West Ham shock as Englishmen buy Premier League club!

January 20, 2010


Londoners David Sullivan and David Gold have bucked a growing trend in England’s Premier League by taking control of 50 percent of West Ham United.

It returned a club steeped in the tradition of the English game to home ownership after an ill-fated three years of foreign control that has left the club deep in debt.

While West Ham are still half-owned by Icelandic bank Straumur, Sullivan and Gold are confident they can attract local investors to help the club back on its feet and in the words of Sullivan “return it to the fans”.

It will be music to the ears of detractors, who have watched half of the Premier League’s clubs sold to overseas owners — a state of affairs that has been criticised by UEFA President Michel Platini.

One only has to look at the mess at Portsmouth and the debts carried by American-owned Manchester United and Liverpool to see that Platini has a point.

Sullivan and Gold, who ran a reasonably tight ship at Birmingham City for 16 years, re-building the club before selling to Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung last year, face a huge challenge at West Ham.

But far from promising instant miracles and fancy signings, they are determined to stabilise the club on and off the field and then eventually move to London’s 2012 Olympic Stadium which they believe would allow them to offer tickets that local fans can actually afford.

“I said at Birmingham that it should be somebody born ane bred in Birmingham who owns the club but nobody was interested at the time,” Sullivan said. “I think it is nice when local people own or part own the local club.

“I’m not the king of Saudi Arabia or Roman Abramovich and it’s going to take two years to start turning this club around. Two and a half years ago I said that West Ham would come to me in five years to solve their problems.”

All eyes will be on Sullivan and Gold to see if they can actually deliver on what they call a seven-year plan to get West Ham into the Champions League without incurring huge debts.

But even if they just return some common-sense business practises to an industry that Sullivan says has gone “potty”, it could mark an important sea change in the way football clubs are run.

Fans of debt-crippled Portsmouth will probably be casting an envious eye on East London, hoping that they too can find a couple of successful local businessman to bring another famous old English club back from the brink.

PHOTO: Businessman David Sullivan after announcing his joint takeover of West Ham United at Upton Park football ground in east London January 19, 2010. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett

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Algeria take on Angola and 50,000 football fans

January 18, 2010


Angola go into Monday’s decisive Group A game against Algeria safe in the knowledge that a draw will be enough to see them progress to the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.

The table-topping hosts have four points and are sitting pretty as even defeat would see them go through if Mali beat Malawi in the mini-league’s second fixture being staged at the same time up in Cabinda.

Algeria on the other hand need a win to ensure their place in the last eight if they are not to be reliant on the right result from Cabinda.

The World Cup qualifiers lost 3-0 to Malawi in their opener last Monday, a match played out to a crowd that barely reached triple figures.

It will be an altogether different story this time around when they will have 50,000 vocal local fans up against them.

In glaring contrast only half a dozen fans have travelled from Algeria to support the Desert Foxes, with visa restrictions and high costs – Luanda is the most expensive city in the world for visitors, a pizza can cost 50 US dollars – - the reasons behind the Algerian fans no-show.

Angola captain Kali, paying tribute to the home support, said: “The fans have been amazing. Our biggest responsibility is to win for them.”

While midfielder Dede is out, he picked up a thigh injury in last Sunday’s 4-4 draw with Mali, doubts also persist over the fitness of star striker Flavio.

The Saudi Arabia-based forward is leading scorer in the competition with three goals, but was taken off in the second half in the 2-0 win over Malawi.

Gilberto, who has also been in good scoring form at the competition, and Zuela, are also concerns for the hosts.

Kali noted on Friday: “Of course we’ve got injuries but there are still another 48 hours to go.

“Players can recuperate, but if one can’t make it we have the men to replace him.”

Kali said morale in the hosts’ camp was high but added: “We’re at home and the biggest responsibility is to our supporters.”

He paid tribute to coach Manuel Jose, a noted disciplinarian who is something of a national hero in Egypt after enjoying a fine run of success with Al-Ahly.

“Discipline is the foundation of any team, and the boss – we call him ‘mister’ as he doesn’t like us to call him anything else, is good on that.

