Another Angola collapse and crowds could plummet

January 14, 2010

African Nations Cup organisers will be bundle of nerves over the next 24 hours, contemplating the fate of host nation in the tournament.

Angola blew a phenomenal four goal lead in Sunday’s opening match against Mali and now look vulnerable to the prospect of early elimination if they fail to beat Malawi on Thursday (1830 GMT).

The 50,000 spectators at the new November 11 Stadium were stunned by the capitulation of their team, seemingly coasting home to the most positive of starts with just over 10 minutes to go before collapsing like a deck of cards and handing Mali an improbable point in a 4-4 draw.

Classic watching for the neutrals but heartbreak for the locals, and real concern for the organisers.

Angola are not given much chance of winning this Nations Cup but it was hoped that they would certainly be competitive, thereby energising a real fervour around the event.

Poor host teams seem plentiful these days. Little is expected of South Africa in six months’ time at the World Cup and both Austria and Switzerland departed Euro 2008 early.

That had little bearing on the tournament as crowds still flocked to the squares in Berne, Basel, Vienna and Zurich. For example, proximity made it possible to have an estimated 100,000 Dutchmen, all clad in Orange, invading the Swiss serenity.

But that is unheard of in Africa where distance and economic reality make travelling fans a rarity. There are a handful in Angola for the Nations Cup but barely visible or vocal and so it is up to the home team to ratchet up the intensity.

Angola drew a full house on Sunday but will they be able to fill the stadium on Thursday when they play their second Group A game? If they fail, will this be yet another Nations Cup characterised by empty seats and stadiums that echo with the shouts of the players?

There are certainly many examples from previous editions but only Tunisia in 1994 attempted a solution. After Tunisia’s side prematurely exited the competition, the organisers filled the stadiums with army recruits. The only problem was they were all dressed in the same brown fatigues and sat inanimate in the stands.

Hopefully Angola’s army will stay in their barracks a little bit longer.

PHOTO: Mali fans try to catch the jersey of El Hadj Mahamane Traore after the opening match against Angola at the African Nations Cup soccer tournament in Luanda Jan. 10, 2010. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

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Tags: abdallah, Africa, Angola, Austria, berne, bundle of nerves, capitulation, characterised, classic, deck of cards, Dutchmen, economic reality, euro 2008, full house, handful, heartbreak, host nation, host teams, Luanda, mali, neutrals, november 11, organisers, previous editions, rarity, second group, South Africa, spectators, stadiums, Switzerland, Tunisia, Vienna, ZURICH

Big freeze hits EPL programme

January 9, 2010

Five of this weekend’s English Premier League fixtures have been postponed because of concerns for the safety of spectators making their way to grounds in freezing conditions.

Saturday’s Fulham v Portsmouth, Sunderland v Bolton and Burnley v Stoke matches were all called off on Friday, as was Sunday’s Liverpool v Tottenham match at Anfield and the game between Hull and leaders Chelsea after heavy snowfall in Hull.

As a result of Chelsea’s match being postponed second-placed Manchester United can now go top if they win at in-form Birmingham.

With much of Britain blanketed in thick snow, almost half this weekend’s fixtures in England’s lower divisions have been called off and only a handful of matches have survived in Scotland.

Although all Premier League clubs are required to have under-soil heating, which means the playing surfaces would be in good condition, iced-up streets surrounding the grounds mean there is a safety risk for supporters and clubs generally follow advice from local police in making a decision.

Clubs are also wary of delaying a decision to call off a match until the last possible minute for fear some supporters may have already embarked on long journeys, as happened to Bolton fans who had travelled to London for a midweek match at Arsenal, only for the game to be postponed in late afternoon.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger however feels that matches are being called off too easily.

“Personally I know only the inside of the stadiums – I don’t know the surroundings well enough, but I must say it is the price we pay for living in a society where everybody wants 100 percent security,” Wenger said Friday.

“Nobody accepts any risk any more and everybody is always guided by fear.

