UAE Vs Portugal
Monday, August 31, 2009
An array of the world’s top sporting stars, together with an audience of 250 coaches, officials, invited dignitaries, guests and senior representatives from FIFA, the Local Organising Committee and leading UAE sporting bodies, gathered in Dubai for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2009, Official Draw. The result was that the United Arab Emirates, the host team, will cross swords with Portugal in their FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup curtain-raiser.
The Official Draw, determining the four groups of teams for the tournament, was conducted by Joan Cusco, FIFA Beach Soccer Committee Member, assisted by H.H Sheikh Ahmed Bin Hasher Al-Maktoum, Olympic gold medallist, Ramiro Amarelle (Spain), 2008 adidas golden ball, Bakhit Saad UAE star player and Christian Karembeu (France), 1998 World Champion.
The ceremony held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, in the presence of H.H. Sheik Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Deputy Chairman of Dubai Sports Council (DSC), Dr. Ahmed Al-Sharif, Secretary General of DSC, and Mohammed Khalfan Al Rumaithi, President of the UAE Football Association.
In his opening speech Thierry Weil, FIFA Director and Member of the FIFA Beach Soccer SL Board, explained that it is exactly two years and one day to be precise, since FIFA announced to the world that Dubai would be the organising host city of the Beach Soccer World Cup 2009 and that he has been impressed by the progress this far. “Dubai is an ideal location for the tournament because of the emirate’s visionary leadership, the passion for sports and fantastic facilities. We are all extremely confident that we will have a very successful championship, both on and off the pitch and that Dubai will be the centre of worldwide attention from over 150 territories,” said Weil.
According to Dr. Ahmed Al-Sharif Secretary General of DSC the Official Draw event was a spectacular celebration of the sport of Beach Soccer and an indicator of the dynamic showcase to come. “Here in Dubai we have only one standard and that is excellence. We offer our commitment to FIFA and to spectators both here in the UAE and across the globe, that through a unique partnership and fruitful cooperation we will make this a Beach Soccer World Cup to remember; an event that will last in all of our hearts and memories for many years to come.”
Marcelo Mendes UAE coach declared of the draw results, “It is a strong group however I am confident about my team’s options. We have gained experience during the past tournaments and have been working hard the past two years to be ready. I’m positive about our chances to reach the semi finals”
The tournament, that runs from 16th – 22nd of November, originated from the fabled Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and in this, the fifth to be governed by FIFA, the new temporary home will be the paradise location of Jumeirah in the heart of new Dubai, where sixteen of the best beach soccer teams in the world will battle it out on Arabian sands. This is only the second time that the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup has been held outside of Brazil (the other location being Marseille, France in 2008) and is the tournament’s first time on Asian sand.
Majed Mohsen performed the master of ceremonies duties at the Official Draw, staged at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The ceremony incorporated cutting edge, composite projection on to 30 metre screens suspended beneath 5 metre magical, animated spheres.
The Official Draw, determining the four groups of teams for the tournament, was conducted by Joan Cusco, FIFA Beach Soccer Committee Member, assisted by H.H Sheikh Ahmed Bin Hasher Al-Maktoum, Olympic gold medallist, Ramiro Amarelle (Spain), 2008 adidas golden ball, Bakhit Saad UAE star player and Christian Karembeu (France), 1998 World Champion.
The ceremony held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, in the presence of H.H. Sheik Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Deputy Chairman of Dubai Sports Council (DSC), Dr. Ahmed Al-Sharif, Secretary General of DSC, and Mohammed Khalfan Al Rumaithi, President of the UAE Football Association.
In his opening speech Thierry Weil, FIFA Director and Member of the FIFA Beach Soccer SL Board, explained that it is exactly two years and one day to be precise, since FIFA announced to the world that Dubai would be the organising host city of the Beach Soccer World Cup 2009 and that he has been impressed by the progress this far. “Dubai is an ideal location for the tournament because of the emirate’s visionary leadership, the passion for sports and fantastic facilities. We are all extremely confident that we will have a very successful championship, both on and off the pitch and that Dubai will be the centre of worldwide attention from over 150 territories,” said Weil.
According to Dr. Ahmed Al-Sharif Secretary General of DSC the Official Draw event was a spectacular celebration of the sport of Beach Soccer and an indicator of the dynamic showcase to come. “Here in Dubai we have only one standard and that is excellence. We offer our commitment to FIFA and to spectators both here in the UAE and across the globe, that through a unique partnership and fruitful cooperation we will make this a Beach Soccer World Cup to remember; an event that will last in all of our hearts and memories for many years to come.”
Marcelo Mendes UAE coach declared of the draw results, “It is a strong group however I am confident about my team’s options. We have gained experience during the past tournaments and have been working hard the past two years to be ready. I’m positive about our chances to reach the semi finals”
The tournament, that runs from 16th – 22nd of November, originated from the fabled Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and in this, the fifth to be governed by FIFA, the new temporary home will be the paradise location of Jumeirah in the heart of new Dubai, where sixteen of the best beach soccer teams in the world will battle it out on Arabian sands. This is only the second time that the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup has been held outside of Brazil (the other location being Marseille, France in 2008) and is the tournament’s first time on Asian sand.
Majed Mohsen performed the master of ceremonies duties at the Official Draw, staged at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The ceremony incorporated cutting edge, composite projection on to 30 metre screens suspended beneath 5 metre magical, animated spheres.
posted @ 3:44 PM,
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UAE Vs Portugal
Saturday, August 29, 2009
By Alaric Gomes, Senior Reporter
The UAE will take on Portugal in their opening match of the 2009 Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup to be played at the Jumeirah Beach from November 16-22.
The draw ceremony, held at the Dubai World Centre late on Thursday, saw the hosts being drawn to face the European runners-up in their opener at 7.30 pm on November 16.
The draw was witnessed by Shaikh Mansour Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and was conducted by Joan Cusco, member of the Fifa Futsal and Beach Soccer Committee, with assistance from the UAE’s Olympic gold medalist Shaikh Ahmad Hasher Al Maktoum; 1998 French World Cup star Christian Karembeu; Spanish star striker and 2008 adidas golden ball winner Ramiro Amarelle and UAE skipper Bakhit Saad.
Some of the top dignitaries present were Mattar Al Tayer, Deputy Chairman, Dubai Sports Council (DSC), Mohammad Khalfan Al Rumaithi, President, UAE Football Association, Salah Tahak, Tournament Director and Dr. Ahmad Saad Al Sharif, Secretary General, DSC.
“This is going to be one huge challenge, but one that we are ready and willing to face before our home crowd,” Saad remarked after the draw.
Despite being drawn in a tough group, Marcelo Mendes, the UAE’s Brazilian coach was confident of making at least the semifinals of the week-long competition. “I trust my players and I am confident in their abilities to deliver when it matters most. We have been training together for the past two years and the players have gained adequate experience playing in some tough matches and competitions during our build-up to this event,” Mendes noted.
Mohammad Khalfan Al Rumaithi spelt out that the promotion of beach soccer in the UAE is one of the priorities before the UAEFA. “The UAE are the Asian champions and this will be their second time at a World Cup,” Al Rumaithi stated.
Spain’s Ramiro Amarelle, who went on to win the adidas golden ball in Marseille last year, saw the UAE among the prime challengers for a place in the knockout stages of the competition. “It’s a tough group for them [UAE], but the spectators will benefit by seeing some exciting matches,” Amarelle stated.
Karembeu, who flew in especially for Thursday’s draw ceremony, hoped to see European champions Spain take on three-time and defending world champions Brazil in the November 22 final. “A final like this will be great for the sport and Dubai,” Karembeu said.
The beach soccer tournament originated from the fabled Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as the Beach Soccer World Championship way back in 1994. However, in 2004, Beach Soccer Worldwide aligned itself with Fifa to create the current competition.
After the first three editions held in Brazil, the competition moved for the first time to Marseille, France (2008), where Brazil went on to be crowned world champions for a third straight time. And hosting the 16-team event here will be the first time for an Asian country to organize the Beach Soccer World Cup.
Groups
* Group A: UAE, Portugal, Uruguay, Solomon Islands
* Group B: Spain, Asia 1, Cote d'Ivoire, El Salvador
* Group C: Russia, Costa Rica, Argentina, Italy
* Group D: Brazil, Nigeria, Switzerland, Asia 2
The draw ceremony, held at the Dubai World Centre late on Thursday, saw the hosts being drawn to face the European runners-up in their opener at 7.30 pm on November 16.
The draw was witnessed by Shaikh Mansour Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and was conducted by Joan Cusco, member of the Fifa Futsal and Beach Soccer Committee, with assistance from the UAE’s Olympic gold medalist Shaikh Ahmad Hasher Al Maktoum; 1998 French World Cup star Christian Karembeu; Spanish star striker and 2008 adidas golden ball winner Ramiro Amarelle and UAE skipper Bakhit Saad.
Some of the top dignitaries present were Mattar Al Tayer, Deputy Chairman, Dubai Sports Council (DSC), Mohammad Khalfan Al Rumaithi, President, UAE Football Association, Salah Tahak, Tournament Director and Dr. Ahmad Saad Al Sharif, Secretary General, DSC.
“This is going to be one huge challenge, but one that we are ready and willing to face before our home crowd,” Saad remarked after the draw.
Despite being drawn in a tough group, Marcelo Mendes, the UAE’s Brazilian coach was confident of making at least the semifinals of the week-long competition. “I trust my players and I am confident in their abilities to deliver when it matters most. We have been training together for the past two years and the players have gained adequate experience playing in some tough matches and competitions during our build-up to this event,” Mendes noted.
Mohammad Khalfan Al Rumaithi spelt out that the promotion of beach soccer in the UAE is one of the priorities before the UAEFA. “The UAE are the Asian champions and this will be their second time at a World Cup,” Al Rumaithi stated.
Spain’s Ramiro Amarelle, who went on to win the adidas golden ball in Marseille last year, saw the UAE among the prime challengers for a place in the knockout stages of the competition. “It’s a tough group for them [UAE], but the spectators will benefit by seeing some exciting matches,” Amarelle stated.
Karembeu, who flew in especially for Thursday’s draw ceremony, hoped to see European champions Spain take on three-time and defending world champions Brazil in the November 22 final. “A final like this will be great for the sport and Dubai,” Karembeu said.
The beach soccer tournament originated from the fabled Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as the Beach Soccer World Championship way back in 1994. However, in 2004, Beach Soccer Worldwide aligned itself with Fifa to create the current competition.
After the first three editions held in Brazil, the competition moved for the first time to Marseille, France (2008), where Brazil went on to be crowned world champions for a third straight time. And hosting the 16-team event here will be the first time for an Asian country to organize the Beach Soccer World Cup.
Groups
* Group A: UAE, Portugal, Uruguay, Solomon Islands
* Group B: Spain, Asia 1, Cote d'Ivoire, El Salvador
* Group C: Russia, Costa Rica, Argentina, Italy
* Group D: Brazil, Nigeria, Switzerland, Asia 2
posted @ 10:56 AM,
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FIFA Needs At Least US$300,000 From Liberia
Friday, August 28, 2009
The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), is again reminding the Government of Liberia and Liberian Football Association (LFA) of the reserved US$400,000 for the Goal Project, and that it is awaiting the rest of the funding needed to jumpstart the project.
Sampon J. Kablan, FIFA’s Development Officer for West Africa, divulged that FIFA has allocated US$400,000 and has in its possession the necessary documents for Liberia’s second Goal Project, to construct a modern multi-purpose technical center, in Careysburg, Montserrado County.
Kablan told journalists on Monday, August 24, during a press conference in Monrovia that at least US$300,000 is needed from the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the LFA by FIFA to jumpstart the technical service for the benefit of the Liberian youth.
“FIFA has US$400,000 for the construction of a technical center in Liberia, which is small, and is expecting the remaining US$300,000 from the FA or the Government of Liberia to begin the construction of the technical center for the good of the youth of Liberia,” stated.
Documents in possession of Daily Observer Sports from a local architect and engineering firm, Design Group Inc., contracted by the LFA to do the technical analysis of the project, put the cost of the project at US$904, 889.60.
According to the summary of the proposed financial plan for FIFA Goal Project Two, also in the possession of this paper, the plan is categorized into eight components.
The soccer field is estimated at US$50,000; the multi-use building at US$148,290; the cafeteria at US$150,800 and two dormitories (male & female) at US$250,000.
The other components are a clinic estimated at US$20,000; coach’s residence US$38, 070; site clearing and landscaping at US$10,000 and the gymnasium at US$45,000.00.
The sub-topic of these items stand at US$712,160.
Sixty percent of the subtotal, which is US$42,729.60, is allocated as the Architect’s fee, while the furniture for the complex is put at US$150,000, for a grand total of US$904,889.60.
Meanwhile, some football pundits are calling on the government to help finance the National Technical Center for the betterment of the youth, which may also be named after President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as was the Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex.
Labels: FIFA
posted @ 11:26 AM,
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Dunga Calls Up Uncapped Sandro for Brazil
Brazil coach Dunga has handed a first senior call-up to Internacional midfielder Sandro for the World Cup qualifiers against Argentina and Chile.