“He’s also a man who has a winning mentality, and that rubs off on us, the players. We have a lot of respect for him.”

Over in the Algerian camp it’s hard to assess their mood as coach Rabah Saadane has pulled down the shutters, banning the media from the last two training sessions.

That provoked an unprecedented boycott of the national team by the Algerian press pack who turned their backs and ignored the players as they emerged from a behind closed doors session on Thursday.

Saadane has also had to deal with one of his squad, star midfielder Khalid Lemmouchia, storming out of the camp and returning home – upset that he wasn’t being selected.

Algeria are desperate to make an imprint on this competition ahead of the World Cup where they are drawn in the same first round group as England and the United States.

Algeria’s sports minister, Hachemi Djiar, told AFP: “Everyone thought they were finished after that defeat to Malawi but they proved with the win against Mali that they have potential.

“They are a young team that has lots of qualities and I have confidence in them – that’s why I call on all Algerians to get behind them.”

LUANDA (AFP)

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Flavio, Manucho help Angola down Malawi

January 15, 2010


Angola avoided another Mali-style collapse to beat Malawi 2-0 and move to the top of Africa Cup of Nations Group A Thursday.

The 2010 hosts put the trauma of seeing a four-goal lead evaporate in the last quarter of an hour of their opening game behind them with goals from Flavio and Manucho.

The result put Angola on four points with Malawi and Algeria on three and Mali, beaten 1-0 by the Algerians in Thursday’s first match, propping up the table on one point.

“The team put in a fantastic effort,” said Angola coach Manuel Jose.

“We had a lot of injuries, I had to take Gilberto off early. If he had stayed on perhaps we could have closed down the game sooner.

“Then there was Flavio and Zuela, who had a problem in the last minute. But they are the sort of sacrifices you have to make if you want to be champions.

“I believed before the game we could win it. The players were free in their minds, their confidence was very high.”

Angola captain Carlos ‘Kali’ Alonso added: “We showed our strength. We felt more secure and our morale was high.”

Malawi coach Kinnah Phiri was upset over training facilities accorded to his team in the run-up to the game.

“We’ve written a letter of protest to (organisers) CAF – they didn’t let us train at the stadium, we were denied a chance to train yesterday (Wednesday).” Angola, with President Eduardo Jose dos Santos, sporting the team’s scarf, among the 50,000 crowd, burst out of the blocks.

They almost took a lightning lead when Manucho volleyed Flavio’s cross only for Malawi keeper Swadick Sanudi to smother the ball.

On 33 minutes Djalma set up former Manchester United and Hull City striker Manucho, whose fierce effort was only stopped by a superb save from Sanudi.

Jose was forced into an unscripted change of personnel when Jamuana came on for injured Gilberto.

There was a touch of artistry from Malawi’s Peter Wadabwa in the 40th minute when, with his back to the Angola goal, he flicked the ball with his heel at keeper Carlos Fernandes, whose reflex save was equal to the threat.

In first half injury time Flavio’s corner found Manucho in the box, but the striker headed over the woodwork from close range.

The second half was only three minutes old when Angola got the goal they deserved.

Djalma, enjoying a bright game, raced down the left in a move started by Mabina and lofted the ball into the box for a charging Flavio, the striker based in Saudi Arabia, to head past Sanudi.

The president, tapping his white trainers excitedly, beamed.

His smile was even wider when, on 54 minutes, Manucho beat off Malawi skipper Peter Mponda to score from close range.

Mali had defied greater odds to grab a point last Sunday but Angola weren’t about to be caught napping twice.

The one sting in the tail for Jose was the sight of a raft of his troops hit the deck with various degrees of injury – Flavio had to be stretchered off as the hour struck.

LUANDA (AFP)

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Ahn may still feature at World Cup

December 25, 2009


South Korea striker Ahn Jung-Hwan may make an appearance at next summer’s World Cup after all, as coach Huh Jung-Moo kept open the option of including the veteran.

In an interview with Ilgan Sports, Huh speaks about both Ahn and another 2002 World Cup player, Lee Chun-Soo.

