Money should not be the focus

Hideo Hashimoto (L) takes on Adelaide United's Cassio
in the 2008 AFC Champions League Final

It’s almost kick off time for another edition of the AFC Champions League, and that can only mean one thing – the ready-made excuses will start coming thick and fast from Australian fans, media and occasionally, even A-League clubs themselves.

“Cashed up” “heavyweights” “endless resources”, they’re all claims we’ve heard before and for the most part they have no basis.

It would be a wrong to completely ignore the fact that J.League, K-League and CSL clubs do have more money at their disposal, but to use it as justification or an excuse for why their clubs have success over A-League sides masks the real disparity between the nations.

That comes at a more basic youth development level.

Take Gamba Osaka for example, three of their starting XI in the first leg of the 2008 ACL Final, as well as Takumi Shimohira who came off the bench, are products of the Gamba Osaka youth system.

Two of those players, Takahiro Futagawa and Hideo Hashimoto, as well as Shimohira, are still with the club, while Michihiro Yasuda left during the January transfer window for Vitesse Arnhem in Holland.

The latest off the production line, Takashi Usami, is rated as the best player to come through the Gamba Osaka youth system and already has Bayern Munich interested in him. All this for a kid who is only 18 years old.

Sydney’s J.League opponents this year, Kashima Antlers, are in a similar boat with two of their starting XI from the weekend’s Super Cup coming through the Kashima youth system, while another handful were plucked from straight High School and have spent their entire careers with Ibaraki-based club.

It is these youth systems that currently set Japan, in particular, apart from Australia.

Any new side that wishes to enter the J.League, be it in J1 or J2, must have an U18, U15 and U12 team to compliment their senior team.

Not only does this ensure a strong connection with their local community, something that has been critical in seeing crowds rise over the last decade, it also allows the clubs to work with their best local talent from an early age.

Doing so gets them into the “system” and by the time they are in their late teens many are ready to take the step up to senior team action.

Compare that to the A-League where it is left to local clubs with part-time coaches to nurture our best talent until they reach an age where they are eligible for the National Youth League. Even then there is often a large disconnect between the NYL side and A-League side.

This year’s ACL has yet to kick off and already the same excuses are being bandied about.

Grantley Bernard, writing in the Herald Sun on Saturday, got the ball rolling when he wrote, "... (that's) all part of the test against big Asian teams that have unlimited resources and money while the A-League teams in the Champions League remain restricted by the salary cap and squad sizes."

It is lazy an innacurate to focus purely on the monetary aspect and it serves Australia no good as it looks to gain more respect within The AFC. It's the old Aussie arrogance rearing its ugly head again - it's not that they're better than us, it's just they have more money!

Instead of focusing on that one aspect, fans, media and clubs would be better served by actually learning a few lessons from a league that has been there and done that when it comes to setting up a new league and new teams.

They may just be surprised by what they find.

 

Asia-Pacific Congress on Sports Technology 2011

Asia-Pacific Congress on Sports Technology 2011The Impact of Technology on SportDate: 28th - 31st of August, 2011Congress Venue: RMIT University, Melbourne, AUS

ACL Preview - Suwon Bluewings

Suwon celebrate winning the 2010 Korean FA Cup

For a club with a history littered with success, the fact Suwon has gone the best part of a decade without lifting the continents showpiece trophy is not something that sits too well with everyone involved with the club.

Suwon last tasted continental success in 2002, when they won the old Asian Club Championship – repeating their effort from a year earlier when they won their first continental crown.

Just after being appointed as their new manager in June last year, after Cha Bum-kun resigned after seven years in charge, Jung Sung-hyo set his sights on success in the AFC Champions League.

Afterall, he knows the importance of continental success after being an assistant coach at Suwon during their triumphs in 2001 and 2002.

During the World Cup break Jung strengthened his Suwon side by signing Naohiro Takahara on loan from Urawa Reds, Park jong-jin from Gangwon FC and pulled off a stunning coup when he snatched Pohang Steelers captain Hwang Jae-won from under their noses.

While it didn’t eventuate in success in 2010, Suwon crashed out to eventual champions and fellow K-League outfit Seongnam Ilhwa in the Quarter Finals, Jung didn’t let that deter him and was once again busy in the transfer market in the K-League off-season.

No fewer than 25 players have been recruited during the off-season, although a fair percentage of those are players promoted from their Youth Team and signed from University or High School teams.

Going in the other direction were 27 players, among them Naohiro Takahara who ended his loan spell and signed with J.League side Shimizu S-Pulse as well as last seasons top scorer in the ACL Brazilian Jose Mota, whose loan from Molde FK ended.

The calibre of players coming in, however, more than makes up for any losses. Lee Woon-jae, once Korea’s number one goal keeper, departed for Chunnam Dragons and Suwon went out and replaced him with current number one, Jung Sung-ryung, who moves from current ACL champions Seongnam Ilhwa.

