Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Big Stars Not Included In Iran Squad For Mexico Test
GOAL - TEHRAN, Iran have announced their squad for Saturday’s friendly game with Mexico and they will be without European-based stars such as Mehdi Mahdavikia, Ali Karimi, Vahid Hashemian and Andranik Teymourian.
The German and English-based stars have been given time to rest after the end of a gruelling season.
The clash between the two teams who met during the 2006 World Cup, when Mexico won 3-1 in the opening game of Group D, will take place in the Mexican city of St. Luis Potosi.
The hosts are warming up for the Copa America which will be held in Venezuela. Their opening match is on June 26 against Brazil. They will also meet Chile and Ecuador.
Iran are preparing for July’s Asian Cup where they will face China, Uzbekistan and co-hosts Malaysia in Group C.
Goalkeepers: Hasan Roudbarian, Seyed Mehdi Rahmati, Vahid Taleblou
Defenders: Jalal kameli Mofrad, Mohamad Nosrati, Hadi Shakouri, Seyed Jalal Hosseini, Amir Hossein Sadeghi
Midfielders: Javad Kazemian, Mehdi Rajabzadeh, Sattar Zare, Freydoon Zandi, Masoud Shojaei, Maziar Zare, Hossein Kazemi, Ebrahim Sadeghi, Iman Mobali, Abbas Aghaei, Javad Nekounam
Indian children meet the champions AC Milan
Premier India Football Academy (PIFA) organized the AC Milan tour to Italy – a football tour for children 10-18 years.
PIFA dream of helping India to the World Cup final in 2022 and has world hard to import the coaching techniques and methods from Europe into their academy. PIFA strongly believes that “to be the best, train with the best”.
Italy being the current World Cup holders, it was necessary to see what made them Champions. AC Milan has the most number of world cup players that played for Italy that boasts of Inzaghi, Maldini, Gatuso, Pirlo, etc. And also has players from the previous World Cup winners Brazil, namely Kaka, Ronaldo, Cafu & Dida. AC Milan are undoubtedly the best club in the world. And have proven so by winning their seventh Champions League title in 2007.
The tour was designed by PIFA to help children appreciate and understand the history of AC Milan FC and what makes them the BEST.
Fifteen children were accompanied by 2 adults from India on the tour that began on 13 May 2007. Each child received an AC Milan Academy shoe bag & two kits that included jersey, shorts & stockings.
On the first day, they were taken for a tour of the San Siro Stadium (home ground of AC Milan & Inter Milan) & Museum. Thereafter the were taken to central Milan to the AC Milan head office to see the six Champions League trophy as well as many other silverware. The children met one of the club’s director - Mr Campione and asked him if they had made place for the seventh Champions League Cup.
The children were taken on a walking tour of Milan City. They were also taken to visit Castel Brando - an Italian Castle.
Football training was conducted through the week by the AC Milan Academy coaches Francesco & assisted by Georgio in the beautiful town of Vitterio Veneto in the north eastern province of Treviso.
The children then got to see a Serie A match in San Siro between AC Milan and Udinese. The children got to see the game from a players perspective. Identifying the movement of each player in the team and understanding them. Although AC Milan rested the 1st team, the match was exciting, the fans were behind the team It was an electrifying experience, the children chanted, blew whistles & horns. The final score was 2-3 in favor of Udinese.
Later, the children were escorted to the players tunnel where they met the entire AC Milan team. There they had an opportunity to take photographs & autographs. Some shook hands and wished the players all the best for their Champions League Final.
The camp ended on the 22 May 2007, prizes were distributed by Sports Minister of Treviso. Everyone was a winner.
The group was accompanied by two adults from India ensuring that the children totally focus on football and enjoy themselves.
This has been PIFA eleventh camp to Europe, they once again leave for AC Milan on 11 June.
- End -
A Football Academy in India that is dedicated to training of children.
It strongly believes that the road to India's Wolrd Cup is thru the children, as they are the future of India. PIFA organise camps in Europe & in India with UEFA Coaches as well as runs a training academy in Mumbai. They have a mens & womens team in the MFL. The also conduct various events related to childrens football
Tied up with Bobby Charlton Soccer & Sports Academy, Rangers Soccer School, AC Milan Academy, Cruzerio EC, David Beckham Academy.
PIFA Vision - India in the 2022 World Cup !!!
Metsu to name Asian Cup shortlist today
Abu Dhabi: UAE's head coach Bruno Metsu will announce the shortlist of the UAE probables to join the team's traning camp in Malaysia, from June 13, in preparation for the finals of the 2007 Asian Cup.
The Gulf News has learnt that the list features Majid Nasir, Waleed Salim and Esmail Rabie as goalkeepers while Rashid Abdul Rahman, Mohammad Khamis, Basheer Saeed, Saleh Obaid, Hayder Allo Ali, Humaid Fakher, Ali Massari and Mohammad Qasim will comprise the defence.
The midfielders are :Abdul Rahim Jumaa, Amer Mubarak, Ahmad Mubarak (better known as Dada), Hilal Saeed, Nawaf Mubarak, Khalid Darwish, and Eissa Ali while the choices upfront will feature Esmail Mattar, Mohammad Al Shehhi, Saif Mohammad and Faisal Khalil.
Clubbed in a group that also includes defending champions Japan, Qatar and hosts Vietnam, the UAE will play four matches in the training camp against Malaysia and Bahrain in Kuala Lumpur and face Saudi Arabia and North Korea in Singapore, with the Koreans replacing Indonesia.
Four venues
The Asian Cup, to kick off on July 7, will be held for the first time in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.
The UAE senior team did themselves proud by winning the Gulf Cup last January, though the Asian Cup is expected to provide a much stiffer competition.
Soccer-S.Korea's Peace Cup not a distraction, say organisers
SEOUL, May 29 (Reuters) - Organisers of South Korea's Peace Cup say their tournament will not be a distraction to this summer's Asian Cup. The biennial Peace Cup tournament, won in 2005 by Tottenham Hotspur, will be held from July 12-21 in seven cities across South Korea with $2.4 million in prize money on offer.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have been trying to ensure nothing detracts from the Asian Cup, which is to be co-hosted by Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand from July 7-29.
South Korea have been drawn to play in Group D in Indonesia, which also includes Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
"We don't see a big problem that the dates are overlapping," an official at the Peace Cup organising committee told Reuters by telephone.
"It's a matter of making sure there are no (Peace Cup) games overlapping with Korea's games in the Asian Cup."
The AFC was furious that Malaysia agreed to host a tour match by Manchester United on July 27 -- two days before the Asian Cup final -- despite signing an agreement promising not to promote any other football events during the tournament.
The English champions recently decided to call off the match, though their other tour games in Korea, Japan and Macau will go ahead.English Premier League clubs Reading and Bolton Wanderers will take part in the Peace Cup alongside K-League side Seongnam, Shimizu S-Pulse (Japan), Olympique Lyon (France), Mexico's Chivas de Guadalajara, Argentina's River Plate and Italy's Udinese.
Defending champions Spurs have decided not to take part this year.
Reading's South Korean forward Seol Ki-hyeon will be unable to take part in the tournament due to an ankle injury.
Seongnam will play Bolton in the opening match.
Soccer-China without Shandong, Shanghai players for U.S. trip
BEIJING, May 29 (Reuters) - China will be without regular captain Zheng Zhi and other top players from Shandong Luneng and Shanghai Shenhua when they take a 23-man squad on a tour of the United States later this week.