Click Here
The 20-year-old, who captained the Brazil Under-20 side to the South American title in Venezuela earlier this year, takes the place of Wolfsburg captain Josue who was ruled out after undergoing knee surgery.
Brazil face Argentina on September 5 and Chile on September 9.
Sandro is one of the four home-based players in Brazil's squad, alongside Flamengo striker Adriano, Gremio goalkeeper Victor and Sao Paulo defender Miranda.
Brazil lead the South American World Cup qualifying group with 27 points, one point better off than Chile, three ahead of Paraguay, and five clear of Argentina.
Brazil squad: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Victor (Gremio); Maicon (Inter Milan), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Filipe (Deportivo La Coruna), Andre Santos (Fenerbahce), Luisao (Benfica), Miranda (Sao Paulo), Lucio (Inter Milan), Juan (Roma); Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Felipe Melo (Juventus), Lucas (Liverpool), Elano (Galatasaray), Ramires (Benfica), Julio Baptista (Roma), Kaka (Real Madrid), Sandro (Internacional); Nilmar (Villarreal), Robinho (Manchester City), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Adriano (Flamengo).
Click Here
The 20-year-old, who captained the Brazil Under-20 side to the South American title in Venezuela earlier this year, takes the place of Wolfsburg captain Josue who was ruled out after undergoing knee surgery.
Brazil face Argentina on September 5 and Chile on September 9.
Sandro is one of the four home-based players in Brazil's squad, alongside Flamengo striker Adriano, Gremio goalkeeper Victor and Sao Paulo defender Miranda.
Brazil lead the South American World Cup qualifying group with 27 points, one point better off than Chile, three ahead of Paraguay, and five clear of Argentina.
Brazil squad: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Victor (Gremio); Maicon (Inter Milan), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Filipe (Deportivo La Coruna), Andre Santos (Fenerbahce), Luisao (Benfica), Miranda (Sao Paulo), Lucio (Inter Milan), Juan (Roma); Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Felipe Melo (Juventus), Lucas (Liverpool), Elano (Galatasaray), Ramires (Benfica), Julio Baptista (Roma), Kaka (Real Madrid), Sandro (Internacional); Nilmar (Villarreal), Robinho (Manchester City), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Adriano (Flamengo).
Labels: Brazil, FIFA 2010, Players, Teams
posted @ 11:24 AM,
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Football for Peace and Hope
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Albert Santoli and Rohaniza Sumndad
Football or soccer is the most played sport around the world, and among the simplest to equip. FIFA created an international program to engage homeless and populations displaced by war, natural disasters and poverty in what they call �Homeless Football� that even has an international Homeless World Cup. In 2008, the Philippine Football Federation created a sports and education project in the heart of conflict-torn Mindanao called Football for Peace and Hope. Following a violent breakdown of a political peace process some 500,000 civilians fled their homes. AAI found that refugee children suffering from intensive nightmares and fears of going back to their home villages. Many had no homes to return to.
AAI�s leaders Albert Santoli and Rohaniza Sumndad began integrating trauma counseling and healing programs involving music, arts, games and sports. This led to a meeting with Mr. Mari Martinez , President of the Philippine Football Federation. PFF had begun a training center in the agricultural community of Bukidnon to be the center for a Football for Peace program in Mindanao. In nearby Marawi City there remained 30,000 displaced persons -- more than half being children -- temporarily sheltered in blue plastic rows of tents. When AAI began assisting the refugees in Marawi, Mr. Santoli remembered the FIFA Homeless Soccer program. This concept was strongly supported by local community leaders. In a sweltering blue plastic shelter, a blind grandmother held the hands of Ms. Sumndad and Mr. Santoli and asked that the world not forget her destitute family and their neighbors who felt invisible.
In discussing the refugees� plight with Mr. Martinez, there was no question that the refugee children of Marawi could reestablish their connection to the world as part of the FIFA-inspired Philippine Football Federation Soccer for Peace program. In April 2009, Mr. Santoli and Ms. Sumndad, determined to keep their promise to the grandmother, were accompanied by trainers from the PFF to connect the invisible refugee community to the world as part of a Homeless Soccer athletic program.
Football or soccer is the most played sport around the world, and among the simplest to equip. FIFA created an international program to engage homeless and populations displaced by war, natural disasters and poverty in what they call �Homeless Football� that even has an international Homeless World Cup. In 2008, the Philippine Football Federation created a sports and education project in the heart of conflict-torn Mindanao called Football for Peace and Hope. Following a violent breakdown of a political peace process some 500,000 civilians fled their homes. AAI found that refugee children suffering from intensive nightmares and fears of going back to their home villages. Many had no homes to return to.
AAI�s leaders Albert Santoli and Rohaniza Sumndad began integrating trauma counseling and healing programs involving music, arts, games and sports. This led to a meeting with Mr. Mari Martinez , President of the Philippine Football Federation. PFF had begun a training center in the agricultural community of Bukidnon to be the center for a Football for Peace program in Mindanao. In nearby Marawi City there remained 30,000 displaced persons -- more than half being children -- temporarily sheltered in blue plastic rows of tents. When AAI began assisting the refugees in Marawi, Mr. Santoli remembered the FIFA Homeless Soccer program. This concept was strongly supported by local community leaders. In a sweltering blue plastic shelter, a blind grandmother held the hands of Ms. Sumndad and Mr. Santoli and asked that the world not forget her destitute family and their neighbors who felt invisible.
In discussing the refugees� plight with Mr. Martinez, there was no question that the refugee children of Marawi could reestablish their connection to the world as part of the FIFA-inspired Philippine Football Federation Soccer for Peace program. In April 2009, Mr. Santoli and Ms. Sumndad, determined to keep their promise to the grandmother, were accompanied by trainers from the PFF to connect the invisible refugee community to the world as part of a Homeless Soccer athletic program.
posted @ 2:18 PM,
,
FIFA for Peace
Labels: FIFA
posted @ 2:15 PM,
,
Grenada Football
Grenada (CMC) - An official from football's world governing body, FIFA, is scheduled to arrive here today to investigate the ongoing turmoil plaguing the Grenada Football Association (GFA).
John Collins, a member of FIFA's legal committee, will evaluate the facts surrounding the events of the last few weeks and make recommendations on the way forward, said a statement released by the GFA Secretariat.
Nineteen of the 35 clubs involved in the GFA voted to remove the Ashley Folkes executive during an extraordinary meeting of the General Council recently.
Folkes, accused of violating as many as 20 GFA statues, fragmenting the executive and ignoring complaints from clubs, said FIFA would not recognise a normalisation committee appointed by the clubs to run football.
"That ruling had put in place a committee and I happen to know that FIFA would not recognise [it] in anyway in any form by any stretch of the imagination," Folkes told CMC Sports on Monday.
"If FIFA, in its findings find that the situation is as such that they put an interim committee with the view of a new election, we would comply with whatever FIFA says."
Last year, FIFA ruled that the Folkes-led executive was guilty of violating GFA statutes and refusing to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Council to entertain a no-confidence motion against him.
Collins is scheduled to meet with various stakeholders including the GFA executive and the General Council members as part of his investigation.
The GFA Secretariat has announced a suspension of all its competitions until FIFA issues an official ruling on the controversy.
"I think he would be on a fact-finding mission to see if what actually went on with the 19 clubs was legitimate in terms of notification with the executive," said Patrick Francis, a Council member.
"They would go back and make their ruling. I think they are here basically to assess the situation, not so much to come in support of the then executive."
Folkes has been protesting his administration's expulsion on the grounds that proper procedure was not followed.
"In my estimation, I think that somewhere along the line that we would basically be seeing FIFA saying enough of this nonsense," said another council member Paul Roberts.
"I think what would happen is they would probably dissolve the Grenada football association and decide that we would have to go into election. Maybe put a normalszation committee in place."
John Collins, a member of FIFA's legal committee, will evaluate the facts surrounding the events of the last few weeks and make recommendations on the way forward, said a statement released by the GFA Secretariat.
Nineteen of the 35 clubs involved in the GFA voted to remove the Ashley Folkes executive during an extraordinary meeting of the General Council recently.
Folkes, accused of violating as many as 20 GFA statues, fragmenting the executive and ignoring complaints from clubs, said FIFA would not recognise a normalisation committee appointed by the clubs to run football.
"That ruling had put in place a committee and I happen to know that FIFA would not recognise [it] in anyway in any form by any stretch of the imagination," Folkes told CMC Sports on Monday.
"If FIFA, in its findings find that the situation is as such that they put an interim committee with the view of a new election, we would comply with whatever FIFA says."
Last year, FIFA ruled that the Folkes-led executive was guilty of violating GFA statutes and refusing to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Council to entertain a no-confidence motion against him.
Collins is scheduled to meet with various stakeholders including the GFA executive and the General Council members as part of his investigation.
The GFA Secretariat has announced a suspension of all its competitions until FIFA issues an official ruling on the controversy.
"I think he would be on a fact-finding mission to see if what actually went on with the 19 clubs was legitimate in terms of notification with the executive," said Patrick Francis, a Council member.
"They would go back and make their ruling. I think they are here basically to assess the situation, not so much to come in support of the then executive."
Folkes has been protesting his administration's expulsion on the grounds that proper procedure was not followed.
"In my estimation, I think that somewhere along the line that we would basically be seeing FIFA saying enough of this nonsense," said another council member Paul Roberts.
"I think what would happen is they would probably dissolve the Grenada football association and decide that we would have to go into election. Maybe put a normalszation committee in place."
Labels: FIFA, Football, Grenada, Soccer
posted @ 10:03 AM,
,
Is She a Man?
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
South African lady sprinter Caster Semenya kicked ass as usual at the world championships and her countrymen are saying: 'Stop asking if she is really a girl, Europeans! We don't give you gender tests just because you're pussies.' [AP]
Labels: Caster Semenya, South Africa
posted @ 12:54 PM,
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Fifa's Global Ambitions
No-one in their right mind is going to try to argue against the aim of getting 75 million children into education when they are currently denied the opportunity. Of course not.
That outcome is the target of Fifa's 1Goal project, launched to a fanfare of publicity by bona fide royalty (and its footballing equivalent) at Wembley stadium last week.
Gary Lineker stood alongside Queen Rania of Jordan (the 75th most powerful woman in the world, according to Forbes magazine) and hammered home the message that education should be a birthright.
They also emphasised that governments which had committed to the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals should now make good on promises to give all children an education by 2015.
The 1Goal project is focused on next year's World Cup, so expect to see it promoted around the stadiums in South Africa and to hear its advocates - such as Britain's most cerebral footballer, David James - talk about why you should be signing up to support it.
Read at GR Blog
posted @ 10:27 AM,
,
How Was FIFA 2006 Won
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
We all know what happened in 2006, France and Italy met for the title with Italy winning it all. France had a chance to win it in extra time, but Buffon came up huge. Italy won on PK's 5-3. But what all of the world will remember is the ugly head butting incident between Zidane and Materazzi. There is much controversy as to what Materazzi truly said to Zidane, but one thing is for sure, it must have been pretty scathing to make Zidane headbutt Materazzi.
Personally, I hated to see the greatest footballer of the modern era (you heard me, I said it) go out like that. But Zidane has been known to be a bit of a hot head at times, he is no Cantana, but still a hot head. Zidane got a deserved red for striking another player that was the correct call. Materazzi, however, should have shown more class than he did. You NEVER insult a man's family especially the women, NEVER!!! You can talk as much trash as you wish, you can tell a guy that he sucks and that his skills don't match yours as colorfully as you want. Unfortunately some European fans and sometimes players have a horrible reputation for being extremely bigoted/hateful towards players of color.
There have been numerous incidents of players especially those of african descent being called monkeys and having bananas thrown at them during games. Is Matterazzi one of these players? I really hope not. Paolo Di Canio used to salute the crowd with the fascist salute to the Lazio right wing fans. Disturbing, yes, but again nothing was ever done because it was done in the Italian league where he is subject to their rules. Back to the point, Materazzi crossed the line and should have known better. He accomplished the goal and was rewarded.
Italy wins by diving and time wasting. The lull you to sleep by playing bunker defense and counter attacking when you put too many men forward. This is their style of play. They frustrate teams into mistakes. Their defense is solid. Ugly, but it gets the job done. Especially against teams that are faster than them. In Euro 2008, the did the same thing, except it back fired against Spain. They won WC 2006 with the same strategy. The lulled Germany to sleep and scored two goals late into extra time. I believe i heard a fact about the Italian national team, whether it is true I don't know. In international competition, they have never comeback from a 2 goal deficit ever. astonishing. I hope this is untrue, otherwise all a team needs to do is score two goals and the match is over.
So who is to blame? Who needs to step and clean up the beautiful game? FIFA, all the leagues and most of all the fans. Combined these groups can eradicate all the problems that plague the sport. Here is how. i will start with FIFA.
Read at FANIQ
Personally, I hated to see the greatest footballer of the modern era (you heard me, I said it) go out like that. But Zidane has been known to be a bit of a hot head at times, he is no Cantana, but still a hot head. Zidane got a deserved red for striking another player that was the correct call. Materazzi, however, should have shown more class than he did. You NEVER insult a man's family especially the women, NEVER!!! You can talk as much trash as you wish, you can tell a guy that he sucks and that his skills don't match yours as colorfully as you want. Unfortunately some European fans and sometimes players have a horrible reputation for being extremely bigoted/hateful towards players of color.
