on the sand’s of Saudi Arabia as Frank Gardner’s horrifying ordeal is told

Frank Gardner's book was published in 2006, two years after he was brutally attacked in Riyadh

If you’re not Piers Morgan, or any other journalist-turned-TV star then you’ll know that reporters who spend day in, day out on writing stories that give us our dosage of news, don’t like becoming the news themselves. That can be said for BBC journalist Frank Gardner, who made headlines unintentionally after a trip to Saudi Arabia nearly saw him lose his life, and witness the death of his cameraman Simon Cumbers.

In his book, Blood & Sand, Gardner begins by retelling the horrid story of when he and Cumbers were attacked in Riyadh in 2004. During filming for a TV report, an Arabic gentleman casually walked up and said the traditional Islamic greeting of ‘Assalam-Wa-Alaikum’ (‘Peace be upon you’). Gardner, having travelled all over the Arab world as an intrigued traveller in his teens and as a reporter, returned the Islamic greeting. The Arabic gentleman then pulled out a gun as a frantic Gardner tried in vain to prevent the carnage that was due to occur in the next few moments. Once it was over, the aftermath of the bloodshed was undeniably shocking. Irishman Cumbers was dead and Gardner was sat up, whilst his shirt was soaked in blood and his legs twisted that equalled a nasty scene in sunny Riyadh.

But this book is not all about that attack in Saudi Arabia. It tells Gardner’s story from his encounter with traveller Wilfred Theisger, who planted the seeds of exploration in the journalist’s mind at a young age, to his student travels through the Middle East and the shocking attempt on his life in Riyadh. The consequences of it are grimly written as Gardner reveals the pain, anguish and time spent in hospitals in Saudi Arabia and in London, with constant injections, tubes and treatment given to him at most intervals in a day. His written memoir is hugely uplifting towards the end. Despite knowing he will be stuck in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, he has accepted his fate and does the best he can to move forward in life and resign the nasty memories of Riyadh to the back of his mind.

He’s a man who’s soaked the sights and information on his travels like a sponge, and it shows as he discusses the threat of al-Qaeda and the threat of British Islamic extremism in this country with well constructed opinions.

Gardner’s book is more than bloodshed in Riyadh, it’s a brilliantly written journey of a man who travelled to understand the Islamic faith and it’s complexities. Someone who did not deserve to be on the receiving end of the bullets that day, but who has bravely spent time in rehabilitation, culminating in his receiving of an OBE from the Queen in 2005.

It hasn’t broken Gardner’s resolve to bring the news from the Arab world to our news bulletins, and is publicly showing the consequences of the attack and giving hope to any person in a wheelchair. His bravery shows that life in a wheelchair is not as bad as it may seem as it is better to live and spend cherished time with loved ones, than not see them at all.

Frank Gardner: Blood & Sand, Bantam Press, 374 pages. £18.99

Zesh Rehman on his journey up the professional football ladder

Zesh Rehman speaks to Sensasianal Sport about playing football in the backyards of Birmingham to experiencing the Premier League thrill.

By Akhlaq Hanif

Asian players have a passion for football and end up playing the game in their spare time, with some aspiring to play at the highest level. But, the elusive question remains as to why they haven’t yet began to emerge in the Premier League.

Chelsea Football Club, now managed by Italian Carlo Ancelotti, announced a special coaching project to discover Asian talent within the game.

Zesh Rehman, a 25-year old British Asian is one of the few to gain some Premiership exposure. Born and bred in the Aston area of Birmingham, he began playing football at the age of eight with his brothers and friends. And as he describes it, “everywhere where I went was on a football pitch”.

Having played football alongside his brothers and then for Sunday league teams, Rehman was spotted by Fulham and plied his trade with their district side.

After a two week trial, Rehman played for Fulham’s youth team which ended up with him receiving a scholarship and then signing professional forms.

He told me how Chris Coleman, Fulham’s manager at the time, had a positive impression on the young player from Aston.

“He was brilliant. He was one of my favourite players and after I got my scholarship, I asked him if I could clean his boots. By the time he got manager, he knew me as a player and a person,” said Rehman.