Choi Sung-kuk

Also making that move is striker Choi Sung-kuk, who will be looking for more opportunities in Suwon. And their playing roster has strengthened again in the last few days with the signing of Uzbek international Alexander Geynrikh on loan from Pakhtakor.

Jung’s philosophy is simple – to win playing attractive Football.

He recognises that that is the way the game is moving and he wants Suwon playing the same way.

“I think the recent trend is attacking football with short passes like Barcelona. Though we can be as good as Barcelona I want to show decent attacking football because I believe that only attacking football can attract fans,” he told the-afc.com recently.

Such wholesale changes normally result in the squad taking time to adjust and it remains to be seen what affect it will have on this Suwon outfit.

One thing is for certain though, Suwon aren’t going to die wondering and that could spell trouble for their opponents.

   

ACL Preview - Gamba Osaka

Gamba Osaka won the 2008 AFC Champions League

If Ernie Merrick’s men were hoping for a easy start to their AFC Champions League campaign they get a rude shock when the draw was announced last December.

Not only do they face their old foe Gamba Osaka first up, they do so in their own backyard – the derelict Expo ’70 Stadium in Osaka.

Melbourne and Gamba fought one of the best AFC Champions League games in recent memory in 2008 when Gamba snatched a late winner to leave Melbourne with a 4-3 win and all three points.

Of the starting XI for Gamba that night, seven are still with the club. As is coach Akira Nishino, so they will be no strangers to Melbourne Victory.

Knowing how a team plays is one thing, beating them is another. And that is the challenge that lay ahead for Merrick’s men.

Gamba’s biggest change over the off-season has been to their attacking stocks. Gone are one-time regulars Lucas, who scored the late winner in 2008, and South Korean Cho Jae-Jin.

To replace them they didn’t have to look for, taking Brazilian Adriano off cross-town rivals Cerezo Osaka. Adriano scored 14 goals in the J.League last season and Gamba will be hoping he can replicate that form this season.

One player to look out for is young sensation Takashi Usami.

Takashi Usami

Usami has been dubbed “the most talented player the club has ever produced”, which is quite an accolade given the quality of players to have come through Gamba’s youth system. Players such as Hideo Hashimoto, Takahiro Futagawa and Michihiro Yasuda.

At just 18 years of age Usami has already attracted the attention of Bayern Munich scouts, who will be in attendance for the Osaka Derby just days after their clash with Melbourne.

Usami started 22 games last year in the J.League, scoring 7 goals. He also featured four times during the ACL, three of them starts, scoring twice in the process.

Australian audiences will need no introduction to Yasuhito Endo.

Endo is a mainstay of both the Gamba and Japanese national team and is deadly from the set piece. He sets up a lot of Gamba’s attacks and the Victory midfield and defence will have their work cut out for them negating his influence.

Endo is keen to add another ACL title to his collection too, telling the-afc.com last week, “…of course we think we can win the title again, we will try as hard as we can to win this Championship.”

Gamba’s desire to always play attacking Football will not change for the ACL, with the side likely to play an attacking 4-2-3-1 formation.

They have been felled by a couple of key injuries however, with Tomokazu Myojin sidelined with a  right foot injury until mid-March and Hideo Hashimoto, one of their midfield generals, out after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament during the pre-season.

Gamba are considered by many to be a favourite for the J.League this season, and it is hard to see them not having a strong run at a second ACL title in three years.

   

Asians Abroad - Weekend Wrap

Atsuto Uchida clears the ball for Schalke 04

It was a busy weekend for Asian players across Europe, with two players (Park Chu-young and Robert Cullen) getting on the scoresheet.

Below you'll find a complete wrap of Asians Abroad for this past weekend.

Yuki Abe (JPN) - was substituted after 85 min for Leicester City in their 1-1 draw with Coventry City in the Championship

Makoto Hasebe (JPN) - played a full 90 min for VfL Wolfsburg in their 2-1 win over Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga

Koo Ja-cheol (KOR) - was a 90th min substitute for VfL Wolfsburg in their 2-1 win over Borussia Monchengladbach in the B'liga

Son Heung-min (KOR) - was an unused substitute for Hamburger SV in their 1-1 draw with Kaiserslautern in the Bundesliga

Youssef Mohamad (LEB) - played a full 90 min for FC Koln in their 1-0 win over SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga

Tomoaki Makino (JPN) - was a 90th min substitute for FC Koln in their 1-0 win over SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga

Kishi Yano (JPN) - was an unused substitute for SC Freiburg in their 0-1 loss to FC Koln in the Bundesliga

Atsuto Uchida (JPN) - played a full 90 min for Schalke 04 in their 1-1 draw with Nurnberg in the Bundesliga

Shinji Okazaki (JPN) - was substituted after 90 min for Stuttgart in their 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga

Shao Jiayi (CHN) - played a full 90 min for Energie Cottbus in their 2-1 win over FSV Frankfurt in 2.Bundesliga

Takahito Soma (JPN) - was a 34th min substitute for Energie Cottbus in their 2-1 win over FSV Frankfurt in 2.Bundesliga