There have been numerous incidents of players especially those of african descent being called monkeys and having bananas thrown at them during games. Is Matterazzi one of these players? I really hope not. Paolo Di Canio used to salute the crowd with the fascist salute to the Lazio right wing fans. Disturbing, yes, but again nothing was ever done because it was done in the Italian league where he is subject to their rules. Back to the point, Materazzi crossed the line and should have known better. He accomplished the goal and was rewarded.
Italy wins by diving and time wasting. The lull you to sleep by playing bunker defense and counter attacking when you put too many men forward. This is their style of play. They frustrate teams into mistakes. Their defense is solid. Ugly, but it gets the job done. Especially against teams that are faster than them. In Euro 2008, the did the same thing, except it back fired against Spain. They won WC 2006 with the same strategy. The lulled Germany to sleep and scored two goals late into extra time. I believe i heard a fact about the Italian national team, whether it is true I don't know. In international competition, they have never comeback from a 2 goal deficit ever. astonishing. I hope this is untrue, otherwise all a team needs to do is score two goals and the match is over.
So who is to blame? Who needs to step and clean up the beautiful game? FIFA, all the leagues and most of all the fans. Combined these groups can eradicate all the problems that plague the sport. Here is how. i will start with FIFA.
Read at FANIQ
posted @ 10:51 AM,
,
Norway For FIFA 2010 World Cup
Monday, August 24, 2009
Norway made the biggest impression during the latest round of World Cup qualifiers for next year’s big event in South Africa, giving the struggling team fresh hopes of making it to the finals. Sweden also got a welcome confidence boost at the expense of Finland, while group leaders Denmark played and won a friendly against Chile.Norway had it all to do against Scotland, whom they trounced 4-0 in a home match attended by 24,000 spectators. The Norwegians desperately needed to take all three points to keep their dreams alive, as they are battling for the third and final spot in the group.
John Arne Riise and Erik Huseklepp each scored for Norway, while Morten Gamst Pedersen put two past the Scottish keeper. When Scotland’s Gary Caldwell was sent off with a red card in the 34th minute, it gave the Norwegians a big advantage that they did not squander.
Sweden was also in action in a friendly match against Finland. They won the game 1-0 in Stockholm, which will boost their confidence ahead of their upcoming qualifying match against Hungary on 5 September. Sweden lay adrift in 4th place in their group behind the Danes, Norway and Portugal. If they can’t get all three points from their next game, their World Cup dreams will be dashed.
However, if Sweden can get a win all of their remaining group one qualifying matches, they will get a playoff game. Norway’s defeat of Scotland has assured this possibility in group nine.{#}
posted @ 11:14 AM,
,
Facts About the World’s Greatest Soccer Tournament
Sunday, August 23, 2009
This year the 2010 FIFA World Cup will take place in South Africa, fulfilling a dream of millions to host this soccer tournament on African soil.
With less than a year till kick-off, soccer teams around the world are jockeying for position in their Groups and fans are making plans to travel to South Africa next July for one of the greatest sporting extravaganzas on the planet.
When Was the Winning 2010 World Cup Bid Announced?
On 15 May 2004, in Zurich, FIFA President Sepp Blatter announced to the world that South Africa would host the 2010 World Cup, the first on African soil. After South Africa’s victory was announced, Nelson Mandela hoisted the World Cup trophy and Archbishop Desmond Tutu embraced Blatter. “I feel like a young man of 15,” said Mandela, who was 85 at the time.
How Many Teams Are in the Competition?
A total of 200 teams entered the race for one of the 31 places at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa. (The host nation, South Africa, is automatically in the final, number 32). The final draw will be held in Cape Town on 4 December 2009.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa will be staged at 10 venues across nine South African cities: Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Nelspruit, Polokwane, Bloemfontein, Rustenburg, and Pretoria. Johannesburg, South Africa’s economic capital is home to two World Cup stadiums, Soccer City and Ellis Park.
The 2010 Stadiums in South Africa
Five of South Africa's football stadiums have undergone major renovations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup: Soccer City and Ellis Park in Johannesburg, Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, the Royal Bafokeng stadium in Rustenburg in North West Province and Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein in the Free State.
New stadiums are nearing completion at Mbombela in Mpumalanga and in the Nelson Mandela Metro (Port Elizabeth). Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane in Limpopo has been rebuilt, and the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban as well as Cape Town's Green Point stadium are on schedule for completion in October 2009. Meanwhile the rest of South Africa is also gearing up for 2010.
What is the South African National Team Called?
The South African National team is called Bafana Bafana (which means the boys, the boys in isiZulu). Bafana Bafana is coached by Brazilian, Joel Santana. Aaron Mokena is the Captain.
Will the Vuvuzela be Allowed at the 2020 World Cup Games?
Yes, this noisy plastic trumpet that is part of the indigenous culture of South African soccer has been given the blessing by FIFA. The Vuvuzela will stay.
Official Match Schedule for 2010 Soccer World Cup
The Official Match Schedule for the 2010 FIFA World Cup to take place in South Africa between 11 June and 11 July 2010 has been released.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup is will be soccer tournament like no other. The World Cup is the most widely viewed sporting event in the world, with an estimated 715.1 million people watching the 2006 final in Germany.
The copyright of the article The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa in International Soccer is owned by Karen Lotter. Permission to republish The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.{#}
Labels: FIFA, FIFA 2010, South Africa
posted @ 9:24 PM,
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FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup 2010
Saturday, August 22, 2009
The FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup is set to kick off in just a year's time, in Bochum on 13 July 2010 to be precise. The passion and excitement stirred by the high-class international clashes at the competition's four venues - Augsburg, Bochum, Dresden and Bielefeld, where the final will be held - will help to keep momentum going all the way through to the FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011™.
For FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, the U-20 showpiece will serve as a taster for the following year's main event. "FIFA and the German Football Association wanted to hold this competition a year before the FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 to help fans get into the spirit of the event," said the President of world football's governing body. "Given the quality of football that will be on offer, the U-20 national teams will be capable of attracting very large crowds. This tournament will therefore act as an appetiser."
"The U-20 Women's World Cup is genuinely a very exciting tournament. Spectators will have the opportunity to discover talented players for the future in some magnificent stadiums," said Organising Committee President Steffi Jones. "Some of the players at the 2010 event will be back the following year. And on the other hand, the four venues will have the opportunity to host some thrilling encounters."
The last edition of the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, held in Chile 2008, was successful both in terms of large crowds and the extensive media coverage. The 32 matches attracted a total of 351,309 fans at an average of nearly 11,000 per game.
There are 16 places in the U-20 Women's World Cup 2010, allotted to the confederations as follows:
AFC (Asia) 3 teams
CAF (Africa) 2 teams
CONCACAF (North and Central America and the Caribbean) 3 teams CONMEBOL (South America) 2 teams
UEFA (Europe) 4 teams + the host nation Germany
OFC (Oceania) 1 team
Franz Beckenbauer, chairman of the Organising Committee for the FIFA U-20 and U-17 Women's World Cups, is of course a prestigious ambassador for the competition.
Tickets for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup are expected to be available for purchase from March 2010 onwards. (FIFA.com)
Labels: FIFA, FIFA 2010, Women's World Cup
posted @ 8:20 PM,
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FIFA World Cup 2010 Campaign for Education
The Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, FIFA, Gary Lineker and footballers from across the globe launched 1GOAL: Education for All, a FIFA World Cup 2010 initiative focused on ensuring that all children receive an education.1GOAL has one purpose: to ensure that the 75 million children out of school in Africa and the world’s poorest countries get access to classrooms, teachers and the future that education provides. 1GOAL calls on football fans to sign their names at join1goal.org and tell world leaders that education beats poverty.
“I’m proud to support 1GOAL; it isn’t asking for money, it’s asking for your name, your commitment to fair play for future generations,” said Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan. “It’s about reminding world leaders to play by the rules and keep their promises to children of the developing world. I think that’s worth signing up for.”
Players from all over the world are joining the effort including Rio Ferdinand, Thierry Henry, Robinho, Michael Essien, Aaron Mokoena (captain of the South Africa team), Kanu (captain of the Nigerian team), Nicolas Anelka, Michel Silvestre, David James, Kolo Toure, Javier Zanetti, Ivan Cordoba, Michael Owen and Mia Hamm (captain of the 1999 American women’s World Cup champion team). Retired champions also joining 1GOAL include Marcel Desailly, George Weah and Roger Milla. Today’s event was hosted by England football legend Gary Lineker.
“Global football stars, the football world and its governing body, FIFA, are behind 1GOAL,” said Federico Addiechi of FIFA. “At this World Cup, we’re asking fans to sign up to give 75 million children a chance in life. FIFA is pleased to do our part in helping every child to get into a classroom and grow up to be a doctor, teacher, parent or maybe even a football player.
“The World Cup 2010 can be more than a great tournament,” Addiechi continued. “This World Cup can leave a lasting legacy for African schoolchildren. FIFA is asking football fans around the globe to sign up to 1GOAL and give all kids the education they deserve.”
Leading players also strongly support education for the world’s poorest children. “I believe every child has the right to an education and that’s why I’m supporting 1 Goal and asking football fans around the world to join today,” said Rio Ferdinand.
“I am firmly backing 1GOAL in their effort to make sure every child receives an education,” said David James. “I have travelled to Malawi and I have seen the power of kids in schools. When people get an education, they can start to provide for themselves and their families.”
England football legend Gary Lineker said, “We know that education beats poverty. 1GOAL is bringing together fans around the world to demand education for all. This World Cup is a moment for us to shine.”
In addition to FIFA’s support, Bob Geldof, Bono, Kevin Spacey, Kelly Rowland and organizations Global Campaign for Education, Comic Relief and the One Campaign have promised their commitment.{#}
Labels: FIFA
posted @ 11:47 AM,
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Conflict of Interest
There is no doubt that the World Cup is the biggest event in the world. There is no doubt that soccer in the Olympic Games is a big draw everywhere. Miami natives can remember the buzz that there was back in 1996 when Brazil as well as other national teams played their matches in the Magic City when stars like Ronaldo, Kanu, Jay Jay Okocha, FIFA knows this and wants to guard their biggest money maker. The Olympic Games last year brought out the zealous manner in which FIFA wants to protect their brand- thus began the chatter in very low tones.
Now FIFA is mentioning that their view of the game differs from that the IOC due to issues on two fronts: the release of players for this tournament, and the interference that this tournament creates on FIFA's scheduling.
What this means is that FIFA do not want a rival competition at their expense.
The sport's top authority plans to meet at the end of the month in Rio de Janeiro to discuss the possibility of soccer being withdrawn from the upcoming Olympic Games that will be held in London in 2012.
There are three camps currently in fighting each other. UEFA wants the sport to be competely withdrawn from the Olympic Games siting that it would delay the start of European domestic leagues as well as the UEFA Champions League and the Europa League. The European entity is also being pressured by the big European clubs to lobby this stance after seeing players like Lionel Messi, Diego, and Rafinha (among others) participate in the tournament against their clubs' wishes.
IOC president Jacques Rogge would like to see the tournament remain but at the same time, he would like for FIFA to decide on what should be done. He would like to know as soon as possible whether he should count on soccer to be a sport in 2012, and he might get an answer in the coming weeks. Rogge's counterpart, Sepp Blatter in the meantime has come up with an intermediate solution-essentially make the Olympic soccer tournament become what it was prior to 1992 when the IOC set up the soccer tournament to be a pseudo U-23 event where delegations could register three players older than that.
If this all were to happen, men's soccer would be the third sport to be removed from the Olympic Games along with baseball and softball.
Let us know what you think! {#}
Now FIFA is mentioning that their view of the game differs from that the IOC due to issues on two fronts: the release of players for this tournament, and the interference that this tournament creates on FIFA's scheduling.
What this means is that FIFA do not want a rival competition at their expense.
The sport's top authority plans to meet at the end of the month in Rio de Janeiro to discuss the possibility of soccer being withdrawn from the upcoming Olympic Games that will be held in London in 2012.
There are three camps currently in fighting each other. UEFA wants the sport to be competely withdrawn from the Olympic Games siting that it would delay the start of European domestic leagues as well as the UEFA Champions League and the Europa League. The European entity is also being pressured by the big European clubs to lobby this stance after seeing players like Lionel Messi, Diego, and Rafinha (among others) participate in the tournament against their clubs' wishes.
IOC president Jacques Rogge would like to see the tournament remain but at the same time, he would like for FIFA to decide on what should be done. He would like to know as soon as possible whether he should count on soccer to be a sport in 2012, and he might get an answer in the coming weeks. Rogge's counterpart, Sepp Blatter in the meantime has come up with an intermediate solution-essentially make the Olympic soccer tournament become what it was prior to 1992 when the IOC set up the soccer tournament to be a pseudo U-23 event where delegations could register three players older than that.
If this all were to happen, men's soccer would be the third sport to be removed from the Olympic Games along with baseball and softball.
