South Africa's cricket selectors on Monday named wicket-keeper Mark Boucher as captain for the limited-overs tri-series against India and hosts Sri Lanka next month.
Boucher will lead a 14-man squad for the August 14-29 event, replacing Ashwell Prince who is captain for the ongoing Test series against Sri Lanka in place of the injured Graeme Smith.
Left-handed Prince, the first black cricketer to lead South Africa, remains part of the one-day squad, convenor of selectors Haroon Lorgat said.
"With Ashwell not a certainty in our one-day side, we have asked Boucher to captain the team," Lorgat said in a statement issued by Cricket South Africa.
"With injuries to some key players, we have an opportunity to look at others as we build towards the World Cup in the West Indies next March."
South Africa will be without four one-day regulars: Smith, all-rounder Jacques Kallis, batsman Justin Kemp and seamer Charl Langeveldt.
South Africa play Sri Lanka in the opening match at the Premadasa stadium on August 14. Each team plays the other twice in the league, with the top two advancing to the final.
South Africa's one-day squad:
Mark Boucher (capt), Boeta Dippenaar, Loots Bosman, Herschelle Gibbs, A.B. de Villiers, Shaun Pollock, Johan van der Wath, Robin Petersen, Andrew Hall, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Ashwell Prince, Roger Telemachus, Thandi Tshabalala.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Friday, July 28, 2006
Bangladesh Cricket (hehe)
Kevin Curran has picked up the gauntlet thrown down by Dav Whatmore ahead of the first one-day international between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh in Harare on Saturday.
Bangladesh coach Whatmore declared his team favourites for the five-match series, although he conceded that the foreign conditions might change the odds.
"That's great, let them feel that they are favourites, we always like a challenge," Zimbabwe coach Curran told Reuters on Friday.
"If we were playing against Australia we would be struggling to think about a (positive) result, but in this game we know we can match them in all departments.
"It's all about half-chances, and what happens on the day."
Zimbabwe are currently ninth in the International Cricket Council's (ICC) one-day rankings, two points ahead of Bangladesh with Kenya bringing up the rear in 11th place.
Bangladesh have won five of their last 10 one-day internationals, with four of those wins achieved against minnows Kenya.
Zimbabwe have won four of their last 11 matches, one of which was washed out. Kenya, Bermuda and Canada were Zimbabwe's victims.
CLINICAL
Curran said he was heartened by his team's performances against Bermuda and Canada, who are among the ICC's associate members, when they played them in a tournament in Trinidad in May.
"We were fairly clinical against Bermuda and Canada, we proved there is a difference between playing against the associate countries and playing against full member countries," Curran said.
Zimbabwe have won 14 of the 18 one-day internationals they have played against Bangladesh, who won a home series against Zimbabwe 3-2 in January 2005, the last time the teams met.
Bangladesh have won just one of the five matches the sides have contested in Harare, where all of the games in the current series will be staged.
Zimbabwe have lost most of their experienced players in disputes with their board, but Curran was hopeful that his young team would improve with time.
"You're not going to get Ricky Pontings and Glenn McGraths in your side overnight, results will come with time," Curran said. "These players need to be exposed and to play as much cricket as possible."
The Zimbabweans returned on Thursday from a tour of South Africa, where they lost one and won three matches against teams drawn from academies.
Captain Terry Duffin, fast bowler Ed Rainsford and all rounder Anthony Ireland, who were playing club cricket in England, also returned to Zimbabwe on Thursday.
Bangladesh started their tour well when they beat a Zimbabwe Board XI by five wickets in Harare on Thursday.
Zimbabwe have yet to name their squad.
Bangladesh coach Whatmore declared his team favourites for the five-match series, although he conceded that the foreign conditions might change the odds.
"That's great, let them feel that they are favourites, we always like a challenge," Zimbabwe coach Curran told Reuters on Friday.
"If we were playing against Australia we would be struggling to think about a (positive) result, but in this game we know we can match them in all departments.
"It's all about half-chances, and what happens on the day."
Zimbabwe are currently ninth in the International Cricket Council's (ICC) one-day rankings, two points ahead of Bangladesh with Kenya bringing up the rear in 11th place.
Bangladesh have won five of their last 10 one-day internationals, with four of those wins achieved against minnows Kenya.
Zimbabwe have won four of their last 11 matches, one of which was washed out. Kenya, Bermuda and Canada were Zimbabwe's victims.
CLINICAL
Curran said he was heartened by his team's performances against Bermuda and Canada, who are among the ICC's associate members, when they played them in a tournament in Trinidad in May.
"We were fairly clinical against Bermuda and Canada, we proved there is a difference between playing against the associate countries and playing against full member countries," Curran said.
Zimbabwe have won 14 of the 18 one-day internationals they have played against Bangladesh, who won a home series against Zimbabwe 3-2 in January 2005, the last time the teams met.
Bangladesh have won just one of the five matches the sides have contested in Harare, where all of the games in the current series will be staged.
Zimbabwe have lost most of their experienced players in disputes with their board, but Curran was hopeful that his young team would improve with time.
"You're not going to get Ricky Pontings and Glenn McGraths in your side overnight, results will come with time," Curran said. "These players need to be exposed and to play as much cricket as possible."
The Zimbabweans returned on Thursday from a tour of South Africa, where they lost one and won three matches against teams drawn from academies.
Captain Terry Duffin, fast bowler Ed Rainsford and all rounder Anthony Ireland, who were playing club cricket in England, also returned to Zimbabwe on Thursday.
Bangladesh started their tour well when they beat a Zimbabwe Board XI by five wickets in Harare on Thursday.
Zimbabwe have yet to name their squad.
Spears Application against SA Rugby due out on Friday 4th August 2006
udge Dennis Davis this morning declared that he will deliver judgment on Friday the 4th August next week, following the criminal appeals. The Judge heard the Spears closing arguments last Friday from Advocate Geoff Budlender, and declared that he would provide a ruling as soon as possible, because of the significance of the case to rugby, a national asset, as well as the importance of the franchise to the people of the Eastern Cape, a territory of some 400,000 square km.
The Spears brought an urgent application against SA Rugby to have the rights granted to them, on the 8th June last year, by SA Rugby’s President Council and SA Rugby Board, restored.
Norman Arendse SC and Advocate Budlender, representing the Spears, asked the High Court for an order for immediate relief, for the re-instatement of the Spears in the Super 14, for 2007 and 2008, that the Spears exclusion from the 2006 ABSA Currie Cup be declared unlawful and for the Spears and SA Rugby to craft a remedy for the compensation to the Spears, which would be for the benefit and interests of rugby and that SA Rugby continue their obligations to the Spears through till December 2006.
The Southern Spears legal counsel, showed the court “five smoking guns” drawn up and issued by SA Rugby, as irrefutable evidence of an agreement and clear understanding of the rights granted to the Southern Spears by SA Rugby on the 8th June 2005. These were:
1. An agreement drawn up by an attorney, instructed by SA Rugby, on the 8th June 2005 following the Presidents Council resolution.
2. A memo from SA Rugby’s Chief Financial Officer Basil Haddad to the SA Rugby directors on the 3rd November 2005 that there is a commitment to the Spears of a minimum of R3m and that the balance would be made up by sponsors.
3. The 2nd December 2005 ratification by the SA Rugby Board, of the 8th June Presidents Council resolution.
4. The Franchise Participation Agreement drawn up by SA Rugby Pty Ltd with the 6 South African Super 14 franchises, which the Spears signed on the 7th February 2006.
5. A 10th March 2006 letter from SA Rugby’s GM Legal Affairs, Christo Ferreira, declaring that, “the decisions taken by the Board on the 2nd December have not been amended or deviated from and it is obvious that they will be implemented in 2007”.
The Southern Spears CEO, Tony McKeever has proposed that, rather than disrupt the 2006 ABSA Currie Cup, consideration should be given to the staging of a Super 14 competition format, that would apply from 2006-2010, starting with a round of exhibition games (Home & Away) in 2006, between the Spears and the top five rugby unions, as they fall out of the ABSA Currie Cup advancement to the final and that these games finish end November 2006. Thereafter from 2007-2010 SA Rugby can implement the competition format for a Super 14 relegation and promotion series.