Yuto Nagatomo in action for Inter Milan against Sampdoria

Jong Tae-Se (DPRK) - was an 87th min substitute for Bochum in their 1-1 draw with Greuther Furth in 2.Bundesliga

Milad Salem (AFG) - was a 48th min substitute & scored a goal for Wehen Wiesbaden in their 5-2 win over Heidenheim in 3rd Liga

Yuto Nagatomo (JPN) - played the full 90 min for Inter Milan in their 2-0 win over Sampdoria in Serie A

Javad Nekounam (IRN) - was substituted after 81 min for Osasuna in their 1-2 loss to Levante in La Liga

Masoud Shojaei (IRN) - was substituted after 66 min for Osasuna in their 1-2 loss to Levante in La Liga

Akihiro Ienaga (JPN) - was a 70th min substitute for Mallorca in their 0-3 loss to Barcelona in La Liga

Park Chu-young (KOR) - played a full 90 min & scored twice for AS Monaco in their 2-2 draw with Caen in Ligue.1

Nam Tae-hee (KOR) - was substituted after 73 min for Valenciennes in their 0-0 draw with Lorient in Ligue.1

Jung Jo-gook (KOR) - was a 72nd min susbtitute for Auxerre in their 0-3 loss to Bordeaux in Ligue.1

Maya Yoshia (JPN) - played a full 90 min for VVV Venlo in their 1-0 win over Excelsior in the Eredivisie

Robert Cullen (JPN) - played a full 90 min & scored the winner for VVV Venlo in their 1-0 win over Excelsior in the Eredivisie

Michihiro Yasuda (JPN) - played a full 90 min for Vitesse Arnhem in their 1-6 loss to Heracles in the Eredivisie

Ryo Miyaichi (JPN) - was substituted after 85 min for Feyenoord in their 5-1 win over Groningen in the Eredivisie

Daisuke Sakata (JPN) - was an unused substitute for Aris in their 2-2 draw with Larissa in the Greek Super League

Ki Sung-jueng (KOR) - was substituted after 66 min for Celtic in their 0-2 loss to Motherwell in the Scottish Premier League

Lee Chung-yong (KOR) - was an unused substitute for Bolton in their 1-1 draw with Newcastle United in the EPL

Ali Al Habsi (OMAN) - played a full 90 min for Wigan Athletic in their 0-4 loss to Manchester United in the EPL

Thaer Fayed Al Bawab (JOR) - was an unused sub for Gaz Melan Medias in their 1-3 loss to Timisoara in Liga 1 in Romania

AOC medal prediction in London Olympics

Australia can rebound from medal slip: Coates@AOCAustralia is still aiming for a top five finish on the overall medal tally at next year’s London Olympics despite slipping to eighth position on the latest Benchmark analysis of Olympic sports.“A top five position is still very achievable,” said AOC President John Coates. “There are five countries jostling for fourth and fifth spots who are all

Irfan Bachdim Menangkan Persema 2-1 Melawan Bogor Raya FC

Irfan Bachdim berhasil mencetak dua gol untuk memenangkan Persema Malang 2-1 atas Bogor Raya FC, dalam lanjutan Liga Primer Indonesia (LPI) di Stadion Persikabo Cibinong, Minggu (20/2/2011).Gol pertama berhasil disumbangkan Irfan pada menit ke-25 dan gol keduanya dia cetak di menit ke-68.

Pesona Iran membuat tim Bogor Raya FC tenggelam dan kesulitan untuk mencetak gol. Setelah Irfan keluar untuk diganti pada menit ke-72, Bogor Raya kemudian bisa bermain lebih baik. Mereka bahkan mencetak gol untuk memperkecil kekalahan lewat Luciano Romos Jose.

Pelatih Bogor Raya FC, John Arwandi, mengakui, permainan timnya masih kalah jauh dari Persema Malang yang sudah berpengalaman merumput di berbagai liga."Tim kita masih tergolong baru, jadi masih kaku dalam bermain.

Tapi kita beruntung dalam LPI ini menghadapi pemain dari tim-tim ternama, sehingga membuat kita lebih berpengalaman ke depannya," kata John usai pertandingan.

John menambahkan, timnya sudah bermain baik, namun karena masih ada kendala teknis, sehingga masih perlu perbaikan. Ia menyebutkan pengalaman yang ada akan menjadi masukan bagi timnya untuk berlatih lebih baik lagi.

Sementara pelatih Persema, Timo Scheunemann, mengatakan, timnya bermain bagus. Hanya saja, dari segi teknis, lapangan kurang bagus dan membuat penampilan pemain kurang maksimal.

