SoccerDroid eMAGAZINE
Issue: October 2012
Tales of Man City…
p.35
PELE: The KiNG of Brazil p.29
3 new The The History of the Game-- Foot Game Footba ball ll (Socc (Soccer)… er)… p.4 p.46 6
Soccer Stadiums Bulids in Brazil 2014 world cup… p.38
PFC Men Team Adidas… The 20122012-13 Soccer tryouts kicks off officially in September 2012 as they look forward to play Gold Coast SDL in October 2012 Players ages from U18 & up is welcome , Venue at Pine Island Soccer Park in Plantation FL.... p.8
SoccerDroid Fans Player of the month . p.12
US Youth Soccer Region III Southern Regional Premier League (SPL) 1 off 2012-2013 Synopsis Season kicks August 18th, 2012 SD100212-9000001
Smart soccer has arrived It's time for a new revolution. It's time for smart soccer Add ins‌Last page
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INSIDE… October’s News Letter - PFC Team Adidas
.4
By ; John Ramos
Plantation FC Men’s Team Adidas
.8
By : The Editor
SoccerDroid Player of the Month
Do We have the Vision
.12 .13
By ; Dave Williams
Soaring Eagles
.14
Plantation FC Youth soccer programs
Soccer Cub News
.18
Inside scoops and reports on Players and Clubs.
PELE: The KING of Brazil
.29
History of the legendary soccer players.
MLS in the NetworK
.30
Major League Soccer game news and reviews
Tales of the City
.35
Manchester City FC, Beginning of the “Tales”
.38 Soccer world upcoming event s and schedules
The History of the Game
.46
Football! known as ‘Soccer” in the USA
Nutrition for Sports
.49
Tips on healthy diet for the game of soccer and other sports..
PUBLISHER: SoccerDroid eMAGAZINE EDITOR: Kevin Irving Graphic Artist: Donovan Gordon ART DIRECTOR: Nicholas Harriett ADVERTISEMENT: soccerdroidemag@yahoo.com SoccerDroid eMagazine - October 2012
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Plantation Football Club Team Adidas In the summer of 2011 PFC initiated a project in order to present players an opportunity to continue to play organized soccer after their youth stages. The program targets players from the age of 18-22 and players that perhaps did not get an opportunity to play at the collegiate level or have dreams of possibly playing professional soccer one day. The name of this team is Team Adidas. In its initial stages Team Adidas went through a two-month player identification process. Over this two-month period PFC was able to identify players that would participate in a local competitive league for Team Adidas’s inaugural year. The team roster was composed of local talent and players that had recently graduated from top college programs throughout the U.S. In its first season of the CASA league, Team Adidas placed first place in league play and won the league in a dramatic final and was a awarded a $10,000 prize by the league. During its inaugural year PFC was able to establish a professional training ground for the members of Team Adidas. Training took place 4-5 times a week with the PFC coaching staff and with Excel Sports Performance who handled all of the physical training for the team. The training ground also allowed for PFC youth players to train with more experienced players in order to accelerate their development by playing a higher level and with more experienced players. There were also a few players within the team that were being looked at by American based professional clubs for possible professional contracts. Team Adidas looks to continue to develop players for the professional level and youth players for possible US Youth National team duty. There are also plans of possibly participating in the US Open Cup next season along with joining a national league. This team is an extension of the Plantation FC youth program. As the club looks to continue the growth and create a culture models similar to some of the most popular soccer clubs around the world.
John Ramos Director of Coaching and Player Development Plantation Football Club SoccerDroid eMagazine - October 2012
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SoccerDroid digital ‘Shots’
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PFC's elite Team Adidas First competitive League –CASA Super League, First Championship for Team Adidas!!
Plantation FC Men Team Adidas Soccer Squad 2012
T
he "Team Adidas" project was put
together in the summer of 2011 after a couple of years of consideration. The purpose of this project was to create a team for soccer players after the youth stages, 18+.
Part of Plantation Football Club mission is to provide a professional team environment where players can continue to develop and possibly pursue professional contracts. Team Adidas will also be a catapult and accelerate the development of the youth players in the Plantation Football club. Next upcoming season PFC Team Adidas hopes to have the team participate in the Gold Coast SDL Summer League, CASA Super League (Defending Champion) and the U.S. Open Cup where they could play against amateur or professional teams throughout the U.S. in a single elimination domestic tournament.
The team is composed of players that developed through the local youth programs that have recently finished their college soccer careers or local talent that did not pursue the college road. Team Adidas trains with Excel Sports Performance (ESP) and the PFC coaching staff. PFC Men Team Adidas listen on , as Coaches Anis Jerbi , Mike Barton and Giuseppe Weller gets the team prepare for the Gold Coast SDL 2012-13 season. Cont‌ SoccerDroid eMagazine - October 2012
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CASA League is a local league and is the first league that Team Adidas has participated in. Team Adidas finished league play in 1st place with 31 points and a record of 9-1-1. This is the first time in league history, that a team first time has entered the league and finished as champions. PFC Team Adidas won the Shiny silver trophy standing about 20-22” tall and cash prize that will be used to fund portions of the youth program.
The PFC Eagles and PFC Team Adidas managers decided to play some of the most talented and improved youth players from the club’s youth development program to play this season with the PFC Team Adidas. Players in the spot light is as follows; Darwin Aldair (17), Mathew Melguizovski (18), Cedric Guichard (17), Criag Campbell (16), Ahmed Ibraham (16) and Oscar Salas (17). The competition is a home and away play. Away Games play at Coral springs Soccer Park, Coral Spring, FL and Home games will pay between Central park and Pine Island Park in the Plantation FL., with teams playing each other twice.
PFC Team Adidas managers Manager: Nigel Blair With Coach Anis Jerbi – Head Coach and director of PFC Boys Teams, one of the most tactical coaches in South Florida with his restlessly hard work and no nonsense approach is leading the charge for the season Tournament, Gold Coast SDL which kicks off in the last week of October 2012. He will be looking for support from Senior players from last season team such as; Juan Gonzalez, Jaime Saenz, Juan Vargas, Dave Bartholomew, Armando Acosta, Glen Thompson, Mark Lyon. New Players; Cleveland Brown Jr., Ganzalo Demujica, David Williams, Maurico Buitrago, Ruben Decius,
Co. Manager: Paul Clarke Head Coach: Anis Jerbi Assit.Coach: Mike Barton Coach (Goalies): Giuseppe Weller Legal Aide: Jon Hinden
Reported by: The Editor
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PFC 2011-12 Leagues fixtures Casa Super League 2011-12 Soccer Season results - Plantation FC Team Adidas
PFC Team Adidas is crowned Champion after winning a nail biter final against CLARA-REMA FC which went in to extra time and penalty shoot out. With PFC Team Adidas came out victorious with a 4-4 reg. and a 5-3 Over time in CASA Super League 2011 – 2012 season
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The United States women's soccer team celebrates with the Olympic 2012 gold medals
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SoccerDroid
. layer of the month8.