“Ahn Jung-Hwan and Lee Chun-Soo will not be ignored,” Huh said.

“They have much experience between them. The players are special assets to Korean football. They’re players who can adjust and do their share of work even if they are called upon later.

“They are still on the reserve list.”

Ahn, who currently plays at Dalian Shide in China, ganed most of his fame for scoring a golden goal against Italy at the 2002 World Cup. Lee, also a key part of that South Korean team, currently plays his club football at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.

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Amid the prayers, some haj pilgrims talk football

November 26, 2009


The haj is supposed to be a spiritual highlight in a Muslim’s life, but everyday issues can sometimes intrude. In between prayers and visits to various sites, pilgrims often discuss all kinds of current issues. Among Algerians and Egyptians on the haj here this year, the buzz is about the public row sparked by a soccer game to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. Algeria won that match 1-0.

(Photo: Haj pilgrims at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, 24 Nov 2009/Caren Firouz)

The football rivalry has caused considerable bad blood between the two countries. Egypt has recalled its ambassador from Algiers after the play-off, accusing Algerian fans of post-match thuggery at the game’s venue in Khartoum. Egypt had earlier complained when Algerian fans trashed the Algiers headquarters of Egypt-based Orascom Telecom’s Djezzy mobile subsidiary. Before that, Algeria was irked after Egyptian fans pelted the Algerian team’s bus with stones and some fans were hurt in scuffles on game-day in the first round of the qualifier in Cairo.

“We are brothers … This should have never happened and I blame the media in the two countries for instigating ill feelings among the most foolish of us,” said Khaled Salam Abdallah from Cairo.

Mohamed Lab’haj, an Algerian pilgrim, agreed.  “We are more than brothers … The real criminals are the Arab governments. They play with us like they do with a ball … If football had much use in it, they would not have kicked the ball with their feet,” he said.

The haj, a duty for every able Muslim, emphasises the unity of all Muslims. This year’s pilgrimage has offered the first big encounter between Algerian and Egyptian masses since the football showdown. Some 2 million Muslims have come to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Abdulwahhab Alyousha, an Algerian pilgrim, said he was outraged that such a spat erupted between two countries that shared a significant part of their modern history.  “Egyptians helped our Algerian revolution. I don’t think this dispute will mar bilateral relationships for good,” he said, referring to the movement which led to Algeria’s independence from France in 1962.

(Photo: Egyptian protesters at Algerian embassy in Cairo, 19 Nov 2009/Asmaa Waguih)

Some refused to talk about the issue. “Soccer is a matter of earthly life, we are here to work for our afterlife,” Egyptian pilgrim Adel Abdul-Shafi said.

Saudi Arabia warned earlier this month against any attempt to politicise the pilgrimage, saying they would threaten the safety of worshipers.  In 1987, a rally by pilgrims against Israel and the United States led to clashes with Saudi security forces in which 402 people, mostly Iranians, died.

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Atlante looks ahead to Barcelona, but not too far

November 26, 2009

Atlante is looking forward to a potential match against FC Barcelona – just not too much.

“It’s an attractive possibility but we have a team to play before and we have to respect that team as well as preparing ourselves to play well and win,” captain and goalkeeper Federico Vilar said Wednesday. “Then we can think about that possible game against Barcelona.”

At a news conference to celebrate Atlante’s participation in the Club World Cup December 9-19 and send it off to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, Vilar expressed the mood of the CONCACAF Champions League winner, which will have to face the winner between UAE champion Al Ahli and Auckland City FC before it can think about a semifinal meeting against Barcelona.

“We have to be focused on our first game and not think about Barcelona because we have to win in order to play against them,” midfielder Santiago Solari said. “If the opportunity does arise, it will be great, and today in soccer everything is very even and anything can happen.”

The best any CONCACAF team has done at the Club World Cup was third place. Mexico’s Necaxa outlasted Real Madrid on penalties in 2000, and Saprissa beat Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad 3-2 for the No. 3 finish in 2005.