Let us know what you think! {#}
posted @ 11:45 AM,
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U.S. Trims List of Possible World Cup Sites
Friday, August 21, 2009
By Jack Bell
The committee leading efforts to bring the 2018 or 2022 World Cup tournament to the United States pruned the list of possible cities on Thursday to 27 in the third stage of its evaluation process.
At total of 38 cities submitted detailed information to the U.S.A. Bid Committee before the end of July.
“The U.S.A. .Bid Committee is pleased to have received comprehensive responses from city officials and local organizing committees across the United States,” Sunil Gulati, the chairman of the committee and president of U.S. Soccer, said in a statement. “The overwhelming interest and creativity shown by the candidate cities made our extensive review process that much more difficult in narrowing down the list.”
The cities dropped were: Birmingham, Ala.; Cincinnati; Columbus, Ohio; Fayetteville, Ark.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Las Vegas; Minneapolis; New Orleans; Pittsburgh; Salt Lake City; and San Antonio, Tex.
The United States is among a group of countries seeking to host the World Cup that includes Australia, England, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico and Russia. Each of those countries has applied to host either the 2018 or 2022 tournaments. It is believed that England (which hosted and won the 1966 World Cup) has the inside track for 2018. The Netherlands-Belgium and Portugal-Spain have each submitted joint bids for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. Qatar and South Korea have applied as candidates to play host only to the tournament in 2022.
FIFA will name the hosts for 2018 and 2022 in December 2010.
Is England the sentimental favorite for 2018? And if England does get the World Cup does it mean the U.S. is at the top of the list for 2022, or might FIFA (as it did in 1994 in the U.S.) award the tournament to a country like Australia, where the game remains a relatively minor sport? {#}
Labels: FIFA 2010
posted @ 2:33 PM,
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Mutu's Case Tests Sport's Private Courts
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
His goals have won games in Romania, Italy and England. His ball control, his movement, his audacity afford him hero worship. Yet his mistakes in life, which included using cocaine and arguing with José Mourinho, led to his being hounded toward the exit of his sport in an unprecedented manner.
A former employer, Chelsea, cast him out in 2004. But then, shocked that he should come back into the game and be bought and sold for millions of euros in Italy, Chelsea has legally harassed him ever since. The case could run and run.
Chelsea, backed by FIFA, the governing body of world soccer, is still trying to destroy him. This month, the Court of Arbitration for Sport endorsed a judgment that Mutu must repay Chelsea €17 million, or almost $24 million, to compensate the London club for the transfer fee it had paid Parma, an Italian club, in 2003.
Mutu’s view is that, in terminating his contract and casting him out of soccer, Chelsea had written off the fee.
The player’s lawyers are considering his options. There might only be one: to seek justice ultimately in the European Court of Human Rights.
This, in turn, might have implications for FIFA and for the legitimacy of the quasi-judicial bodies set up by sports to keep their affairs out of the civil courts.
Mutu, 30, is attempting a comeback after knee ligament trouble. His current club, Fiorentina, had a Champions League qualifying match against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday night. A Russian club, Zenit St. Petersburg, on Tuesday morning denied Russian media reports that it was bidding to buy Mutu and pay him €5.5 million a season.
All the while, the player is pursued with unprecedented severity by Chelsea. He was one of the club’s first big-money purchases after it was acquired by the Roman Abramovich, though Mutu was known to be a troubled man. {#}
Claudio Ranieri, his coach when he arrived at Chelsea, was fired to make way for Mourinho, who did not have a high opinion of Mutu as a player or a person.
Their differences became public when Mutu played a World Cup match for Romania even though Mourinho had pronounced the player injured. When Mutu returned, Chelsea subjected him to a drug test. When that revealed traces of cocaine, the club shamed him and tore up his contract.
One interpretation was that the owner and the coach were setting an example to the sport: zero tolerance for drug takers.
England’s Football Association subsequently banned Mutu from any involvement in the game for seven months and fined him £20,000, or about $33,000 at current rates. FIFA made it a global suspension.
Mutu has admitted he was a lost soul. His wife, a television presenter in Romania, had divorced him and won custody rights to their baby son. He had a wild dalliance with a porn star. He was banned from driving after a police chase in Bucharest.
Chelsea compounded his instability. The club was on a high, top of the Premier League and taking the moral high ground by getting rid of a misfit whose drug habit breached his contract.
However, Juventus was interested. It picked him up for nothing, encouraged his rehabilitation, and its coach, Fabio Capello, changed him from a winger to a midfield creator.
Juventus then sold him on for €8 million to Fiorentina. And there, under his old Parma coach, Cesare Prandelli, Mutu blossomed into a playmaker voted the best in Italy.
Chelsea, rebuffed over claims to compensation from the Italian clubs, went for the player. Its lawyers sought the value it effectively had lost on his transfer, and FIFA deemed Mutu responsible for €17.17 million to be paid to Chelsea.
The case bounced round FIFA and ended up with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, based in Lausanne. Three lawyers, from Italy, France and Germany, threw out Mutu’s final appeal and said he must pay.
“The decision is profoundly unjust,” Mutu said in a statement last week. “I think I have amply paid for an error of youth, which is light-years away from the man and the footballer I am now.”
There are contrasting pictures of Mutu. In January 2008, while the case was before its disputes process, FIFA published the words of a Romanian psychologist, Florin Tudose, on its Web site.
“Adrian Mutu is a spoiled child who was lucky enough to be blessed with huge talent, but who hasn’t been able to make the most of it,” Tudose concluded.
Mutu himself says he is happily remarried, has two more children and has turned down big offers to stay in Florence. He recently said his agent told him there were offers from English clubs again.
“I would not go back to London if they paid me in gold,” Mutu said he replied. “Nowhere is as good for me now as Florence.”
“After a difficult period in my life as a man and in my sporting career, I’ve found serenity in Florence,” he said in his statement. “There’s no question of me leaving. I am a sportsman but also, above all, a citizen of the European Union and I believe sporting justice must respect the principles and fundamental rights of the community.”
Anyone who thinks the case of Chelsea versus Adrian Mutu is over is mistaken. But while the stamina of Abramovich’s legal team may be limitless, Mutu only has so long left in sport — and therefore in the power of FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
In the meantime, the case might redefine the powers of the tribunals sports set up to be their own judge and jury.
A former employer, Chelsea, cast him out in 2004. But then, shocked that he should come back into the game and be bought and sold for millions of euros in Italy, Chelsea has legally harassed him ever since. The case could run and run.
Chelsea, backed by FIFA, the governing body of world soccer, is still trying to destroy him. This month, the Court of Arbitration for Sport endorsed a judgment that Mutu must repay Chelsea €17 million, or almost $24 million, to compensate the London club for the transfer fee it had paid Parma, an Italian club, in 2003.
Mutu’s view is that, in terminating his contract and casting him out of soccer, Chelsea had written off the fee.
The player’s lawyers are considering his options. There might only be one: to seek justice ultimately in the European Court of Human Rights.
This, in turn, might have implications for FIFA and for the legitimacy of the quasi-judicial bodies set up by sports to keep their affairs out of the civil courts.
Mutu, 30, is attempting a comeback after knee ligament trouble. His current club, Fiorentina, had a Champions League qualifying match against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday night. A Russian club, Zenit St. Petersburg, on Tuesday morning denied Russian media reports that it was bidding to buy Mutu and pay him €5.5 million a season.
All the while, the player is pursued with unprecedented severity by Chelsea. He was one of the club’s first big-money purchases after it was acquired by the Roman Abramovich, though Mutu was known to be a troubled man. {#}
Claudio Ranieri, his coach when he arrived at Chelsea, was fired to make way for Mourinho, who did not have a high opinion of Mutu as a player or a person.
Their differences became public when Mutu played a World Cup match for Romania even though Mourinho had pronounced the player injured. When Mutu returned, Chelsea subjected him to a drug test. When that revealed traces of cocaine, the club shamed him and tore up his contract.
One interpretation was that the owner and the coach were setting an example to the sport: zero tolerance for drug takers.
England’s Football Association subsequently banned Mutu from any involvement in the game for seven months and fined him £20,000, or about $33,000 at current rates. FIFA made it a global suspension.
Mutu has admitted he was a lost soul. His wife, a television presenter in Romania, had divorced him and won custody rights to their baby son. He had a wild dalliance with a porn star. He was banned from driving after a police chase in Bucharest.
Chelsea compounded his instability. The club was on a high, top of the Premier League and taking the moral high ground by getting rid of a misfit whose drug habit breached his contract.
However, Juventus was interested. It picked him up for nothing, encouraged his rehabilitation, and its coach, Fabio Capello, changed him from a winger to a midfield creator.
Juventus then sold him on for €8 million to Fiorentina. And there, under his old Parma coach, Cesare Prandelli, Mutu blossomed into a playmaker voted the best in Italy.
Chelsea, rebuffed over claims to compensation from the Italian clubs, went for the player. Its lawyers sought the value it effectively had lost on his transfer, and FIFA deemed Mutu responsible for €17.17 million to be paid to Chelsea.
The case bounced round FIFA and ended up with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, based in Lausanne. Three lawyers, from Italy, France and Germany, threw out Mutu’s final appeal and said he must pay.
“The decision is profoundly unjust,” Mutu said in a statement last week. “I think I have amply paid for an error of youth, which is light-years away from the man and the footballer I am now.”
There are contrasting pictures of Mutu. In January 2008, while the case was before its disputes process, FIFA published the words of a Romanian psychologist, Florin Tudose, on its Web site.
“Adrian Mutu is a spoiled child who was lucky enough to be blessed with huge talent, but who hasn’t been able to make the most of it,” Tudose concluded.
Mutu himself says he is happily remarried, has two more children and has turned down big offers to stay in Florence. He recently said his agent told him there were offers from English clubs again.
“I would not go back to London if they paid me in gold,” Mutu said he replied. “Nowhere is as good for me now as Florence.”
“After a difficult period in my life as a man and in my sporting career, I’ve found serenity in Florence,” he said in his statement. “There’s no question of me leaving. I am a sportsman but also, above all, a citizen of the European Union and I believe sporting justice must respect the principles and fundamental rights of the community.”
Anyone who thinks the case of Chelsea versus Adrian Mutu is over is mistaken. But while the stamina of Abramovich’s legal team may be limitless, Mutu only has so long left in sport — and therefore in the power of FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
In the meantime, the case might redefine the powers of the tribunals sports set up to be their own judge and jury.
Labels: Players
posted @ 10:00 AM,
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Direct Flights Between Johannesburg and Melbourne
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
The new announcement is just in time for travelers seeking alternative airlines to the FIFA World Cup in Johannesburg, with V Australia flights beginning in March 2010.
Operating a brand new fleet of Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, V Australia offers three classes of service, including International Business, International Premium Economy and International Economy.
Flights from Johannesburg to Melbourne are scheduled for take off March 13, 2010 and will operate twice a week, with connections to other Australian cities including Sydney and Brisbane.
V Australia also announced plans to offer “super specials” to Australia shortly, increasing competition for flights between South Africa and Australia.
Visit www.vaustralia.com.au.
Operating a brand new fleet of Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, V Australia offers three classes of service, including International Business, International Premium Economy and International Economy.
Flights from Johannesburg to Melbourne are scheduled for take off March 13, 2010 and will operate twice a week, with connections to other Australian cities including Sydney and Brisbane.
V Australia also announced plans to offer “super specials” to Australia shortly, increasing competition for flights between South Africa and Australia.
Visit www.vaustralia.com.au.
Labels: Johannesburg, South Africa, Tourism
posted @ 9:33 AM,
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City of Gold
Monday, August 17, 2009
Johannesburg or the City of Gold, as the city is known in South Africa, is the business hub of South Africa, contributing a substantial part of the country's GDP approximately 12%. The City is home to two of the country's most popular football teams and historical arch-rivals, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. Johannesburg is also known as the economic engine of Southern Africa and the trendsetter of South Africa. It is a melting pot laced with all the flavours of African cultures and beyond
Despite the hustle and bustle of the big city, Jo'burg is unexpectedly green and orientated towards outdoor living. It has a wealth of trees creating an 'urban forest', and many of the trees are located in the 2328 parks.
Cultural wealth is also in abundance, with a host of interesting museums including the Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill and the living memory of the South Western Townships, which include the world acclaimed Soweto. The Mai Mai Market is the oldest market in Johannesburg and is a great place to discover traditional remedies. But more than that, Johannesburg has become a truly African city, melding disparate people from across the continent with the descendents of the original Tswana and Ndebele inhabitants and the European, Indian and Chinese settlers. {#}
Today descendents of immigrants from around the world call themselves Joburgers and they are added to daily by a continual stream of migrants, keen to have some of the city's shine rub off on them.
History
The Tswana name for Johannesburg is eGoli, a place of gold. The San and Stone Age people were the first inhabitants of the area. The face of the area changed when an Australian gold prospector generated interest in the mineral wealth beneath the surface. Johannesburg became a city in 1886, during the beginning of the Witwatersrand Gold Rush.
The city also became a political hotspot during the apartheid years. Soweto was an important instrument in the liberation of South Africa. In 1955, many anti-apartheid movements met in Kliptown, Soweto to sign the Freedom Charter. The Charter enshrined the belief in equality for all. It also became the working document for the current Constitution of South Africa.