China play the U.S. in an international friendly on Saturday and will meet Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs Los Angeles Galaxy on June 5 and Colorado Rapids five days later.
"The last two matches may be formal friendlies or just joint training sessions," Chinese Football Association (CFA) spokesman Dong Hua said on Tuesday.
Shandong and Shanghai will play the champions of Japan and South Korea in the East Asian Champions Cup from June 7-13, ruling out Zheng, who recently returned to Shandong after a loan spell at English club Charlton.
Coach Zhu Guanghu, who faced renewed calls for his dismissal after China were beaten by Thailand earlier this month, will be using the trip as part of his preparations for July's Asian Cup finals.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Zong Lei (Changchun), Yang Jun (Tianjin) Defenders: Xu Yunlong, Zhang Shuai (both Beijing), Zhang Baofeng (Changchun), Chen Dong, Zhai Yanpeng, Zhang Yaokun, Ji Mingyi (all Dalian), Xin Feng (Shenzhen), Sun Xiang (unattached)
Midfielders: Wang Dong, Du Zhenyu (both Changchun), Zhao Xuri (Dalian), Cao Yang, Hao Junmin (both Tianjin), Zheng Bin (Wuhan), Shao Jiayi (Energie Cottbus), Li Tie (unattached)
Strikers: Du Wenhui (Beijing), Wang Peng (Dalian), Qu Bo (Qingdao), Dong Fangzhuo (Manchester United)
Cahill Running Towards Asian Cup
The Everton star broke his metatarsal in the Premier League in March. He has now started running in Sydney and has his sights set out the Socceroos’ opening Asian Cup game with Oman on July 8 in the Thai capital.
"The bone looks like it's healed brilliantly after seeing the x-rays, and because it was such a serious metatarsal break, there's probably 10 per cent to go," Cahill told the Daily Telegraph.
"In two weeks time, I'll be right to twist and turn, but I'll be joining up with the boys in camp this week and running around the pitch."
Cahill, who starred in last summer’s World Cup, was asked if the Oman clash was a realistic target.
"Yeah, pretty much,” the ex-Millwall player replied. “I don't want to be setting definitive dates but I want to be fit for the Asian Cup and that's what I'm aiming for.”
"I've been out for 10 weeks and because it was serious, it's probably a 14-week injury.
"We've taken extra precaution and I need to make sure I stay right because I've got to go into the Premier League season straight after."
Australia have been drawn in Group A of the Asian Cup with co-hosts Thailand, Iraq and Oman.
SOCCER: Celtic star a doubt for Asian Cup
Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura is a doubt for Japan's Asian Cup campaign after suffering an ankle injury during the Tennent's Scottish Cup final.Nakamura played the entire match despite picking up the knock as the Bank of Scotland Premier League champions completed the double with a 1-0 victory over Dunfermline at Hampden.
The 28-year-old has been included in Ivica Osim`s squad for the upcoming Kirin Cup, a key warm-up for Japan before they begin the defence of their Asian Cup title in July.
Japan will play Montenegro on June 1 and Colombia on June 5 in the tournament that Scotland won a year ago.
"When I swing my leg it hurts. It`s quite painful," said Nakamura, who is included in a squad under the guidance of Osim for just the second time after featuring in the 2-0 victory over Peru in March.
And Nakamura - who completed a clean sweep of Scotland`s player of the year awards - hopes to overcome his injury to cement his place in the team.
"The last time I was only with the squad a little while but this time is longer," he said.
"I am hoping to learn more about this Japan team`s football."
The reigning Asian champions open their Group B campaign against Qatar in Hanoi on July 9 before facing the UAE and Vietnam.
The tournament ends on July 29 - just five days before Celtic begin their defence of the SPL title.
Hoops boss Gordon Strachan may also lose new signing Scott McDonald to the Asian Cup over pre-season with the former Motherwell striker on the fringes of the Australia squad.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Nation’s top boxers bash on the beach
HA NOI — The semi-finals of sixth National Club Boxing Cup took place late Thursday night in the beach town of Vinh, Nghe An Province with Doan Manh Linh of the Ha Noi 2 team beating Pham Thanh Hai of HCM City in the 45kg weight class.
Linh moved on to fight Vo Xuan Thanh of Nghe An who rumbled past Tran Phu Cuong of team Hai Phong.
In the 48kg weight class on Thursday night, Nguyen Van Hai of Ha Tay 1 fell to tournament favourite Nguyen Van An, while Ha Noi 1’s Nguyen The Hai beat Nguyen Van Hai of Ha Noi 2.
In the 57kg weight class, Nguyen Trong Dat from the Army team moved on to face Nguyen Thanh Viet from Dac Lac.
The cup’s final bouts were held late last night.
The tournament has attracted 110 boxers from 14 teams nationwide, including the Army, Quang Ngai, Ha Noi and Nghe An. Boxers are competing in 11 weigh classes from 45-95kg.
National team scouts have been searching for fresh talent at this year’s tournament ahead of the 24th Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December.
Competitive boxing is still very new to Vietnamese youths, but with more tournaments being organised there are some rising stars in the sport, including Van An from the Nghe An boxing team.
Van An won last year’s National Youth Boxing Championship.
Thai team to train in Viet Nam
To improve the Vietnamese women’s boxing team, the national training board has invited Thailand to train here with local athletes for the next month.
The Thai women’s team will arrive in Viet Nam on Sunday and train with Vietnamese boxers at the Quan Ngua Sports Palace.
The Thai squad of six boxers are considered the strongest in Southeast Asia, say officials. — VNS
I have a dream to popularise football in India: Kalam
It was a meeting that International Football Federation (FIFA) President Sepp Blatter would long remember. For 45 minutes, President A P J Kalam held forth on the sport quoting profusely from a book by French soccer star Michel Platini and his "own dream" of popularising the sport in India's 600,000 villages. "I have a dream and the dream is to make football popular in the villages of India so that more and more young people play it. For this I want top football stars to visit the villages and meet the children," Kalam told Blatter when the latter called on him last month during his India visit.
Impressed by what Kalam said, Blatter said the federation plans to send three top footballers to India next year. They are Franz Beckenbaur, Beckham and Platini who would tour rural areas interacting with children, a senior official of All India Football Federation (AIFF) said.
Kalam, who is very fond of children, said Indian kids in rural areas would be "inspired" to take up this game when they are able to meet top footballers of the world.
"They will see them, meet them and thus get inspiration from them to take up the game," he told Blatter.
The FIFA president commented, "He is a man of science and he knows so much about the game."
Blatter also had a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and had apprised him of the plans of FIFA for development of football, the world's most popular sport.
Blatter, who arrived in Kolkata on April 15 on his maiden visit to India, was given a red carpet welcome in the soccer-mad city.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF), headed by Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmusi, spent about Rs 5 million on the visit of Blatter and his entourage comprising around 100 officials.
EA buys minority stake in Chinese game company
Electronic Arts is making another play in Asia.
The Redwood City video game publisher announced Monday that it is investing about $167 million in cash to buy a 15 percent stake in The9 Limited, a Chinese video game company. As part of the deal, The9 acquired an exclusive license to publish EA's "FIFA Online" soccer game in China.
The9 has a lot of experience in marketing online games to Chinese consumers, said Owen Mahoney, senior vice president of corporate development at EA. EA's agreement with the company will allow the game giant to tap into The9's expertise, he said.