Ryan Giggs
11. Ryan Giggs Birth date: 29 Nov 1973 Birthplace: Cardiff, Wales Position: Midfielder Height: 5' 11" (1.80m) Weight: 157 lbs (71.1 kg) Appearances 910 Goals , Scored 163 Joined United: 11/29/1987 United Debut: 03/02/1991 v Everton H) International: Wales (retired)
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Do we have the vision?
When I First attended a Premier Skills course, the one thing that stuck in my mind above all else, was Roger Wilkinson explaining how a coach must have a vision of how you want to play the game. “When you are coaching a 5 year old, you are actually coaching a 25 year old at the start of his career!” That statement is how the most successful academies operate, they believe in their style of play and children are taught how to play the game, guided by the end vision. Without it is like driving from A to B without knowing where B is. Premier Skills gives you a map to B in 3D. On my journey to Level 3, I still have 1 & 2 in the backseat telling me turning right/left, running in, get through the GAP – for those who have not done any of the courses those are some of the references to coaching points that stay with you the whole journey. When I arrived at Level 3, it was good to see so many other coaches on the same clear but long road ahead. The first day was run by Roger Wilkinson. Roger worked on staying with the ball through the thirds, gradually increasing the difficulty, adding layers to the work. Roger later moved onto passing and receiving, once again still linking in all the previous work, keeping to the style of play in all the work he showed us. Within the day we were shown Whole-Part-Whole methods of coaching, working with back players, to midfield to attackers and how we can make our play fluid, lots of rotation, bringing players from the back to the front, such as Alves or Busquets do for Barcelona. By: Dave Williams
On day two John Cartwright took the session, starting with kicking variations he took the work from Level 2 and progressed it once again, showing us using a rebound surface and without. John was encouraging players to be creative, using the outside of your foot, putting spin on the ball etc. The last topic was Heading, which is the first time it has been introduced into Practice Play. I did wonder how John was going to bring heading in, without using a ”drill” and keeping to Practice Play methodology. John managed not only to keep the practice within the style of play that he set out all those years ago, but he also managed to make it one of the most fun sessions of the weekend. Goalkeepers which are so often forgotten at training, were also included. Over the two days, the football that was played by the young coaches was entertaining, unlike the England v France match last night.
We saw them running across the pitch, using take overs, starting again, screening the ball, playing on the half turn, building out from the back……..and all this from grassroots coaches. The coaches showed an understanding of the work, the shouts were happening, players looking to keep the ball, looking to penetrate, but it was not just pass, pass, pass then over the top, the coaches had learnt that playing with style, intelligence and patience is so important for our game. To sum up PPL3 course, it was superb, the tutors showed a deep understanding of how the game should be practiced then played, without anyone standing in lines, or around the edges. The course work is simple to set up, some practices coaches put on need 5 or more different set ups, which wastes time, none of that here. But the real test is not whether I like the work, will the young players like it? The most important question to a young player and the most frequently asked is, “when are we going to play a match?” Children ask that less with Practice Play, WHY? The clue is in the title. SoccerDroid eMagazine - October 2012
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Plantation FC youth Soccer program
US Youth Soccer Region III Southern Regional Premier League (SPL) 2012-2013 Synopsis Season kicks off August 18th 2012 until December 1st, 2012.
The Plantation Boys U15 Copa team displayed their great teamwork and skills over developing years. The teams Kicks off 2012-13 season by finishing 4th in the Disney Soccer Show Qualifier over the Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 3rd 2012. The team is now in the middle of the REGION III Southern Premier League and they are currently in second Place, a point behind the Leader GSA 98 Phoenix Red of Atlanta, Georgia. They will their Plantation FC Girl soccer teams are ready for the 2012faceoff for the top spot on October 9th 2012 at Patton Soccer Park , Jacksonville, FL. (See P. 15 Team Fixtures) 13 Soccer season PFC Eagles girls teams hosted U17 Women's National Picture/Roster: Team from Trinidad and Tobago April 27th, 2012 some Botton L to R: Marco Romano, Caleb Bien-Aime, Nicholas of Eagle Girls met with the WNT from TTFF for a Arbolela, David Sanchez, Giannie Serio, Ethan Elalouf, friendly. The TTFF Team was in the US training for the Ryan Chepp CONCACAF U-17 Tournament, which will lead to the Top L to R: Mike Barton (Coach), Anis Jerbi (Coach), U17 World Cup. It was a nice evening and a good Miguel Perez, Will Inalien, Ethan Seidenberg, Max soccer match was played by all‌ Go Eagles!! Licthenstein, Cory Roberts, Nicholas Hinds, Nicholas Wall, Sebastian De Los Rios, Travis Brumfield, Jay Wall (Manager).
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Plantation FC U15 Boys Copa 2012 Region 3 Premier League East (PLE) Fall
Game Schedules‌ 8/1/2012 - 12/01/2012
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Youth Soccer upcoming events..
2012 - 26th Annual Plantation Thanksgiving Classic The Plantation Eagles Soccer Club is proud to partner with Adidas for the 26h Annual Thanksgiving Classic The Plantation Thanksgiving Classic is one of the top ranked tournaments in the state and has sold out for 16 years in a row. 300+ teams applied to the 2011 tournament, with nearly 300 being accepted. Our apologies to any team that was not accepted. We are limited by available field space and we had accepted teams as payment was received until we reached capacity.
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Youth Soccer upcoming events..
WESTO CUP & SHOWCASE
February 16-18, 2013 - Presidents’ Day Weekend
WESTO FC.
Florida’s premier Presidents’ Day Weekend tournament for boys and girls teams. In 2012, the Weston Cup had 485 teams from throughout Florida, multiple states, and international teams from Canada, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Venezuela, and Mexico that competed at four facilities which included over 30 playing fields. Teams from outside Florida, including international teams participate each year. The tournament will offer four levels of competition: Showcase, Gold, Silver, and Bronze for U8 through U19 boys and girls teams. For 2013 we are expecting over 475 teams from out-of-state, across Florida, and internationally.
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Robin van Persie and Shinji Kagawa both scored on their home debuts to help Manchester United to a 3-2 win against Fulham on Aug. 25th.
