Haiti aiming high, not always on target
July 18, 2009
ARLINGTON, Texas -They tried it once. They tried again. And they tried some more until they hit their target — a large target.
It’s like a bulls eye that measures about 180 feet (55 meters) long and 50 feet (15 meters) high and is suspended from a ceiling nearly as high as a skyscraper.
Haiti’s players had trouble kicking a soccer ball high enough to hit the giant scoreboard – the world’s largest high-definition TV screen — that covers a large portion of the playing field at the Dallas Cowboys’ new stadium.
They tried it during a recent training session. They weren’t being rebellious, trying to cause trouble. The Haitians were dared by the man responsible for the creation of the stadium.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wanted to see if the Haitians could hit the screen.
A couple of players hit the bottom part of the screen, causing stadium visitors to erupt in cheers.
It was a moment the Haitian players might not forget. It’s rare that a team from a small Caribbean island gets the chance to train inside a stadium that cost an estimated $1.15 billion to build and holds 80,000 people with room to spare.
Haiti doesn’t always get the chance to showcase its talent at a venue that is among the largest stadiums in the world.
But come Sunday, Haiti will have what is its biggest soccer challenge yet. It will have its chance to shine against Mexico in the night cap of a Gold Cup quarterfinal doubleheader.
It will be a match between one of the poorest soccer nation against one of the wealthiest in the region.
“We’re dying with enthusiasm to play in this game in this scenario,” Haiti coach Jairo Rios said in Spanish. “We’re grateful and pleased we have this opportunity.”
The large stadiums, the charter flights, fancy hotels and daily allowances are also a rare opportunity for Haiti players.
This is a team that wasn’t supposed to be in the tournament. It was invited to replace Cuba, which qualified but withdrew.
“Getting to come here was a blessing from God,” Rios said. “We’re going to try and get the best out of it.”
Haiti players will try to beat Mexico, but also take the opportunity to demonstrate their talents for possible contracts with high-paying clubs.
Rios is hoping this match and the tournament alone can help some of his players and others back on the island begin a journey out of extreme poverty.
Haitian soccer players don’t have the luxuries that others in the region have.
Some Haitians not only don’t have cash for equipment, they don’t have the means for every day essentials.
“Nutrition is terrible with a lot of these players,” Rios said. “Some don’t eat because they can’t afford to buy food. There’s no way you can be an athlete if you don’t have the proper nutrition.”
That’s one of many obstacles Rios faces as the coach of a national team that doesn’t receive much support from its government. Team resources are scarce. Soccer life in Haiti is hanging by a thread.
Most of Haiti players on the Gold Cup roster play for clubs outside the island and in Europe. Rios said they are well compensated compared to prospects back home.
Others are beginning to make careers in the United States as part of the United Soccer Leagues First Division and Major League Soccer.
Players such as midfielder Jean Alexandre, who is on loan to USL side Austin Aztecs by Real Salt Lake and forward Leonel Saint-Preux (Minnesota Thunder).
Fabrice Noel is another.
The 23-year-old is regarded as one of Haiti’s top prospects. He has 10 caps with Haiti. He scored his first goal with the national team against Grenada last week.
Noel plays for the Puerto Rico Islanders. He’s made Puerto Rico his home since signing with the club last year and is living comfortably. He had his stint in MLS after being drafted by the Colorado Rapids in 2005 before being waived in 2007.
“I have one year left in Puerto Rico so I’m trying to do my best to move to another level,” Noel said. “We want people to know that we can play. We just don’t have a lot of help. We don’t have agents. We try to sell ourselves in different places. We really have a lot of talent on the team. We just play for a poor country.”
Rios is trying to send that message to the rest of the soccer world. That is why he took on this job.
He took over as coach last summer after Haiti was devastated by a hurricane that wiped out most of the island.
Soccer was put on hold. The country received help from FIFA to get its soccer clubs and national team going again. They provided temporary coaches.
Rios was later offered the job.