One of the issues in the minds of hopeful Asian professional footballers might be how they would fit into a dressing room full of international superstars. But for Rehman, being a Muslim, he didn’t encounter any problems.

“When it eventually happened, it was relief because of all the hard work I had put in. I had experienced players like Andy Cole and Edwin Van Der Sar who gave me advice and were always available,” added Rehman.

The taste of Premiership football only motivated him to continue playing at that level, but opportunities to feature in the first team were hard to come by. It was that point, Rehman decided to leave Craven Cottage for more opportunities in the lower leagues.

Rehman said: “At the time I was 22, by the time I was 24, the manager said I needed to have played 40 games or so. After two years, I’ve played 60 games, it’s been worth it and I’ve played under different coaches.”

International football is the pinnacle for many players, representing your country of birth in a match. With established players such as John Terry and Rio Ferdinand occupying the central defensive slots in the England side, Rehman chose to play for Pakistan.

“At the time, it seemed like the right thing to do to play for Pakistan and play for longer period in international football. My family were 100% supportive.”

Rehman, captain of the Pakistan football team has encouraging words for the development of more Asians in the highest tiers of professional football.

“There aren’t enough role models to look up to. Hopefully my presence in the game can be inspired by. The Governing bodies are doing a lot, all the events, kick it out etc. As soon as more people pick it up football, the numbers will go up,” adds Rehman.

England’s 20/20 dream ends at the gloomy Oval

By Akhlaq Hanif

England’s hopes of winning the ICC World Twenty20 ended in miserable and gloomy overcast conditions last night at the Oval, but hopes of finishing the tournament with silverware would have been undeserving for a side, who failed to find any consistency throughout.

It’s surprising to believe that before the ICC World Twenty20 tournament go underway at Lords few weeks ago, that the current champions of India were the favourites to regain their crown and not the hosts. The England Cricket Board (ECB) were the men who were behind the idea and you would have thought England would be the masters of the game, but not to be.

A reason why teams such as India, Pakistan and South Africa have done so well in this year’s tournament has been the fact that they 20/20 game is played alot by their players. Whether it be playing for their country, or earning megabucks in India whilst entertaining packed crowds in the Indian Premier League, they play alot of it. Meanwhile, it was only this year that England’s Kevin Pietersen and all rounder Andrew Flintoff were allowed by the ECB to play in this year’s IPL tournament.

Pietersen was England’s best player in the tournament, come to the fore with crucial innings against Pakistan and India to help provide some much needed impotus for his team. But as the South African born Pietersen is the main star of the show, the supporting cast failed to help him in their quest for glory. Although notable mentions to opener Ravi Bopara, Owais Shah, who did their best to help get some big hits in their batting.

England lacked some sixes and except for Pietersen, there wasnt many others who stepped up to the plate to deliver the entertainment that full houses in the country’s cricket grounds had gone to see.

But some positives for them. Wicketkeeper James Foster proved why he should have been a contender for the position in all forms of the game with some quick thinking to his stumpings and general play. Graeme Swann and Adil Rashid showed why the use of two spinners in the 20/20 game can be so useful in helping slowing down the run rate in the middle overs. Pakistan and Sri Lanka have both proved how using two spinners can be runs and wicket taking opportunities for the fielding side. Rashid, playing his first competitive games for his country, impressed the pundits and commentators, with even some hinting towards the Yorkshireman to get a shock inclusion in the forthcoming Ashes squad.

The 20/20 game isn’t something England will be losing any sleep about, but if they want to improve their standing in this format of the game, then as the saying goes, “Practice makes perfect”. The ECB should allow players such as Pietersen, Flintoff and the likes of Graham Napier to play in tournaments such as the IPL. But this exit from the ICC World Twenty20 will be forgotten soon as a showdown with the men from Down Under awaits.

Ronaldo will finally get to realise his “dream”….

By Akhlaq Hanif

It was the worst kept secret in world football, really it was. Cristiano Ronaldo wanted to join Real Madrid and fulfull his “dream”. Well, he’s not too far away from achieving his personal ambition.