The past two years, Mexico’s Pachuca has represented CONCACAF, eliminated by Etoile Sportive du Sahel in its opener in 2007, and beating Egypt Al Ahly to open last year’s event before falling to Eucador’s Liga de Quito in the semifinals.

“I have prepared my whole life to play this tournament,” midfielder Gabriel Pereyra said. “This tournament is a showcase for every player and we are going to take advantage of it as much as we can. We have working hard, training twice each day and are very anxious to take part in the competition.”

MEXICO CITY

Concacaf

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Auxerre coach Fernandez gets head for heights

November 23, 2009


Auxerre coach Jean Fernandez was finding it hard to come to terms with seeing his side take control of the French first division at the weekend.

Auxerre capitalised on slip-ups by Lyon and Bordeaux to move into a clear lead on Saturday.

Lyon were held to a 1-1 draw at Grenoble while champions Bordeaux were downed 1-0 at home by Valenciennes.

That left the stage clear for Auxerre to leapfrog this duo with a result against Monaco in the evening game and the former titleholders duly produced the goods with a 2-0 win.

Mali international Adama Coulibaly gave the Burgundy side the lead in first half injury time and Delvin Ndinga put the result beyond reach of Monaco two minutes from the whistle.

That lifted Auxerre up from third to first with 26 points, with Bordeaux edging Lyon for second on goal difference on 25 points.

Former Marseille coach Fernandez has endured a tough couple of seasons at the helm of Auxerre, but with this result it appears the club is being repaid for showing their faith in him when the going was tough.

“At the end of the match I almost had to pinch myself because I didn’t know if we would go top or not,” said Fernandez, who has also spent time coach clubs in Saudi Arabia and Tunisia.

“But that’s not the important thing. We still had to come out and get the job done against Monaco, who have quality both at the individual and collective levels.

“Being league leaders suits us fine. We’ve got a team that’s confident, tight and our main objective is just to keep collecting the points.”

It was Monaco coach Guy Lacombe who informed Fernandez of Auxerre’s jump up to first spot, but Lacombe had less kind words for his side.

“I’m not happy at all with the match, or my players,” he said.

“Although we played better in the second half we didn’t live up to my expectations.”

Despite recent setbacks, Monaco are only three points behind champions Bordeaux, who fell behind to a seventh minute strike from French-born Mali international Mamadou Samassa.

Laurent Blanc’s side failed to overcome that early shock, which left them with their first defeat at the hands of Valenciennes on home turf since 1976.

The northern side’s reward was a jump up to sixth.

On Sunday Lorient’s 2-0 away win at Saint Etienne put them fourth, with Nice, 1-0 winners over Toulouse, 1-0, ninth.

Sunday’s late match saw Montpellier dish out a 2-0 beating at home to Lille to move up three places to fifth.

On Saturday although Grenoble’s Laurent Courtois was sent off in the 70th minute Lyon were unable to make the most of their numerical advantage.

Argentina winger Cesar Delgado put the former multiple champions into a 66th minute lead only for Danijel Ljuboja to level seven minutes later.

Both Bordeaux (Juventus) and Lyon (Florentina) are in Champions League group action this week with qualification to the next round already assured.

On Friday a first-half goal from Gabriel Heinze vaulted Marseille back into the French title race, securing a 1-0 win at the Stade Velodrome over Paris St Germain.

That put Didier Deschamps men in seventh on 22 points, four shy of Auxerre.

PARIS (AFP)

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Robson gets first taste of Asian Cup action

November 14, 2009


Former England captain Bryan Robson gets his first taste of Asian Cup football on Saturday when Thailand travel to Singapore for a must win qualifying clash against their Southeast Asian neighbour.

It is one of seven matches being played as the race to Qatar in 2011 heats up, with another round of games next Wednesday.

In Group B, Pim Verbeek’s Australia are in Oman with both sides on four points from three games, while Kuwait (three points from two games) host Indonesia (two points from two games).

Uzbekistan play Malaysia in Tashkent in the only Group C game while leaders Syria take on Vietnam in Group D and China travel to bottom-of-the-table Lebanon.

There are no Group A games, with table toppers Bahrain facing New Zealand in Wellington for a place in the World Cup on the same day.