Aston Villa 11-3 Everton Steven Pienaar, Pienaar, Marouane Fellaini and Nikica Jelavic score for Everton as Aston Villa lose again. Aug. 25th
Luis Suarez has set his sights firmly on firing Liverpool into the top four this season – and the Uruguayan is hopeful that in seasons to come he can be part of a Reds side that will challenge for the Barclays Premier League title. Olympian gold medallist Usain Bolt also in attendance at Old Trafford, ManUtd. It was a busy day for press photographers, including club snappers John and Matt Peters. Aug. 25th
Di Matteo hails 'immense' Torres Manager Roberto Di Matteo praises Fernando Torres's 'immense' workrate following Chelsea's 22-0 win over Newcastle. Newcastle Aug 25th
Scott Sinclair: Swansea accept Manchester City offer. Aug. 25th SoccerDroid eMagazine - October 2012
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Klinsmann: We have to fix things (AFP) Saturday 8 September 2012
“I think it's clear to the players that in certain moments you just need to be a little bit smarter”, Jurgen Klinsmann, USA coach
USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann wants his squad to play smarter and simpler after a stinging 2-1 loss at Jamaica in their 2014 FIFA World Cup™ qualifying match. It was the first USA loss to the Reggae Boyz in 19 matches, although the Americans have never won in Jamaica. "Every time we played simple passing and combined, we created chances," said Klinsmann. "In between those moments we just made things far too complicated.“ Tottenham Hotspur forward Clint Dempsey scored only 36 seconds into the match, the fastest goal in USA's FIFA World Cup qualifying history. But the Caribbean side answered with goals by Rodolph Austin in the 23rd minute and Luton Shelton in the 62nd.
"A couple of things went wrong," Klinsmann said. "Having that lead maybe gave players the feeling they can play the complicated way. I told them at half-time this is not the way it works. You've got to keep things simple on the field. "We have to fix it now. We have to fix it back in Columbus and I think it's clear to the players that in certain moments you just need to be a little bit smarter.“ The Americans will face Jamaica in a rematch on Tuesday in what is now a crucial match with regards to advancing into next year's final round of regional FIFA World Cup qualifying. "The good thing about the situation now is that we can repair things in four days," Klinsmann said.
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Fulham continues action against Liverpool over Dempsey approach. Sep 4, 2012
.
The Cottagers are set to press ahead with their official objection to the Anfield club's pursuit of their former America international midfielder, despite his move to Tottenham. Fulham will continue to seek action against Premier League rivals Liverpool over its pursuit of Clint Dempsey. The 29-year-old was the subject of intense interest from the Reds throughout the summer transfer window before eventually signing for Tottenham just hours before the window closed. However, despite not joining the Anfield club, the Cottagers are determined to see the Merseysiders held to account for what they deemed an illegal chase of their player. A Premier League statement confirmed: "We have received a complaint from Fulham regarding comments made by Liverpool FC officials and are looking into the matter.“ The case relates to comments made by Brendan Rodgers during the club's preseason tour of America on the same day that Fenway Sports Group's official website erroneously claimed that Dempsey had joined the Reds. Rodgers admitted Liverpool had made an approach for the USA international stating: "Clint is a player we've inquired about, it is as simple as that. "Ian Ayre, our managing director, has spoken with the club to see what the position is. That is where we're at. He's a very talented player but we don't like to talk about other clubs' players.“
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Dempsey is tough as gristle and fierce as a jaw wired shut.
The 29-year-old had plenty of time to kill lately as well, after sitting out Fulham's first two games ahead of a deadline-day transfer to Tottenham Hotspur. He doesn't get too much fishing done in London, though. Dempsey's off-field pastimes – fishing, golf, parenting – tend toward the serene for a guy who broke John Terry's jaw, gave Phil Jones a concussion, and who once played two MLS games with a broken jaw of his own before the team physio caught on. But then most humans embody wonderful juxtapositions, if not outright contradictions, and Dempsey's no exception. For one there's his out of wack swagger-tosilliness ratio. Dempsey is undeniably goofy looking. His short-cropped hair lets his ears stick out even more prominently than when “Shaggy Clint” had different goofinesses going on. His eyes bulge out from dark sockets (or perhaps perpetual shiners). But any silliness of appearance probably only highlights his natural swagger. As Richard Ford, a favorite author of Dempsey's former coach at Fulham, Roy Hodson, would put it, he's "within himself." Part of that is maturity, sure. But the selfconfidence has always been there - humility and sports stars seldom overlap. By now, the unruly, quarrelsome part of Dempsey has been channeled into a frightening on-field intensity. He's been known to get into tussles with teammates and once gave his captain, Joe Franchino, a black eye while with the New England Revolution. There's less joking around lately. The quirky, funny goal celebrations from his MLS days have bled into frightening, intense whoops, full-throated screams as he slams his closed fist against his heart. There are more goals to celebrate, angrily or not, than before. No one has scored more for Fulham in any given season since 2007-08, and this last one was particularly scorching.
T
he 29-year-old scored 17 goals in the English Premier League,
23 in total, to set records for the most goals scored by an American in the Premier League overall and in a single season. He also became the first American to score a hat trick in the Premier League. Here's a list of players who scored more EPL goals last year: Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Sergio Aguero. That's it. With so few names above his on the scoring charts, Dempsey wanted fewer names above his team on the league table. The first thing Dempsey asked incoming U.S. national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann was how to get his name on a Champions League teamsheet. Leveraging a move out of Craven Cottage with his impending free agency, Dempsey eventually wriggled across London to Spurs in the closing minutes of the summer transfer window. It's not quite the Champions League move he wanted – Tottenham finished fourth last season but will play in the Europa League because Chelsea, which finished sixth, qualified by winning the CL – but it's a significant step forward. Dempsey's not quite there yet, but the distance he has come is impressive.
Cont…
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Paul Clarke - Sales Associate Certified Distressed Property Exper Plantation Lakeside 600 N Pine Island Rd, Ste 150, Plantation, Florida 33324 Direct: (954) 336-9737, Office: (954) 452-1999 Email: paulieclarke@aol.com Website: www.floridamoves.com/paul.clarke
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Ferguson's relief after Robin van Persie strikes late
Manchester United come from behind to beat ten-man Liverpool in an emotional day at Anfield
Reported: 9/23/2012 Robin van Persie's late penalty earned Manchester United a 2-1 victory against 10-man Liverpool in their Barclays Premier League match at Anfield. The Dutch striker secured the win when he fired his spot-kick past Pepe Reina after Glen Johnson had brought down Luis Antonio Valencia and it moved United into second spot in the table with 12 points, one point behind leaders Chelsea. The first match at Anfield since the Hillsborough report cleared Liverpool's fans of blame for the deaths of 96 of their number at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final, sparked into life after 39 minutes when Liverpool’s Jonjo Shelvey was red-carded for a lunge on Jonny Evans. However, the home side went ahead straight after half-time through Steven Gerrard's shot in the area. United hit back after 51 minutes through Rafael Da Silva's curling shot before Van Persie's late strike meant that after five games Liverpool are still looking for their first league win of the season.
Sir Alex Ferguson was relieved to emerge from Anfield with three points after a late penalty from Robin van Persie earned Manchester United a 2-1 victory against 10-man Liverpool. After ceremonies in which both teams paid tribute to the 96 Liverpool fans who died at Hillsborough in 1989, it was Liverpool who dominated the first half. However, their task was made more difficult when Jonjo Shelvey was sent off for a foul on Jonny Evans on 38 minutes. A minute after the break, the man disadvantage did not appear to matter as Steven Gerrard steered in a shot inside the area, but the lead lasted only five minutes. Rafael Da Silva advanced into the Liverpool area and curled a left-foot shot into the far corner. Liverpool still created chances but on 81 minutes were caught on the counter-attack and a retreating Glen Johnson brought down Luis Antonio Valencia to concede a penalty that Van Persie converted. Ferguson welcomed the three points that returned his side to second place in the Barlcays Premier League table.