"We've been thinking hard and working hard on China for several years now. It's a very foreign place. It's difficult for a foreigner to understand," Mahoney said, adding that The9 "really knows" its market.
The move follows a similar agreement EA announced in March, in which it bought a stake in Neowiz, a South Korean game company. EA teamed up with Neowiz to launch "FIFA Online" and, as part of its investment, announced plans to co-develop four additional online games with the company.
The Chinese market in particular and Asia in general have proved challenging for Western video game companies. Part of that has to do with taste in games, which varies considerably between Asia and Western countries. Games such as "Madden NFL," which are enormously popular in the United States, haven't found similar success overseas.
But part of it has to do with how people play games in the different countries. While gaming in the United States has largely focused on generally unconnected game consoles, in China, South Korea and other Asian countries, much of the game playing is done on broadband-connected PCs. Online gaming isn't a new trend there, it represents the bulk of the market. EA has taken a number of stabs at trying to tap into the larger Asian market. In addition to its two latest investments, the company bought online game developer Mythic Entertainment last year, in a move company officials at the time expected to help EA compete better in China and the global online game market. And in 2004, the company announced that it was establishing its own game studio in Shanghai, China. At the time, the company said the studio would initially focus on customizing some of EA's games for the Chinese market. EA's investment in The9 doesn't affect its Shanghai studio, which is now focused on developing new games for the Chinese market, Mahoney said. The video game giant is only the latest technology company to turn to a local company for help in the Chinese market. In the past two years, eBay and Yahoo have handed over control of their Chinese affiliates to local-run companies in which they have minority stakes. EA's investment, which is subject to regulatory approval, had been rumored to be in the works since early last month. Despite the large stake it is taking in The9, EA will not be naming any directors to the Chinese company's board.
Pakistan to take part in South Asia soccer championship
Pakistan, who won bronze in the 1997 edition, will take part in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship 2007, according to a report Sunday by the private NNI news agency.
After a meeting of the South Asian Football Federation held in New Delhi, member nations have agreed to hold the tournament in Male of Maldives and Colombo of Sri Lanka, from Dec. 10 to Dec. 22.
It has been agreed to have the opening ceremony in Male while the closing ceremony along with the tournament final in Colombo. Therefore, group matches that involve Maldives will be played in the National Stadium in Male, and group matches involving Sri Lanka will be played in the Sugathadha Stadium in Colombo.
According to the Football Association of Maldives (FAM), they are trying to bring the closing ceremony to Male, but it has not been finalized.
"Right now it's agreed to have the opening ceremony in Male. But we want the closing ceremony to be held in Male instead of opening ceremony," FAM Vice President Abdul Hameed Abdul Ghafoor said. "So we have decided to have a further discussion to finalize it."
A total of six tournaments were played in the past and India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are the only three nations that won the tournament. The SAFF championship is held biannually to promote the development of soccer in South Asia. Launched at the Railway Stadium in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore in 1993 as the SAARC Gold Cup, which is known as the SAFF championship since 1997.
The showpiece event of SAFF in seven months time will be comprised of India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives, Bhutan and Afghanistan.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Angry Malaysian soccer fans slam Manchester United cancellation
Fans branded the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) “selfish” for pressuring Asian Cup co-hosts Malaysia to call off the match scheduled for July 27 – two days before the tournament’s final. Malaysian football bosses last year signed an agreement not to promote other matches during the Asian Cup, the region’s premier football tournament. But fans hit out at the cancellation, which robs Malaysia of its first Manchester United match since 2001. “I feel very disappointed. I was hoping to get a close-up view of the Red Devils who have a huge fan base in Malaysia,” N Gananathan, a 41-year-old fan, told AFP.
“I think AFC is being selfish for asking FAM to cancel United’s rare trip,” he said. Gananathan added that the match would not attract fans away from the Asian Cup, as the AFC fears. “I don’t think it is a valid argument to say United will steal away fans from the Asian Cup. One game will not hurt the tournament,” he said. Schoolteacher R. Sanderan, 48, slammed the AFC for pressuring Malaysia to scrap the match. “I am upset with AFC president Mohammed Bin Hammam. Asian football is not entertaining at all except when Japan and South Korea play,” he said.
“I love to see United play because they score goals and this for me is entertaining,” he said. He added the AFC should be blamed for the poor support for Asian football. “If Asian football is good, definitely people will watch,” he said. Frederick Fernandez, senior writer with the Star newspaper, said he had been looking forward to the United game. “I had made plans to watch the Red Devils in action especially Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney with my two nephews,” he said. The New Straits Times newspaper also attacked Hammam, who called on Manchester United to call off their tour altogether. “The AFC has also got to realise that no matter what it does, the fans can’t be forced into the stadiums unless the quality of play is top-notch,” it said.
Lawrence How, president of Malaysia’s Manchester United Fan Club, said he understood supporters’ unhappiness. “I am not surprised that they are upset. You must remember many of the fans cannot afford to visit Old Trafford to watch United play,” he said. Manchester United have also arranged matches in Macau, Japan and South Korea during their Asian tour which was due to end in Malaysia. “We are currently attempting to clarify with our tour organisers what the situation is in regards to Malaysia but we are confident that the rest of the tour will go ahead,” United spokesman Phil Townsend told AFP. afp
Thai national soccer coach plays down chances to win over China
Thailand's national football team head coach Chanvit Phalajivin has asked fans not to expect too much when Thailand play China in a warm-up match for the Asian Cup in Bangkok next Wednesday."Because of Thailand Premier League fixtures this weekend, we can only get the players together for training after Sunday," Chanvit was quoted by the Bangkok Post as saying yesterday.
Chanvit said there would be about 30 players in the squad: "For the match against China I just want to see which players are ready for the Asian Cup and where there are any weaknesses. So please don't expect too much."
He said he would be happy for Thai stars currently playing in Vietnam and Singapore to join the squad, but he does not know whether their clubs will make them available.
The match next Wednesday will kick off at 6:30 p.m. (2330GMT) at Bangkok's Rajamangala Stadium.
Soccer-Lie Tie in China squad for Thai warm-up match
BEIJING, May 11 (Reuters) - China coach Zhu Guanghu has thrown an international lifeline to midfielder Li Tie, naming him in a 22-man squad for Wednesday's Asian Cup warm-up match against Thailand. The 29-year-old Sheffield United player was dropped for the March friendlies against Australia and Uzbekistan but has been recalled in the absence of several first-choice players in European leagues.
Defensive stalwart Li Weifeng of Shanghai Shenhua and prolific Shandong Luneng striker Li Jinyu, are also in the squad announced on the Chinese Football Association Web site.
China squad:
Li Leilei, Jiao Zhe, Li Jinyu, Han Peng, Zhang Yaokun, Yan Song, Chen Dong, Li Mingyi, Xu Yunlong, Zhang Shuai, Li Weifeng, Du Wei, Jiang Kun, Cao Yang, Yang Jun, Hao Junmin, Wang Dong, Zhao Junzhe, Xin Feng, Qu Bo, Li Tie, Shi Jun.
Soccer-Kawasaki reach AFC Champions League quarters
Kuala Lumpur, May 9 (Reuters) - Kawasaki Frontale became the first Japanese team to qualify for the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League after their 3-0 Group F victory over Indonesia's Arema Malang on Wednesday. Victory gave Kawasaki 13 points from five matches, six points head of South Korea's Chunnam Dragons, who defeated Bangkok University 3-2.