The rationale behind this, is that the television broadcast rights can be sold to a broadcaster, as well as to a presenting sponsor, by SA Rugby, to help underwrite development and the relegated Super 14 side and that this format can be applied on annual basis to the relegation and promotion games in the Super 14 series, to develop a brand of creative running rugby, to grandstand new talent and skills.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Fifa Ready to Confront SA 2010 Pessimists
The world's soccer governing body, Fifa, says it is now ready to confront South Africa's "2010 pessimists."
Addressing the Joint Committee of the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces during the Special Measures Bill hearings at Parliament yesterday, the head of Fifa's World Cup office in South Africa, Michael Palmer, said the soccer body was now ready to confront the "pessimists" who believed South Africa was not capable of hosting a successful tournament.
"Our policy has always been that we don't comment on issues pertaining to a future tournament when there is another event in progress.
"Now that the Germany World Cup event is over, we are ready to respond to South Africa's 2010 pessimists," he said.
He dismissed recent media reports suggesting that Fifa was on the verge of moving the 2010 soccer World Cup tournament to Australia, as being uninformed.
"Had those people behind the reports bothered to conduct a basic research on that possibility, they would have easily realized that such a decision would have been impractical.
"How can you expect a country such as Australia, which happens not to be a soccer country, to prepare for an event such as the soccer World Cup in a space of less than four years?" he asked.
One of the main issues raised by MPs was the issue of trading within close proximity of the respective stadia.
Mr Palmer assured MPs that any restrictions on trade would be aimed at protecting the rights of Fifa's official sponsors.
"There will definitely be allocated areas for small business people.
"The corner shop next to the stadium won't be closed down," he said.
The CEO of the Local Organising Committee Danny Jordaan encouraged those companies that have been sponsoring South African soccer over the years to continue doing so.
"This event is not about Fifa, it's about our country (South Africa) and those companies that have been supporting soccer in the country should continue to do so.
"The fact that they might not have been nominated as Fifa official sponsors does not mean they should now stop doing the good work that they have been doing for local soccer," he said.
Meanwhile, the Portfolio Committee on Sports and Recreation passed the Special Measures Bill yesterday.
Addressing the Joint Committee of the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces during the Special Measures Bill hearings at Parliament yesterday, the head of Fifa's World Cup office in South Africa, Michael Palmer, said the soccer body was now ready to confront the "pessimists" who believed South Africa was not capable of hosting a successful tournament.
"Our policy has always been that we don't comment on issues pertaining to a future tournament when there is another event in progress.
"Now that the Germany World Cup event is over, we are ready to respond to South Africa's 2010 pessimists," he said.
He dismissed recent media reports suggesting that Fifa was on the verge of moving the 2010 soccer World Cup tournament to Australia, as being uninformed.
"Had those people behind the reports bothered to conduct a basic research on that possibility, they would have easily realized that such a decision would have been impractical.
"How can you expect a country such as Australia, which happens not to be a soccer country, to prepare for an event such as the soccer World Cup in a space of less than four years?" he asked.
One of the main issues raised by MPs was the issue of trading within close proximity of the respective stadia.
Mr Palmer assured MPs that any restrictions on trade would be aimed at protecting the rights of Fifa's official sponsors.
"There will definitely be allocated areas for small business people.
"The corner shop next to the stadium won't be closed down," he said.
The CEO of the Local Organising Committee Danny Jordaan encouraged those companies that have been sponsoring South African soccer over the years to continue doing so.
"This event is not about Fifa, it's about our country (South Africa) and those companies that have been supporting soccer in the country should continue to do so.
"The fact that they might not have been nominated as Fifa official sponsors does not mean they should now stop doing the good work that they have been doing for local soccer," he said.
Meanwhile, the Portfolio Committee on Sports and Recreation passed the Special Measures Bill yesterday.
Boost for 2010 as more whites watch football in SA
South Africa’s soccer fan base is set to be the biggest winner when the World Cup reaches these shores in 2010, with research showing that the depth of support for the world’s most popular sport is growing in this country.
Research conducted by BMI, the only independent sponsorship research & evaluation consultancy in South Africa ha s found that as a result of the 2006 World Cup in Germany, an increasing number of white South Africans have taken an interest in the sport.
Approximately 600 000 people amongst the higher LSM groups in South Africa that would not usually have watched soccer tuned in to at least some of the matches, which is a positive factor in the lead-up to 2010 as this group will most likely be the people purchasing tickets for matches for the event.
“These are the people who will drive the tournament financially. If they are interested in the tournament, they’ll pay any sort of price to go see a match,” said BMI’s Johan Grobler.
The research also confirmed that black South African fans value local soccer more highly than the international game, while the opposite is true of whites.
A total of 3.2 million adult South Africans watched the 2006 final between Italy and France, representing just one quarter of all South African soccer spectators.
Of this, 1,8 million black viewers watched the final, representing only 15 per cent of the country’s black soccer fans.
In contrast, nearly 70 per cent of whites with an interest in soccer watched the 2006 World Cup final.
This corroborates previous research conducted by BMI that 90 per cent of whites who watch soccer follow international soccer, but less than 60 per cent take an interest in the local game. By comparison, the opposite is true amongst black South African fans.
The recent World Cup highlighted another interesting difference between the two sets of South African fan bases.
The opening World Cup match between Germany and Costa Rica was more popular amongst blacks (with just under 2 million viewers) than the final, with black viewership falling nearly seven per cent for the final. In the case of white fans it was the exact opposite, with interest increasing as the competition progressed.
The fall in black viewership from the beginning of the competition to the end is a concern for the 2010 organisers in that the competition seems to have had less impact on the country’s biggest base of soccer fans, once their favourite teams were eliminated.
Extensive research by BMI over the past two years has, however, also proved that the traditional Audience Ratings (AR’s) is not as reliable as once thought in determining viewership of such an event because it fails to consider the Out-of-Home viewership of the lower LSM groups. AR’s only account for those people who watched the 2006 World Cup games in their homes and does not include those who would have watched games in pubs, restaurants, shebeens and other public areas, which can add up to 50 per cent of total viewership.
With the SABC broadcasting all of the matches free to air, Out-of-Home viewership was less significant in 2006 but it was still estimated at over 20 per cent, or an additional three quarters of a million viewers.
The reporting of AR’s alone also fails to take into consideration other critical issues which may impact on overall viewership. For example, while it has been widely reported that the South African AR’s for the 2006 FIFA World Cup increased by 52 per cent, this does not take into account the difference in time zones between Germany vs. Korea /Japan; which likely inhibited viewing as the games were televised at odd hours in 2002. A further consideration is the host broadcaster, which in 2006 changed from eTV to SABC1. Not only is SABC 1 recognised as the soccer channel in South Africa, it also has a 25% higher past seven days total audience.
As South African sponsors get set to cash in on the 2010 showpiece, history has shown that in all major world events with multi-sponsors, there are winners and losers.
Amongst the SA public, Cup Coca-Cola was the clear winner, with a spontaneous association of 22,8% amongst blacks and 18,9% amongst whites. Unfortunately, many of the other official sponsors who had their signboards displayed around the field during the matches were not as fortunate. They include sponsors such as T-Mobile, Deutche Telecom, Postbank and Budweiser, who received virtually no mentions at all amongst the SA consumers. Keep in mind that these are not well-known brands in the local market. Of the other sponsors, Hyundai and Philips performed best at 7% to 8% mentions.
In contrast, our local companies who took broadcast sponsorship packages performed well, with ABSA achieving the 2nd highest awareness levels overall (13,8% blacks and 11,5% whites ). Vodacom was 3rd and just managed to edge MTN into 4th place.
BMI’s Grobler added that anything over 10 per cent association with the event was a significant return.
Research conducted by BMI, the only independent sponsorship research & evaluation consultancy in South Africa ha s found that as a result of the 2006 World Cup in Germany, an increasing number of white South Africans have taken an interest in the sport.
Approximately 600 000 people amongst the higher LSM groups in South Africa that would not usually have watched soccer tuned in to at least some of the matches, which is a positive factor in the lead-up to 2010 as this group will most likely be the people purchasing tickets for matches for the event.
“These are the people who will drive the tournament financially. If they are interested in the tournament, they’ll pay any sort of price to go see a match,” said BMI’s Johan Grobler.
The research also confirmed that black South African fans value local soccer more highly than the international game, while the opposite is true of whites.