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Joleon Lescott's header was not enough for Manchester City to beat Arsenal Reported: 9/23/2012 Koscielny struck eight minutes from time as Arsenal plundered a deserved point at Manchester City on Sunday. It looked like being a frustrating afternoon for Arsène Wenger’s side until the centre half celebrated his first start of the season by thumping home from 10 yards after Manchester City failed to clear their lines from a corner. The goal was perhaps against the run of play at the time but Arsenal’s overall performance certainly merited it. They were the better side in the first half but allowed Joleon Lescott to nod home from a corner five minutes from the whistle. Laurent Koscielny spared Arsenal from a first defeat of the Barclays Premier League season at Manchester City, clinching a 1-1 draw against the defending champions. Joleon Lescott headed City in front at the end of the first half, but the defender failed to clear a corner in the 82nd minute, allowing Koscielny to score the late leveler from close range. Jermain Defoe scored his sixth goal of the season as Tottenham Hotspur came from behind to beat Queens Park Rangers 2-1 and register their first home Barclays Premier League win under Andre Villas-Boas. After a disappointing first half during which they trailed to Bobby Zamora’s goal, Villas-Boas’s team turned things around after the break, with Defoe's strike and an owngoal from Alejandro Faurlin. At the Sports Direct Arena, Demba Ba’s fourth goal of the season fired Newcastle United to a 1-0 victory over Norwich City. On a day when Papiss Cisse missed a penalty for the home side, Ba's first-half goal allowed Newcastle to claim a second league win of the season, but only after a fine save by Steve Harper denied Andrew Surman an equaliser.
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Barça v Granada: The encounter Jordi Clos 09/23/2012
In the end it was a narrow, hard-fought win but the match stats tell a very different story in terms of chances and possession The Brazilian defender Dani Alves was omnipresent on the right side of the pitch. The right back barreled into Granada territory throughout the first half and linked-up with Messi and Alexis superbly to keep his white-and-blue counterpart on the back foot. However, when Granada surged forward after a quick overturn the Brazilian was always there to stop the counterattack in its tracks.
FCB - Granada (2-0) FC Barcelona secured its fifth win in as many games in La Liga this evening against Granada. The hard-fought win wouldn't have been possible without the key contributions from the following players... With five wins in five matches, Barça are just one more victory away from equalling the best ever start to a league campaign.
Despite the palpable tension at the Camp Nou due to the 0-0 scoreline, Víctor Valdés didn’t have a lot do to. However, just minutes before Xavi’s magnificent strike, the unmarked Fabián Orellana found himself in front of Víctor Valdés in the Barça area. The Granada player sent his shot low and to Valdés’ left but the keeper was quick off his line and pulled out an amazing save that kept his team’s hopes alive of winning the match. After the game, Andoni Zubizarreta noted that “Víctor once again showed why he’s Barça’s keeper.”
The midfielder Xavi came onto the pitch for Thiago with 36 minutes left on the clock. The prior 54 minutes saw the Azulgranas frustrated by a nearly impenetrable Granada defence and an absolutely superb Toño in goal. With three minutes to go before the full 90, the fans at the Camp Nou started digesting the possibility that their team might not win its fifth consecutive match in La Liga. But then Pedro slotted in a low, hard cross from the right wing that was scooped up by Xavi. The midfielder, whose talents aren’t always associated with scoring goals, unleashed a powerful right-footed shot that nicked the crossbar before settling into the back of the net. Xavi’s goal led the way to Barça’s eventual 2-0 win over Granada, thus preserving the team’s perfect run in the Liga. SoccerDroid eMagazine - October 2012
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Benzema and Ronaldo sealed Real Madrid victory 0-2:
Reported; 9/24/2012
A
fter a delay of a little over 22 hours with
respect to the initial schedule, due to the electrical failure in the Vallecas stadium yesterday, Real Madrid faced the match against Rayo looking to recover the winning dynamic that led them to achieve the best Liga campaign in history. And they certainly met their objective. In fact, the Whites had the first opportunity at goal in the 3rd minute. Di María took the free kick and Pepe gave a header, but goalkeeper Rubén's extraordinary response prevented the Whites from opening on the scoreboard. He wasn't able to do so ten minutes later in response to a textbook fast break that deserves to be shown in football academies. Marcelo began the play with a spectacular back heel kick, Modric continued and passed to Ronaldo who then passed to Di María. The Argentinian advanced up the left wing, entered the area and waited for the exact moment to assist Benzema, right between the legs of a midfielder. All the French player had to do was push it into the net, putting the cherry on the top of a brilliant collective play.
The goal, far from spurring on the locals, led to the visiting team's best moments in the first half. The Whites, who today gave their dark blue second kit its first official airing, enjoyed as many as four clear opportunities. Benzema and Di María, the two players who contributed most to the first goal, had the first two attempts in the 18th and 20th. Ronaldo, two minutes later, took a close shot next to Rubén from in front of the area and Modric had the clearest opportunity midway through the first half. The Croatian had the chance to score his first goal with Real Madrid but wasn't able to beat the home keeper in a one-on-one in the 25th. This was followed by the home team's only opportunity at goal. Delibasic headed a cross from the right wing in the 33rd but Casillas' reaction was impeccable. The lesson in reflexes given by the world's best keeper left the ball loose in the area. Labaka seized the opportunity and his shot was on target. But just when it seemed that an equaliser was inevitable, Xabi Alonso was there to clear the ball from the goal line with his chest. It was the best way to warn Real Madrid that it had to make the most of its scoring opportunities if it didn't want to suffer in Vallecas.
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Ford F-150 AMERICA’S BEST SELLING TRUCKS
The 2013 Ford F-150 Continues to Improve on a Winning Formula The 2013 F-150 introduces a number of exterior updates, interior enhancements and new technologies to continue the tradition of FSeries leadership.
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Pele: The king of Brazil By John Brewin
Edson Arantes do Nascimento remains the most famous footballer on earth - more than 30 years after his retirement - and it is his World Cup achievements which have chiefly garnered that accolade. Diego Maradona may dispute that statement, and a feud with his fellow South American has long raged over who can regard himself as the best, yet Pele would argue that he got there first. At a time when the world was being introduced to television coverage of a tournament that was still to get into its stride, Pele and Brazil helped shape the World Cup into the greatest show on earth. Indeed, any great team must measure against those from his twin victories of 1958 and 1970. An achievement of scoring over 1,000 career goals is amazing, but the Pele of Sweden and Mexico remain the images the world will remember him for long after he has ascended to football heaven. The first saw him arrive as an unknown teenager and depart as the most glittering star in a galaxy of samba talent. The latter saw him cement his place in history as the conductor of the most devastating attacking force that has yet played at a World Cup. After less than two years as a professional, and at just 17, he became the youngest player to play in the finals. Santos, the club side with whom he stayed right up until his first retirement in 1972, became envied around the world as their tyro, standing at just 5' 8", revealed his array of talents. Pace was matched with power, a fierce shot married to an instinct for opportunity, while a delicacy of touch coupled with a supreme athleticism and the physique of a welterweight boxer.