Kengo Nakamura scored twice and Taku Harada added the third as Kawasaki ended Japan's five-year wait to put a team in the last eight of Asia's premier club competition.
In the fifth and penultimate round of group matches, United Arab Emirates' Al Wahda and Al Hilal, of Saudi Arabia, also sealed their quarter-final places by winning their pools.
Al Wahda defeated Qatar's Al Rayyan 3-0 to win Group A with 13 points, five ahead of Iraq's Al Zawra'a.
Al Hilal qualified from three-team Group B on eight points after completing their programme with a 0-0 draw away to Al Kuwait. Second-placed Pakhtakor, of Uzbekstan, trail by three points with a game in hand.
Japanese champions Urawa Reds wasted their opportunity after being held to a 3-3 draw away to Indonesia's Persik Kediri in Group E.Victory would have ensured a quarter-final place for the Reds, but Budi Sudarsono grabbed a 82nd-minute equaliser for the home side after Urawa had fought back from 2-1 down to lead 3-2.
The result opens the door for Australia's Sydney FC, who drew 0-0 at home against China's Shanghai Shenhua.
Sydney have eight points, one behind Urawa with the two teams set to meet in Saitama on May 23 in the likely group decider.
Persik have a remote chance of qualifying if they can beat Shanghai by nine goals in their last game and Sydney draw with Urawa.
China's Shandong Luneng drew 2-2 at home against Australia's Adelaide United, which means to top Group G they need a draw in their final match in a fortnight away to Korea's Seongnam Ilhwa, who on Wednesday beat Vietnam's Dong Tam Long An 2-1.
In Group D, Iran's Sepahan crushed home side Al Ittihad, of Syria, 5-0, to join leaders Saudi side Al Shabab on 10 points with one match left. Al Shabab beat UAE's Al Ain 2-0.
Uzbekistan's Neftchi were held 1-1 at home by Iraq's Al Najaf, giving them a two-point lead in Group C over Syria's 2006 runners-up Al Karama, who drew 1-1 at Qatar's Al Sadd.
The top teams from each of the seven groups join Korea's defending champions Chonbuk Motors in the quarter-finals.
Give to Asia instead of taking, football chiefs tell top clubs
KUALA LUMPUR: Top European clubs that tour the lucrative emerging markets of Asia need to do more to develop the game here instead of just turning up, taking the money and running.That’s the message from FIFA president Sepp Blatter and his counterpart at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Mohammed bin Hammam as controversy rages over Manchester United’s regional trip in July.
The two men, close confidants, want to see less business savvy from the big teams and more morality in a region that offers huge untapped riches in terms of talent, television revenues and merchandise.
Blatter, who preaches football “solidarity” at every opportunity, said teams like United should ensure any tour includes clinics for Asian players, contributions to charities and help for young footballers.
“We have to know where they want to go — if football shall only be a business or football shall continue to bring hope, entertainment, passion, emotions, but not only for the rich,” he said.
Asked by AFP if clubs should be doing more to help Asian football, Blatter said: “Definitely. It’s good if the big clubs come but they should give something and not just take away.
“They have already taken a lot of money through television rights in Asia. If they are coming personally it is good to expose the stars but make sure you hold activities around the football.
“Invite youngsters, help some charities or do humanitarian activities, conduct clinics with the players.
“This would be good instead of just coming in and training, sleeping, playing and leaving. It should be more, to give and take — that’s life.” United, the newly-crowned Premier League champions, have been criticised by Blatter and bin Hammam this week for scheduling an Asian tour in July to Macau, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia during the Asian Cup finals.
Bin Hammam accused United of “disrespect” to Asian football, fearing their presence will overshadow the flagship regional tournament.
While he welcomes European clubs touring Asia at the right time, he is adamant, like Blatter, that they need to put more back into developing Asian football.
“I think this is the mentality of the administrators when they organise these sorts of matches. Some will be leaving behind a legacy that benefits the youth and the football of the country,” he told AFP.
“But some don’t care, they just want to collect the money and go. “I think if they are a big club they are role models, and this gives them a responsibility to those who are less advanced.
“Part of the money (they earn) has to go to support youth programmes in this region. Schools need sports equipment, the leagues are suffering, they are poor and can’t organise themselves.
“If you want to do a good thing there are a thousand ways to do it.” Chelsea are one of the few top clubs to escape criticism, having committed this year to provide financial and technical support to mainly grassroots football clubs in China until 2010.
Chief executive Peter Kenyon, a regular visitor to Asia, has been vocal about the need for English clubs to do more than count the dollars.
At a conference last year he cited Real Madrid’s widely-criticised tour of China in 2005. They charged as much as 100 US dollars for tickets and he said such profiteering risked alienating fans.
“They raped the game for revenues and the best talent. There was almost a backlash,” he told the International Soccer Arena conference in Zurich. (AFP)
Real Madrid to go on West Asia peace mission
JERUSALEM: Spanish soccer giants Real Madrid will embark on a West Asia peace mission next month to play an exhibition match against a joint Israeli-Palestinian team.The Galacticos have been invited by the Peres Center for Peace. English superstar David Beckham will also make the trip, which would probably be his last with the Spanish team before leaving for the United States where he has signed a multi-million dollar deal with the Los Angeles Galaxy.
"The arrival of such huge stars to the country will contribute to the removal of the hate barriers that exist between Jewish and Palestinian children," Israeli vice-Premier Shimon Peres was quoted by 'Ynet' as saying.
"There is no doubt that through soccer we can show that peace is possible, " he added.
The team is scheduled to arrive here on June 19 and the players will also be meeting Palestinian and Israeli children from the Peres Center's Twinned Peace Soccer Schools.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Bahrain line-up two friendly clashes
BAHRAIN will play two international friendly matches next month as part of their preparations for the Asian Cup 2007 to be held in July. National soccer team coach Milan Macala, who arrived in the Kingdom yesterday to begin his term with Bahrain, revealed his plans over the next two months leading up to the tournament which will be held in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam beginning on July 7.
Bahrain's pre-tournament schedule includes a friendly against the UAE in Kuala Lumpur on June 27 and will be followed by a match against Vietnam in Hanoi on either June 30 or July 1.
From there, the team will fly to Jakarta on July 2 for the Asian Cup.
Macala added that the Bahrain Football Association (BFA) is currently trying to set up a third friendly either on July 3 or 4, most likely against a Malaysian First Division side.
"These friendly matches will be good for our players to get some experience before the Asian Cup. We must start working seriously from now on," Macala told the GDN.
"Our team manager Abdulaziz Ashraf recently returned from those countries after making all the prepartions for the friendlies. All we need now is to get our complete team together, which may only happen after a few more weeks," said Macala.
Prior to travelling to eastern Asia for their friendlies, Macala will conduct a 12-day training camp from June 11 and 22 in Europe, most likely in Austria. The team will also play two friendly matches against local clubs in Vienna.
The team will return to the Kingdom on the evening of June 22 and the players will have a day off the next day before leaving for Malaysia on June 24.
Macala said that the players will under go medical tests before leaving for Europe. A minimum of 25 players will attend camp, added the Czech coach.
The top two teams in each of the four groups will move into the quarter-finals.