A total of 3.2 million adult South Africans watched the 2006 final between Italy and France, representing just one quarter of all South African soccer spectators.
Of this, 1,8 million black viewers watched the final, representing only 15 per cent of the country’s black soccer fans.
In contrast, nearly 70 per cent of whites with an interest in soccer watched the 2006 World Cup final.
This corroborates previous research conducted by BMI that 90 per cent of whites who watch soccer follow international soccer, but less than 60 per cent take an interest in the local game. By comparison, the opposite is true amongst black South African fans.
The recent World Cup highlighted another interesting difference between the two sets of South African fan bases.
The opening World Cup match between Germany and Costa Rica was more popular amongst blacks (with just under 2 million viewers) than the final, with black viewership falling nearly seven per cent for the final. In the case of white fans it was the exact opposite, with interest increasing as the competition progressed.
The fall in black viewership from the beginning of the competition to the end is a concern for the 2010 organisers in that the competition seems to have had less impact on the country’s biggest base of soccer fans, once their favourite teams were eliminated.
Extensive research by BMI over the past two years has, however, also proved that the traditional Audience Ratings (AR’s) is not as reliable as once thought in determining viewership of such an event because it fails to consider the Out-of-Home viewership of the lower LSM groups. AR’s only account for those people who watched the 2006 World Cup games in their homes and does not include those who would have watched games in pubs, restaurants, shebeens and other public areas, which can add up to 50 per cent of total viewership.
With the SABC broadcasting all of the matches free to air, Out-of-Home viewership was less significant in 2006 but it was still estimated at over 20 per cent, or an additional three quarters of a million viewers.
The reporting of AR’s alone also fails to take into consideration other critical issues which may impact on overall viewership. For example, while it has been widely reported that the South African AR’s for the 2006 FIFA World Cup increased by 52 per cent, this does not take into account the difference in time zones between Germany vs. Korea /Japan; which likely inhibited viewing as the games were televised at odd hours in 2002. A further consideration is the host broadcaster, which in 2006 changed from eTV to SABC1. Not only is SABC 1 recognised as the soccer channel in South Africa, it also has a 25% higher past seven days total audience.
As South African sponsors get set to cash in on the 2010 showpiece, history has shown that in all major world events with multi-sponsors, there are winners and losers.
Amongst the SA public, Cup Coca-Cola was the clear winner, with a spontaneous association of 22,8% amongst blacks and 18,9% amongst whites. Unfortunately, many of the other official sponsors who had their signboards displayed around the field during the matches were not as fortunate. They include sponsors such as T-Mobile, Deutche Telecom, Postbank and Budweiser, who received virtually no mentions at all amongst the SA consumers. Keep in mind that these are not well-known brands in the local market. Of the other sponsors, Hyundai and Philips performed best at 7% to 8% mentions.
In contrast, our local companies who took broadcast sponsorship packages performed well, with ABSA achieving the 2nd highest awareness levels overall (13,8% blacks and 11,5% whites ). Vodacom was 3rd and just managed to edge MTN into 4th place.
BMI’s Grobler added that anything over 10 per cent association with the event was a significant return.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
It might as well have been "In Zaire."
Woman boxer Laila Ali's bid to honour the one-time wish of her legendary father Muhammad Ali to fight in South Africa has turned into a embarassing affair with allegations of fraud, deceit and rumour.
The 28-year-old light-middleweight champion arrived in the country last week for a much-touted fight against 36-year-old mother-of-five, Gwendolyn O'Neill of Guyana.
But days later - as many in boxing circles predicted - she reportedly pulled out of the "historic" fight scheduled for August 5 in the city of Cape Town.
But controversial promoter Joe Manyathi - who was seen gloating when Ali arrived, saying his detractors had been a motivating force in his successful bid to bring her to the country - was still insisting the fight would go ahead.
Ali's manager told reporters that Manyathi had failed to meet his financial obligations. Ali's fee was estimated at around 3.5 million rand (522,000 dollars).
Ali meanwhile stayed out of the limelight at a plush hotel on Cape Town's Atlantic seaboard while boxing circles began absorbing and debating the ramifications of Manyathi's latest boxing extravaganza.
For local boxing fans and television audiences worldwide, it remained unclear Tuesday whether Manyathi would be allowed to pursue his plan.
Questions were raised about how he set about organising the fight, and evidence came to light that the sport minister's signature had been forged on documents seeking the support of sport authorities in Cape Town.
Manyathi has a reputation for dreaming big. His empty promises of bringing boxers Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis for a clash in South Africa, and talk of organising a fight for Evander Holyfield are legend in boxing circles.
He also has a record of not paying local boxers the purses due to them, according to commentators in the sport.
While Manyathi insisted that he had met the requirements laid down by regulator Boxing South Africa to stage the fight, his rivals have offered to save the day.
In an interview with the Star newspaper on Tuesday, promoter Rodney Berman offered to give Ali a slot in a tournament he was organising in Johannesburg at the weekend.
"This reflects very badly on South Africa - and not just boxing - and is pathetic in light of the spotlight being on this country ahead of the 2010 soccer World Cup," Berman was quoted as saying.
He told the newspaper that he was negotiating with Ali's management in a bid to "salvage something".
Sport minister Makhenkesi Stofile has meanwhile launched an investigation into the allegations against Manyathi's Sta-Trade promotions company.
Ali made her debut as a super-middleweight in 1999 and set out on a successful career in the ring. She is the current world super- middleweight champion.
Ali had indicated that a portion of the proceeds of her Cape Town fight, in which she would defend her title, would be given to the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the charity started by the political icon, former South African president and erstwhile amateur boxer.
The 28-year-old light-middleweight champion arrived in the country last week for a much-touted fight against 36-year-old mother-of-five, Gwendolyn O'Neill of Guyana.
But days later - as many in boxing circles predicted - she reportedly pulled out of the "historic" fight scheduled for August 5 in the city of Cape Town.
But controversial promoter Joe Manyathi - who was seen gloating when Ali arrived, saying his detractors had been a motivating force in his successful bid to bring her to the country - was still insisting the fight would go ahead.
Ali's manager told reporters that Manyathi had failed to meet his financial obligations. Ali's fee was estimated at around 3.5 million rand (522,000 dollars).
Ali meanwhile stayed out of the limelight at a plush hotel on Cape Town's Atlantic seaboard while boxing circles began absorbing and debating the ramifications of Manyathi's latest boxing extravaganza.
For local boxing fans and television audiences worldwide, it remained unclear Tuesday whether Manyathi would be allowed to pursue his plan.
Questions were raised about how he set about organising the fight, and evidence came to light that the sport minister's signature had been forged on documents seeking the support of sport authorities in Cape Town.
Manyathi has a reputation for dreaming big. His empty promises of bringing boxers Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis for a clash in South Africa, and talk of organising a fight for Evander Holyfield are legend in boxing circles.
He also has a record of not paying local boxers the purses due to them, according to commentators in the sport.
While Manyathi insisted that he had met the requirements laid down by regulator Boxing South Africa to stage the fight, his rivals have offered to save the day.
In an interview with the Star newspaper on Tuesday, promoter Rodney Berman offered to give Ali a slot in a tournament he was organising in Johannesburg at the weekend.
"This reflects very badly on South Africa - and not just boxing - and is pathetic in light of the spotlight being on this country ahead of the 2010 soccer World Cup," Berman was quoted as saying.
He told the newspaper that he was negotiating with Ali's management in a bid to "salvage something".
Sport minister Makhenkesi Stofile has meanwhile launched an investigation into the allegations against Manyathi's Sta-Trade promotions company.
Ali made her debut as a super-middleweight in 1999 and set out on a successful career in the ring. She is the current world super- middleweight champion.
Ali had indicated that a portion of the proceeds of her Cape Town fight, in which she would defend her title, would be given to the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the charity started by the political icon, former South African president and erstwhile amateur boxer.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
FERNANDEZ AGAIN THE "MIRACLE MAN" AS CHIEFS JOLT UNITED
When it comes to the tantalising ordeal of penalty shoot-outs in soccer, Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez is fast earning the reputation of a "Miracle Man". He not only saves penalties, he also scores from them.