“If one of 60,000 people has an accident, you feel very guilty and nobody accepts anymore that the slightest insecurity could exist in our society and that is why the games are postponed when there is no real need for it.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: anfield, arsenal manager arsene wenger, Birmingham, Britain, burnley, CHELSEA, England, English Premier League, english premier league fixtures, fulham, heavy snowfall, HULL, insecurity, journeys, late afternoon, Liverpool, london, manager arsene wenger, Manchester, manchester united, Portsmouth, premier league, premier league clubs, premier league fixtures, safety risk, scotland, soil heating, spectators, stadiums, Sunderland, thick snow

Angola stadium officially opened

December 19, 2009

One of the four stadiums built for the African Cup of Nations (CAN) in Angola was officially handed over to the public works minister, state news agency ANGOP reported Saturday.

The Tundavala stadium in Lubango in the Huila province is one of four stadiums being built for the CAN which takes place in Angola from the 10th to the 31st of January.

Tundavela can accommodate 20,000 spectators and will host matches by the countries in group D, namely Cameroon, Gabon, Zambia and Tunisia.

With infrastructure largely destroyed by 27 years of civil war which ended in 2002, the southern African nation faces a race against time to be ready for the event, with roads, airports and stadiums unfinished and not one ticket on sale.

The four stadiums will be inaugurated between December 27 and 30.

The tournament begins on January 10 with the opening ceremony and first game between Angola and Mali in Luanda, where the final will also be played three weeks later.

Egypt are the defending champions having beaten Cameroon 1-0 in Ghana two years ago to claim a record sixth title.

LUANDA (AFP)

Tags: 31st of january, african cup of nations, airports, Angola, angop, cameroon, civil war, Egypt, first game, Gabon, ghana, Luanda, mali, news agency, opening ceremony, race against time, southern African, southern african nation, spectators, stadiums, Tunisia, Zambia

Dortmund’s gates second only to Man Utd

October 29, 2009

Borussia Dortmund had the second-highest average number of spectators through their turnstiles in Europe last season and were only bettered by English giants Manchester United, a survey has revealed.

Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park stadium boasts one of the biggest capacities in Germany with the ability to host 80,552 fans and they had an average gate of 74,748 last season in a survey carried out by Futebol Finance.

Manchester United came out top of the survey with an average gate of 75,304 packed into their Old Trafford stadium for every game with Champions League winners Barcelona third with 71,045 attending the Nou Camp for their games.

Real Madrid are fourth with Bayern Munich fifth and in total nine German clubs are in the survey’s top 20.

BERLIN (AFP)

Tags: Barcelona, Bayern, berlin, borussia dortmund, champions league, Europe, finance, game, gates, german clubs, Germany, giants, Iduna Park, league winners, MADRID, man utd, Manchester, manchester united, nou camp, real madrid, spectators, turnstiles

No gift for Dortmund as Real hand out 5-0 hammering

August 20, 2009

Spanish giants Real Madrid beat Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund 5-0 here on Wednesday in a friendly as part of the German club’s 100th anniversary celebrations.

There may have been a carnival atmosphere amongst the 75,000 spectators, but Real were clearly in no mood to hand out gifts as they tore the home side apart in the second half.

Esteban Granero opened the scoring for the Spaniards after just three minutes and only three minutes after the break Dutch star Arjen Robben slotted home the second.

Gonzalo Higuain netted the third in the 73rd minute before Brazil’s Kaka slotted home a 76th minute penalty with Raul adding the fifth with just a minute left.

Former Manchester United midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo played his part for his new club, but was widely booed by the German fans whenever he got the ball.

Despite the home side being outclassed, Real Madrid’s Germany defender Christoph Metzelder, who joined the Spanish giants from Dortmund in 2007, praised his old club.

“We won today because of the individual class of our players, Dortmund are a totally different type of club,” he said.

“I hope the club will get back to winning ways in the Bundesliga this weekend.”

