FOOTBALL matches manage to capture the imagination of both young and old around the world and so do the footballers.

A favourite pastime of young men in Myanmar is to gather at the tea shop and discuss, argue and debate the Champions League – which team will win, which will disappoint, who will score the goals.

Wearing their allegiance to their team on their sleeve, they are unashamedly biased.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is a football genius,” says Ko Shu Maung Tha, a longtime Manchester United fan.

“No, Kaka is the best of all the players,” says Ko Aung Kyaw Htet, a supporter of AC Milan.

“Never, Fabregas is the most excellent footballer,” says Ko Htein Win, a diehard Arsenal fanatic.

“Tevez is a great all-round player. He’s also unselfish and helps out his teammates,” says Ko Zaya.

He says he fell in love with football when he was 12 and loves watching the Premier League and Champions League.

“I am sure Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and [Wayne] Rooney will be the star players of the Champions League this year, they are my favorite footballers,” says the 20 year-old football fanatic.

“I am always on the edge of my seat whenever Kaka dribbles the ball,” he says. “It is thrilling to watch him play.”

“He’s also a good shooter – he won the best footballer of the year. I’m sure he won’t let me down this season,” he says.

“[Cristiano] Ronaldo works hard and he is a great striker of the ball,” says Ko Shu Maung Tha as he watches Manchester United play.

He said as a midfield player, Ronaldo has the ability to control the game and still scores as many goals as the strikers.

“He also has much experience in the Champions League, and I am sure if he is playing, Man U will win the Champions League,” he says.

He says Ronaldo is a class above other midfield players and as well as scoring goals creates many opportunities for his teammates.

Ko Htein Win says although Fabregas has less experience than most other players in the Champions League he has the potential to be a damaging player.

“He is very industrious, a real team player. He plays not for himself but for the team – and when a match looks like it will be lost, he has the ability to change the result. He always creates openings for the other players,”

“Being a midfield player, he covers all sections of the pitch to support his teammates; he has the team spirit which is necessary to win the game.”

“Arsenal could be top four teams in Champion League because of their talented coach [Arsene Wenger] and they get the best out of their players.”

He says he spends much of his spare time watching football matches, particularly his favourite team, Arsenal.