And at a tense, emotional Loftus on Saturday afternoon, the imperturbable Fernandez produced another of his amazing double acts to guide Amakhosi to a stunning 4-3 penalty shoot-out victory over a visibly-shaken Manchester United in the final of the Vodacom Challenge Series after the teams had finished level 0-0 after 90 minutes.
A near-capacity crowd of close to 50 000 joined the Chiefs' players in rapturous delight over a win that negated United's 1-0 success when the teams met in Cape Town during the week, with Fernandez speedily buried under a maze of congratulating team-mates.
And the Amakhosi camp could be forgiven amid the euphoria of their mini-triumph for forgetting that their success was achieved over what was little more than a United reserve line-up.
After all, "a win is a win is a win," -- as American baseball legend Leo Durocher proclaimed.
The game itself in conditions not unlike those of England's current sunny summer failed to come up to expectations, with United uncharacteristically squandering a host of chances that could have transformed their territorial ascendancy into a comfortable victory.
And while on-loan Chinese international Fangzhou Dong might have recorded a hat-trick had he taken advantage of his opportunities, the irrepressible Fernandez brought off a succession of timely saves as well.
The game proved that even United's astute and acclaimed manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, can be guilty of a major boo-boo, replacing goalkeeper Luke Steele with Ben Forster shortly after he had made a sensational, 60th minute point-blank save from a Shaun Bartlett header following Arthur Zwane's defence-splitting cross from the right flank.
Perhaps Ferguson made the change in order to give both goalkeepers a run-out. Perhaps it was because he fancied Forster as the more accomplished of the two in the looming penalty shoot-out.
Whatever the reason, it back-fired badly, with Forster surprisingly taking United first kick in the penalty shoot-out and blasting the ball against the crossbar.
United came back into contention in the penalty drama when the third kick for Chiefs from Fabian McCarthy struck the post.
But with Fernandez swooping like an eagle to save substitute Chris Eagle's fifth penalty for United and then completing the job himself by guiding Chiefs' fifth penalty into the net, bedlam reigned as The Red Devils finally bit the dust.
And at a tense, emotional Loftus on Saturday afternoon, the imperturbable Fernandez produced another of his amazing double acts to guide Amakhosi to a stunning 4-3 penalty shoot-out victory over a visibly-shaken Manchester United in the final of the Vodacom Challenge Series after the teams had finished level 0-0 after 90 minutes.
A near-capacity crowd of close to 50 000 joined the Chiefs' players in rapturous delight over a win that negated United's 1-0 success when the teams met in Cape Town during the week, with Fernandez speedily buried under a maze of congratulating team-mates.
And the Amakhosi camp could be forgiven amid the euphoria of their mini-triumph for forgetting that their success was achieved over what was little more than a United reserve line-up.
After all, "a win is a win is a win," -- as American baseball legend Leo Durocher proclaimed.
The game itself in conditions not unlike those of England's current sunny summer failed to come up to expectations, with United uncharacteristically squandering a host of chances that could have transformed their territorial ascendancy into a comfortable victory.
And while on-loan Chinese international Fangzhou Dong might have recorded a hat-trick had he taken advantage of his opportunities, the irrepressible Fernandez brought off a succession of timely saves as well.
The game proved that even United's astute and acclaimed manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, can be guilty of a major boo-boo, replacing goalkeeper Luke Steele with Ben Forster shortly after he had made a sensational, 60th minute point-blank save from a Shaun Bartlett header following Arthur Zwane's defence-splitting cross from the right flank.
Perhaps Ferguson made the change in order to give both goalkeepers a run-out. Perhaps it was because he fancied Forster as the more accomplished of the two in the looming penalty shoot-out.
Whatever the reason, it back-fired badly, with Forster surprisingly taking United first kick in the penalty shoot-out and blasting the ball against the crossbar.
United came back into contention in the penalty drama when the third kick for Chiefs from Fabian McCarthy struck the post.
But with Fernandez swooping like an eagle to save substitute Chris Eagle's fifth penalty for United and then completing the job himself by guiding Chiefs' fifth penalty into the net, bedlam reigned as The Red Devils finally bit the dust.
THe Young ones are doing well....
The partnership of South African batsmen Jacques Rudolph and Hashim Amla helped take their team to 351-3 against Sri Lanka A on the first day of a practice match earlier today. Left-handed Rudolph, who came in to bat in the first over after left-arm seamer Nuwan Zoysa dismissed Boeta Dippenar, hit 157 off 212 balls with 16 fours and a six. Rudolph, who was picked in the touring party because of an injury to regular captain Graeme Smith, staked a claim for a place in the final 11 for the first of two Tests that start on Thursday. The 25-year old Rudolph, who has played 33 Tests since his debut in 2003, was the only South African to score a hundred on their tour here two years ago.
Friday, July 21, 2006
This from Rugby News
Prediction: Perhaps not the drubbing all the neutrals have been joking about, we do still believe that these Boks have some spirit and it is a lesser NZ team than the one that dismantled Australia after all. But a clear victory for the ABs nonetheless. New Zealand by 15 points.
Totalbet.com prediction: New Zealand by 21 points
Ones to watch:
For New Zealand: Reuben Thorne is back, and with plenty to prove after his absence from national duty as what will be his final Rugby World Cup chance looms. The former AB captain has had a superlative Super 14, and is the fourth number six in New Zealand's last five Tests. With that kind of competition, he will be pulling all the stops to get himself up the pecking order.
For South Africa: Jacques Cronjé has been picked to add a little physicality to the Bok defence and shore up the gaps that seem to be appearing with disturbing regularity in the on-rushing Bok defensive line. Some big Bull hits please Mr. Cronjé!
Head to head: Anton Oliver v John Smit brings together a dark and classic duel at the depths of the scrum, between two old heads and natural team leaders with over 100 caps between them. Oliver, like Thorne, is fighting off the chasers for one of the hooker spots for the next - Oliver's last - Rugby World Cup, while Smit has the unenviable task of leading his team out of the hole they have dropped themselves into.
Recent results:
2005: New Zealand won 31-27 in Dunedin
2005: South Africa won 22-16 in Cape Town
2004: South Africa won 40-26 in Johannesburg
2004: New Zealand won 23-21 in Christchurch
2003: New Zealand won 29-9 South Africa in Melbourne
2003: New Zealand won 19-11 in Dunedin
2003: New Zealand won 52-16 in Pretoria
2002: New Zealand won 30-23 in Durban
2002: New Zealand won 41-20 in Wellington
2001: New Zealand won 26-15 in Auckland
2001: New Zealand won 12-3 in CapeTown
2000: South Africa won 46-40 in Johannesburg
2000: New Zealand won 25-12 in Christchurch
TEAM BARLOWORLD MAKES IT A DOZEN!
South African sponsored Pro-Continental cycling team, Team Barloworld scooped their 12th win in stage two of the Brixia Tour in Italy today.
Team Barloworld’s star Columbian climber, Felix Cardenas raced to victory today and dedicated his win to his mother who suddenly past away last week.
An emotionally charged Cardenas led the race in the final 10km and finished first with an advantage of one minute.
Cardenas, along with teammate Amets Txurruka (Esp) made their move on the breakaway of 20 riders as they approached the climb up the steep Monte Maniva mountain. Cardenas attacked from the onset and strategically kept the peloton at bay with his side-kick Txurruka.
“I’m very happy with my win today and more importantly with my performance during this trying time. I was determined to win and I would like to dedicate this win to my late mom,” said Cardenas.
Today’s stage 2 of the Brixia Tour covered 169.2km from Brescia to Passo Maniva in northern Italy.
The four day Brixia Tour ends on Sunday. Stage three on Saturday covers a 101.8km race from Pisogne to Darfo Boario Terme, followed by a 62.3km time trial.
Team Barloworld’s star Columbian climber, Felix Cardenas raced to victory today and dedicated his win to his mother who suddenly past away last week.
An emotionally charged Cardenas led the race in the final 10km and finished first with an advantage of one minute.
Cardenas, along with teammate Amets Txurruka (Esp) made their move on the breakaway of 20 riders as they approached the climb up the steep Monte Maniva mountain. Cardenas attacked from the onset and strategically kept the peloton at bay with his side-kick Txurruka.
“I’m very happy with my win today and more importantly with my performance during this trying time. I was determined to win and I would like to dedicate this win to my late mom,” said Cardenas.