DORTMUND, Germany (AFP)

Tags: 100th anniversary, anniversary celebrations, brazil, carnival atmosphere, christoph metzelder, cristiano ronaldo, dutch star, Esteban Granero, german club, german fans, Germany, giants, Gonzalo, MADRID, Manchester, manchester united, midfielder, raul, real madrid, ronaldo, spaniards, spectators, winning ways

AFC warns Australia, China after brawl

August 7, 2009

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has warned Australian and Chinese football authorities over their players’ bad behaviour after fining them for a brawl at an under-19 women’s game this month.

“The Australian and Chinese teams, and the (China Football Association), have been given stern warnings to ensure that these offences are not repeated in future matches,” AFC said in a statement late Thursday.

The AFC also imposed fines totalling 12,000 dollars over the brawl at the AFC U-19 Women?s Championship 2009 match played in Wuhan, China, on August 3.

Australia’s Jessica Seaman was suspended for four matches and fined 3,000 dollars after “she was found guilty of violating the AFC disciplinary code,” AFC said.

Seaman was sent off for violent conduct during the match, which China won 2-1.

The Australian U-19 women?s team were fined a total of 4,000 dollars for disciplinary offences, the AFC said.

“The Australian team were found guilty of initiating a scuffle at the end of the match and also of throwing bottles at the spectators. The team head coach was also found guilty of misbehaviour during the post-match press conference,” AFC said.

The China women?s U-19 team were fined 2,000 dollars for involvement in the post-match scuffle while the China FA was fined 3,000 for failing to control spectators.

The incident was the latest blow to China’s football reputation following an incident in July when players attacked a referee in a local tournament.

One player from Tianjin city was banned for life for chasing referee He Zhibiao some 30 metres and knocking him to the ground.

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP)

Tags: AFC, Asian, asian football confederation, Association, Australia, australia china, Australian, bad behaviour, China, china women, chinese football, disciplinary code, football association, head coach, Jessica Seaman, kuala lumpur, match, misbehaviour, referee, reputation, seaman, spectators, stern warnings, Tianjin, violent conduct, Wuhan, wuhan china, Zhibiao

Ronaldo does not have star mentality, says Real coach

July 13, 2009

Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini says Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo, who the Spanish giants signed for a record 94 million euros, does not have a star mentality.

“He’s as I expected him to be. He is the first to arrive at a training session, he has fully integrated into the squad, he doesn’t act as a star,” he said Sunday during his first post-training press conference as Real’s new coach.

“He is a very talented but normal player who is devoted to Real Madrid. His image is very different to how he is as a player.”

Real signed the player from Manchester United last month on a six-year deal worth around 94 million euros (131 million dollars) and he will reportedly be paid 13 million euros each season, making him the most expensive player in the world.

The 24-year-old was officially unveiled before some 75,000 ecstatic Real fans on July 6 at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

He had to be hurried away when spectators leapt over security barriers to try to get an autograpah.

Real has spent over 200 million euros in the pre-season to sign new talent, including Brazilian playmaker Kaka and French international striker Karim Benzema.

Pellegrini said he hopes the squad will be completed by the end of the month.

“The sooner the better. July 27 would be good because that’s when all our internationals return,” he said when asked for an ideal date to have his squad finalised.

“But I’m not bothered about waiting a while longer if there are any doubts concerning a signing. There’s no deadline. I know what I want, but I’m not looking to have it for our first pre-season match,” he added.

The Chilean coach said recruiting Spanish international Xabi Alonso from Liverpool would not be easy.

“There aren’t any players we can’t do without. He is an important footballer and it is no mystery that Real want to sign him, but it won’t be easy,” Pellegrini said.

He also denied Spanish press reports that Real want to unload its entire contingent of six Dutch players, including Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wesley Sneijder.

“It’s not true that all the Dutch players are going to leave as has been reported in the media,” he said.

He called Sneijder “a very good player”, adding “our game could benefit from having him”.