New-look Iran eye Asian Cup success
FIFA - TEHRAN, Had Iran made the breakthrough of progressing beyond the group stages at FIFA World Cup™ Germany 2006, it would have certainly come as an immense boost for football development across the country. Nevertheless, the disappointment of their first phase exit sparked further passion of Team Melli, who have shown tremendous determination to rebuild their lost credibility. Under new coach Amir Ghalenoiee, the team came back to top their confederation in the FIFA/Coca Cola World Ranking last November, surpassing the Asian Football Confederation's latest member Australia. Thereafter, the new-look Iran have not looked back, maintaining their continental supremacy in the global rankings. With the AFC Asian Cup 2007 just around the corner, the three-time champions have another perfect opportunity to underline their status as one of the strongest sides on the continent by adding a fourth crown to their collection and securing a place at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. Replacing a legend "Ali Daei is a legendary figure for Iranian football whose contribution will be remembered," said the coach in a recent press conference in Tehran. "It proves hard to decide who will wear his No10 jersey and I would like to see the jersey retired if the Iranian Football Association regulations allow." Despite being shorn of Daei's presence, the attack-conscious Team Melli are in no shortage of good strikers. Fortunately for the team and their passionate followers, a host of established marksmen look capable of filling the gap, with Hannover 96 hotshot Vahid Hashemian leading the likes of Reza Enayati, Hossein Badamaki and Mehdi Rajabzadeh for the honour. European-based contingent Preparations aside, the team's success will rest largely on the shoulders of their European-based contingent. Indeed, the likes of Hamburg playmaker Mehdi Mahdavikia, Bayern Munich midfielder Ali Karimi and Hashemian formed an experienced core which thrust them to qualification for last year's FIFA World Cup. The group has since been extended, with Javad Nekounam joining CA Osasuna and Andranik Teymourian becoming the first Iranian player to play in the English Premiership following his move to Bolton Wanderers. With such a prominent cast of players, Iran have been tipped as the favorites to advance from their first phase group. Mahdavikia, however, has warned his colleagues not to underestimate their adversaries. "Uzbekistan are dangerous rivals as they play a style similar to that of European sides and China have had a cutthroat rivalry with Iran in the past," said the Iran skipper. "Malaysia will also provide fierce opposition as hosts."
One of the biggest problems facing coach Ghalenoiee will be filling the void vacated by the legendary Ali Daei, who is no longer part of the international set-up. The iconic 38-year-old netted in excess of a century of goals for his country to establish himself as one of the sport's all-time scoring greats, and he proved the driving force behind the team's success on numerous occasions throughout his career. His exclusion from the national team brought a memorable era to an end, something which his former team-mate Ghalenoiee readily accepts.
Iran will open their 2007 Asian Cup campaign against central Asian force Uzbekistan in Group C, which also features the previous edition's runners-up China and co-hosts Malaysia. With a testing group assignment ahead, coach Ghalenoiee has arranged a series of friendlies, including a re-match with Mexico, whom they lost 3-1 to at Germany 2006, in Mexico City on 2 June.
Arnie's seal of approval
IT may not compare to the glamour and prestige of last year's World Cup, but Australia coach Graham Arnold predicts his English Premier League stars will receive rock-star treatment during the Asian Cup. And having visited Bangkok after the Asian Cup workshop in Kuala Lumpur, Arnold is confident his team will be nicely poised to back up its popularity and favouritism to challenge for the trophy on its Asian debut.
"The Thai people are so excited. I did an interview and all the questions were about Mark Viduka, Tim Cahill, Lucas Neill, Mark Schwarzer, Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton," Arnold said.
"There is such a huge focus on the Premier League and it seems like we'll be well supported by the Thai people.
"After coming here and seeing it for myself I feel more relaxed, knowing our players, who are used to top-class facilities in Europe, will come here and be looked after."
Arnold and team manager Gary Moretti have been impressed by the facilities Australia will utilise during the tournament.
Doubts twice surfaced within the past year about Thailand's capacity to host the event, which is co-hosted by Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.
Australia will play their three group games in Bangkok, plus the quarter-final if it finishes top of the group.
Asian trips have often been treacherous for Australia teams but Arnold is delighted with what he has seen and has praised Cup officials.
"The main stadium is a 56,000-seater. It's like Aussie Stadium. They've relaid the whole surface and it looks good, so it's a great incentive for us to finish top of the group," Arnold said. He also gave the training facilities his tick of approval.
Arnold, who is due to return to Australia next week, said the trip - which has taken him to Europe and Asia - has been money well spent by Football Australia.
"We've broken down so many barriers, it's been a wonderful exercise and full credit to FFA," he said.
"First, there was confusion about when the Asian Cup was on and there was a fear from our players' clubs that they wouldn't get a holiday.
"But after going through the programs they are relaxed and supportive of what we're doing.
"The players were concerned. They didn't want to get into an argument or conflict between the club and country and now there won't be.
"It's clear that the players are ready for it. We're just trying to get rid of every small problem that can occur off the field so we can come here and just worry about the football side of things."
Withe Back In Thailand
Former Thailand national team coach Peter Withe is heading back to the south-east Asian nation as head of the Thai university team that will take part in August’s World University games. The former European cup winner steered Thailand to two Tiger Cup victories before joining Indonesia in 2004.
He failed to repeat his former success during his three years in Jakarta and was fired early in 2007.
''Peter has good knowledge of the European style of football and there will be many European teams competing in the University Games,'' said Thavatchai Sajakul, student team manager to the Bangkok Post.
''Peter has got a lot of coaching experience and knows a lot about football as well as the Thai footballers. I think bringing him back will inspire the Thai team.''
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Sri Lankan team is stranded in UK
Sri Lanka's World Cup cricketers have been left stranded in London after their connecting flight back to Colombo was cancelled. The delay follows an air attack on Colombo on Sunday by the Tamil Tigers.
The players were booked to fly home with the Emirates airline. But Emirates has suspended flights to Colombo after Sunday's attack.
Officials say the 15-man squad and management team will now go back home early on Wednesday on another airline.
'Aerial attacks'
"We knew there was a danger our flight home on Emirates would be delayed because of security concerns following the weekend attack," team Manager Michael Tissera told the BBC's Sinhala service.
"But we also knew that we would have to come to London to see if it could be sorted out.
"We have arranged to take a Qatar Airways flight instead, which arrives in Colombo on 3 May at seven in the morning."
Sri Lanka Cricket's media spokesman, Samantha Algama, told the AFP news agency that he hoped celebrations to mark the team's appearance in the World Cup final would still go ahead.
"The parade and reception at Independence Square will go ahead as planned," Mr Algama said.
The Tigers warned on Monday their nascent air wing would launch more aerial attacks after a pre-dawn raid on oil facilities near the capital on Sunday.
The attack took place as fans in Colombo were watching the World Cup final in Barbados which Sri Lanka lost to Australia.
The authorities turned off much of Colombo's power during the raid, plunging the capital into darkness.
Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific and Dubai-based Emirates suspended flights, while Singapore Airlines said it would only fly into Colombo during the day.
It was the third air attack carried out by the Tamil Tigers. The first was carried out in late March.
The Sri Lanka Tourist Board issued a statement on Monday which said that Sunday's attack had caused little damage and that the country remained a safe place for tourists.
Blatter backs World Cup in Asia in 2018
LONDON (AP) - FIFA president Sepp Blatter wants the 2018 World Cup to go to Asia instead of the United States or Europe.FIFA will decide later this year whether to continue its policy of rotating continents for the soccer showcase.