Football
A heartland of South African football, Johannesburg is the backbone of the professional game. The majority of professional clubs come from the city and its surrounds. The professional football outfits from the city are: Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, Jomo Cosmos, BidVest Wits and one of the oldest clubs in the country, Moroka Swallows.
The city centre has been at the core of football development in South Africa. Professional football was formed in the offices of the old Rand Daily Mail newspaper in 1958. In later years, football unity talks took place at the old Rand International Hotel. Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, Jomo Cosmos and the now defunct Highlands Park, Rangers and Lusitano have all been championship-winning clubs.
A match between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, which is dubbed as the ‘Soweto Derby' in South Africa, is the biggest drawcard in the country. Everytime the two meet, they attract a capacity crowd and their rivarly has been well documented throughout the decades.
Jo'burg is home to some of the country's most prized talent that include, Jomo Sono,Kaizer Motaung, Ace Ntsoelengoe, Doctor Khumalo, Lucas Radebe and many others. Sono played with Pele and Franz Beckenbauer at New York Cosmos.
Ntsoelengoe is revered as one of the greatest football players ever to be produced in South African football. He enjoyed immense success in the NASL.
The Premier League-based Wits University (now called BidVest Wit) are a team based at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Due to their location, the team is affectionately known as the 'Clever Boys' or the ‘Students'..
Johanesburg has hosted major games before including the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, which was won by South Africa beating Tunisia 2-0 at Soccer City. The Ellis Park Stadium, situated in the heart of Johannesburg, hosted the historic 1995 Rugby World Cup where South Africa were crowned as the rugby world champions.
Labels: Johannesburg, South Africa, Tourism
posted @ 7:22 PM,
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FIFA Soccer 09 is STO’s Best Video Game
Here in the U.S., it is the annual Madden time of the year, where kids all over America (both young or grown up) buy the popular sports video game franchise and look up the roster updates and marvel at the newly designed motion graphics. And for the first time in years, I haven’t even really thought about the game’s release date. That is thanks to FIFA Soccer 09.FIFA Soccer 09 is the perfect game for fans of the game of soccer. First off, EA Sports really tries to include every league into the video game’s format. They have all the obvious leagues (Premier, La Liga, Serie A, MLS) plus many secondary leagues (Football League Championship, Serie B, Segunda Division) and other smaller leagues from all around the world (Argentina, German, French, Brazilian, etc..). And if you’re not into the whole league play thing they also have international squads to dabble with as well.
Also the game has a few cool features including a Be a Pro mode in which the user controls one individual’s four year club and international career, finishing with a World Cup tournament. The user can control whether or not the player should look for a new squad at season’s end and, once captain, control the lineup as well. The game also features a franchise mode in which the user can manage and play as all players. In this mode you can also play in Champions League tournaments as well as the regular season fixtures.
FIFA 09 is an outstanding game and if you have PS3 or XBox I highly recommend renting it or buying it. The game has tons of interesting things to do including its best feature of all… the excellent in-depth gameplay. {#}
Labels: FIFA, FIFA 2010, Soccer
posted @ 9:33 AM,
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Bafana Gear Up For 2010
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Bafana Bafana start the hilly road to 2010 on Wednesday.
After warming the hearts of the nation with some spirited performances at the recently-concluded Confederations Cup, the South African national football team is back in action when they take on Serbia in an an international friendly at the Super Stadium in Atteridgeville on Wednesday night (kick off 7pm).
With South Africa the World Cup hosts in 2010, Bafana gain automatic entry to the prestigious, most popular, sporting event on the planet.
But therein lies a disadvantage, in that head coach Joel Santana has no real, competitive qualifying fixtures to use to prepare the team.
And the fact that Bafana have failed to qualify for next year's African Cup of Nations doesn't help either.
So, from now to the start of the World Cup on South African soil in June 2010, friendlies are all Bafana and Santana can rely on.
But the next three fixtures should give the Brazilian coach more insight into the readiness of the squad.
Serbia, ranked 14th on the Fifa world rankings, loom large tomorrow and, after that, Bafana have friendly games against Germany and the Republic of Ireland.
Good news from the Bafana camp is that Santana is set to join the squad on Tuesday.
The coach was back home on holiday in Brazil - after the Confederations Cup - but was then struck down with bad case of pneumonia.
There were initial fears that Santana would be prohibited from travelling, because of the worldwide swine flu scare, and that the coach would not make it to tomorrow's game.
But the SA Football Association said Santana was cleared to travel to South Africa and would take his place on the Bafana bench.
"Santana has been cleared by his doctor and will travel to South Africa to resume his duties with the national team," a Safa statement said. "After a medical check-up in Rio de Janeiro yesterday, the coach has been declared fit to fly and he will arrive at the Bafana camp today to take charge of the team."
In Santana's absence, the Bafana squad was prepared by the two assistant-coaches, Pitso Mosimane and Jairo Leal.
Mosimane, 45, in his playing days turned out for Jomo Cosmos and Mamelodi Sundowns, as well as an extended spell for Ionikos in Greece. He also has four Bafana caps to his name.
Before taking up the Bafana assistant-coach position, he was the head coach of SuperSport United.
Leal, also a Brazilian, was brought to South Africa by former Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira. When Parreira left, Leal was asked to remain to assist Santana.
Leal explained why the upcoming friendlies were so critical for Bafana.
"This is an important part of our build-up for the 2010 football showpiece," Leal told reporters. "We need as many competitive matches as possible before June next year to prepare the side.
"We have done our homework and have analysed a number of Serbia's World Cup qualifying matches. I believe they will prove to be very tough opponents.
"But they are the sort of opposition we need to keep our players sharp and prepared."
Serbia have omitted a few of their star players - like Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic and Inter Milan's Dejan Stankovic - but they are still expected to provide Bafana with a major challenge.
Most of their players perform in the top leagues in Europe, in Italy, Germany and England.
Serbia are currently enjoying a cracking good run in their World Cup qualifying group, where they lead the standings ahead of former World Champions France.
After warming the hearts of the nation with some spirited performances at the recently-concluded Confederations Cup, the South African national football team is back in action when they take on Serbia in an an international friendly at the Super Stadium in Atteridgeville on Wednesday night (kick off 7pm).
With South Africa the World Cup hosts in 2010, Bafana gain automatic entry to the prestigious, most popular, sporting event on the planet.
But therein lies a disadvantage, in that head coach Joel Santana has no real, competitive qualifying fixtures to use to prepare the team.
And the fact that Bafana have failed to qualify for next year's African Cup of Nations doesn't help either.
So, from now to the start of the World Cup on South African soil in June 2010, friendlies are all Bafana and Santana can rely on.
But the next three fixtures should give the Brazilian coach more insight into the readiness of the squad.
Serbia, ranked 14th on the Fifa world rankings, loom large tomorrow and, after that, Bafana have friendly games against Germany and the Republic of Ireland.
Good news from the Bafana camp is that Santana is set to join the squad on Tuesday.
The coach was back home on holiday in Brazil - after the Confederations Cup - but was then struck down with bad case of pneumonia.
There were initial fears that Santana would be prohibited from travelling, because of the worldwide swine flu scare, and that the coach would not make it to tomorrow's game.
But the SA Football Association said Santana was cleared to travel to South Africa and would take his place on the Bafana bench.
"Santana has been cleared by his doctor and will travel to South Africa to resume his duties with the national team," a Safa statement said. "After a medical check-up in Rio de Janeiro yesterday, the coach has been declared fit to fly and he will arrive at the Bafana camp today to take charge of the team."
In Santana's absence, the Bafana squad was prepared by the two assistant-coaches, Pitso Mosimane and Jairo Leal.
Mosimane, 45, in his playing days turned out for Jomo Cosmos and Mamelodi Sundowns, as well as an extended spell for Ionikos in Greece. He also has four Bafana caps to his name.
Before taking up the Bafana assistant-coach position, he was the head coach of SuperSport United.
Leal, also a Brazilian, was brought to South Africa by former Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira. When Parreira left, Leal was asked to remain to assist Santana.
Leal explained why the upcoming friendlies were so critical for Bafana.
"This is an important part of our build-up for the 2010 football showpiece," Leal told reporters. "We need as many competitive matches as possible before June next year to prepare the side.
"We have done our homework and have analysed a number of Serbia's World Cup qualifying matches. I believe they will prove to be very tough opponents.
"But they are the sort of opposition we need to keep our players sharp and prepared."
Serbia have omitted a few of their star players - like Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic and Inter Milan's Dejan Stankovic - but they are still expected to provide Bafana with a major challenge.
Most of their players perform in the top leagues in Europe, in Italy, Germany and England.
Serbia are currently enjoying a cracking good run in their World Cup qualifying group, where they lead the standings ahead of former World Champions France.
posted @ 9:00 PM,
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Capello Promises to Look After His Star Names
Fabio Capello has promised worried Premier League bosses he will not risk their star men in England's friendly with Holland.
Steven Gerrard and Ben Foster have already pulled out, with Theo Walcott almost certain to follow them after withdrawing from training on Tuesday night without making any meaningful contribution.
Capello has also reported a slight doubt over Emile Heskey due to a long-standing Achilles complaint.
And, having pledged to make the maximum six substitutions, the Italian has attempted to reassure club bosses anxiously waiting for the curtain to go up on a new Premier League season at the weekend.
"I always try to help the managers," said Capello. "When I was a club manager, I said the same things as them. I didn't like it (an August friendly) either. That is normal.
"I didn't decide this date, FIFA did it. I have to choose the best players for the England team because I think it is very important. But I will make six substitutions because it is important to look after the players."
Capello has confirmed Gerrard's injury means Ashley Young will start for the first time after five previous substitute appearances for the Aston Villa man.
Two of those caps came during Capello's reign. The first represented just about the only negative from a marvellous night in Berlin last November, when England defeated Germany.
As the second came in a six-goal rout of Andorra in June, it is that first disappointing appearance that provides the reference point for Capello's analysis.
"Every player has a different style and Ashley Young is really important because he is one of the English players who can dribble and take people on one on one," said Capello. "He has only played twice for me. The first time it was so-so. The second he played very well.
"Now he needs the confidence to perform against one of the best national sides in the world."
Young represents the example for every young player to follow as England embark on an 11-month period they hope will end in World Cup glory.
Frank Lampard has described it as the biggest moment in so many England careers. Capello is not about to disagree. And he includes his own.
"They were very important words from one of the leaders of the team," said Capello. "And I think the other players think the same. It is really important for them, and for me. But first we have to get there. Then we will focus on the World Cup."
Steven Gerrard and Ben Foster have already pulled out, with Theo Walcott almost certain to follow them after withdrawing from training on Tuesday night without making any meaningful contribution.
Capello has also reported a slight doubt over Emile Heskey due to a long-standing Achilles complaint.
And, having pledged to make the maximum six substitutions, the Italian has attempted to reassure club bosses anxiously waiting for the curtain to go up on a new Premier League season at the weekend.
"I always try to help the managers," said Capello. "When I was a club manager, I said the same things as them. I didn't like it (an August friendly) either. That is normal.
"I didn't decide this date, FIFA did it. I have to choose the best players for the England team because I think it is very important. But I will make six substitutions because it is important to look after the players."
Capello has confirmed Gerrard's injury means Ashley Young will start for the first time after five previous substitute appearances for the Aston Villa man.
Two of those caps came during Capello's reign. The first represented just about the only negative from a marvellous night in Berlin last November, when England defeated Germany.
As the second came in a six-goal rout of Andorra in June, it is that first disappointing appearance that provides the reference point for Capello's analysis.
"Every player has a different style and Ashley Young is really important because he is one of the English players who can dribble and take people on one on one," said Capello. "He has only played twice for me. The first time it was so-so. The second he played very well.
"Now he needs the confidence to perform against one of the best national sides in the world."
Young represents the example for every young player to follow as England embark on an 11-month period they hope will end in World Cup glory.
Frank Lampard has described it as the biggest moment in so many England careers. Capello is not about to disagree. And he includes his own.
"They were very important words from one of the leaders of the team," said Capello. "And I think the other players think the same. It is really important for them, and for me. But first we have to get there. Then we will focus on the World Cup."
Labels: England, Holland., Players
posted @ 8:57 PM,
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Mahindra Satyam Boss Talks Up Prospects
For a man at the helm of a business that has been through so much in the course of this year, Mahindra Satyam's new CEO C.P. Gurnani looks remarkably relaxed.
With his smile and immaculate suit, Gurnani has been away from home for 12 weeks on a mission to reboot Indian outsourcer Satyam in its new incarnation as Mahindra Satyam (MAHMq.F).
Once India's fourth largest software and services outsourcing company, Satyam was thrown into turmoil in January this year when the company's founder and former chairman B Ramlinga Raju admitted he had inflated Satyam's profits by £640m over the previous seven years.
Subsequently, Indian telecoms integrator Tech Mahindra paid $351m for a 31 per cent majority stake in the company and Mahindra Satyam was born.
Newly-appointed CEO Gurnani is in London as part of a charm offensive that has seen him travelling the world trying to reassure existing customers and win back those who abandoned Satyam.
However Gurnani faces an uphill battle – customer confidence took a heavy knock in the wake of the revelations and he said the company is now only "marginally cash flow positive". At end of March this year Satyam had a bank balance of $74.6m and it will be another six months before it will be able to restate the true figures for Satyam's accounts over the past three years.