Real will face Deportivo La Coruna at home on the weekend of August 29-30 in their first league match of the new season.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: cristiano ronaldo, finalised, footballer, french international, kaka, LA Liga, manchester united, playmaker, real madrid, ronaldo, ruud van nistelrooy, security barriers, spanish press, spectators, striker, training session, winger, xabi alonso

UEFA Under-21: No goals at Spain versus Germany

June 16, 2009

The UEFA Under-21 Championship clash between Spain and Germany ended with a scoreless draw as result.

Although the first half went by without goals, spectators had no reason to be bored. Marc Torrejon hit the crossbar in the 32nd minute and Germany’s Marko Marin had an effort bounce off the post just before half time.

Mesut Özil could have put Germany in the lead in the 62nd minute, as the midfielder rounded keeper Sergio Asenjo but the Spaniard somehow managed to block the following shot with his foot.

Asenjo needed to make several more saves to secure a goalless draw, one Spain should certainly be happier with than Germany.

England lead Group B after day one, having beaten Finland 2-1 in the tournament’s opening game.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: asenjo, bounce, clash, crossbar, England, Finland, game, Germany, jonathan, Jonathan Roorda, lead group, Marc Torrejon, Marin, marko, roorda, Sergio Asenjo, Spain, Spaniard, spectators, UEFA Champions League, uefa under 21, uefa under 21 championship

Quick Report: South Africa 0-0 Iraq

June 15, 2009

No goals were scored in the opening game of the 2009 Confederations Cup, as hosts South Africa and Iraq drew 0-0.

The match started at 4pm local time, following a 25-minute opening ceremony that allowed the spectators to get warmed up ahead of the actual clash between the home side and the Asian champions.

South Africa dominated from the start but couldn’t convert their chances to goals. Particularly the second half showed a significant difference between the two sides, but Iraq keeper Mohammed Kassid kept his side alive on several occasions.

As result of this draw, Spain get a chance to lead Group A if the European champions beat New Zealand in Sunday’s second game. Similarly, a New Zealand victory would leave the Oceania champions on top.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: clash, confederations cup, european champions, hosts, Iraq, jonathan, kassid, local time, match, mohammed, Mohammed Kassid, New Zealand, occasions, Oceania, opening ceremony, second game, second half, South Africa, Spain, spectators, victory, WC Qualifying South-Africa

Iraq held in Confederations Cup warm-up

June 10, 2009

CAPE TOWN (AFP) – Iraq warmed up for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup with a 1-1 draw against Poland in a friendly international match here on Tuesday.

In their final match before tackling hosts South Africa in the tournament opener this Sunday, coach Bora Milutinovic’s side were disappointed after Mahdi Kareem’s second-half strike was cancelled out by Roger Guerreiro.

A small stadium in the heart of the Cape Flats in the south-west city was an odd setting for a match between two nations with few links to South Africa, and an attritional first half provided few chances.

Around 2,000 spectators turned up, with a number of Polish and Iraqi flags fluttering, but they witnessed a quiet opening 45 minutes as neither side could register a shot on target.

Both coaches made many changes at half-time in a bid to try out different combinations and were rewarded with a sprightly start to the second half.

Iraq central midfielder Nashat Akram sent his 30-yard free-kick just wide before the Asian champions made the breakthrough on 54 minutes.

Winger Hawar Mohammed, a constant menace in the second half, chipped a neat cross to the far post where Kareem half volleyed the ball into the net and put Iraq ahead.

While the goal encouraged them with Emad Mohammed shooting just wide moments later after jinking inside from the left, there was a revival from the Poles, who lost 1-0 to South Africa in Johannesburg last Saturday.

A shot from winger Slawomir Peszko was parried into the path of Marek Saganowski, only for the latter to clip wide under close attention from two defenders and Poland drew level after 71 minutes.

Having displayed superb skill on the left, Brazil-born substitute Roger Guerreiro unleashed a vicious shot that was too strong for goalkeeper Noor Sabri.

Both sides sought a winner as time ticked away with Guerreiro coming closest through a deflected shot over the crossbar.