"Lapangannya terlalu keras karena kurang siram, sehingga bola memant

ulnya cukup tinggi dan ini memengaruhi permainan pemain," katanya.

source:Kompas

Singapore to invest in youth development

SSC BANKS ON YOUTH SPORTS DEVELOPMENT@SSCSports champions are not born. Their success results from many years of hard work and well-planned training. With this in mind, the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) has urged the National Sports Associations (NSAs) to put in place strong and structured youth development programmes to groom our young athletes into the champions of tomorrow.2 The Annual

Timnas U-23 Andalkan Operan Pendek

Postur tubuh lawan yang lebih tinggi membuat timnas U-23 tidak mungkin menerapkan permainan bola atas. Pelatih tim nasional Indonesia Alfred Riedl akan mengandalkan permainan operan pendek dari kaki ke kaki saat timnas U-23 menghadapi Turkmenistan dalam pertandingan leg pertama Pra-Olimpiade 2012 di Stadion Gelora Sriwijaya Jakabaring, Rabu [23]22].

Asisten pelatih timnas U-23 Wolfgang Pikal

Yongki, Kapten Timnas U-23 Di Pra-Olimpiade

Teka-teki siapa pemimpin yang dipilih oleh Alfred Riedl di skuad timnas U-23 pada laga perdana di pra-Olimpiade sudah terpecahkan. Pemain Arema Indonesia, Yongki Aribowo, ditunjuk menjadi kapten di laga tersebut. Hal tersebut terungkap setelah Deputi Bidang Teknik Badan Tim Nasional (BTN) PSSI, Iman Arif, mengungkapkan bahwa Yongki terpilih menjadi kapten pada pertandingan menghadapi timnas U-23

Riedl Panggil Djayusman Triasdi

Absennya Rachamd Latif di pemusatan latihan timnas pra-Olimpiade akibat operasi gigi membuat pelatih Alfred Riedl khawatir dengan stok lini belakang skuadnya.

Latif yang kemungkinan baru akan bergabung besok hari Jumat (18/02), diragukan kesiapan kondisinya dalam menjalani partai pertama pada pra-Olimpiade menghadapi timnas Turkmenistan tanggal 23 Februari mendatang di Palembang.

Oleh karena

Demo Tolak Nurdin dimana-mana

Menjelang digelarnya kongres 4 tahunan PSSI dan pergantian ketua umum PSSI, banyak pihak yang menyatakan keberatan terhadap berbagai keputusan yang membuat berbagai lapisan masyarakat melakukan Demo Untuk revolusi dan menghentikan segala sandiwara yang dilakukan PSSI. Satu yang sangat banyak sekali diperbincangkan adalah demo tolak nurdin ada dimana-mana, ya banyak pihak yang tidak suka ataupun

Slank Ikut Demo Tolak Nurdin

Grup Band Slank terus memperlihatkan konsistensinya menolak keberadaan status quo di tubuh PSSI. Sejumlah personil Slank tampak terlihat bergabung dengan ratusan suporter yang berunjuk rasa di sekretariat PSSI di kawasan Stadion Utama Gelora Bung Karno Jakarta pagi ini. Salah satu persinel Slank Rdiho Hafidz mengatakan, dirinya dan pecinta sepakbola nasional selama ini telah dibodohi pengurus

AIS as an Olympic training centre

Australian Institute of Sport granted Olympic Training Centre Status@ASCThe Australian Institute of Sport’s status as an Olympic Training Centre was renewed today with the Australian Olympic Committee and the Australian Sports Commission signing an important agreement.Minister for Sport Mark Arbib and Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) President John Coates today unveiled a new set of Olympic

Malaysian to invest in sports science for London Olympics

Malaysia turn to science for golden breakthtough@Strait TimesKUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA'S sports officials have opted for the appliance of science in their quest to achieve the country's first Olympic gold medal in London next year.The National Sports Institute (NSI) has brought in 46 sports science specialists under their 'Road to London 2012' programme, Malaysian media reported.The seven sports to

Arifin-Toisutta Gagal Lolos Verifikasi calon Ketua PSSI

Panggung sandiwara pemilihan Ketua PSSI dikatakan terus berlanjut. Hal ini disampaikan para aktivis peduli sepak bola Indonesia menyusul adanya keputusan Komite Pemilihan bahwa dua calon kandidat yang dikatakan reformis, yaitu Jenderal TNI George Toisutta dan Arifin Panigoro, tak lolos verifikasi. George Toisutta dan Arifin Panigoro dinyatakan tidak lolos sebagai calon Ketua Umum PSSI periode

Asians Abroad - Sunday Wrap

Shinji Okazaki in action for VfB Stuttgart

There was more action again on Sunday for a host of Asian players plying their trade across Europe. Below is a list of those who featured for their club sides.