Only the top two in each group qualify for the finals in January 2011 with hosts Qatar as well as Iraq, Saudi Arabia and South Korea, the top three in the 2007 tournament, into the finals automatically.

India have also qualified after winning the AFC Challenge Cup last year.

Former Middlesbrough and West Brom manager Robson, who took over from Peter Reid in September, will be in charge for his first competitive game and said he was confident of the right result.

“I have studied tapes of Singapore. Although they are a strong side, I think we are capable of getting an impressive result,” the ex-Manchester United legend told reporters.

Thailand are third in Group E after two goalless draws — in Jordan and at home to Iran.

They are a point behind Singapore who have one win and one defeat. Iran top the group with a win and a draw, while Jordan have just one point.

Robson’s assistant Steve Darby said it was critical that Thailand do not lose.

“We must try to get at least a point in such an important game. A result in Singapore will be crucial for Thailand’s campaign,” he said.

Such is the importance of the clash that Singapore coach Raddy Avramovic has closed his training sessions to keep prying Thai eyes out.

“If everyone sees what we are doing, it is not good,” the Serb told local media.

Iran, meanwhile, warned up for their match against Jordan with a 1-0 win over Iceland on Tuesday.

Australia, who will play at next year’s World Cup, have wheeled out their big guns for the Oman showdown, with Europe-based stars Tim Cahill, Lucas Neill, Harry Kewell and Mark Schwarzer all called up.

A win in Muscat will put Verbeek’s team in a strong position as they look to qualify for the their second Asian Cup, after making an unconvincing debut in 2007.

Kewell, who has been in great form for Turkish club Galatasaray, said they were determined to make Qatar and put the record straight.

“We’re going to go for it. We were disappointing in the last Asian Cup and I think a lot of people have ridden that wave a lot now,” he told reporters.

“I think this is why they’re still giving us stick because maybe they’re trying to push us to achieve more knowing that were capable of doing more.

“We want to put the record straight.”

In the other group match, Indonesia must pick up points against Kuwait but are struggling, with injury ruling out defender Ricardo Salampessy.

Indonesia coach Benny Dollo is also sweating over the fitness of influential striker Boaz Solossa, who has a thigh strain.

SINGAPORE (AFP)

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Pohang beat Al Ittihad to win AFC Champions League

November 7, 2009

Pohang Steelers of South Korea shocked two-time champions Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia 2-1 to capture the AFC Champions League title on Saturday.

With the win, Pohang bagged a berth in the FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates from December 9-19.

It was a third time the Koreans have won the continental title, following their victories in the former Asian Club Championship in 1997 and 1998.

They eliminated Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan and Umm-Salal of Qatar on their way to the final.

TOKYO (AFP)

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NKorean team get awards for WC qualification: KCNA

November 3, 2009


North Korea has given awards to its national football squad for qualifying for next year’s World Cup — the first time the team has made the tournament in more than four decades, state media said Tuesday.

Merit citations, medals or watches inscribed with the name of leader Kim Jong-Il were awarded to players, coaching staff and officials Monday, the Korean Central News Agency said.

The North Koreans qualified for the 2010 World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 11 in South Africa, with a 0-0 draw away at Saudi Arabia last June.

It marks the communist state’s first advancement to the playoff stages since the 1966 World Cup, during which the North Koreans beat mighty Italy on the way to the quarterfinals, where they lost to Portugal.

Pyongyang’s Korean Central Broadcasting Station, monitored by Yonhap news agency, on Tuesday said Yang Hyong-sop, vice president of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, gave the awards to players.

The players “brought glory to the homeland and encouraged our military and people who are in a great struggle to build a thriving nation,” it said.

The players and coaching staff also received the honorary titles of “people’s athlete” or “merited athlete,” it added.

The squad travelled to the western French city of Nantes last month where they played out a scoreless draw with second division club FC Nantes.

North Korea will host a friendly with a Brazilian professional side, Clube Atletico Sorocaba, at May Day Stadium in Pyongyang on Thursday.

SEOUL (AFP)

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