“I was told the pay wasn’t going to be good,” Rios said. “I thought money wasn’t the issue here, so I went for it. I wanted to help bring change.”
Rios said he has not received a paycheck for his services in “quite some time.” He said most players make about $400 a month. He said players are taking home $2,000 for participating in the Gold Cup.
“That’s an incredible amount of money for them,” Rios said. “You won’t see them spending much at the shopping malls. They’ll make sure to take most of it home.”
So why did Rios take the job despite all challenges?
“I love soccer,” said Rios, who was coaching a club in Honduras before taking over Haiti. “Soccer has given me so much that I thought I could give back. I fell in love with the island and the people, the players.”
Rios, born in Colombia, said he was overwhelmed by the poverty that embraces the island.
He’s seen players live in shacks without potable water, no electricity and just enough food not to starve.
“It’s something unreal,” Rios said. “When I arrived I couldn’t bear to see it. But I knew I had to do something and try to change it.”
Rios might not change Haiti’s national team’s economic woes, but he said he’s seen improvement on the field.
He said players in Haiti don’t know how to manage the technical side of the game. They don’t generally pass the ball and play a scheme. They try as individuals, always wanting to keep the ball.
Assistant coach Jairo Ossa said it used to take players 50 repetitions to learn a drill.
“Now it takes only 10,” Ossa said. “They’re adjusting to what we’re teaching.”
Players also are adjusting to coaching signals provided by Rios and Ossa, who also is from Colombia.
Most players speak French, English and Creole. Both coaches are fluent in Spanish.
Language is not much of a problem as earning the players trust. Some have opened up to their coaches. Others like to keep to themselves.
“Sometimes they act like 10 or 12-year-olds,” Ossa said. “It’s something that we’re getting used to and we hope to continue to embrace.”
But when Haiti players get a chance to kick soccer balls at what could be the world’s largest television, they are not shy.
By Ivan Orozco
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July 18, 2009
French left back Aly Cissokho is on his way to Lyon after agreement was reached between the French club and FC Porto, a source close to the dossier said Saturday.
The player is set to sign a five-year deal worth at least 15 million euros.
The deal was sealed on Saturday in Porto after Lyon team doctor Emmanuel Ohrant gave the player the all clear during a medical.
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July 18, 2009
Austrian international midfielder Andreas Ivanschitz is on his way to promoted Bundesliga side Mainz from Greek outfit Panathinaikos, the German team’s manager Georg Stanggassinger said Saturday.
The 25-year-old former Austrian team captain will sign a three-year contract worth 1.5 million euro on Sunday.
Ivanschitz arrived at Panathinaikos in 2006 after playing for Rapid Vienna and Salzburg, but failed to feature last season.
In three years he has played some 50 league games.
Ivanschitz was national skipper from 2003 until early this year but has been sidelined from the side by new coach Didi Constanini.
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Tevez watches as Man City sunk by Pirates
July 18, 2009
New signing Carlos Tevez watched from the sideline as Manchester City lost 2-0 to Orlando Pirates Saturday in the opening Vodacom Challenge tournament match.
City manager Mark Hughes said was “too dangerous” to field Argentine Tevez and another close-season striking purchase Paraguayan Roque Santa Cruz in this northern city as they lacked match fitness.
Former Manchester United striker Hughes, under pressure to break into the English Premiership “big four” after a close season spending spree that also netted England midfielder Gareth Barry, offered no excuses for the loss.
“It was a good workout against a Pirates team that played very well. I was pleased with the day, but not the result,” he admitted after a goal in each half gave the “Buccaneers” a deserved victory before 20,000 spectators.
“We are in the conditioning phase of pre-season preparations and today you could see that the players are at different levels. A few more games and they will all be up to speed.
“Carlos (Tevez) and Roque (Santa Cruz) were not considered for this match as it would have been too dangerous given their level of pre-season fitness,” stressed Hughes.
Pirates coach and former Netherlands World Cup star Ruud Krol had sympathy for City: “They have just travelled from Dubai and this does not make it easy. Believe me, City are a good team.”