There is a lot of damage for Gurnani to repair, with Raju's revelation appearing to have cost Satyam a significant number of its customers. Just before the scandal broke the company claimed to have more than 600 customers whereas today Gurnani says that figure has dropped to "400 plus".
"We lost a fair amount of business and it had to go to someone – in certain cases it went to Wipro (WIT) or IBM (IBM) or TCS or HP (HPQ), you name it," said Gurnani, who took over as CEO six weeks ago after moving from his post as president of international operations at Tech Mahindra.
In its Satyam incarnation, the company provided services to 185 Fortune 500 companies, including helping to provide a common technology platform to food giant Nestle and striking a deal with football's international governing body Fifa, to be the IT services provider for the 2010 and 2014 Fifa World Cup and two Confederation Cup events.
Read at BusinessWeek
Labels: FIFA, IT Services
posted @ 11:15 AM,
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FiFa Contest
Monday, August 10, 2009
Go here to Win A FIFA Branded Sony Ericsson W995 & Tickets To The World Cup Finals In South Africa
posted @ 6:39 PM,
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Africa’s Greatest Football Show
From the 11 June – 11 July, South Africa will host the 2010 FIFA World CupTM – the world’s largest, most-watched football extravaganza. Staged across eight provinces, and nine host cities, almost half-a-million visitors are expected to experience the spectacle firsthand, while a worldwide, a television audience of between 35 and 40 billion “cumulative” viewers will witness the action and drama on screen.
The 2010 FIFA World CupTM is an unprecedented opportunity to make South Africa a more widely known and better understood destination that offers exceptional value for money and a quality travel experience, combined with a depth and breadth of activities and attractions that’s hard to beat.
The ultimate goal of the 2010 FIFA World CupTM is to harness the power of football to create positive social change. An improved public transport system and better-skilled and equipped safety and security, health, emergency services, accommodation and tourism providers are just some of the lasting legacies of 2010. For the first time, small, medium and micro-enterprises will be graded as FIFA approved accommodation providers, and opportunities for business, especially among emerging entrepreneurs in South Africa’s tourism industry will increase.
New urban recreational areas and multi-disciplinary sports facilities will benefit all, whilst many previously disadvantaged communities are currently benefitting from job opportunities in the construction of infrastructure and telecoms networks across the country. Four revamped and six new world-class, multi-purpose stadiums will continue to stimulate regional economies and provide jobs long after the football fanfare is over.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa’sTM official slogan: Ke Nako – Celebrate Africa’s Humanity, means ‘it is time’. Time for South Africa to change the world’s perceptions as we host a football spectacular that is African and first-class in every respect. We are ready. South Africa’s time has come.
Labels: FIFA 2010, Football, Soccer, South Africa
posted @ 6:33 PM,
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South Africa Danger Zone
South Africa’s rates of murder, rape, and car theft rank among the highest in the world. Be cautious after dark, because streets are often badly lit. Park in well-lit areas, and don’t stop to assist apparently distressed motorists.
If you’re visiting Johannesburg, be particularly careful in and around the airport and while driving away. There have been a number of incidents involving foreigners followed from O.R. Tambo International Airport to their destinations by car and then robbed at gunpoint. Other high-risk areas in Joburg include Berea, Hillbrow, and the Rotunda bus terminus in the Central Business District, where muggings are on the increase. Likewise, be vigilant at all times in Durban’s city centre and beachfront area. Large groups of armed criminals target banks, grocery stores, and other business establishments at public malls.
Read at bBENT
If you’re visiting Johannesburg, be particularly careful in and around the airport and while driving away. There have been a number of incidents involving foreigners followed from O.R. Tambo International Airport to their destinations by car and then robbed at gunpoint. Other high-risk areas in Joburg include Berea, Hillbrow, and the Rotunda bus terminus in the Central Business District, where muggings are on the increase. Likewise, be vigilant at all times in Durban’s city centre and beachfront area. Large groups of armed criminals target banks, grocery stores, and other business establishments at public malls.
Read at bBENT
Labels: South Africa
posted @ 9:23 AM,
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Soccer City’s New Lease on Life
Saturday, August 8, 2009
The final chapter was today written in the chequered history of South Africa's national football stadium Soccer City, the spectacular venue that will next year host the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ opening match and final.
The stadium was officially signed over to the City of Johannesburg by South Africa's Minister of Public Works, Mr Geoff Doidge, at SAFA house in Johannesburg today.
Built in 1987 on public land with primarily private funding, South Africa's iconic national football stadium was the first international standard stadium built for the country's football fraternity.
In a quick glance through the archives of the history of the stadium, the country's Minister of Sport and Recreation Rev Makhenkesi Stofile explained the significance of today's signing ceremony.
"In 1987 the apartheid government sold three pieces of land (on which the stadium is built) to the then Trust for Building Stadiums. The three pieces of land were sold for just over R5 million. That money was never paid and there was no compliance with the terms of that sale. As a result, that sale was nullified. Hence, the signing of this agreement is the culmination of a long period of negotiations between government and other stakeholders," said Stofile.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) were the custodians of the stadium where South Africa won the 1996 African Cup of Nations and where the goal was scored by Philemon Masinga that took Bafana Bafana to its first FIFA World Cup finals appearance at France in 1998.
The protracted negotiations culminated in SAFA symbolically selling the stadium to the South African Government for just one South African rand, thereby ensuring the stadium that will next year be the centre of the footballing world always remains the property of the South African public and its passionate football fans.
SAFA President Dr Molefi Oliphant said the association's signing over the stadium to the Government was the "most significant contribution we are making to South Africa".
Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Councillor Amos Masondo, said the City's signing of the lease agreement would ensure the stadium was always maintained and utilized for the benefit of future generations to come.
"The signing of this long-term lease will ensure the sustainability of the stadium and ensure it becomes a venue of choice for the hosting of both national and international events. It is our intention to make this facility a multi-purpose stadium and to position both the City of Johannesburg and the Province of Gauteng as major sports and cultural destinations," said Masondo.
Stofile said the stadium belonged to all South Africans and was an important national asset.
"One of the reasons why our Government got involved in the funding of the FIFA World Cup was to fast-track the development of infrastructure in South Africa that would otherwise have taken decades. This stadium belongs to the children of South Africa," said Stofile.
With 307 days to go till the opening ceremony and first match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, Soccer City is already 90% complete.
The stadium has been renovated to resemble a calabash, a traditional African cooking pot, and will have a total capacity of 91 500 seats.
"On 11 June 2010, Bafana Bafana will open the 2010 FIFA World Cup in this stadium. It will be a wonderful experience in front more than 90 000 supporters and 400 broadcasters allowing 750 million people to watch the opening game. We will have the chance to celebrate in a new, world-class stadium. It will be our Wembley, our Maracana, our Santiago Bernabeu and will be one of the best stadiums in the world," said Danny Jordaan, CEO of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa.{#}
The stadium was officially signed over to the City of Johannesburg by South Africa's Minister of Public Works, Mr Geoff Doidge, at SAFA house in Johannesburg today.
Built in 1987 on public land with primarily private funding, South Africa's iconic national football stadium was the first international standard stadium built for the country's football fraternity.
In a quick glance through the archives of the history of the stadium, the country's Minister of Sport and Recreation Rev Makhenkesi Stofile explained the significance of today's signing ceremony.
"In 1987 the apartheid government sold three pieces of land (on which the stadium is built) to the then Trust for Building Stadiums. The three pieces of land were sold for just over R5 million. That money was never paid and there was no compliance with the terms of that sale. As a result, that sale was nullified. Hence, the signing of this agreement is the culmination of a long period of negotiations between government and other stakeholders," said Stofile.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) were the custodians of the stadium where South Africa won the 1996 African Cup of Nations and where the goal was scored by Philemon Masinga that took Bafana Bafana to its first FIFA World Cup finals appearance at France in 1998.
The protracted negotiations culminated in SAFA symbolically selling the stadium to the South African Government for just one South African rand, thereby ensuring the stadium that will next year be the centre of the footballing world always remains the property of the South African public and its passionate football fans.
SAFA President Dr Molefi Oliphant said the association's signing over the stadium to the Government was the "most significant contribution we are making to South Africa".
Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Councillor Amos Masondo, said the City's signing of the lease agreement would ensure the stadium was always maintained and utilized for the benefit of future generations to come.
"The signing of this long-term lease will ensure the sustainability of the stadium and ensure it becomes a venue of choice for the hosting of both national and international events. It is our intention to make this facility a multi-purpose stadium and to position both the City of Johannesburg and the Province of Gauteng as major sports and cultural destinations," said Masondo.
Stofile said the stadium belonged to all South Africans and was an important national asset.
"One of the reasons why our Government got involved in the funding of the FIFA World Cup was to fast-track the development of infrastructure in South Africa that would otherwise have taken decades. This stadium belongs to the children of South Africa," said Stofile.
With 307 days to go till the opening ceremony and first match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, Soccer City is already 90% complete.
The stadium has been renovated to resemble a calabash, a traditional African cooking pot, and will have a total capacity of 91 500 seats.
"On 11 June 2010, Bafana Bafana will open the 2010 FIFA World Cup in this stadium. It will be a wonderful experience in front more than 90 000 supporters and 400 broadcasters allowing 750 million people to watch the opening game. We will have the chance to celebrate in a new, world-class stadium. It will be our Wembley, our Maracana, our Santiago Bernabeu and will be one of the best stadiums in the world," said Danny Jordaan, CEO of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa.{#}
Labels: FIFA News
posted @ 7:39 PM,
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FIFA Under-17 World Cup Draw On Friday
Friday, August 7, 2009
Host country Nigeria will be seeded in this Friday's draw for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, which takes place in Abuja. The competition itself kicks-off on October 24.
The draw ceremony will take place at the five-star Hilton Hotel, with organisers promising to deliver a superb event that will showcase the rich cultural heritage of this large West African nation.
The 24 finalists will be drawn into six groups of four teams, with the host nation, who are also the defending champions, slated to be based in Abuja, where the opening and final matches of the tournament will take place.
Besides Nigeria's Golden Eaglets, Africa will be represented by four other countries: Gambia; Algeria; Malawi; and Burkina Faso.
The talking point in the local press is which of the nine prospective host cities will not be part of the tournament.
The FIFA team, led by by vice president Jack Warner, is still far from impressed with Nigeria's readiness for the competition.
In the northern city of Kano, Warner warned that an electronic scoreboard has to be installed immediately, while in the south eastern city of Enugu, he ordered that a lot more work is needed to properly lay the artificial pitch at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.
There are also security fears in Bauchi, where there was a recent religious riot that left several hundred dead, while Warri in the oil-rich Delta State has a history of unrest caused by militants agitating for a better life for those in the oil-producing region of Nigeria.
Samm Audu, Goal.com
The draw ceremony will take place at the five-star Hilton Hotel, with organisers promising to deliver a superb event that will showcase the rich cultural heritage of this large West African nation.
The 24 finalists will be drawn into six groups of four teams, with the host nation, who are also the defending champions, slated to be based in Abuja, where the opening and final matches of the tournament will take place.
Besides Nigeria's Golden Eaglets, Africa will be represented by four other countries: Gambia; Algeria; Malawi; and Burkina Faso.
The talking point in the local press is which of the nine prospective host cities will not be part of the tournament.
The FIFA team, led by by vice president Jack Warner, is still far from impressed with Nigeria's readiness for the competition.
In the northern city of Kano, Warner warned that an electronic scoreboard has to be installed immediately, while in the south eastern city of Enugu, he ordered that a lot more work is needed to properly lay the artificial pitch at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.
There are also security fears in Bauchi, where there was a recent religious riot that left several hundred dead, while Warri in the oil-rich Delta State has a history of unrest caused by militants agitating for a better life for those in the oil-producing region of Nigeria.
Samm Audu, Goal.com
posted @ 11:51 AM,
,
FiFa World Ranking
posted @ 11:50 AM,
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Worldwide Scramble to See Top Sports Events
Thursday, August 6, 2009
IT may seem too early to be planning a 2010 vacation, but travelers who want to see the Winter Olympics in Vancouver this February or cheer their favorite soccer team at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa next summer had better get going.
Despite the recession, demand is high for both events, making tickets hard to come by and sending prices for any remaining hotel rooms soaring. But travelers can still watch their teams compete if they’re willing to be flexible, spend a little more money and make their travel plans now.
In general, the easiest option is to work with one of the official tour operators designated to sell hotel and ticket packages. It is also a sure way to find a hotel room when most are already sold out and to have someone to contact who understands the ins and outs of these sporting events in case something goes awry.
Let’s start with the 2010 Winter Olympics. CoSport is the only company authorized to sell Olympic tickets in the United States, and right now they’re sold out of them. While there is a chance that some tickets will be released this fall, the only way to get them now is by purchasing a travel package. A recent search on CoSport’s Web site pulled up several packages, including $5,136 a person for three nights at the Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside Hotel and a choice of three events including the coveted Feb. 12 opening ceremony.