Today’s stage 2 of the Brixia Tour covered 169.2km from Brescia to Passo Maniva in northern Italy.
The four day Brixia Tour ends on Sunday. Stage three on Saturday covers a 101.8km race from Pisogne to Darfo Boario Terme, followed by a 62.3km time trial.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Zidane Banned and the Italian, fined
Former France captain Zinedine Zidane and Italy defender Marco Materazzi were both fined and banned by FIFA on Thursday after the head-butting incident that marred the World Cup final on July 9.
Zidane, who has retired as a player, was fined 7,500 Swiss francs ($6,014) and handed a three-match ban by FIFA's Disciplinary Committee following his red card for head-butting Materazzi. As he is no longer a player, he has agreed to undertake three days of community service on FIFA's behalf instead.
The Italian defender, who has admitted insulting Zidane, provoking the Frenchman's head-butt, was handed a two-match ban and fined 5,000 Swiss francs ($4,010).
The bans apply to international competitive matches, even though it is a symbolic ban for Zidane who has confirmed he has no intention of reversing his decision to quit the game.
FIFA said in a statement: "Zinedine Zidane has also agreed to do community service work with children and youngsters. As Zidane has now retired from international football, the committee took note of Zidane's pledge to do three days of community service work with children and youngsters as part of FIFA's humanitarian activities.
"In their statements, both players stressed that Materazzi's comments had been defamatory but not of a racist nature.
"During the course of their hearings both players also apologised to FIFA for their inappropriate behaviour and expressed their regret at the incident."
Zidane head-butted Materazzi in the chest during the closing stages of the July 9 final in Berlin, which Italy subsequently won on penalties.
Zidane, who has retired as a player, was fined 7,500 Swiss francs ($6,014) and handed a three-match ban by FIFA's Disciplinary Committee following his red card for head-butting Materazzi. As he is no longer a player, he has agreed to undertake three days of community service on FIFA's behalf instead.
The Italian defender, who has admitted insulting Zidane, provoking the Frenchman's head-butt, was handed a two-match ban and fined 5,000 Swiss francs ($4,010).
The bans apply to international competitive matches, even though it is a symbolic ban for Zidane who has confirmed he has no intention of reversing his decision to quit the game.
FIFA said in a statement: "Zinedine Zidane has also agreed to do community service work with children and youngsters. As Zidane has now retired from international football, the committee took note of Zidane's pledge to do three days of community service work with children and youngsters as part of FIFA's humanitarian activities.
"In their statements, both players stressed that Materazzi's comments had been defamatory but not of a racist nature.
"During the course of their hearings both players also apologised to FIFA for their inappropriate behaviour and expressed their regret at the incident."
Zidane head-butted Materazzi in the chest during the closing stages of the July 9 final in Berlin, which Italy subsequently won on penalties.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Where are they now??
Ten days after Italy's triumph in the World Cup final, following is the status of the tournament's coaches/managers:
Angola: Luis Oliveira Goncalves - Still in post.
Argentina: Jose Pekerman - Quit after loss to Germany in quarter-finals.
Australia: Guus Hiddink - Quit after loss to Italy in second round, now Russia coach
Brazil: Carlos Alberto Parreira - Still in post, announcement on future expected this week.
Costa Rica: Alexandre Guimaraes - Quit after group stage exit.
Croatia: Zlatko Kranjcar - Fired after group stage exit.
Czech Republic: Karel Bruckner - Still in post.
Ecuador: Luis Fernando Suarez - Still in post.
England: Sven-Goran Eriksson - As agreed before finals, left the post at the end oftournament. replaced by Steve McClaren.
France: Raymond Domenech - Still in post.
Germany: Juergen Klinsmann - Quit last week after winning third-place playoff. Replaced by assistant Joachim Loew.
Ghana: Ratomir Dujkovic - Quit last weekend. Ghana lost to Brazil in second round.
Italy: Marcello Lippi - Quit last week after winning final, replaced by Roberto Donadoni.
Iran: Branko Ivankovic - Fired after group stage exit, replaced by Amir Qalenoei
Ivory Coast: Henri Michel - Quit after group stage exit, now coaching club in Qatar.
Japan: Zico - Quit after group stage exit, now coaching Fenerbahce in Turkey. Set to be replaced in Japan by former Yugoslavia coach Ivica Osim.
Mexico: Ricardo Lavolpe - Still in post but federation to make decision shortly about his future. Expected to depart.
Netherlands: Marco van Basten - Still in post.
Paraguay: Anibal Ruiz - Still in post.
Poland: Pawel Janas - Quit after group stage exit, replaced by Leo Beenhakker.
Portugal: Luiz Felipe Scolari - Still in post, contract extended until 2008 after fourth-place finish.
Saudi Arabia: Marcos Paqueta - Still in post.
Serbia and Montenegro: Ilija Petkovic - Quit after group stage exit. Replaced as coach of Serbia this week by ex-Spain coach Javier Clemente.
South Korea: Dick Advocaat - Quit after group stage exit, since joined Russian club Zenit St Petersburg. Replaced in South Korea by his assistant Pim Verbeek
Spain: Luis Aragones - Still in post, contract extended to 2008.
Sweden: Lars Lagerback - Still in post, contract extended to 2008.
Switzerland: Kobi Kuhn - Still in post.
Togo: Otto Pfister - Still in post, future uncertain after players' pay dispute which overshadowed World Cup campaign.
Trinidad and Tobago: Leo Beenhakker quit after group stage exit, now Poland coach.
Tunisia: Roger Lemerre - Still in post.
Ukraine: Oleg Blokhin - Still in post.
U.S.: Bruce Arena - Contract not renewed last week after group stage exit
Angola: Luis Oliveira Goncalves - Still in post.
Argentina: Jose Pekerman - Quit after loss to Germany in quarter-finals.
Australia: Guus Hiddink - Quit after loss to Italy in second round, now Russia coach
Brazil: Carlos Alberto Parreira - Still in post, announcement on future expected this week.
Costa Rica: Alexandre Guimaraes - Quit after group stage exit.
Croatia: Zlatko Kranjcar - Fired after group stage exit.
Czech Republic: Karel Bruckner - Still in post.
Ecuador: Luis Fernando Suarez - Still in post.
England: Sven-Goran Eriksson - As agreed before finals, left the post at the end oftournament. replaced by Steve McClaren.
France: Raymond Domenech - Still in post.
Germany: Juergen Klinsmann - Quit last week after winning third-place playoff. Replaced by assistant Joachim Loew.
Ghana: Ratomir Dujkovic - Quit last weekend. Ghana lost to Brazil in second round.
Italy: Marcello Lippi - Quit last week after winning final, replaced by Roberto Donadoni.
Iran: Branko Ivankovic - Fired after group stage exit, replaced by Amir Qalenoei
Ivory Coast: Henri Michel - Quit after group stage exit, now coaching club in Qatar.
Japan: Zico - Quit after group stage exit, now coaching Fenerbahce in Turkey. Set to be replaced in Japan by former Yugoslavia coach Ivica Osim.
Mexico: Ricardo Lavolpe - Still in post but federation to make decision shortly about his future. Expected to depart.
Netherlands: Marco van Basten - Still in post.
Paraguay: Anibal Ruiz - Still in post.
Poland: Pawel Janas - Quit after group stage exit, replaced by Leo Beenhakker.
Portugal: Luiz Felipe Scolari - Still in post, contract extended until 2008 after fourth-place finish.
Saudi Arabia: Marcos Paqueta - Still in post.
Serbia and Montenegro: Ilija Petkovic - Quit after group stage exit. Replaced as coach of Serbia this week by ex-Spain coach Javier Clemente.
South Korea: Dick Advocaat - Quit after group stage exit, since joined Russian club Zenit St Petersburg. Replaced in South Korea by his assistant Pim Verbeek
Spain: Luis Aragones - Still in post, contract extended to 2008.
Sweden: Lars Lagerback - Still in post, contract extended to 2008.
Switzerland: Kobi Kuhn - Still in post.
Togo: Otto Pfister - Still in post, future uncertain after players' pay dispute which overshadowed World Cup campaign.
Trinidad and Tobago: Leo Beenhakker quit after group stage exit, now Poland coach.
Tunisia: Roger Lemerre - Still in post.