The English Premiership outfit lacked at least half its likely first choice line-up and were under pressure from the kick-off with goalkeeper Stuart Taylor forced into a low save just 14 seconds after the kick-off.
Lucas Thwala put Pirates ahead on 36 minutes from the penalty spot after Ben Mee was guilty of shirt tugging and City had Craig Bellamy and Martin Petrov booked during an opening half in which they wasted several scoring chances.
Botswana midfielder Phenyo Mongala added a second goal on 56 minutes as his cross flew over Taylor into the far corner of the net and although City made a number of substitutions they never threatened to wrest the initiative.
City face Kaizer Chiefs Tuesday in the Indian Ocean city of Durban before meeting the winners of a play-off between the South African clubs in the Pretoria final next Saturday.
POLOKWANE, South Africa (AFP)
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Hull not interested in Barton
July 18, 2009
Hull on Saturday dismissed reports linking them with controversial Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton.
Hull want to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season but say they are not planning to offer the 27-year-old a Premier League lifeline.
Assistant manager Brian Horton said: “Joey Barton is a very good footballer. I know him, I have done things with him in Manchester.
“He has obviously had issues and that is a shame because he can be a very good footballer but at this present time I don’t think it’s an area that really needs to be looked at.”
Hull have had a frustrating summer in the transfer market with three high-profile targets opt for other clubs.
They lost Fraizer Campbell and Marc-Antoine Fortune to Sunderland and Celtic respectively with an attempt to sign Michael Owen also came to nothing as Manchester United stepped in.
Horton added: “It is frustrating, we are trying like hell.
“But they have gone to three big clubs. If we were losing Joe Bloggs from Division Three it would be a different matter.
“We want to bring someone in but we need to have a bit of patience, things will evolve.
“It’s not the fact we are not trying to get better players in.”
HULL, England (AFP)
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Adebayor set for City medical
July 18, 2009
Arsenal and Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor is expected to undergo a medical with Manchester City later on Saturday.
The 25-year-old has emerged as another transfer target for cash-rich City earlier this month and his proposed move to Eastlands is edging ever closer.
Manager Mark Hughes confirmed talks with the Gunners over the Togo international were ongoing at the press conference which saw Carlos Tevez unveiled.
With Roque Santa Cruz having also joined the ambitious North West outfit from Blackburn, Hughes will be overflowing with forward options for the new season.
Record signing Robinho and Wales international Craig Bellamy complete a quintet of frontmen who will be vying for a place in the starting XI.
Adebayor travelled to Manchester on Tuesday to attend a hearing which saw the formality of a work permit application go through without a hitch.
The 24-year-old, who joined the Gunners from Monaco in a £7million deal in January 2006, will now be examined by City’s medical staff with a fee of £25million reported to have been agreed between the two clubs.
Adebayor was omitted from Arsenal’s squad for Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Barnet.
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Hull deny Barton rumors
July 18, 2009
Premier League side Hull City have denied reports linking them for a possible summer swoop of Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton.
The Liverpool born midfielder, who is one of many high-earners at St James’ Park, could be offloaded by the Magpies following their unxpected relegation.
While Tigers boss Phil Brown is keen to strengthen his squad after only narrowly avoiding the drop last term, but has no plans to bring in the controversial 27-year-old to the KC Stadium.
When asked if there was any truth in the rumours, assistant manager Brian Horton said: “No.”
“Joey Barton is a very good footballer. I know him, I have done things with him in Manchester.
“He has obviously had issues and that is a shame because he can be a very good footballer but at this present time I don’t think it’s an area that really needs to be looked at.”
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Bougherra set to snub Bordeaux
July 18, 2009
Scottish Premier League side Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra has stated that he intends to stay at Ibrox despite strong interest for his services from Ligue 1 Champions Bordeaux.
The highly rated Algerian international, who moved to Ibrox from Charlton in a £2.5million deal 12 months ago, had emerged as a target for Les Girondins.