What if you’ve already booked a hotel room or are staying with friends, and just want tickets? Scalping is technically legal in Vancouver, and while the Internet is rife with scalpers, buyers run the risk of getting counterfeits. One alternative: Ask a Canadian to buy you a ticket this fall, when the next batch of tickets is released.
Have tickets, but don’t have a place to stay? Nearly every hotel room in Whistler, downtown Vancouver and many of its suburbs are already taken by corporate sponsors, Olympic athletes or dogged fans. But some options remain for those who want to be in the thick of things — just be prepared to pay upwards of $600 a night or sleep in quirkier places.
There is an official regional cooperative Web site for the Winter Games, 2010destinationplanner.com, which offers lists of available accommodations and links to prescreened rental agencies and their apartments. Or, if you want to stay aboard a cruise ship, Newwest Travel & Cruises, based in Edmonton, Alberta, has chartered the Norwegian Star from Norwegian Cruise Lines and is turning it into a floating hotel during the Olympics. Rates begin at $1,050 a person for an inside stateroom, Feb. 10 to 13, including onboard meals and entertainment.
Travelers willing to stay across the border in Washington State can also find space. But don’t expect any bargains. The Holiday Inn Express in Bellingham, Wash., about 50 miles south of the border, was $366 a night in a recent check on Expedia.com.
The World Cup is trickier. Matches will be played in nine cities across South Africa (from June 11 through July 11, 2010), presenting something of a travel roulette for soccer fans.
As with the Olympics, the easiest way to obtain tickets is to buy a World Cup travel package, and there are three tour operators designated to sell them in the United States: Destination Southern Africa, Great Atlantic Travel & Tour and Cartan Tours .
Fans can also try their luck by entering the ticket lottery, being held in five phases. (The second phase began May 4 and runs through Nov. 16.) Tickets are awarded first come first served. For the time being, FIFA says there are no tickets left for the final, but a small inventory may become available in the third phase, Dec. 5 to Jan. 22, with a random draw taking place on Feb. 1 for any oversubscribed matches.
Unlike at the Olympics, however, where sports are tied to specific venues, and the dates and times of most events are already set, soccer fans won’t know where, when or even which teams will be playing in South Africa until all 32 teams have qualified and FIFA holds its tournament draw on Dec. 4.
That means travelers hoping to watch the United States in quarterfinals, for example, won’t know where the team will be playing — whether it’s at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, or nearly 900 miles away in Soccer City in Johannesburg — until just a few days before.
Of course, that’s always the case when it comes to the World Cup — and the last-minute scramble is part of the fun. But following your team around will be more complicated in South Africa than at the last World Cup, held in Germany in 2006. Fans staying in Frankfurt, for example, were within a two-hour train ride from most United States matches. South Africa, on the other hand, has less reliable trains and highways, and moving from match to match requires flying.
To increase your chances of seeing your team at the World Cup, work with one of the official tour operators to lock in tickets, hotels and other travel arrangements now. These companies have pre-purchased blocks of hotel rooms and flights. Choose a city like Cape Town, Durban or Johannesburg as a jumping off point. When the finals are announced in December, secure the remaining travel arrangements including domestic flights and hotels in or near the city your team will play. (In the event the United States is eliminated, the package follows the team that beats them.)
Conveniently for tourists, the World Cup coincides with South Africa’s winter, which is peak safari season, when diminished vegetation makes for better game viewing. For travelers who want to see the wildlife while they’re in the country, Destination Southern Africa, based in Tucson, Ariz., with an office in Cape Town, recommends booking three nights at a minimum.
“If you only spend two nights,” said Terry von Guilleaume, the owner, “you only get one full day on safari, reducing your chances of seeing animals.”<#>
Labels: FIFA 2014, South Africa, World Cup
posted @ 4:22 PM,
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Can Brazil hold it together for 2010?
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Ravi Ubha
The world's biggest party is fast approaching.
In less than 12 months, throngs of joyous fans will journey to South Africa, bringing the World Cup to Africa for the first time.
Aficionados without tickets will snuggle up to the TV: More than 715 million viewers watched Italy's dramatic win over France in the 2006 final in Germany. To put that into perspective for U.S. fans, about 151 million took in this year's Super Bowl.
"From a football point of view, it's fantastic," John Barnes, one of England's legendary players and a World Cup veteran, said in a phone interview. "And then there are the fans. Seeing them outside the grounds, seeing what they go through, and seeing how happy or sad they are, it's all a tremendous occasion."
Come July 11, 2010, in Johannesburg, one set of supporters will be happier than the rest.
Here's an early, early look at some of the teams sure to go deep, led by record five-time champ Brazil.
Yes, they'll all qualify.
Brazil
Talk about a paradox: Brazil, all suave and flair, being coached by a spiky-haired, no-nonsense enforcer who lacked the skills of many of his international teammates.
No matter. Whatever the diminutive Dunga, nicknamed "Dopey," is doing is working fine.
Taking over from the experienced Carlos Alberto Parreira shortly after Brazil's 2006 flop, Dunga, in his first top-level managerial job, molded together a team without egos.
Or at least that's what it sounded like after Brazil's title in June's Confederations Cup in South Africa, capped by a 3-2 comeback win over an inspired and seemingly fate-infused U.S. team.
"In 20 days together, there has not been the slightest problem, and that's something I've never seen from a team before," Dunga, a World Cup winner in 1994, told reporters. "That shows you how professional my players are."
Brazil has ample firepower in the deeply religious Kaka, the 2007 player of the year; the flashy but erratic Robinho; and Luis Fabiano. Felipe Melo and Gilberto Silva, like Dunga in his day, do the dirty work in midfield.
Does Dunga bring back the likes of legendary striker Ronaldo, enjoying a renaissance back home until hurting his hand, and fellow former world player of the year (Brazil has tons of them) Ronaldinho? Ronaldinho, tough to handle at Barcelona, and Kaka failed to click in Germany.
Italy
Marcello Lippi, Italy's cigar-smoking, Godfather-esque manager, has a similar dilemma.
Lippi largely stuck with the old guard: He omitted genius Antonio Cassano and paid the price at the Confederations Cup. The reigning world champions exited early, suffering an embarrassing loss to Egypt and a rout at the hands of Brazil.
Why omit Cassano? As gifted as he is, the striker mixes with trouble too often, and Lippi is a firm believer in the "no I in team" concept.
Lippi garnered seemingly endless praise and sent Italy into rapture while he was leading the Azzurri to a surprising crown, No. 4 overall, in Germany. Now the nation isn't so uplifted.
"I think Italy is quite worried," Massimo Cecchini, a soccer writer with the country's leading sports newspaper, Gazzetta dello Sport, said in a phone interview. "Winning the World Cup was a very special and unexpected moment. Currently our best players are not in that kind of form."
Unless Lippi opts for Cassano, or Francesco Totti, Italy's David Beckham, returns to international soccer, defense figures to be the national team's biggest weapon -- again.
As we've seen before, no one defends better.
Spain
Strength up the middle is a big plus in soccer, and Spain has it in abundance.
Iker Casillas is one of the world's top goalkeepers -- he is fighting it out for the top spot with Italy's Gianluigi Buffon -- Carles Puyol inspires in defense, Marcos Senna cleans up in midfield, and Andres Iniesta sets up goals.
But Fernando Torres and David Villa take the cake. They're the most feared forward partnership around at the international level.
Villa scored four goals and Torres chipped in with two as Spain finally shrugged off its underachieving tag by winning the European Championships last year.
"They're two extraordinary players from a technical standpoint, able to make easy what seems difficult," New York Red Bulls midfielder Albert Celades, one of the few players to have suited up for both Real Madrid and archrival Barcelona, wrote in an e-mail.
Spain fell earlier than expected at the Confederations Cup, but has few deep-rooted concerns. A first World Cup title would mirror France's Bleus, whose golden generation of stars executed a rare World Cup-Euro double in 1998 and 2000.
Germany
Discount the Germans at your peril.
Sure, they lack a Kaka, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, but Germany almost always excels in crunch time.
Germany, amid low expectations, sauntered to the 2002 World Cup final; the home crowd aided in a semifinal showing four years later; and Germany landed in the Euro 2008 final after struggling big-time in the group stage.
"In Germany, everyone knows we don't have the best players, and the only chance to win is as a team," Kai Traemann, who covers soccer for the country's biggest-selling newspaper, Bild, said in a phone interview. "In Spain or Brazil you have stronger players, but in Germany you only have players like [Michael] Ballack and [Miroslav] Klose. The rest have to fight and run for each other."
Midfield maestro Ballack, drifting at club team Chelsea, is transformed in a German jersey, while Klose, a veteran, is the major goal threat. The area of concern is central defense.
Argentina
The Diego Maradona experiment persists. For now.
Arguably the greatest soccer player of all time and the architect of Argentina's 1986 World Cup crown in Mexico, Maradona controversially became manager in October 2008 despite a lack of substantial experience.
Like Dunga, you say? Well, the Brazilian hasn't battled alcohol and drug addiction and problems with his weight. Nor does he curse opponents who suit up against his favorite team back home.
A bright start was tempered by a crushing 6-1 loss to Bolivia -- currently second-to-last in South American qualifying -- and a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Ecuador. Just last month Maradona was linked with a move to Portsmouth, a small fish in the big pond that is England's Premier League.
"In no way would I abandon ship," Maradona retorted in the Argentinean sports daily Ole.
Argentina has only a two-point lead over Ecuador in the race for the final automatic qualifying spot.
If Maradona, or anyone else, can mesh together a squad that features offensive threats Messi, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero -- father of the coach's grandson -- and defensive stalwarts Javier Zanetti and Javier Mascherano, watch out.
London-based Ravi Ubha covers soccer and tennis for ESPN.com.
The world's biggest party is fast approaching.
In less than 12 months, throngs of joyous fans will journey to South Africa, bringing the World Cup to Africa for the first time.
Aficionados without tickets will snuggle up to the TV: More than 715 million viewers watched Italy's dramatic win over France in the 2006 final in Germany. To put that into perspective for U.S. fans, about 151 million took in this year's Super Bowl.
"From a football point of view, it's fantastic," John Barnes, one of England's legendary players and a World Cup veteran, said in a phone interview. "And then there are the fans. Seeing them outside the grounds, seeing what they go through, and seeing how happy or sad they are, it's all a tremendous occasion."
Come July 11, 2010, in Johannesburg, one set of supporters will be happier than the rest.
Here's an early, early look at some of the teams sure to go deep, led by record five-time champ Brazil.
Yes, they'll all qualify.
Brazil
Talk about a paradox: Brazil, all suave and flair, being coached by a spiky-haired, no-nonsense enforcer who lacked the skills of many of his international teammates.
No matter. Whatever the diminutive Dunga, nicknamed "Dopey," is doing is working fine.
Taking over from the experienced Carlos Alberto Parreira shortly after Brazil's 2006 flop, Dunga, in his first top-level managerial job, molded together a team without egos.
Or at least that's what it sounded like after Brazil's title in June's Confederations Cup in South Africa, capped by a 3-2 comeback win over an inspired and seemingly fate-infused U.S. team.
"In 20 days together, there has not been the slightest problem, and that's something I've never seen from a team before," Dunga, a World Cup winner in 1994, told reporters. "That shows you how professional my players are."
Brazil has ample firepower in the deeply religious Kaka, the 2007 player of the year; the flashy but erratic Robinho; and Luis Fabiano. Felipe Melo and Gilberto Silva, like Dunga in his day, do the dirty work in midfield.
Does Dunga bring back the likes of legendary striker Ronaldo, enjoying a renaissance back home until hurting his hand, and fellow former world player of the year (Brazil has tons of them) Ronaldinho? Ronaldinho, tough to handle at Barcelona, and Kaka failed to click in Germany.
Italy
Marcello Lippi, Italy's cigar-smoking, Godfather-esque manager, has a similar dilemma.
Lippi largely stuck with the old guard: He omitted genius Antonio Cassano and paid the price at the Confederations Cup. The reigning world champions exited early, suffering an embarrassing loss to Egypt and a rout at the hands of Brazil.
Why omit Cassano? As gifted as he is, the striker mixes with trouble too often, and Lippi is a firm believer in the "no I in team" concept.
Lippi garnered seemingly endless praise and sent Italy into rapture while he was leading the Azzurri to a surprising crown, No. 4 overall, in Germany. Now the nation isn't so uplifted.
"I think Italy is quite worried," Massimo Cecchini, a soccer writer with the country's leading sports newspaper, Gazzetta dello Sport, said in a phone interview. "Winning the World Cup was a very special and unexpected moment. Currently our best players are not in that kind of form."
Unless Lippi opts for Cassano, or Francesco Totti, Italy's David Beckham, returns to international soccer, defense figures to be the national team's biggest weapon -- again.
As we've seen before, no one defends better.
Spain
Strength up the middle is a big plus in soccer, and Spain has it in abundance.
Iker Casillas is one of the world's top goalkeepers -- he is fighting it out for the top spot with Italy's Gianluigi Buffon -- Carles Puyol inspires in defense, Marcos Senna cleans up in midfield, and Andres Iniesta sets up goals.
But Fernando Torres and David Villa take the cake. They're the most feared forward partnership around at the international level.
Villa scored four goals and Torres chipped in with two as Spain finally shrugged off its underachieving tag by winning the European Championships last year.