The crowning moment: PelĂŠ celebrates winning his second World Cup final On arriving in Scandinavia, he was made to wait until Brazil's third group game with the Soviet Union before being given his head, with Garrincha also being selected. He did not score, but strike partner Vava grabbed the brace that took the team through to the last eight. It was against Wales, making their sofar only finals appearance, that Pele scored the goal he would call the most important of his career before France were swept away by a thrilling hattrick in the semis. The final saw Brazil haul back an early lead for hosts Sweden with a four-goal salvo shared by Pele and Vava. One of the teenager's pair saw him control the ball, hook it over his shoulder in one movement and smash in an unerring volley. Six goals in three games had already sealed his place in the tournament's history.
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There, while Carlos Alberto was granted the armband, Pele was the Brazil team's true leader. When, in the semi-final, Brazil had conceded early to Uruguay, so long their bete noire in the World Cup, it was Pele who could be seen imploring his team on to better efforts and a place in the final.
PelĂŠ (right) scored his first World Cup goal in the 1958 quarter-final with Wales
Chile in 1962 was expected to be further confirmation of supremacy, yet Pele injured his hamstring in the second match and missed out on his country's second successive World Cup win as Amarildo, known in less enlightened times as the "White Pele," took his chance and scored in the final. Four years later, he was again struck by injury, after becoming the victim of some disgraceful tackling from Bulgaria and Hungary as Brazil shockingly crashed out in the first round. An ageing team could not cope with the strong-arm tactics they faced, but the image of a stricken Pele wrapped in a blanket by the side of the Goodison Park pitch as the decisive match turned in Portugal's favour was a harrowing sight to his legion of admirers. Mexico 1970 is the tournament that fully cemented Pele's position at the head of World Cup legends. His experiences in England had caused him to proclaim he would never again play in a World Cup. He refused a 1969 call-up for the Selecao only to be persuaded to reconsider and declare that Mexico would be his last tournament.
By then he had provided some of the tournament's finest moments. And they didn't even result in goals. The salmon-like header to provide Gordon Banks with save of the century, an amazing shot from the halfway line against Czechoslovakia which just missed its target and a delicious combination of feint, dribble and shot just wide of the post against Uruguay are among the World Cup football's enduring images.
Gordon Banks makes the save of the century from PelĂŠ's downward header
His opener in the final against Italy, an object lesson in the bullet header, made him only the second player to score in two World Cup finals. Old oppo Vava had achieved the same in 1962. The pattern of play that forever sealed Brazil '70 as team of the century owed its coupe de grace to the vision of the man who was easily first among near-equals like Gerson, Jairzinho, Rivelino and Tostao. With the game in its dying embers, Clodoaldo weaved past tired Italian legs before the ball eventually found its way to the feet of Pele. He retained possession and the attention of Italy's defenders before sliding the ball to his right where Carlos Alberto was cruising into a shooting position. The delicacy of Pele's pass gave the defender the perfect angle to defeat Albertosi from the edge of the box with a rocket of a shot. Pele was soon to be carried high from the Aztec Stadium's pitch, able to take his leave of the World Cup for the final and most glorious occasion. SoccerDroid eMagazine - October 2012
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CARSON, Calif. – The playoffs appeared a most unlikely dream for the reigning MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy back at the end of May. There’s been a pretty dramatic turnaround since then, to the point that the Galaxy are now on the verge of clinching their fourth straight postseason berth. A victory on Saturday night Sept. 22nd over Toronto FC at the Home Depot Center ensures what is certainly inevitable, but it's not really on LA's radar – at least not until reporters pointed it out at Friday morning's training session. “It hasn't been talked about, actually,” left back Todd Dunivant said at training on Friday. “You guys just told me for the first time. So we didn't know that. I think at this point, obviously we're jockeying for position in the playoffs – not that it's a foregone conclusion that we've made it – but I think our goal now is to finish in the top three [in the Western Conference, to avoid the wild-card round], and that's really what we're focused on. That's very important going in [to the playoffs].”
RED BULLS VISIT RIVAL NEW ENGLAND ON SATURDAY On Saturday, the Red Bulls play their third match within eight days when they visit the rival New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium
Timbers' Boyd suffers groin strain, may be done for season Kris Boyd’s season may be over after the Portland Timbers' Designated Player suffered a groin injury in the team’s SoccerDroid eMagazine - October 2012
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Houston's Hall: "We’ll find ourselves out of the playoffs” Before Sunday’s game, Sept 23 the Union had rd
Sunday afternoon Sept. 23rd did not go the way the Houston Dynamo envisioned it. Heading into the match at Philadelphia the Dynamo were looking to put some distance between themselves and the other teams in the Eastern Conference playoff race. By the time the final whistle had sounded, however, selfinflicted wounds had made for a 3-1 loss that has Houston hanging onto fifth spot in the East by a single point. “It was just not good enough,” forward Will Bruin told MLSsoccer.com. “These are very important games and we didn’t rise to the occasion and turn it around.” The Philadelphia Union’s offense woke up just in time to deal a big blow to the Houston Dynamo’s playoff aspirations. Paced by a Freddy Adu brace and the first career goal from Josué Martinez, the Union broke out of a long offensive drought to top Houston, 3-1, on Sunday at PPL Park.
scored just twice in their past five games and last netted three goals in a game on July 9. But in the 28th minute, Adu put the Union ahead, 1-0, and became the first Philly attacker to score since July 29. Adu’s goal came after right back Ray Gaddis made a marauding run up the field and put a cross into the box that took a couple of bounces off Houston players and found the foot of Adu on the endline. Adu then cut the ball to the right and beat Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall to the near post. Gaddis made another great run before playing a dangerous cross in the 38th minute, and generally showed great pace along the wing throughout the game. Both teams had other chances to score, none greater than in the 11th minute when Hall made a monster save on a wide-open Josue Martinez, who made a rare start as Philly’s center forward. It was Houston who’d break through, though, tying it up late in the first half when Boniek García hit a beautiful strike off the post and in, following a great feed from Will Bruin, who sucked both defenders to him in the middle of the box. But Adu netted his second goal of game – and fifth of the season – when he banged home a 50th-minute penalty kick after André Hainault dragged down Philly’s Sheanon Williams in the box, restoring the one-goal Union lead. He then left the game while clutching his left leg, replaced by Keon Daniel.
With the result, the Dynamo drop to 12-8-10 and remain in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, just one point clear of Columbus Crew for the final playoff spot. The Union, who were knocked out of the playoffs by Houston last year, improve to 814-6 and avoid being mathematically eliminated from postseason contention, which would have happened with a loss or a draw. SoccerDroid eMagazine - October 2012
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CITY GUIDE..