The 2014 World Cup will be held in South America, with Brazil the only candidate.
While North America would be next in line, Blatter said he considers North and South America as one continent. That would mean the 2018 championship would go to Asia.
"Personally I think that we should maintain a rotation," Blatter told the "Inside Sport" television program to be broadcast Monday night on the BBC. "At least with four continents. To take North and South America as one continent, Europe, Africa and Asia.
"This would mean that the next World Cup after 2014 would go to Asia."
The United States, which hosted the World Cup in 1994, plans to bid for 2018. The British government says it would back a bid by England, which hosted the 1966 championship.
Japan and South Korea co-hosted the 2002 edition, the first time the World Cup went to Asia. Australia joined the Asia confederation after the 2006 World Cup in Germany and would be a likely 2018 candidate.
South Africa will host the 2010 World Cup, becoming the first African country to stage the event.
UEFA president Michel Platini is pushing for the 2018 World Cup to be held in Europe.
Blatter, who is unopposed in his bid for a third term as FIFA president, is expected to be re-elected later this month through 2011. In the BBC interview, he hinted he would support Platini as his eventual successor.
"There are other candidates, but I think this is a possibility," Blatter said. "Because he now has a career as a footballer, he was co-president of the organizing committee of the 1998 World Cup, he is a vice president of French Football, he is on the executive of FIFA and UEFA, and now president of UEFA.
"I think it is something which has a certain logic going forward."
Cricket bat used to kill India teen in clash
CALCUTTA, India — A teenager was beaten to death with a cricket bat after two groups of teens clashed over a playing field, police said Tuesday.
Mohammed Imran, 17, was playing soccer at a city park with friends Monday when another group of teenagers arrived and wanted the soccer players to leave so they could play cricket, police officer S. Karan said.
"Both sides had heated exchange of words and one of the members of the cricket team suddenly started beating the victim [Imran]," Karan said.
Karan said no arrest has been made.
Soccer-South Korea's Lee confident of Asian Cup return
SEOUL, April 30 (Reuters) - South Korean defender Lee Young-pyo is confident he can recover from knee surgery in time for the Asian Cup in July. Lee, who plays for Tottenham Hotspur in England's Premier League, suffered knee ligament damage in a UEFA Cup quarter-final match against Sevilla earlier this month. "It was a rather simple operation, so there is nothing to get seriously worried about," Yonhap News agency quoted Lee as telling a local sports Web site.
"I believe I can fully recover and be in good shape before July, when South Korea's national team is due to take part in the Asian Cup."
South Korea are in Group D with Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain for the July 7-29 tournament. Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam are co-hosting the competition.
South Korea are also likely to be without Manchester United's Park Ji-sung, who underwent surgery in the United States last week to repair a knee problem.
The livewire midfielder is expected to be out until August.
Soccer-China punishes player for "unsportsmanlike" message
BEIJING, April 26 (Reuters) - The Chinese Football Association (CFA) suspended Xiamen Lanshi defender Gabriel Melkam for three matches and fined him 5,000 yuan ($650) for wearing a vest emblazoned with "Chinese umpires are all fakes". On Sunday, the Nigerian import stripped off his team uniform after a 0-0 draw against Chinese Super League (CSL) side Henan Jianye, revealing the undershirt to journalists before a post-match press conference, local media reports said.
"Xiamen No. 4 Melkam displayed serious unsportsmanlike behaviour, which harmed the league and brought a negative influence to bear on society," the association said in a statement on its Web site.
Local media said Melkam's act was in response to a referee blunder in the previous round that caused Xiamen to lose 1-0 to Shanghai Shenhua.
An injury-time goal was awarded to Shenhua striker Sergio Blanco, who League officials later conceded was off-side.
Melkam's punishment was light as he had admitted his mistake and apologised to officials, the reports said.
"Our punishments are not particular, they are for the education of all players," CSL director Ma Chengquan said. ($1=7.720 Yuan)
Thai Ace Wants A-League Shot
Thailand's biggest football superstar Teeratep Winothai is aiming to kickstart his A-League dream by starring against the Socceroos this July in the Asian Cup. Speaking exclusively to au.fourfourtwo.com, the 22-year-old attacking midfielder says a stellar performance against Arnie's Aussies this July in Bangkok will put him firmly in the window for an A-League berth."To be fair, I want to play in the A-League. I want to improve. I don't know much about the league but I know there are a lot of Thai people in Australia and they love their football," Winothai says in a Thai accent tinged with cockney.
"I hope that I play well. I think I will."
Winothai is a former Crystal Palace trainee who burst onto the football scene in 1999 when he was selected in the Thailand U/17 squad as a 14-year-old.
He was signed by Palace and spent three years in London. There was even talk of Manchester United being interested in him but he returned home in 2004.
Since then he's scored regularly for the national Olympic team and the national side.
"Moving to Australia is important for me to take the next step in my career. Here in Thailand, it's just semi-professional football. The refereeing isn't very good and they don't promote the games very much," says the BEC Tero Sasana striker who scored a last minute goal on Saturday to defeat Osotspa 1-0 and maintain the side's lead at the head of the Thailand Premier League.
And Winothai believes the Thais could pull off a shock against the Aussies. "The conditions are going to help us," he says of the oppressive humidity in Bangkok and the expected heavy rains in July. "But it's going to be very, very difficult."
And playing against the star-studded Aussies will be a dream come true when the two sides meet at the sprawling Rajamangala stadium in outer Bangkok. Winothai has great admiration for one in particular.
"Tim Cahill is the biggest danger when we play Australia. He can do everything. He's good, he's got talent and he has commitment."
Winothai, however, believes that it will be the Socceroo captain who will be holding up the Asian Cup trophy next July. "The best teams in the tournament are Japan, South Korea and Australia... who I think will win it."
Morrison keen on Qingdao Zhongneng move: China football taking off
Dunfermline Athletic midfielder Owen Morrison admits he could move to China at the end of this season.He told Scotland on Sunday: "A couple of months ago I met the gaffer and asked him about my future because I wasn't in the team, and I didn't want my contract to run out without knowing whether I was staying or going. He told me that if I could get myself fixed up elsewhere, then I could go. Qingdao Zhongneng asked me over for a trial: I was happy to go, and I was there for eight days.
"I spent two weeks in China as part of pre-season training when I was with Stockport: the standard is good, and the stadiums are unbelievable. The language barrier is serious, however. Only one person spoke English over there, and that was the interpreter, who was translating for four or five players from all over the globe.
"I have two kids, so that would have to be considered, but financially it would be very, very rewarding, and that plays a big part. You don't often get to see these parts of the world, and I'd only be going for a year or two.
"Qingdao have a 67,000-capacity, all-seater stadium and a �10m training complex. Chinese football is really taking off and they're looking to emulate the success of the J League in Japan."
Setif host Arab Champions League final on Thursday
JOHANNESBURG, May 1 (Reuters) - Entente Setif of Algeria will host the first leg of the Arab Champions League final against Al Faisali of Jordan on Thursday, the Arab Football Union said.
The match is to be played at Setif and the return leg will be played in Amman on May 17.
Both clubs are appearing in the final of the event for the first time.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Iraq axe national coach at eleventh hour
Baghdad - Iraq have axed their national team coach just three months before the start of the Asian Cup.Akram Ahmed Salman was "released from his responsibilities", according to a statement from the Iraqi Football Association.