Shinji Okazaki (JPN) - made his debut for VfB Stuttgart and was substituted after 66 mins in their 2-4 loss to Bayer Leverkusen

Atsuto Uchida (JPN) - played a full game for Schalke 04 in their 1-2 loss to Borussia Monchengladbach

Hao Junmin (CHN) - was an unused sub for Schalke 04 in their 1-2 loss to Borussia Monchengladbach

Ryo Miyaichi (JPN) - played a full game for Feyenoord in their 2-2 draw with ADO Den Haag

Maya Yoshida (JPN) - played a full game for VVV Venlo in their 0-1 loss to Ajax

Robert Cullen (JPN) - was a 71st minute substitute for VVV Venlo in their 0-1 loss to Ajax

Michihiro Yasuda (JPN) - played a full game for Vitesse Arnhem in their 2-0 win over De Graafschap

Ki Sung-yueng (KOR) - was a 60th minute substitute for Celtic in their 3-0 win over Rangers

Daisuke Sakata (JPN) - was substituted after 78 minutes for Aris in their 0-0 draw with Atromitos in the Greek Super League

Cha Jong-Hyok (DPRK) - played a full game for FC Wil in the Swiss Challenge League

Jung Jo-gook (KOR) - played a full game and laid on the assist for the winner in Auxerre's 1-0 win over Arles

Javad Nekounam (IRN) - played a full game and scored twice in Osasuna's 4-0 win over Espanyol

Masoud Shojaei (IRN) - was substituted after 89 minutes after laying on the assist for the 4th goal for Osasuna in their 4-0 win over Espanyol

  

Positif Aksi dan Pikiran, Kawan!

Gowes kata yang mungkin sering kita dengar akhir-akhir ini. Yap, bersepeda memang menjadi wabah terutama di Jakarta. Sepeda berbagai jenis dan warna banyak menghiasi jalan-jalan ibukota dan Pemerinta DKI meresponnya dengan rencana jalur sepeda di Jakarta. Kita semua pun mungkin bermimpi jika Jakarta seperti kota-kota di luar negeri, pejalan kaki dan pengguna sepeda sangat diutamakan. Akan tetapi kali ini saya tidak ingin membahas bagaimana infrastruktur untuk pejalan kaki atau pengguna sepeda, saya ingin membahas tanggapan beberapa orang tentang pengguna sepeda.


Trend? Entah trend atau tidak memang faktanya pengguna sepeda kian hari semakin bertambah banyak. Tanggapan pun mulai bermunculan, baik yang pro ataupun kontra. Tetapi yang sedikit mengusik pikiran saya adalah tanggapan kontra, bukan karena saya pengguna sepeda. Pihak kontra menuding bersepeda hanya trend dan “mengekor”. Ah...picik sekali pikir saya pola pikir seperti itu. Jika bersepeda memang trend dan budaya yang “mengekor” bukankah tujuannya positif?
Ya, setidaknya menyehatkan tubuh kita kan? Mengurangi polusi walau tidak seberapa kan? Tiba-tiba serangan berlanjut, “alangkah baiknya jika bersepeda juga berhenti merokok?”. Yap, saya sangat setuju itu dan memang idealnya seperti itu! Tapi memang terdapat masalah jika pengguna sepeda tetap merokok? Toh..itu pilihan mereka selama mereka tahu dimana mereka harus merokok. Lagi-lagi disini bukan karena saya merokok lalu membela mereka yang tetap merokok. Saya pun terus berusaha untuk mengurangi dan berhenti merokok, jadi semua itu harus melalui proses. Setidaknya untuk diri saya.


Berhentilah berpikir parsial, kawan! Hentikan berprasangka buruk terhadap niat baik seseorang. Jika anda tidak suka melihat pengguna sepeda, maka kencangkan laju motor kendaraan anda dan tidak perlu berpikiran picik. Mulai lah berpikir positif terhadap apa yang dilakukan dan akan mulai dilakukan orang lain.

Asians Abroad - Saturday Wrap

Eiji Kawashima questions a call during the match
between Lierse and Zulte-Waregem

Once again a host of Asian players were in action across Europe on Saturday, here is a run down of who featured for their teams.

Eiji Kawashima (JPN) - played a full game for Lierse in their 1-1 draw with Zulte-Waregem in the Belgian Pro-League

Yuki Abe (JPN) - a 78th minute substitute for Leicester City in their 2-1 win over Bristol City in the Championship

Daisuke Matsui (JPN) - played a full game for Grenoble in their 0-2 loss to Istres in Ligue.2

Song Jin-hyung (KOR) - was substituted after 60 mins for FC Tours in their 1-0 win over Troyes in Ligue.2

Park Chu-young (KOR) - played a full game for AS Monaco in their 0-2 loss to Brest in Ligue.1

Lee Yong-jae (KOR) - was a 72nd minute substitute for Nantes in their 0-0 draw with FC Metz

Kishi Yano (JPN) - was a 78th minute substitute for SC Freiburg in their 2-1 win over VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga

Makoto Hasebe (JPN) - played a full game for VfL Wolfsburg in their 1-2 loss to SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga

Koo Ja-cheol (KOR) - was an 80th minute substitute for VfL Wolfsburg in their 1-2 loss to SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga

Tomoaki Makino (JPN) - was an unused substitute for FC Koln in their 1-1 draw with Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga

Youssef Mohamed heads home the equaliser
for FC Koln against Hoffenhem

Youssef Mohamed (LEB) - scored the equaliser and was substituted after 88 minutes for FC Koln in their 1-1 draw with Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga