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Tales of City It Began 1875…
It’s Tales lives on 2012…
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Members of St. Mark's Church of England, West Gorton, Manchester, founded the football club that would become known as Manchester City, for largely humanitarian purposes. Two church wardens sought to curb local gang violence and alcoholism by instituting new activities for local men, whilst high unemployment plagued East Manchester, specifically Gorton. All men were welcome to join, regardless of religion. The club was born out of the need for social good in east Manchester. The Rector of St Mark's (West Gorton), Revd. Arthur Connell and his family witnessed suffering in industrial 19th century Manchester and believed unity would help to reduce crime and improve productivity in east Manchester. The values that saw Manchester City founded as a club for social good are still followed by Manchester City today, its City in the Community charity for instance engages with thousands of people mainly in Greater Manchester every year and the club settled on Manchester City as its name in 1894 as a club all Mancunians could follow proudly and support.
The Manchester City team which won the FA Cup in 1904
Once settling on their professional club name as Manchester City in 1894, they rose through the tiers of English football with aplomb and quickly won the FA Cup in 1904, becoming the first club from Manchester to win an honour while marginally missing on the league too by three points. However in the following years, the club was dogged by corruption allegations, and the Football Association, decided to punish the club after believing them to have paid wages. This was not uncommon and other clubs were known to do it, some believed City's magnitude resulted in them being "made an example of". Many of the Manchester City players had to be auctioned off, with many going to new local rivals, Manchester United and forming their first team who helped them win their first trophies, including the talismanic Billy Meredith. The 1910s were mostly a period of indifference for the club particularly with World War I affecting the football calendar. Ernest Mangnall, who dramatically switched from Manchester United to City in 1912, at the helm for twelve years. After the 1920s, City started to assemble a team capable of challenging at the top. Players included Horace Barnes, Tommy Johnson, Max Woosnam with players such as Ernie Toseland, Eric Brook, Frank Swift, Matt Busby, Fred Tilson and Sam Cowan arriving in the late 1920s and early 30s. In 1923, the club moved from Hyde Road to the Maine Road stadium, the largest football venue other than Wembley and this would be City's home for the next 80 years. The club were runners-up in the FA Cup in 1926 and, as in line with their inconsistent trait, the club were relegated before returning to the top flight in 1928. In 1930, the club finished third and had established itself as one of England's top young sides. The years from 1932 to 1934 marked a key achievement which culminated in City winning the Cup in 1934. Semi-finalists in 1932, then runners-up in 1933, captain Sam Cowan proclaimed that City will "come back next year and win it". On the 1934 FA Cup run, a crowd of 84,569 packed Maine Road in a sixth round clash with Stoke City, a record English football home attendance that remains the to this day. City progressed to the 1934 Final, and beat Portsmouth 2-1 to lift the cup - Cowan's promise had come true. The victory was made all the more important to Mancunians as Manchester United had been floundering for over two decades by the 1930s. SoccerDroid eMagazine - October 2012
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the Month ahead Upcoming events and schedules...
Brazilian Deputy Sports Minister: Soccer stadiums will be ready for 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup Stadium building and arena renovations are under way across the country as Brazil prepares for the 2014 World Cup.
People wave flags at the Christ the redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2007, after Brazil was officially chosen by FIFA as host of the 2014 World Cup. This decision returns the showcase event to the soccer-mad country that held the tournament in 1950 and has captured the title a record five times. The Lagoa neighborhood and the Jockey Club are seen back down
The clock is ticking on Brazil’s preparations for the 2014 World Cup, and the first important test of the soccer-crazy country’s readiness will come early next year. As a tuneup to the World Cup, Brazil will be hosting the FIFA Confederations Cup in June 2013, as well as a test event next February to make sure that the stadiums that are being built or renovated in the six cities hosting the Confederations Cup are ready for prime time, said Luis Fernandes, Brazil’s deputy sports minister. Among the teams that already have qualified are: Spain, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Uruguay and Tahiti. Host Brazil, which has won the Confederations Cup three times previously, and the winner of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations in February complete the tournament roster.
The six host cities for the June 15-30 Confederations Cup are Fortaleza, Salvador, Recife, Brasilia, Belo Horizonte and Rio de Janeiro. The 56,000-capacity Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador and Recife’s Arena Pernambuco, with room for nearly 44,000 fans, are still under construction and arenas in the four other cities, including Rio’s famed Maracanã, are undergoing extensive renovations. “These are complex operations, but we’re more than confident — absolutely sure — they’ll be built in time,” said Fernandes in a telephone interview from his office in Brasilia. He predicted some will be ready by this December. For the FIFA World Cup, six more host cities — Cuiaba, Curitiba, Manaus, Natal, Porto Alegre, and São Paulo — will be added, and there will be stadium construction and renovation challenges for all of them. Although Fernandes might be confident about getting the stadiums built, he admits he’s frustrated by the Brazilian team’s second-place finish at the London Olympics. This was the third time Brazil — a five-time World Cup champion — made it to an Olympic final without taking the gold medal. “Soccer is the king sport in Brazil, and Brazil is a world power in soccer, but the team didn’t deliver at the decisive moment,” Fernandes said. Despite the Olympic disappointment, the immediate priority is to avoid, at all costs, a repeat of the 1950 World Cup, also hosted by Brazil. Maracanã, Rio’s iconic temple of soccer, was built especially for the 1950 World Cup, and so confident was Brazil of a win that even before the final match, a victory song Brazil os Vencedores (Brazil the Victors) had already been composed. But with 11 minutes remaining, Uruguayan Alcides Edgardo Ghiggia brushed a shot past the Brazilian goalkeeper, silencing the crowd in the massive stadium. As Ghiggia would later say: “Only three people have ever silenced 200,000 people at Maracanã with a single gesture: Frank Sinatra, Pope John Paul II and I.’’ That loss still resonates among Brazilian soccer fans. “It was a national trauma and we need to overcome it,” Fernandes said. “We really do hope to win the World Cup.”
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Stadiums progress
I
n our latest ‘Stadiums Progress’ feature we show you advances
made during April at the arenas set to host matches at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. The images catalogue the progress at the stadiums, in particular those that will feature at the FIFA Confederations Cup next year. In this category are the confirmed venues of Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Fortaleza and Rio de Janeiro, as well as arenas in Recife and Salvador, on which a decision will be made in June. And while the terraces are nearing completion at these FIFA Confederations Cup stadiums, with roof structures underway at some, the majority of venues that will host only Brazil 2014 matches are at the superstructure development phase, including he latest feature in our ‘Stadiums Progress’ series the construction of upper- and lower-level terraces. Check out the latest pictures from the Brazil 2014 stadiums by brings you new photos of the work being carried out at clicking on the photo gallery bar on the right-hand side. the 12 stadiums set to host matches at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. The images taken in late July show the progress being made at venues across the entire country. Work has moved forward on the assembly of upper tiers and roofs of those stadiums that will welcome games at the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013, while at the remaining arenas progress continues on laying the foundations and constructing the grandstands. Check out the latest images by clicking on the gallery on the right hand side.