The Iraqi FA accepted the recommendation of a fact-finding committee, which conducted a two-month investigation into the failure of the team at the 18th Gulf Cup held in January, the Asian Football Confederation's Web site reported.
The Iraqis lost to Saudi Arabia in the final pool game and exited the tournament, which was won by hosts United Arab Emirates.
Current Olympic side coach Yahya Alwan is favourite to take over the reins and lead the team to the July 7-29 Asian Cup, co-hosted by Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysian and Vietnam.
Iraq are grouped with Thailand, Australia and Oman. (Writing by Ossian Shine in Singapore)
Retire No. 10 jersey in honor of Daei, says Qal�e-Noii
TEHRAN (the-afc.com) � Iran�s national football team coach Amir Qal�e-Noii believes the No. 10 jersey, worn with distinction by former skipper Ali Daei over the years, should be retired in honor of the legendary striker�s contributions. Speaking at a press conference, Qal�e-Noii said, �Daei was one of my teammates in national team and I have really not decided who deserves to wear that jersey (No. 10). But if the (Iran) Football Federation regulations allow me, I would like to retire it. His (Daei�s) was a legendary era in Iranian football.�SAIPA player-coach Daei, 38 and the first man to hit a century of international goals, is yet to announce his retirement from the international game but has not been considered by Qal�e-Noii for the national team after a poor performance in last year�s FIFA World Cup. When asked about national team�s preparations for the July 7-29 AFC Asian Cup 2007, Qal�e-Noii said, �We are trying to arrange some friendly matches but nothing is confirmed as of yet.� �We have a special plan for the AFC Asian Cup but this alone will not guarantee success. It is better to take the 2006 World Cup as an example. That is football.�
Qal�e-Noii took pains to assure that he was trying to strike a balance between both the right and left flanks of national team. �Mehdi Mahdavikia, Hossein Ka�bi and Javad Kazemian have made the right flank very strong but now we need to counterbalance it by strengthening the left flank. Fereydun Zandi, Alireza Nikbakht-Vahedi, Sattar Zare� and Mohsen Youssefi are the candidates I am banking on to do this.�
Iran have been drawn in Group C with co-hosts Malaysia, China, and Uzbekistan.
Hammam backs Asian clubs to compete with Europe in transfer market
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Mohamed bin Hammam is convinced the region's biggest clubs will soon be able to compete with Europe for the world's top talent."If clubs in Europe will pay $50 million for their players, we will do the same," Hammam told Reuters. "We just have to raise the standard and players will come. My dream is that we are as competitive as Europe in standard and revenue. I'm certain this will happen."
Hammam accused European clubs of simply recruiting Asian players to get a foothold in lucrative Far Eastern markets.
However, he said Asian sides might soon be doing the same thing.
"They don't recruit Asian players in the same way they do Africans. They're trying to create stars and get a share of their markets. This is the case with most of our players in Europe," he said. "But we can take from the markets in Europe. They can take from us, but we will take from them also."
ARNOLD PLANS TO BUILD BRIDGES
Australia coach Graham Arnold and team manager Gary Moretti will fly to England this week to discuss the availability of players for July's Asian Cup. Arnold and Moretti have planned a series of meetings with domestic club managers across Europe, including Everton's David Moyes, Middlesbrough's Gareth Southgate, Liverpool's Rafa Benitez and Blackburn chief Mark Hughes.
Everton's Tim Cahill, Middlesbrough trio Mark Viduka, Mark Schwarzer and Brad Jones, Liverpool midfielder Harry Kewell and Blackburn's Brett Emerton top Arnold's list of high-profile players.
Australia will make their Asian Cup debut after switching to Asian Football Confederation from the Oceania Football Confederation at the start of the 2006.
"All the players are dead keen and up for the Asian Cup but it's about communicating that with the managers," Arnold told The Daily Telegraph.
"We need to communicate what the Asian Cup's about because this is not only new to us but new to all our players and their clubs and the players will be missing from their clubs for six weeks during a crucial part of the pre-season.
"We'll detail our training program so hopefully they'll be happy and relaxed that the players return fit and ready for the start of the season.
"It's something we've wanted to do for a while and it's important to start building relationships with the managers because we may need to talk in future about releasing them for World Cup qualifiers."
Arnold and Moretti will also fly to Germany and Switzerland after several days in England to meet with Nurnberg manager Hans Meyer and FC Basel supremo Christian Gross.
Arnold is confident of securing the services of the majority of his squad despite fitness concerns over World Cup stars Cahill, Moore, Kewell and Kennedy.
"There may be a few hiccups but I'm positive we can get most of the squad," he added.
"There could be a few players that have an off-season transfer but, even if they do, they have indicated that they want to come.
"One thing I can't foresee is transfers, and those discussions may come at a later date, but from the players' point of view it's quite positive.
"This is an extremely motivated group. They've never won anything as a nation at any level and they want to go to the Asian Cup and do well.
"At this moment we have four injury concerns with Tim, Harry, Moorey and Josh - they've either had limited playing time or been out for extended periods so we'll see how they go in the next few weeks."
Asian soccer can rival Europe, AFC chief says
MACAU (Reuters) - Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Mohamed bin Hammam has big plans for Asian soccer, although he admitted they might sound a bit ambitious.After years of mediocrity the Asian game is finally changing and the continent of 3.6 billion people has the passion and the economic clout to go head-to-head in the future with the English, Spanish and Italian leagues, Hammam said.
If he gets his way, top European clubs will have to fight it out with Asian teams to secure multi-million dollar signings.
"If clubs in Europe will pay $50 million for their players, we will do the same," Hammam told Reuters in an interview on an aeroplane en route to China, where he is launching a development programme to create urban soccer leagues in dozens of the country's sprawling cities.
"We just have to raise the standard and players will come. My dream is that we are as competitive as Europe in standard and revenue. I'm certain this will happen."
Asia's 18 professional leagues vary greatly, with teams in Japan, Iran, China and Australia sometimes playing before crowds of up to 50,000, although clubs in many of the smaller leagues offer basic salaries and attract small crowds.
The 57-year-old Qatari, who last month won a second term as AFC president, said boosting revenue would be key to the long-term success of the Asian game.
COMMERCIAL REVENUE
He said the AFC would use commercial revenue to bring organised soccer to tens of millions of rural people and develop players and coaches in some of the world's poorest countries.
"We have to change the mentality and accept that professional football has to be organised like a business," Hammam said. "It is an entertainment industry. Revenue is necessary, it is our top priority.
"Here we have to replace amateurs with professionals. All of the people dealing with football must be this way."
Hammam cited record attendances this year at the Asian Champions League and an unprecedented demand for tickets for July's Asian Cup as a sign that Asia's love of soccer goes beyond the European game.
"How do we know if it's improving? Just see how many people are watching us. More and more sponsors and telecasts mean we're going in the right direction.
"The money is here. The talent of our players exists. We are not missing any element of this success," added Hammam, who was president of top Qatari side Al Rayyan at just 20 years old.
Hammam said the likes of Park Ji-sung of Manchester United and Celtic's Shunsuke Nakamura were good role models for Asians, although he accused European clubs of simply recruiting Asian players to get a foothold in lucrative Far Eastern markets.
However, he said Asian sides might soon be doing the same thing.
"They don't recruit Asian players in the same way they do Africans. They're trying to create stars and get a share of their markets. This is the case with most of our players in Europe," he said.