Son Heuing-min (KOR) - was substituted after 83 minutes for Hamburger SV in their 4-0 win over in the Bundesliga

Hajime Hosogai (JPN) - was a 67th minute substitute for Ausburg in their 2-0 win over 1860 Munich in 2.Bundesliga

Jong Tae-Se (DPRK) - was a 77th minute substitute for Bochum in their 2-0 win over Fortuna Dusseldorf in 2.Bundesliga

Milad Salem (AFG) - was a 58th minute substitute for Wehen Wiesbaden in their 0-1 loss to Carl Zeiss Jena in 3rd Liga in Germany

Yuto Nagatomo (JPN) - played a full game for Inter Milan in their 1-0 win over Cagliari

   

Kenaikan Tiket Final Liga Champions Terus Mendapat Kecaman

UEFA sepertinya tidak akan mengubah haluan mereka dalam rangka memberlakukan kenaikan harga tiket final Liga Champions. Pemberlakuan kenaikan tarif tiket final Liga Champions Wembley yang sebelumnya mendapat kecaman dari berbagai pihak, kini kembali menghadapi tentangan dari pelatih ternama.

Adalah Carlo Ancelotti dan Arsene Wenger yang turut menyuarakan aspirasinya menolak kebijakan yang dibuat

Setanta confirms J.League schedule for March

Setanta Sports Australia has today confirmed their J.League schedule for the first three rounds. And the news is good for followers of the Japanese game.

The opening weekend will see defending champions Nagoya Grampus take on Yokohama F.Marinos (5 March). F.Marinos come into the season with pressure aplenty on their shoulders after Manager Kazushi Kimura declared that nothing less than the title will be acceptable.

In Round 2 Setanta will screen the grudge match between fierce rivals Urawa Reds and Gamba Osaka (12 March) from Saitama Stadium. Matches between these two sides are always fiercely contested and you can guarantee that Saitama will be packed to capacity with an amazing atmosphere being provided by the largest supporter base in Japan.

Finally, in Round 3 the clash between Jubilo Iwata and Yokohama F.Marinos will be screened.

Together with this, Setanta will continue to show the J.League Highlights Show every Thursday evening.

Be sure to support Setanta and show there is a desire to have more Asian Football on Australian TV.

Hangzhou make Melbourne home

Chinese Super League side Hangzhou Greentown are preparing for their upcoming AFC Champions League campaign in Melbourne.

The club have based themselves in the Victorian capital for the last week and a half, taking on various Victorian Premier League sides in a number of trial games.

Hangzhou, home to Australian player Adam Griffiths, were founded in 1998 and won promotion to the CSL in 2006.

Their best result since reaching the top flight came last season when they finished fourth, which saw them qualify for their first ever ACL campaign.

It could be said the club has somewhat of an identity crisis, changing it's name seven times since 2002.

On Tuesday night Hangzhou took on VPL side Melbourne Knights, romping to a comfortable 5-0 win.

Asian Football Feast would like to thank Steven Chang for supplying some photos from the game.

Lembayung di Tidung dan Payung

Ada yang bilang jika sesuatu harus direncanakan dengan baik, hal yang gw terapkan pada setiap trip yang akan gw lakukan. Tapi untuk trip kali ini tidak sama sekali.
Sepulang dari gladi resik wisuda gw mencoba mengajak beberapa teman untuk sekedar jalan-jalan ke luar Jakarta. beberapa opsi antara lain ujung genteng, sukamantri atau pulau semak daun. Atas dasar gw dan teman minim jam terbang untuk snorkling...hehehe..maka diputuskan untuk menuju semak daun. Dari sekian orang yang sgw hubungi hanya Lebong dan Lendi yang siap berpetualang, Kami sepakat jalan subuh esok hari (3-2-11). Seperti biasa senjata ketika berpetualang selain perlengkapan yang memadai adalah kamera. Tak perlu basa-basi gw langsung menghubungi abang gw untuk meminjam kamera, tapi tak diduga doi malah ingin bergabung dengan gw. Jadi lah 4 orang menuju semak daun.




Sesampainya di Tidung, kami berharap ada rombongan lain yang menuju semak daun, sehingga kami bisa share biaya sewa kapal, setelah ditunggu tak ada rombongan lain yang menuju semak daun. Kami sepakat hanya untuk bermain di Tidung dan Payung.



Selama disana gw coba beberapa spot bagus buat snorkling dan tak lupa menguji adrenaline. Yap, mungkin kalian yang udah pernah ke tidung tahu jika disana terdapat jembatan yang menghubungkan tidung besar dan kecil. Jembatan tersebut diberi nama jembatan cinta, entah karena apa penamaannya menjadi demikian. tetapi yang jelas gw gak percaya mitosnya, setelah mencoba tanjakan cinta di Semeru dengan gak berhenti dan menoleh kebelakang dengan harapan mendapatkan cinta dan faktanya gw tetap jomblo..hahaha.