T
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Add ins‌
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Revolution of soccer is alive and kicking…
SoccerDroid Autonomy… These players displays such dynamic skills and maneuvering on the field of play, were they “Transformed” medically to perform the way they do? Lionel Messi is the heir apparent to the throne left vacant
Didier Drogba
by Diego Armando Maradona. The waters are divided between those who consider him to be far from being the best No. 10, and those who believe that Messi will be even better than
.
Maradona His ball skills are second to none, his runs from midfield are usually lethal and he is almost impossible to tackle when he gets his head down. His balance when running at speed is incredible.
DROGBA..
Leonel Messi
Undoubtedly one of the best centre forwards in the world, Drogba still manages to polarise opinion with his theatrical and temperamental style of play taking the shine off the powerful striker's incredible talent. Strength with aerial prowess and power; there are few players in the world as strong. Robust, bustling centre forward who harasses his markers. But he is excellent with the ball on the deck and a strong finisher with the ability to use both feet.
Didier Drogba Lionel Messi Squad No: 10 Position: Forward Age: 25 Birth Date: Jun 24, 1987 Birth Place: Rosario, Argentina Height: 5' 7'' (1.70m) Weight: 67 kg
Squad No: 11 Position: Forward Age: 34 Birth Date: Mar 11, 1978 Birth Place: Abidjan, Ivory Coast Height: 6' 2'' (1.88m) Weight: 185 lbs (83.8 kg) Cont.. SoccerDroid eMagazine - October 2012
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NEYMAR Every so often a young Brazilian forward of such dazzling potential emerges that comparisons are immediately made with the greatest of all, Pele. As another graduate of the Santos academy, and a player who has made a stunning impact in his teens, it is inevitable that Neymar has become one of them.
Cristiano Ronaldo
However, he says his style is closer to that of Garrincha, and that Romario is his hero in the Seleção shirt. The early indications are that this hugely talented forward might, might, just have the potential to join the ranks of Brazil greats
Ronaldo will take on any defender with searing pace, and mesmerising footwork to boot. His ability to beat a player and whip in crosses makes him a feared opponent.
.
Naymar
Add to that the way his free-kicks swerve with pace and power and this winger would be an asset to any team, past and present. His style of play is fast, tricky, strong, a mesmeric dribbler
Cristiano Ronaldo Squad No: 7 Position: Forward Age: 27 Birth Date: Feb 5, 1985 Birth Place: Madeira, Portugal Height: 6' 1" (1.85m) Weight: 75 kg
Neymar da Silva Santos Junior Position: Forward Age: 20 Birth Date: Feb 5, 1992 Birth Place: Mogi das Cruzes, Sao Paulo, Brazil Height: 5' 9'' (1.75m) Weight: 60 kg
Prove you're fast! adizero f50 powered by miCoach
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Trophy Tour is in high gear in Italy… Reported: 9/10/2012
Italian fans can gets up close to the biggest prize in club football as the UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour, presented by UniCredit, passes through from 13 September to 22 October.
The UEFA Champions League trophy - the silverware that the world's best players want to win
I
taly will welcome the trophy that the world's greatest players yearn to win when the UEFA Champions League
Trophy Tour, presented by UniCredit, travels through the country on its autumn 2012 jaunt, from 13 September to 22 October, taking in the footballing strongholds of Milan, Turin, Bologna, Palermo, Naples and Rome. Milan – where AC Milan and FC Internazionale Milano have performed with distinction in European competitions down the decades – stages the tour's first leg at the Piazza del Duomo between 13 and 16 September. Two footballing legends will take on ambassadorial roles, with UEFA trophy tour ambassador Ruud Gullit, who won the trophy with the Rossoneri in 1989 and 1990, and Luís Figo – a continental champion with Real Madrid CF in 2002 – on hand to give the occasion added glitter. Other great names will act as ambassadors as the tour unfolds. En route to its final destination – a grand finale in the capital Rome from 19–22 October – the now-famous red trophy tour show truck will stop in Turin, Bologna, Palermo and Naples. A free-of-charge event exhibition will be open to fans, who will have the opportunity to take a picture with the trophy and get autographs from the ambassadors. Smaller stopover events, with trophy photo opportunities, will be held in Verona, Venice and Florence. The tour will also feature press events, with UEFA and UniCredit representatives joining football celebrities
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At the events in Turin, Bologna, Palermo, Naples and Rome, visitors will be welcomed inside the giant UniCredit Arena – in effect, a large pop-up stadium. Complete with entrance tunnel, the arena offers fans computer-simulated shots on goal, giving them a taste of how it feels to take football's centre stage on fantastic European nights. A video cube, made up of four giant television screens, will add to the arena atmosphere. The memorabilia exhibition includes players' boots, jerseys and a changing room where kits from all 13 UEFA Champions League-winning teams are displayed. The trophy tour demonstrates the global reach and appeal of the UEFA Champions League, and will have a particular impact in a nation whose clubs have brandished the silverware on numerous occasions. "The Trophy Tour is a great opportunity for football lovers to experience some of the magic of the UEFA Champions League," said Ruud Gullit. "For me, it brings back good memories and emotions, and I'm excited to be part of it again this year." Moreover, the tour will be seen by UniCredit – presenters for the fourth time – as something of a homecoming, as the trophy will return to the country where the company was founded. The autumn jaunt through Italy – where half of all UniCredit branches are located – will allow the organisation the chance to highlight its activities and achievements, and promote a strong brand and sponsorship awareness. One key initiative will be the UniCredit Cup, a youth football tournament, played on six Sundays at the tour's main stops. This will involve 32 teams of children born in 2000/01 who belong to clubs associated with the national body Centro Sportivo Italiano. The tournament's key principles include values dear to UEFA such as Respect and fair play.
Trophy tour schedule: 13–16 September: Milan (Piazza del Duomo) 18 September: Verona 21–23 September: Turin (Piazza Vittorio Veneto) 25–26 September: Venice 28–30 September: Bologna 2 October: Florence 5–7 October: Palermo 12–14 October: Naples 19–22 October: Rome
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The History of the Game History of Football, or as we say in USA ‘Soccer’ …..The Origins….. The contemporary history of the world's favourite game spans more than 100 years. It all began in 1863 in England, when rugby football and association football branched off on their different courses and the Football Association in England was formed - becoming the sport's first governing body. Both codes stemmed from a common root and both have a long and intricately branched ancestral tree. A search down the centuries reveals at least half a dozen different games, varying to different degrees, and to which the historical development of football has been traced back. Whether this can be justified in some instances is disputable. Nevertheless, the fact remains that people have enjoyed kicking a ball about for thousands of years and there is absolutely no reason to consider it an aberration of the more 'natural' form of playing a ball with the hands. On the contrary, apart from the need to employ the legs and feet in tough tussles for the ball, often without any laws for protection, it was recognised right at the outset that the art of controlling the ball with the feet was not easy and, as such, required no small measure of skill. The very earliest form of the game for which there is scientific evidence was an exercise from a military manual dating back to the second and third centuries BC in China.