Ukraine: Oleg Blokhin - Still in post.
U.S.: Bruce Arena - Contract not renewed last week after group stage exit
Only 5 Changes to Bad Bok Squad
South Africa have made five changes to the side routed by Australia last week for Saturday's Tri-Nations clash against New Zealand at Wellington's Westpac Stadium.
Coach Jake White has opted to change the Boks' halves combination after the record 49-0 drubbing at the hands of the Wallabies in Brisbane last weekend.
Fourie du Preez replaces Ricky Januarie at scrumhalf while Meyer Bosman or Butch James will come in for Jaco van der Westhuyzen at flyhalf with a final decision coming on the day of the game
Albert van den Bergh replaces the injured Danie Rossouw at lock while flanker Solly Tyibilika and No 8 Jacques Cronje come in for Joe van Niekerk and Pierre Spies.
Coach Jake White has opted to change the Boks' halves combination after the record 49-0 drubbing at the hands of the Wallabies in Brisbane last weekend.
Fourie du Preez replaces Ricky Januarie at scrumhalf while Meyer Bosman or Butch James will come in for Jaco van der Westhuyzen at flyhalf with a final decision coming on the day of the game
Albert van den Bergh replaces the injured Danie Rossouw at lock while flanker Solly Tyibilika and No 8 Jacques Cronje come in for Joe van Niekerk and Pierre Spies.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Saturday Functions
I got this in my little mail box today.....
I can't make the event. Who holds a work event on a Saturday night? Especially a sporting event? I will let you know what happens.
Telkom Aquatics Awards Evening 2006
I can't make the event. Who holds a work event on a Saturday night? Especially a sporting event? I will let you know what happens.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Poor attendance, bad pitch and plastic chairs for coaches
Found this at Reporter.co.za by
Today (Sunday 16th July)was a positive day for South African soccer team Mamelodi Sundowns as they beat Scottish team Rangers 2-0 and, considering they are previous Scottish title holders, this can be seen as an amazing result regardless of whether Ranger’s players were tired from pre-season training or not. What was not so positive was the quality of the pitch, stadium and support!
With international viewers tuning in to watch the match, it is not acceptable to see a game being played in a predominantly cricket stadium on a pitch of such poor quality. An article published on BBC sport states, "...Barry Ferguson was not risked on a poor pitch". This is such poor media coverage for the team expected to host the next World Cup that is to be hosted for the first time on the African continent.
The stadium was seen almost empty and surely we as South Africans should have had more pride in our team and turn out to give them out full support. It is easy to critisize poor performances by South African teams but if we aren’t there to support them when they achieve where has there motivation gone?
Another example of inappropriate and poor organising was the Orlando Pirates vs. Manchester United where the managers were seated on plastic chairs and in contrast to the dug-outs present at the Germany hosted World Cup this is unacceptable.
Can the Local Organising Committee manage to get their act together and use the next four years to organise a truly unforgettable experience in the form of the World Cup? Or will it end in a complete and utter embarrassment for the committee and South African citizens alike? I pledge my full support to the committee and hope they can make this glorious, football crazy country proud and stunned!
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Watch!!!
So the Boks lose by the worst score EVER against Australia this afternoon. After goings on over the last few weeks about Jake White not going to get his contract re-newed, did you expect anything else?
Now what? Oh, yes, NEW ZEALAND in New Zealand. And you think that Mandela had a long walk? Wait till these guys come back to South Africa.
Will Jake go? You know that John Smit's captaincy days are over.
Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.
Now what? Oh, yes, NEW ZEALAND in New Zealand. And you think that Mandela had a long walk? Wait till these guys come back to South Africa.
Will Jake go? You know that John Smit's captaincy days are over.
Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
FIA CUTS FINAL F1 QUALIFYING ROUND FROM 20 TO 15 MINUTES
The third and final stage of Formula One qualifying sessions has been cut from 20 to 15 minutes with immediate effect, the governing body FIA announced on Thursday.
The rule will first be applied on Saturday at the French Grand Prix in Magny-Cours.
The decision to shorten the final session came after at least half of the 20 minutes were used by the 10 remaining cars to burn fuel and not to post a fast time. The first and second sessions are also 15 minutes.
FIA also said that the qualifying session will keep its one-hour format, meaning longer breaks between the sessions.
In another rule-change to be applied immediately, drivers are no longer able to serve drive-through (the pit lane with its speed limit) penalties when the safety car is on the track.
FIA also decided to scrap the three-car rule for weaker teams in Friday practise from 2007 onwards. All teams apart from the top four in the previous constructors standings were allowed to use three instead of two cars in Friday's two practise sessions.
The rule will first be applied on Saturday at the French Grand Prix in Magny-Cours.
The decision to shorten the final session came after at least half of the 20 minutes were used by the 10 remaining cars to burn fuel and not to post a fast time. The first and second sessions are also 15 minutes.
FIA also said that the qualifying session will keep its one-hour format, meaning longer breaks between the sessions.
In another rule-change to be applied immediately, drivers are no longer able to serve drive-through (the pit lane with its speed limit) penalties when the safety car is on the track.
FIA also decided to scrap the three-car rule for weaker teams in Friday practise from 2007 onwards. All teams apart from the top four in the previous constructors standings were allowed to use three instead of two cars in Friday's two practise sessions.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Racism in Sport
Why oh why did Independant newspapers have to make a big splash about Ashwell Prince being the 1st "Black Captain" of the SA Cricket side? Surely we are past the fact that we might, shock horror, have a black person in charge of a national side?
Does the fact have anything to do with anything that he might do on the field? Will the South African side play better or worse because he is a black man? Is his blackness the reason for his captaincy? Of course not, yet IOL feel it right to headline the fact the SA Cricket has it's 1st BLACK CAPTAIN!!!
What will happen when Cilliboy becomes the rugby captian, as he will when John Smith can't do it any longer? Will the world end? Will white people stop supporting the game? NEVER! Will more black people support the game? I doubt it.
Sensationalism when it comes to race in sport isn't needed any longer. So a big BOO to IOL for making sensationlist headlines out of nothing....
Does the fact have anything to do with anything that he might do on the field? Will the South African side play better or worse because he is a black man? Is his blackness the reason for his captaincy? Of course not, yet IOL feel it right to headline the fact the SA Cricket has it's 1st BLACK CAPTAIN!!!
What will happen when Cilliboy becomes the rugby captian, as he will when John Smith can't do it any longer? Will the world end? Will white people stop supporting the game? NEVER! Will more black people support the game? I doubt it.
Sensationalism when it comes to race in sport isn't needed any longer. So a big BOO to IOL for making sensationlist headlines out of nothing....
Are we Ready, really really ready????
So here is a little worry coming out of England today. The Gaurdian Newspaper, which is not a bad one as far as English papers are concerned, is reporting that top FIFA officials are having doubts over South Africa being ready for 2010.
This is not some "White man's propaganda" from a doubting populous, but some serious journalism from a country that has hosted the tournament. OK, it was a long time ago, but that HAVE done it.
Also worrying is that a final decision on the whole 2010 thing will only be taken after Sepp Blatter stands for re-election next May. That's May 2007 if you weren't concentrating. Sepp needs all the African support he can muster for his re-election and HE is the one that keeps saying that South Africa has what it takes and Africa can do this and Africa can do that. Maybe he is just electioneering??
I REALLY hope the 2010 World Cup comes here, I will become a rich man, but the report from the Gaurdian is a little worrying.
This is not some "White man's propaganda" from a doubting populous, but some serious journalism from a country that has hosted the tournament. OK, it was a long time ago, but that HAVE done it.
Also worrying is that a final decision on the whole 2010 thing will only be taken after Sepp Blatter stands for re-election next May. That's May 2007 if you weren't concentrating. Sepp needs all the African support he can muster for his re-election and HE is the one that keeps saying that South Africa has what it takes and Africa can do this and Africa can do that. Maybe he is just electioneering??
I REALLY hope the 2010 World Cup comes here, I will become a rich man, but the report from the Gaurdian is a little worrying.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Montoya set to quit F1 for Nascar
Juan Pablo Montoya will leave Formula One at the end of the season to drive in the American Nascar series in 2007.
Montoya will link up with team owner Chip Ganassi, who he had considerable success with in Indy-style racing before moving to F1 in 2001.