Ketinggian jembatan cinte sekitar 10 meter, takut juga awalnya buat lompat kebawah. tetapi karena malu dengan seorang cewek cantik yang begitu santainya lompat kebawah maka gw nekat lompat! alhasil badan pada sakit brew....haha

Sebenarnya masih banyak photo dan cerita. Berhubung tuh MMC dibawa ke Nepal dan otak gue lagi males mikir. Jadi sekian aje ah..hahaha

Safee salee resmi berbaju Pelita Jaya

Setelah sempat simpang siur, akhirnya Safee Sali dipastikan tidak bergabung dengan Persib Bandung tetapi pemain bernomor punggung sepuluh di tim nasional Malaysia tersebut bergabung dengan Pelita Jaya Jawa Barat.

Hal tersebut diketahui setelah direktur teknik Pelita, Rahim Soekasah, mengungkapkan bahwa sebenarnya Safee sudah resmi menjadi milik Pelita pada tanggal 2 Februari namun Safee belum

Condition of Indonesia's Stadium

As we look at television or come to staidon to watch the Indonesian league soccer match, there is a view which in my opinion and many people are unpretty sight. The stadium is bad condition, be it grass, seating, and other facilities are woefully inadequate to present a league match Indonesian. Should every team in the league Indonesia could consider it.

Look at the football stadium in the other

Asians Abroad - Weekend Wrap

Ryo Miyaicho celebrates his goal for Feyenoord

There were a host of Asian players in action across Europe over the weekend, the following is a list of those that featured for their teams.

Song Jin-hyung (KOR) – 50th minute substitute for FC Tours in their 2-2 with Laval in the French Ligue.2

Yuto Nagatomo (JPN) – 72nd minute substitute for Inter Milan in their 0-1 loss to Juventus in the Italian Serie A

Koo Ja-cheol (KOR) – 64th minute substitute for Wolfsburg in their 0-1 loss to Hamburger SV in the German Bundesliga

Ryo Miyaichi (JPN) – scored a goal in the 18^th minute for Feyenoord in their 2-1 win over Heracles in the Dutch Eredivisie

Lee Chung-yong (KOR) – 60th minute substitute for Bolton in their 2-0 win over Everton in the English Premier League



Park Chu-young scores from the spot for AS Monaco



Park Chu-young (KOR) – played a full game and scored a goal in the 94th minute for AS Monaco in their 3-1 win over Lorient in the French Ligue.1

Ki Sung-yueng (KOR) – 63rd minute substitute for Celtic in their 3-1 win over Dundee United in the Scottish Premier League

Nam Tae-Hee (KOR) – played a full game for Valenciennes in their 3-0 win over Brest in Ligue.1

Eiji Kawashima (JPN) – played a full game for Lierse in their 2-2 draw with Germinal Beerschot in the Belgian Pro-League

Atsuto Uchida (JPN) – played a full 90 minutes for Schalke 04 in their 1-0 over Freiburg in the Bundesliga

Maya Yoshida (JPN) – played a full game, and picked up a yellow card, for VVV Venlo in their 0-3 loss to ADO Den Haag in the Eredivisie

Daisuke Matsui (JPN) – was substituted after 60 minutes in Grenoble’s 0-1 loss to Le Mans in Ligue.2

Takayuki Morimoto (JPN) – 64th minute substitute for Catania in their 3-2 win over Lecce in the Serie A

Masoud Shojaei (IRN) – was substituted after 64 minutes for Osasuna in their 0-1 loss to Real Sociedad in the Spanish La Liga

Javad Nekounam (IRN) – played a full game for Osasuna in their 0-1 loss to Real Sociedad in La Liga

Bassim Abbas (IRQ) – substituted after 46 minutes for Konyaspor in their 4-2 win over Bucaspor in the Turkish Super Lig

 

Daftar Klub Terkaya Didunia

Baru-baru ini Deloitte Football Money League membuat laporan tentang klub sepakbola terkaya didunia tahun 2011. Raksasa Spanyol Real Madrid kembali ditasbihkan sebagai klub terkaya di dunia versi Deloitte Football Money League Ini merupakan capaian keenam Los Blancos dalam enam tahun secara berturut-turut. Mereka meraih keuntungan dari hak siar sebesar £129,9 juta (€158,7 juta), bahkan melebihi

Timnas U-23 Menang lawan Timnas U-23 Hongkong

Timnas Pra Olimpiade Indonesia berhasil mengalahkan Timnas U23 Hong Kong dengan skor 4-1 dalam laga uji coba di Pho Kong Village Park, Hong Kong, Rabu (9/2/2011). Gol-gol tersebut diciptakan oleh Yongki Aribowo, Titus Bonai , dan gol terakhir dicetak oleh Arif Alfiansyah. Dalam pertandingan ini, kedua kesebelasan tidak dibatasi dalam melakukan pergantian pemain. Cuaca yang bersahabat membuat para