However, Bougherra insists he has no plans to leave Walter Smith’s side and is looking forward to the challenge of Champions League football this season.
He said: “I love it here. It is a great and very big club. I have settled here and my progress is going like I want.
“I told Bordeaux thank you for their interest but it is great for me to play for Rangers.
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Owen scores winner on debut for Man Utd
July 18, 2009
Michael Owen got his Manchester United career off to a flyer on Saturday when he scored the winner on his debut as the Premier League champions struggled past a Malaysian XI 3-2.
The former Newcastle and England striker, who moved to Old Trafford on a free transfer this month, came on as a substitute for Wayne Rooney after 60 minutes with the score at 2-2 and made the most of his chance.
He pounced with five minutes left, picking up the ball just inside the box and rounding the goalkeeper before planting a right foot shot into the net.
It dug United out of a hole after they let a two goal lead, courtesy of Rooney and Nani, slip.
Goalkeeping errors let the home team back in the game, with Amri Yahyah capitalising both times.
Sir Alex Ferguson brought a 22-man squad to Asia and said ahead of the game he would start with his best 11 — and it didn’t include Owen.
Instead, Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov led the attack with the promising Darron Gibson wide on the right and Nani on the left.
Paul Scholes and Anderson were in the middle while Rio Ferdinand took the captain’s armband ahead of Gary Neville.
Joining him in defence were Patrice Evra, Johnny Evans and John O’Shea, with Edwin Van Der Sar in goal.
Rooney had the first chance when he forced a fine save from goalkeeper Farizal Marlias after just two minutes with Evans also going close with a header from the resulting corner.
The breakthrough came on seven minutes when Gibson sent the ball over from the right and Berbatov’s shot was saved by Marlias only for Rooney to pick up the rebound for an easy tap in.
Rooney was in the thick of the action and nearly made it 2-0 a minute later when his shot was tipped over the bar.
United though were clearly rusty and missed the flair of Cristiano Ronaldo, with passes going astray and Malaysia being given too much room.
Despite this, United doubled their lead on 27 minutes after Rooney timed a pass perfectly to Nani who slotted the ball home with his left foot from close range.
But complacency crept in as half-time neared and Van Der Saar was caught napping by Yahyah who cleverly lobbed the ball over the Dutchman’s head from 30 yards to set the crowd alight.
Ben Foster replaced him for the second half but fared no better, committing a schoolboy error when he failed to clear a back pass, which Yahyah pounced on to draw Malaysia level after 52 minutes.
It prompted Ferguson to make four substitutions with Owen, Wes Brown, Zoran Tosic and Fabio all coming on.
The match looked headed for a draw before Owen worked some of his old magic to get their pre-season off on the right foot.
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Redknapp declares Crouch interest
July 18, 2009
Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur’s boss Harry Redknapp has declared his interest for former Liverpool and Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch.
The England striker, who is expected to leave Portsmouth this summer, has been linked with Sunderland, and Fulham.
But it now seems Redknapp could bid for the £12million-rated hitman, after Crouch held talks with Sunderland boss Steve Bruce over a possible switch to Wearside.
The former Pompey boss sold Crouch in the early days of first stint on the south coast, before signing him while at the helm of local rivals Southampton and then bringing him back to Fratton Park from Liverpool in a £9million deal last summer.
“I like Peter. I’ve signed him several times and he’s a top player,” Redknapp told Sky Sports News.
“He’s a player that we could be interested in, but we’ll have to wait and see.
“Portsmouth obviously want to sell him now, they’ve accepted offers for him, so if they want to sell him, we’d be interested.”
And Spurs striker Jermain Defoe, who played alongside Crouch for Portsmouth, would welcome the opportunity to renew their partnership.
He said, “I spoke to ‘Crouchy’ over the summer, while we were on England duty. I’ve played with him for several years, at Under-21 and now senior level.
“It’s down to Crouchy, obviously he’s going to go where he’s going to play.
“If he wants to come here it’s only going to help the team.”
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