"But we can take from the markets in Europe. They can take from us, but we will take from them also."
Japanese fans told to behave in Shanghai
Japanese football fans in China for the Uruwa Reds Asian club soccer game have been told not to wear club strips or wave the national flag.The Japanese consulate has asked that fans resist booing during the Asian Champions League game with Shanghai Shenhua.
Japanese officials fear a repetition of the violence which erupted after Japan's victory over China in the 2004 Asian Cup final in Beijing.
RP football rises to 169th position
Philippine football vaulted to a 13-year high position of 169 in the latest rankings released by the International Football Federation Wednesday. The Philippines, which is skipping the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, actually jumped 10 places from its previous position last month, even without playing a single international match from February until mid-April. Johnny Romualdez, the Philippine Football Federation president, said the FIFA rankings are based on the results of the national team the past four years.
"The poor results in the past four years are dropped off and the better recent performances have been given more weight in the rankings," Romualdez explained.
The new ranking has pushed the Philippines to No. 8 in the Southeast Asian region, behind Thailand (119), Singapore (124), Vietnam (140), Indonesia (148), Myanmar (154), Malaysia (154) and Laos (165). In ninth position is Cambodia (170), followed by Brunei (173) and Timor Leste (199). The last time the Philippines reached the No. 169 rank was in November 1994. A month later, the country dropped two places at 171 that was only matched 12 years later in 2006.
A scoreless draw with Myanmar in the Southeast Asian Football Championships in January has so far been the best result for the Philippines this year, after registering a second-place finish in the ASEAN Championship Qualifiers in Bacolod City in November 2006. *CPT
Manchester United to play at Malaysia in July
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Manchester United will play a friendly soccer match in Malaysia on July 27, the Football Association of Malaysia said Wednesday. The match is a government and private sector initiative in conjunction with "Visit Malaysia Year 2007," association deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah was quoted as saying by the national news agency, Bernama.
United will take on a yet to be determined Malaysian invitational team, selected by the government and made up of club and international Malaysian players.
Tengku Abdullah denied the match would undermine attendance at Asian Cup pool games to be staged in Malaysia — one of the tournament's co-hosts — during July.
The likelihood of the match was originally raised in September last year after Manchester United signed a deal to support tourism in this Southeast Asian country.
Asian football to rival Europe
The Qatari, who was elected unopposed to a second term as AFC president last month, said boosting revenue would be key to the long-term success of the Asian game, and if he gets his way, top European clubs will have to fight it out with Asian teams to secure multi-million dollar signings.
"If clubs in Europe will pay $50 million for their players, we will do the same," Hammam told Reuters in an interview en route to China, where he is launching a development program to create urban football leagues in dozens of the country's sprawling cities.
"We just have to raise the standard and players will come.
"My dream is that we are as competitive as Europe in standard and revenue. I'm certain this will happen."
Asia's 18 professional football leagues vary greatly, with teams in Japan, Iran, China and Australia sometimes playing before crowds of up to 50,000, while clubs in many of the smaller leagues offer basic salaries and attract small crowds.
Hammam said the AFC would use commercial revenue to bring organised football to tens of millions of rural people and develop players and coaches in some of the world's poorest countries.
"We have to change the mentality and accept that professional football has to be organised like a business," Hammam said.
"It is an entertainment industry. Revenue is necessary, it is our top priority.
"Here we have to replace amateurs with professionals. All of the people dealing with football must be this way."
Crowds flocking to football
The 57 year-old cited record attendances at this year's Asian Champions League and an unprecedented demand for tickets for July's Asian Cup as a sign that Asia's love of football goes beyond the European game.
"How do we know if it's improving? Just see how many people are watching us. More and more sponsors and telecasts mean we're going in the right direction.
"The money is here. The talent of our players exists. We are not missing any element of this success," added Hammam, who was president of top Qatari side Al Rayyan at just 20 years old.
Give and take
Hammam said the likes of Park Ji-sung of Manchester United and Celtic's Shunsuke Nakamura were good role models for Asians, although he accused European clubs of simply recruiting Asian players to get a foothold in lucrative Far Eastern markets.
However, he said Asian sides might soon be doing the same thing.
"They don't recruit Asian players in the same way they do Africans. They're trying to create stars and get a share of their markets. This is the case with most of our players in Europe," Hammam said.
"But we can take from the markets in Europe.
"They can take from us, but we will take from them also."
The AFC's flagship event - the Asian Cup, will be held this year in Malaysian, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam from July 7 to 29.
Australian midfielder Cahill eyes Asia Cup return
SYDNEY: Injured Everton and Australia midfielder Tim Cahill is targeting a return to action at the Asian Cup finals in July, but admits it is still touch and go. Cahill, a key member of the Socceroos, fractured a metatarsal in his left foot against Sheffield United in early March and has been on the sidelines ever since.
But he said the bone was on the mend and he was desperate to return.
“I will be doing all I can to be fit and available for selection,” Cahill told the Everton website.
“The competition starts in July so it is going to be very tricky on the schedule but the Asian Cup is a massive competition.
“It is something we have got a realistic chance of being in the top contenders to win it, so from Australia'a perspective, following the World Cup successes, we need our strongest team possible.”
Having started just 19 times for Everton this season, Cahill admits he can't wait to get back on the pitch.
“I am gagging to get back into football,” said the former Millwall player.
“It is just frustrating because I couldn't do anything about my first injury and then I came back and had a freak accident.”
Australia are in a Bangkok-based pool that also includes Thailand, Oman and Iraq for the Asian Cup, with their first game against Oman on July 8.
They play warm-up matches against Uruguay on June 2 and Singapore on June 30. – AFP
Australians may attract scouts through Arsenal
Remzi Dermele and Salah Musa are two young immigrant residents of the inner districts of Australia's second largest city, Melbourne, who have been selected in a 30-strong Australian contingent travelling to the 17th annual Arsenal International Soccer Festival at the Royal Holloway University in Surrey, England, from 28 July to 5 August. According to Larry Schwartz of The Age, the event "will attract talent scouts from Britain and elsewhere in Europe."Remzi and Salah are among almost 600 refugees from the horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia) who now live in Carlton's public housing. This is a community in which a study by a Monash University researcher found family life had been disrupted in war and refugee camps. Women had often come to Australia without their husbands, who had died, were lost in Africa or otherwise separated from their families. Many of the youngsters' education has been disrupted in their troubled countries. But there is an obvious camaraderie and a shared passion for the "world game".
Here soccer is everything, says Mia Bromley. She is a program director with the YMCA's Carlton Parkville Youth Services, which runs a drop-in centre at the flats and soccer teams for younger players. The service is helping Remzi and Salah raise the almost $7000 they will each need for air fares, accommodation and other costs on their trip. Both teenagers are also selling raffle tickets to help raise the money.
"We don't want to create a false hope," says organiser Jim Tsolakis, managing director of the new Arsenal Soccer Schools Australia which was set up late last year and is one of 14 such schools around the world, including in Egypt, Portugal, Hong Kong and Malaysia. They are visited by Arsenal coaches and use training programs devised and monitored by the club.
Mr Tsolakis hopes that some of the Australians who play at the Arsenal event will be invited to train with the club's youth teams. "Who knows? It certainly will help them with that opportunity but also with their opportunities back home as the A-League gets better and, if we can develop the players, there's Asia," he says. "There's a huge market."