Calon Pemain Naturalisasi

Perburuan Badan Tim Nasional (BTN) mencari pemain keturunan Indonesia di Belanda terus berlanjut, beberapa pemain asing yang mempunyai darah keturunan Indonesia yang mempunyai peluang menjadi warga negara Indonesia disiapkan untuk segera dinaturalisasi.
Berikut adalah beberapa Calon Pemain yang akan dinaturalisasi:

Diego Michiels

Tanggal Lahir: 8 Agu 1990
Negara: Netherlands
Peranan: Bek

Laga Uji Coba Timnas U-23

Timnas Indonesia U-23 akan menjalani beberapa laga uji coba sebelum menjalani babak play-off kualifikasi pra Olimpiade menghadapi Turkmenistan. Beberapa hari yang lalu Timnas U-23 menjalani uji coba melawan Pelita Jaya Karawang dengan hasil yang kurang memuaskan yaitu hasil imbang 1-1. Timnas U-23 akan menjalani laga uji coba berikutnya melawan timnas hongkong U-23 pada tanggal 9 februari besok.

Nurdin Kena kasus Korupsi lagi??

Panitia seleksi kepengurusan baru PSSI diminta mencoret nama Nurdin Halid bila dia mencalonkan diri. Hal ini terkait dugaan korupsi dana APBD yang dilakukan Nurdin. Pernyataan ini merujuk pada putusan PN Jakarta Samarinda atas perkara korupsi dana APBD setempat untuk klub Persisam Putra Samarinda, Kalimantan Timur. Hakim menyatakan Manajer Persisam Aidil Fitri terbukti korupsi APBD senilai Rp 1,7

Putaran Kedua ISL Pakai Wasit Asing

Puluhan wasit itu akan didatangkan dari Malaysia, Singapura dan Australia.Sekjen PSSI Nugraha Besoes mengungkapkan, induk organisasi sepakbola nasional itu akan menggunakan wasit asing pada putaran kedua Superliga Indonesia 2010/11 yang berlangsung pada akhir Februari nanti.

Dengan harapan penggunaan wasit asing pada putaran kedua ISL adalah untuk meningkatkan kualitas persepakbolaan di tanah

Persema Kalahkan Bandung FC 1-0

Persema Malang terus menjaga suksesnya di awal Liga Primer Indonesia dengan mengalahkan tuan rumah Bandung FC, 1-0, di Stadion Siliwangi Sabtu (6/2) sore. Bek kawakan Persema, Suroso, mencetak satu-satunya gol itu pada menit ke-26.

Gol itu berasal dari umpan seorang pemain Persema di sayap kiri pertahanan tuan rumah ke arah kotak penalti Bandung FC. Bandung FC punya sedikitnya dua peluang mencetak gol lewat penyerang Ferry Nsomah.

Pada menit ke-15, Ferry, yang berdiri bebas di dalam kotak penalti lawan, menerima umpan Nur Ichsan dari sayap kanan pertahanan Persema. Sayang, bola tendangannya meleset sedikit ke samping kanan tiang gawang. Beberapa menit kemudian, tendangan jarak jauh Ferry juga bisa dibendung kiper Persema, Sukasto.

Persema terpaksa menarik penyerang andalannya, Irfan Bachdim, karena cedera kaki pada menit ke-20. Pemain berdarah Indonesia dan Belanda yang memilih dicoret dari tim nasional PSSI demi LPI itu digantikan oleh Reza Mustafa. Beberapa saat sebelum ditarik keluar, Irfan sempat terduduk beberapa lama di lapangan.

Ditariknya Irfan tak memancing reaksi berlebihan dari sang pacar, Jennifer Kurniawan, yang duduk di tribun VIP. Namun wajah Jennifer tampak sedikit kecewa.

Adapun bintang baru Bandung FC, mantan gelandang Aston Villa, Lee Hendrie, duduk di bangku cadangan ketika pertandingan dimulai. Pelatih Nandar Iskandar baru memasukkan Hendrie pada menit ke-61. Ia baru bergabung dengan skuad Nandar dua hari sebelum pertandingan ini.

Dengan dukungan para pemain kawakan yang juga mantan pemain tim nasional Indonesia, seperti kiper Kurnia Sandi, poros halang Nur Alim, dan gelandang Yaris Riyadi, Hendrie belum bisa menyelamatkan klub barunya itu dari kekalahan.

Persema, yang dimotori mantan gelandang bertahan tim nasional Indonesia, Bima Sakti, bermain lebih efektif untuk meraih kemenangannya yang keempat pada musim perdana LPI. Sebaliknya, buat Bandung FC, ini adalah kekalahan keempat berturut-turut. Mereka membuang peluang menyamakan kedudukan lewat hadiah penalti karena tembakan Arman membentur mistar. Pertandingan berjalan cukup keras. Satu pemain dari tiap kubu mendapat kartu merah /

Dalam pertandingan lainnya, Tangerang Wolves gagal mengalahkan tamunya, Solo FC, dan pertandingan berakhir tanpa gol. Itu kontras dengan tuan rumah Minangkabau FC, yang kalah telak 0-5 oleh Persebaya 1927

source:Tempo