"It should be fun," said Ganassi, who added Montoya might race in some races this year after the F1 season finishes.
"He said 'I want to get back to racing'. The guy loves racing. And what better place than here?"
Montoya confirmed he was relishing the switch.
"I am so happy to be entering the fastest growing racing league in the world," said the Colombian.
"I've thought about this for quite some time but the opportunity had to be right.
"I know it will not be easy but I can't wait to get behind the wheel."
Montoya, who currently drives for McLaren, won a Cart series championship in 1999 and the Indianapolis 500 in 2000 with Ganassi.
He will replace Casey Mears, who will drive for Hendrick Motorsports next season.
The history of drivers from open-wheel racing - the type found in both Indy-style racing and Formula One - who have tried to move Nascar is not great.
Tony Stewart left the Indy Racing League to become a two-time Nascar champion, and Robby Gordon has three career victories.
But others have not fared as well, with established drivers such as John Andretti, Christian Fittipaldi, Scott Pruett, Paul Tracy, Max Papis and Jimmy Vasser not impressing.
Ganassi said Montoya - who has a combative style of driving - will have to work hard to make the adjustment from the more cerebral style of F1 to the rough and tumble of Nascar.
"It's going to be some work," Ganassi said. "He's ready for it, though.
Montoya will link up with team owner Chip Ganassi, who he had considerable success with in Indy-style racing before moving to F1 in 2001.
"It should be fun," said Ganassi, who added Montoya might race in some races this year after the F1 season finishes.
"He said 'I want to get back to racing'. The guy loves racing. And what better place than here?"
Montoya confirmed he was relishing the switch.
"I am so happy to be entering the fastest growing racing league in the world," said the Colombian.
"I've thought about this for quite some time but the opportunity had to be right.
"I know it will not be easy but I can't wait to get behind the wheel."
Montoya, who currently drives for McLaren, won a Cart series championship in 1999 and the Indianapolis 500 in 2000 with Ganassi.
He will replace Casey Mears, who will drive for Hendrick Motorsports next season.
The history of drivers from open-wheel racing - the type found in both Indy-style racing and Formula One - who have tried to move Nascar is not great.
Tony Stewart left the Indy Racing League to become a two-time Nascar champion, and Robby Gordon has three career victories.
But others have not fared as well, with established drivers such as John Andretti, Christian Fittipaldi, Scott Pruett, Paul Tracy, Max Papis and Jimmy Vasser not impressing.
Ganassi said Montoya - who has a combative style of driving - will have to work hard to make the adjustment from the more cerebral style of F1 to the rough and tumble of Nascar.
"It's going to be some work," Ganassi said. "He's ready for it, though.
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Currie Cup
How sad South African Rugby has become. Who would have thought that a Sharks side would EVER play to a half empty stadium? Last night's Currie Cup match against the Pumas highlighted a number of things. First, if you HAVE to be positive about it, the Sharks have some great depth. It's not easy, as a coach, to put on a second string side including five or so Currie Cup debutants, and still go on and beat the Pumas.
If you want to be negative, then you can say that the Currie Cup is just a farce. Why have eight teams playing at all? The bottom 3 sides haven't won a game yet, let alone a draw. Keep the top four and let each team play home and away, followed by a final. Forcing old fat men, as the Pumas were last night, to play against a B team and still lose by 20 points is just not fair on the the players and on the fans that play dearly to watch the match.
On the other side of the coin, it did give some young players the oppertunity to shine on television, but who was watching? Will these young players go any further? Once the big teams play against the Sharks, will we see these young players on the field or even on the bench? We will see them again in a match that doesn't matter like one against the Valke or the Lions.
Speaking of the Lions, they play the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein this afternoon. I will be there and report on the game. Reporters are building it up as some mighty tussle between to great sides. OK, whatever. Cheetahs by 20 points.
If you want to be negative, then you can say that the Currie Cup is just a farce. Why have eight teams playing at all? The bottom 3 sides haven't won a game yet, let alone a draw. Keep the top four and let each team play home and away, followed by a final. Forcing old fat men, as the Pumas were last night, to play against a B team and still lose by 20 points is just not fair on the the players and on the fans that play dearly to watch the match.
On the other side of the coin, it did give some young players the oppertunity to shine on television, but who was watching? Will these young players go any further? Once the big teams play against the Sharks, will we see these young players on the field or even on the bench? We will see them again in a match that doesn't matter like one against the Valke or the Lions.
Speaking of the Lions, they play the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein this afternoon. I will be there and report on the game. Reporters are building it up as some mighty tussle between to great sides. OK, whatever. Cheetahs by 20 points.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
WHITE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT TRI-NATIONS, DESPITE MOUNTING INJURIES
The Springboks are nowhere near to being down and out despite an unsatisfactory start to the international season which saw them beat Scotland 2-0, lose to France and relinquish their number two world ranking.
Springbok coach Jake White remains optimistic that his squad will perform well, against expectation, in their overseas leg of the Tri-Nations competition.
White's optimism stems from a history lecture he gave to the media in the Springboks' final press conference in Johannesburg on Thursday. He said how his team from two years ago -- riddled with inexperienced youngsters -- surprisingly won the Tri-Nations.
"I have to be optimistic. I am excited about this team and the opportunities that lie ahead for them. For me, this is more like dejavu because we had lost guys before the Tri-Nations and I had brought in exciting young players and there was a lot of history also against us," White said.
And White's greatest enemy besides the All Blacks and Wallabies has been the deluge of injuries which have befallen the Springbok camp.
The Boks leave South Africa on Thursday without lock Bakkies Botha and playmaking centre Jean de Villiers. Johan Muller replaces Botha, while White hopes that De Villiers could join the squad in the later stages of the Tri-Nations.
Botha has been ruled out for the duration of the competition. De Villiers is hoped to have recovered midway through, with White saying he will bring De Villiers back into the squad "as soon as he is ready."
The other injury update was that of winger Breyton Paulse, who is nursing a hamstring strain but should be fit for the Boks' opening match against Australia next Saturday.
"The problem is not now, but it's something that has been coming. I was warned by Prof Tim Noakes and our medical staff about this (injuries) happening and I made presentations to those who were interested. I am though excited about the new guys and I want to see how they do on this tour," said White.
While there is excitement about the four new caps in the squad -- Akona Ndungane, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Pierre Spies and JP Pietersen -- greater challenges lie in store for White at flyhalf and centre, where the Springboks have been found wanting in recent games.
"Chiliboy, Pierre and JP have always been part of our plans and we had discussed including them in the squad from the beginning. We (selectors) felt that we had to give them an opportunity to play for the national under-21 side before bringing them into the squad," White said.
White's squad has had casualties in Hanyani Shimange and Gary Botha who were surprisingly left out of the squad. White said he was giving the duo an opportunity to get some game time after warming the bench for the better part of the Scottish Tests and the one-off Test against France.
"Gary and Hanyani have not had much time to play and that is exactly why they are not in the team," White said.
The Springboks had little time to sharpen their skills at home after flight disruptions on Monday and a marathon meeting between White, the SA Rugby Board and the Presidents' Council over White's ambition to still be at the helm of the Boks in 2009 even though he is contracted until the World Cup next year.
The Presidents' Council on Tuesday refused White's request of a contract extension, opting to review the contract after the World Cup.
"It was not a major thing. It is called negotiations and that is what we were doing. The important thing now is that we go to New Zealand and Australia and do what we do best," White said.
Springbok coach Jake White remains optimistic that his squad will perform well, against expectation, in their overseas leg of the Tri-Nations competition.
White's optimism stems from a history lecture he gave to the media in the Springboks' final press conference in Johannesburg on Thursday. He said how his team from two years ago -- riddled with inexperienced youngsters -- surprisingly won the Tri-Nations.
"I have to be optimistic. I am excited about this team and the opportunities that lie ahead for them. For me, this is more like dejavu because we had lost guys before the Tri-Nations and I had brought in exciting young players and there was a lot of history also against us," White said.
And White's greatest enemy besides the All Blacks and Wallabies has been the deluge of injuries which have befallen the Springbok camp.
The Boks leave South Africa on Thursday without lock Bakkies Botha and playmaking centre Jean de Villiers. Johan Muller replaces Botha, while White hopes that De Villiers could join the squad in the later stages of the Tri-Nations.