This Han Dynasty forebear of football was called Tsu' Chu and it consisted of kicking a leather ball filled with feathers and hair through an opening, measuring only 30-40cm in width, into a small net fixed onto long bamboo canes. According to one variation of this exercise, the player was not permitted to aim at his target unimpeded, but had to use his feet, chest, back and shoulders while trying to withstand the attacks of his opponents. Use of the hands was not permitted. Another form of the game, also originating from the Far East, was the Japanese Kemari, which began some 500-600 years later and is still played today. This is a sport lacking the competitive element of Tsu' Chu with no struggle for possession involved. Standing in a circle, the players had to pass the ball to each other, in a relatively small space, trying not to let it touch the ground. The Greek 'Episkyros' - of which few concrete details survive - was much livelier, as was the Roman 'Harpastum'. The latter was played out with a smaller ball by two teams on a rectangular field marked by boundary lines and a centre line. The objective was to get the ball over the opposition's boundary lines and as players passed it between themselves, trickery was the order of the day. The game remained popular for 700800 years, but, although the Romans took it to Britain with them, the use of feet was so small as to scarcely be of consequence
.
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History of Football ‌..Britain, the home of Football‌.. For all the evidence of early ball sports played elsewhere in the world, the evolution of football as we know it today took place in Britain. The game that flourished in the British Isles from the eighth to the 19th centuries featured a considerable variety of local and regional versions - which were subsequently smoothed down and smartened up to create the modern-day sports of association football, rugby football and, in Ireland, Gaelic football. Primitive football was more disorganised, more violent, more spontaneous and usually played by an indefinite number of players. Frequently, games took the form of a heated contest between whole villages - through streets and squares, across fields, hedges, fences and streams. Kicking was allowed, as in fact was almost everything else. Sometimes kicking the ball was out of the question due to the size and weight of the sphere being used - in such cases, kicking was instead limited to taking out opponents. Curiously, it was not until nine years after the rules of football had been first established in 1863 that the size and weight of the ball were finally standardised. Up to then, agreement on this point was usually reached by the parties concerned when they were arranging the match, as was the case for a game between London and Sheffield in 1866. This encounter was also the first where the duration was prearranged for 90 minutes. Shrovetide football, as it was called, belonged in the 'mob football' category, where the number of players was unlimited and the rules were fairly vague. For instance, according to an ancient handbook from Workington in England, any means could be employed to get the ball to its target with the exception of murder and manslaughter.
Another theory regarding its origin is that when 'mob football' was being played in the British Isles in the early centuries AD, a similar game was thriving in France, particularly in the northern regions of Normandy and Brittany. So it is possible that the Normans brought this form of the game to England with them. Scholars have also suggested that besides the natural impulse to demonstrate strength and skill, in many cases pagan customs, especially fertility rites, provided a source of motivation for these early 'footballers'. The ball symbolised the sun, which had to be conquered in order to secure a bountiful harvest. The ball had to be propelled around, or across, a field so that the crops would flourish and the attacks of the opponents had to be warded off. A similar significance was attached to contests between married men and bachelors that prevailed for centuries in some parts of England, and, likewise, to the game between married and unmarried women in the Scottish town of Inveresk at the end of the 17th century which, perhaps by design, was regularly won by the married women. Women's football is obviously not as new as some people think.
One theory is that the game is Anglo-Saxon in origin. In both Kingston-on-Thames and Chester, local legend has it the game was played there for the first time with the severed head of a vanquished Danish prince. In Derby, it is said to have originated in the third century during the victory celebrations that followed a battle against the Romans. Yet there is scant evidence of the sport having been played at this time, either in Saxon areas or on the continent. Indeed prior to the Norman conquest, the only trace found of any such ball game comes from a Celtic source.
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SoccerDroid
Fans Picture Pics of the Month
Nicolรกs Gaitรกn (SL Benfica) & Scott Brown (Celtic FC) Nicolรกs Gaitรกn (L) of SL Benfica and Scott Brown of Celtic FC in action during their UEFA Champions League group stage match
Gabriel Agbonlahor scores his second goal for Aston Villa at Manchester City
Xavi scores in thirteenth Liga, Liga, FCB - Granada (2-0) Win.
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Sports - Nutrition for Soccer As a service to the soccer community, we are pleased to present the following nutrition guidelines Fuel the machine and see the results Studies have shown that having a fueling and hydration plan for competition can improve performance. In this article, we’ll explore how proper nutrition can help players meet the physiological demands of soccer, and we’ll lay out specific guidelines and suggestions to help you create a nutritional plan that meets your personal needs. Key concepts 1.
Eating a healthy diet daily lays the foundation for an athlete’s training and performance.
2.
Nutrition before, during and after exercise has been documented to reduce fatigue, improve performance, prolong endurance, decrease muscle damage and speed recovery.
3.
Maintaining proper hydration and electrolyte balance is essential.
After matches Objective To restore muscle glycogen, repair muscle damage and replace fluid and electrolytes, athletes should refuel and rehydrate within 30 minutes after the event. This 30-minute window of opportunity helps to maximize recovery, enabling players to bounce back for future training and events.
By nutrition expert: Stephanie Nunes, RD, CSSD
Guidelines Fluids: Replace 24 ounces for every 16 ounces lost during the event. Including sodium in the recovery plan is beneficial. Examples: sports drink, recovery drink, meal-replacement drink or chocolate milk. Carbohydrates: Eat half a gram per pound of body weight. Protein: Aim for 10–20 grams of protein. Quick foods to eat within 30 minutes bagel with peanut butter and 24 ounces of sports drink sports bar and sports drink low fat chocolate milk bowl of cereal with dried fruit and nuts, plus fluids leftover sandwich with juice and water yogurt with bagel and water or sports drink fruit with crackers and cheese, plus water or sports drink protein/carbohydrate repletion drink or meal-replacement drink thick-crust veggie-and-cheese pizza with fruit and water What if I don’t feel like eating right after my event? Focus on liquids. Low fat chocolate milk is a great replacement drink for the crucial 30minute time frame!
Hydration Are fluids really that important? Yes! Being only slightly dehydrated can decrease strength, speed, stamina, energy and cognitive processes while increasing the risk of injury. Before the match Drink 16 ounces of sports drink two hours before the event (urine should be light-colored but not clear). Drink 8–16 ounces of sports drink 15 minutes before the event. During the match, drink as often as possible. After the match Drink 16–24 ounces of sports drink. Why are sports drinks better than water? They are formulated to taste better than water, which encourages rehydration. They also provide sodium, which helps the body retain more fluids, and carbohydrates for muscle glycogen.
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