There have been interviews, transfer rumours, claim and counter claim from Real Madrid and Manchester United but today, all that has finally been put to bed.

I was told of the news via a text message from my brother which said “Ronaldo’s going to Real Madrid for £80m”. I briefly read the message, before getting back to my much needed sleep, I just assumed it was one of those press stories making the rounds in Spain. The constant stories that Ronaldo would join Madrid, nothing new I thought.

But after awakening and putting on the TV, it was confirmed as being official. United had accepted a world record £80m offer for the Portuguese international and the statement released by the Old Trafford side told the whole story.

The statement said: “Manchester United have received a world-record, unconditional offer of £80million for Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid.

At the request of Cristiano – who has again expressed his desire to leave – and after discussion with the player’s representatives, United have agreed to give Real Madrid permission to talk to the player.

Matters are expected to be concluded by 30 June. The club will not comment until further notice.”

Ronaldo has talked about his dream move to Madrid, well for ages now. And it seems clear again that despite winning the Premier League again for a third straight season and coming close to being the first team to retain the Champions League, the lure of Madrid’s big bucks was not enough.

The transfer should be completed within days in my opinion, and Manchester United will have a juicy £80m to put into their coffers, not a bad return for a player they paid £12m for in 2003, when he was a raw 17-year-old.

After an indifferent first few seasons, Ronaldo’s talent began to shine through and he reached his peak with an incredible 42 goals in the 2007/08 season. Injury problems haltered his start to the last campaign, but still he was able to contribute with goals and some slight prima donna incidents towards the end of the campaign.

Madrid are getting a fantastically gifted 24-year-old, who should shine in La Liga and playing alongside another Galactico signing, Brazilian Kaka, who signed earlier on in the week for a then world record of £56m.

I feel the majority of Manchester United supporters will feel, like myself, that the deal represents good bit of business. My surprise is that it has been sorted out with the minimal amount of fuss and not the drawn out transfer saga that we experienced last summer. Maybe Sir Alex Ferguson didnt want another summer of going over the same old questions, and realised he could use the money to strengthen areas of the team that needed reinforcements.

United’s transfer activity for the summer will now begin, with tons of back page rumours as a cream of the world’s top footballers are linked with a move to Manchester.

Personally, I think Franck Ribery would be the ideal replacement for Ronaldo but Bayern Munich aren’t keen to sell their French star and apparently, Ribery doesn’t want to move to England – because of the weather.

David Silva of Valencia put in a promising performance at the European Championships in 2007, and with his club in reported £400m in debt, a tempting offer by United could see Silva trade sunny Spain to wear the number seven shirt vacated by the FIFA World Player of the Year.

Carlos Tevez, who’s future is in doubt at Old Trafford, could be saved by the new cash injection the club has received but I still feel a permanent Tevez signing would be least beneficial since striker Wayne Rooney does a similiar job to the Argentinian and scores more goals.

Klass Jan Huntelaar, a reported target of Man United could be a striking solution. He’s plying his trade at Real Madrid but has not been given opportunities in the line up, could United tempt the Dutchman with a way out by moving to Old Trafford?

Whatever happens, it remains to be seen but Cristiano Ronaldo’s six year career at Manchester United is over. How will the English league cope without his magic box of tricks, his trademark run up before a free kick, his prima donna antics at times? They will be happy. It’s the end of a tremendous time at United for Ronaldo, where he really began to show what a bargain purchase it was for Sir Alex to sign him for £12m, and six years later, to sell him for £80m.

Welcome To Sheesh Kebab Talk

Welcome to Sheesh Kebab Talk

Sheesh Kebab Talk aims to encourage debate and comment relating to sports within the country but also anything that I feel discussing about. If you would like to contribute, or alert me to any news stories, please do not hesitate to contact me.

You might be slightly puzzled about the name of the blog, it’s weird I know. I was sat in front of my laptop, puzzled what to name it. Then I thought of one of my invented slang words I brandish about at home, “Sheesh Kebab”.