"They're two extraordinary players from a technical standpoint, able to make easy what seems difficult," New York Red Bulls midfielder Albert Celades, one of the few players to have suited up for both Real Madrid and archrival Barcelona, wrote in an e-mail.
Spain fell earlier than expected at the Confederations Cup, but has few deep-rooted concerns. A first World Cup title would mirror France's Bleus, whose golden generation of stars executed a rare World Cup-Euro double in 1998 and 2000.
Germany
Discount the Germans at your peril.
Sure, they lack a Kaka, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, but Germany almost always excels in crunch time.
Germany, amid low expectations, sauntered to the 2002 World Cup final; the home crowd aided in a semifinal showing four years later; and Germany landed in the Euro 2008 final after struggling big-time in the group stage.
"In Germany, everyone knows we don't have the best players, and the only chance to win is as a team," Kai Traemann, who covers soccer for the country's biggest-selling newspaper, Bild, said in a phone interview. "In Spain or Brazil you have stronger players, but in Germany you only have players like [Michael] Ballack and [Miroslav] Klose. The rest have to fight and run for each other."
Midfield maestro Ballack, drifting at club team Chelsea, is transformed in a German jersey, while Klose, a veteran, is the major goal threat. The area of concern is central defense.
Argentina
The Diego Maradona experiment persists. For now.
Arguably the greatest soccer player of all time and the architect of Argentina's 1986 World Cup crown in Mexico, Maradona controversially became manager in October 2008 despite a lack of substantial experience.
Like Dunga, you say? Well, the Brazilian hasn't battled alcohol and drug addiction and problems with his weight. Nor does he curse opponents who suit up against his favorite team back home.
A bright start was tempered by a crushing 6-1 loss to Bolivia -- currently second-to-last in South American qualifying -- and a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Ecuador. Just last month Maradona was linked with a move to Portsmouth, a small fish in the big pond that is England's Premier League.
"In no way would I abandon ship," Maradona retorted in the Argentinean sports daily Ole.
Argentina has only a two-point lead over Ecuador in the race for the final automatic qualifying spot.
If Maradona, or anyone else, can mesh together a squad that features offensive threats Messi, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero -- father of the coach's grandson -- and defensive stalwarts Javier Zanetti and Javier Mascherano, watch out.
London-based Ravi Ubha covers soccer and tennis for ESPN.com.
Labels: Brazil, FIFA 2014, Players, Teams, World Cup
posted @ 12:34 PM,
,
2010 World Cup Could Result In An Increase In HIV
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
As South Africa prepares to host the2010 FIFA World Cup, the country is getting some attention for some not-so-positive news. Along with a high number of rapes, the country has long struggled to keep HIV/AIDS in check. With tourists pouring in for the huge soccer competition next June, the health minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, expressed concerns that the influx could lead to an increase in cases:“2010 is going to come with good things but it may also come with dangerous things….I mean, we will be having lots of visitors here… we know there will be lots of visitors who come here for sex, you can’t hide that. It happens and what will be the effects on this country?”
South Africa is home to the world’s largest AIDS epidemic, with about 5.7 million people infected with HIV. Hosting the World Cup is huge for South Africa and could be very beneficial. Hopefully, tourists visiting the country will practice safe sex if watching soccer isn’t enough activity for them; no one wants to take home a virus as their souvenir. [Reuters]
posted @ 8:49 PM,
,
'World's Biggest Game' - FFA Ad
FOOTBALL Federation Australia today unveiled a new advertising campaign for the Hyundai A-League competition at the launch of the 2009/10 season.
The campaign reflects a strategic shift in FFA's marketing approach to leverage the world stage of football.
"Market research undertaken by Woolcott Research at the end of last year showed that football fans in Australia take enormous pride in the global nature of the game," said FFA CEO, Ben Buckley.
"Interest in football is on the rise due to the Qantas Socceroos qualifying for next year's 2010 World Cup in South Africa, as well as our bid for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
"With the expansion of the Hyundai A-League this coming season, we thought it was important to emphasise these links and draw out the connections.
"The Hyundai A-League is the best way to experience the excitement, passion and emotion of the world's most popular game week-in, week-out."
Buckley said this concept was further enhanced by the return of several Socceroos to the A-League in addition to the entry of Gold Coast United and North Queensland Fury.
He added: "As well as Craig Moore (Brisbane Roar), we also now have Jason Culina (Gold Coast United), Mile Sterjovski, Chris Coyne and Jacob Burns (Perth Glory) all playing in the competition as well as one of the game's legends, Robbie Fowler (North Queensland Fury)."
FFA Chief Commercial Officer, John O'Sullivan, said that the brief to advertising agency Lowe Sydney was to create a campaign that clearly reflected the scale and international nature of football, whilst also highlighting the local version.
"The opportunity existed to continue to build credibility in, and a legacy for, the Hyundai A-League through the strength of football in Australia thanks to the Qantas Socceroos, Adelaide United's performances last year in the Asian Champions League and the bid for the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup," he said.
"We know that football fans are proud of the fact that football is the one truly global game, and we want to continue to build Hyundai A-League clubs with this natural connection.
"We hope the advertisement encourages fans to ‘think global, act local' when it comes to being part of the football family."
The campaign launched on Fox Sports, free-to-air television, in cinema and outdoors on Sunday night. It is directed by Bruce Hunt and produced by Revolver Films with music by Spiderbait. {#}
The campaign reflects a strategic shift in FFA's marketing approach to leverage the world stage of football.
"Market research undertaken by Woolcott Research at the end of last year showed that football fans in Australia take enormous pride in the global nature of the game," said FFA CEO, Ben Buckley.
"Interest in football is on the rise due to the Qantas Socceroos qualifying for next year's 2010 World Cup in South Africa, as well as our bid for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
"With the expansion of the Hyundai A-League this coming season, we thought it was important to emphasise these links and draw out the connections.
"The Hyundai A-League is the best way to experience the excitement, passion and emotion of the world's most popular game week-in, week-out."
Buckley said this concept was further enhanced by the return of several Socceroos to the A-League in addition to the entry of Gold Coast United and North Queensland Fury.
He added: "As well as Craig Moore (Brisbane Roar), we also now have Jason Culina (Gold Coast United), Mile Sterjovski, Chris Coyne and Jacob Burns (Perth Glory) all playing in the competition as well as one of the game's legends, Robbie Fowler (North Queensland Fury)."
FFA Chief Commercial Officer, John O'Sullivan, said that the brief to advertising agency Lowe Sydney was to create a campaign that clearly reflected the scale and international nature of football, whilst also highlighting the local version.
"The opportunity existed to continue to build credibility in, and a legacy for, the Hyundai A-League through the strength of football in Australia thanks to the Qantas Socceroos, Adelaide United's performances last year in the Asian Champions League and the bid for the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup," he said.
"We know that football fans are proud of the fact that football is the one truly global game, and we want to continue to build Hyundai A-League clubs with this natural connection.
"We hope the advertisement encourages fans to ‘think global, act local' when it comes to being part of the football family."
The campaign launched on Fox Sports, free-to-air television, in cinema and outdoors on Sunday night. It is directed by Bruce Hunt and produced by Revolver Films with music by Spiderbait. {#}
posted @ 8:48 PM,
,
Can Brazil Hold it Together for 2010?
Ravi Ubha
The world's biggest party is fast approaching.
In less than 12 months, throngs of joyous fans will journey to South Africa, bringing the World Cup to Africa for the first time.
Aficionados without tickets will snuggle up to the TV: More than 715 million viewers watched Italy's dramatic win over France in the 2006 final in Germany. To put that into perspective for U.S. fans, about 151 million took in this year's Super Bowl.
"From a football point of view, it's fantastic," John Barnes, one of England's legendary players and a World Cup veteran, said in a phone interview. "And then there are the fans. Seeing them outside the grounds, seeing what they go through, and seeing how happy or sad they are, it's all a tremendous occasion."
Come July 11, 2010, in Johannesburg, one set of supporters will be happier than the rest.
Here's an early, early look at some of the teams sure to go deep, led by record five-time champ Brazil.
Yes, they'll all qualify.
Brazil
Talk about a paradox: Brazil, all suave and flair, being coached by a spiky-haired, no-nonsense enforcer who lacked the skills of many of his international teammates.
No matter. Whatever the diminutive Dunga, nicknamed "Dopey," is doing is working fine.
Taking over from the experienced Carlos Alberto Parreira shortly after Brazil's 2006 flop, Dunga, in his first top-level managerial job, molded together a team without egos.
Or at least that's what it sounded like after Brazil's title in June's Confederations Cup in South Africa, capped by a 3-2 comeback win over an inspired and seemingly fate-infused U.S. team.
"In 20 days together, there has not been the slightest problem, and that's something I've never seen from a team before," Dunga, a World Cup winner in 1994, told reporters. "That shows you how professional my players are."
Brazil has ample firepower in the deeply religious Kaka, the 2007 player of the year; the flashy but erratic Robinho; and Luis Fabiano. Felipe Melo and Gilberto Silva, like Dunga in his day, do the dirty work in midfield.
Does Dunga bring back the likes of legendary striker Ronaldo, enjoying a renaissance back home until hurting his hand, and fellow former world player of the year (Brazil has tons of them) Ronaldinho? Ronaldinho, tough to handle at Barcelona, and Kaka failed to click in Germany.
Italy
Marcello Lippi, Italy's cigar-smoking, Godfather-esque manager, has a similar dilemma.
Lippi largely stuck with the old guard: He omitted genius Antonio Cassano and paid the price at the Confederations Cup. The reigning world champions exited early, suffering an embarrassing loss to Egypt and a rout at the hands of Brazil.
Why omit Cassano? As gifted as he is, the striker mixes with trouble too often, and Lippi is a firm believer in the "no I in team" concept.
Lippi garnered seemingly endless praise and sent Italy into rapture while he was leading the Azzurri to a surprising crown, No. 4 overall, in Germany. Now the nation isn't so uplifted.
"I think Italy is quite worried," Massimo Cecchini, a soccer writer with the country's leading sports newspaper, Gazzetta dello Sport, said in a phone interview. "Winning the World Cup was a very special and unexpected moment. Currently our best players are not in that kind of form."
Unless Lippi opts for Cassano, or Francesco Totti, Italy's David Beckham, returns to international soccer, defense figures to be the national team's biggest weapon -- again.
As we've seen before, no one defends better.
Spain
Strength up the middle is a big plus in soccer, and Spain has it in abundance.
Iker Casillas is one of the world's top goalkeepers -- he is fighting it out for the top spot with Italy's Gianluigi Buffon -- Carles Puyol inspires in defense, Marcos Senna cleans up in midfield, and Andres Iniesta sets up goals.
But Fernando Torres and David Villa take the cake. They're the most feared forward partnership around at the international level.
Villa scored four goals and Torres chipped in with two as Spain finally shrugged off its underachieving tag by winning the European Championships last year.
"They're two extraordinary players from a technical standpoint, able to make easy what seems difficult," New York Red Bulls midfielder Albert Celades, one of the few players to have suited up for both Real Madrid and archrival Barcelona, wrote in an e-mail.
Spain fell earlier than expected at the Confederations Cup, but has few deep-rooted concerns. A first World Cup title would mirror France's Bleus, whose golden generation of stars executed a rare World Cup-Euro double in 1998 and 2000.
Germany
Discount the Germans at your peril.
Sure, they lack a Kaka, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, but Germany almost always excels in crunch time.
Germany, amid low expectations, sauntered to the 2002 World Cup final; the home crowd aided in a semifinal showing four years later; and Germany landed in the Euro 2008 final after struggling big-time in the group stage.
"In Germany, everyone knows we don't have the best players, and the only chance to win is as a team," Kai Traemann, who covers soccer for the country's biggest-selling newspaper, Bild, said in a phone interview. "In Spain or Brazil you have stronger players, but in Germany you only have players like [Michael] Ballack and [Miroslav] Klose. The rest have to fight and run for each other."
Midfield maestro Ballack, drifting at club team Chelsea, is transformed in a German jersey, while Klose, a veteran, is the major goal threat. The area of concern is central defense.
Argentina
The Diego Maradona experiment persists. For now.
Arguably the greatest soccer player of all time and the architect of Argentina's 1986 World Cup crown in Mexico, Maradona controversially became manager in October 2008 despite a lack of substantial experience.
Like Dunga, you say? Well, the Brazilian hasn't battled alcohol and drug addiction and problems with his weight. Nor does he curse opponents who suit up against his favorite team back home.
A bright start was tempered by a crushing 6-1 loss to Bolivia -- currently second-to-last in South American qualifying -- and a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Ecuador. Just last month Maradona was linked with a move to Portsmouth, a small fish in the big pond that is England's Premier League.
"In no way would I abandon ship," Maradona retorted in the Argentinean sports daily Ole.
Argentina has only a two-point lead over Ecuador in the race for the final automatic qualifying spot.
If Maradona, or anyone else, can mesh together a squad that features offensive threats Messi, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero -- father of the coach's grandson -- and defensive stalwarts Javier Zanetti and Javier Mascherano, watch out.
London-based Ravi Ubha covers soccer and tennis for ESPN.com.
posted @ 11:07 AM,
,