Botha has been ruled out for the duration of the competition. De Villiers is hoped to have recovered midway through, with White saying he will bring De Villiers back into the squad "as soon as he is ready."
The other injury update was that of winger Breyton Paulse, who is nursing a hamstring strain but should be fit for the Boks' opening match against Australia next Saturday.
"The problem is not now, but it's something that has been coming. I was warned by Prof Tim Noakes and our medical staff about this (injuries) happening and I made presentations to those who were interested. I am though excited about the new guys and I want to see how they do on this tour," said White.
While there is excitement about the four new caps in the squad -- Akona Ndungane, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Pierre Spies and JP Pietersen -- greater challenges lie in store for White at flyhalf and centre, where the Springboks have been found wanting in recent games.
"Chiliboy, Pierre and JP have always been part of our plans and we had discussed including them in the squad from the beginning. We (selectors) felt that we had to give them an opportunity to play for the national under-21 side before bringing them into the squad," White said.
White's squad has had casualties in Hanyani Shimange and Gary Botha who were surprisingly left out of the squad. White said he was giving the duo an opportunity to get some game time after warming the bench for the better part of the Scottish Tests and the one-off Test against France.
"Gary and Hanyani have not had much time to play and that is exactly why they are not in the team," White said.
The Springboks had little time to sharpen their skills at home after flight disruptions on Monday and a marathon meeting between White, the SA Rugby Board and the Presidents' Council over White's ambition to still be at the helm of the Boks in 2009 even though he is contracted until the World Cup next year.
The Presidents' Council on Tuesday refused White's request of a contract extension, opting to review the contract after the World Cup.
"It was not a major thing. It is called negotiations and that is what we were doing. The important thing now is that we go to New Zealand and Australia and do what we do best," White said.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
A1 Announce thier 2nd Schedule
The A1 Grand Prix released its provisional 13-race schedule on Wednesday, with the series starting in the Netherlands on October 1 and ending at Brands Hatch in the United Kingdom.
Durban, which last season was voted the best race, will host the event on February 25, 2007.
After the October 1 opening race Zandvoort Park in the Netherlands, the series will continue to the Czech Republic before heading to Asia, New Zealand and Australia.
The event in Durban, which was won in dramatic fashion by Dutchman Jos Verstappen, is the eighth race of the season.
The championship then moves to the Americas before heading back to Asia and finishing up at Brands Hatch on Apri,l 2007.
Schedule:
October 1 - Circuit Park Zandvoort, The Netherlands
Oct. 8 -Auto Motodrom, Brno, The Czech Republic
Nov. 5 - Beijing, China
Nov. 26 -Sepang, Malaysia
Dec. 16 - Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Jan. 21 - Taupo, New Zealand (Venue subject to confirmation)
Feb. 4 - Sydney, Australia
Feb. 25 - Durban, South Africa
March 11/18 - South/North America
March 25 - Mexico
Apr. 8 - Indonesia (subject to confirmation)
Apr. 15 - Shanghai, China
Apr. 29 - Brands Hatch, UK
Durban, which last season was voted the best race, will host the event on February 25, 2007.
After the October 1 opening race Zandvoort Park in the Netherlands, the series will continue to the Czech Republic before heading to Asia, New Zealand and Australia.
The event in Durban, which was won in dramatic fashion by Dutchman Jos Verstappen, is the eighth race of the season.
The championship then moves to the Americas before heading back to Asia and finishing up at Brands Hatch on Apri,l 2007.
Schedule:
October 1 - Circuit Park Zandvoort, The Netherlands
Oct. 8 -Auto Motodrom, Brno, The Czech Republic
Nov. 5 - Beijing, China
Nov. 26 -Sepang, Malaysia
Dec. 16 - Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Jan. 21 - Taupo, New Zealand (Venue subject to confirmation)
Feb. 4 - Sydney, Australia
Feb. 25 - Durban, South Africa
March 11/18 - South/North America
March 25 - Mexico
Apr. 8 - Indonesia (subject to confirmation)
Apr. 15 - Shanghai, China
Apr. 29 - Brands Hatch, UK
SASOL ANNOUNCE PARALYMPIC TEAM SPONSORSHIP
Sasol on Wednesday announced a R3,5 million sponsorship of the South African paralympic team.
The sponsorship comes at a time when preparations for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics are just beginning to take shape.
In the 2004 Paralympics in Athens the South African team returned with 35 medals including 15 gold, 13 silver and seven bronze medals and are hoping to improve their medal tally in Beijing.
Chairperson of High Performance Commission of Disability Sport South Africa, Pieter Badenhorst, said: "Sasol's sponsorship is critical for the South African Paralympic team to continue improving and bringing home more medals.
"Our athletes have done us very proud over the years. But there is no time to rest on our laurels."
Badenhorst added that the standard of Paralympic competition had improved vastly. "Many nations are taking sport for people with a disability more seriously now as is evident by the increase in the number of participating nations and improved overall results at the Paralympics," concluded Badenhost.
The aim of the sponsorship is to develop the next generation of disabled sports stars and to serve as an inspiration to all South Africans. Improved funding will enable opportunities to be provided to all previously disadvantaged segments of the population. It will also aid in identifying new talent.
World class athletes like Natalie Du Toit, Oscar Pistorius and Ernst Van Dyk will be the key focus in the sponsorship. Van Dyk was honoured with the award of World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability for 2006 at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Barcelona last month, while both Du Toit and Pistorius both won double gold at the recent Paralympic World Cup in Manchester.
The sponsorship comes at a time when preparations for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics are just beginning to take shape.
In the 2004 Paralympics in Athens the South African team returned with 35 medals including 15 gold, 13 silver and seven bronze medals and are hoping to improve their medal tally in Beijing.
Chairperson of High Performance Commission of Disability Sport South Africa, Pieter Badenhorst, said: "Sasol's sponsorship is critical for the South African Paralympic team to continue improving and bringing home more medals.
"Our athletes have done us very proud over the years. But there is no time to rest on our laurels."
Badenhorst added that the standard of Paralympic competition had improved vastly. "Many nations are taking sport for people with a disability more seriously now as is evident by the increase in the number of participating nations and improved overall results at the Paralympics," concluded Badenhost.
The aim of the sponsorship is to develop the next generation of disabled sports stars and to serve as an inspiration to all South Africans. Improved funding will enable opportunities to be provided to all previously disadvantaged segments of the population. It will also aid in identifying new talent.
World class athletes like Natalie Du Toit, Oscar Pistorius and Ernst Van Dyk will be the key focus in the sponsorship. Van Dyk was honoured with the award of World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability for 2006 at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Barcelona last month, while both Du Toit and Pistorius both won double gold at the recent Paralympic World Cup in Manchester.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Klinsman might go to the USA
The United States are in talks with Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann to lead their national team to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, it was reported here on Tuesday.
Although Klinsmann has already dismissed speculation linking him with the job, the Daily Telegraph claimed preliminary contact has been made with the man who has defied the odds to take Germany to the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Klinsmann lives in California, his wife is American, and he is viewed as the ideal man to replace Bruce Arena who is leaving the United States hotseat to return to club management.
The newspaper claimed that the Americans will put a deal on the table that exceeds the 1.5 million pounds a year Klinsmann earns with Germany. That would be three times what they have been paying Arena.
Although Klinsmann has already dismissed speculation linking him with the job, the Daily Telegraph claimed preliminary contact has been made with the man who has defied the odds to take Germany to the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Klinsmann lives in California, his wife is American, and he is viewed as the ideal man to replace Bruce Arena who is leaving the United States hotseat to return to club management.
The newspaper claimed that the Americans will put a deal on the table that exceeds the 1.5 million pounds a year Klinsmann earns with Germany. That would be three times what they have been paying Arena.
Monday, July 03, 2006
MotoCross Hype coming to South Africa
The world motocross circus is heading for South Africa. The showdown will take place at Sun City on July 15 and 16 and all organisational and circuit preparation has begun in the build-up to this two-wheeled extravaganza.
This comes after the MX Grand Prix of Great Britain, Winchester, provided the ideal setting for battle to be waged. The Matterley Basin circuit hosted 39000 spectators with the full-Monty of MX1 and MX2 antics and rivalry that the keen supporters have come to expect from the series.
In the MX1 race it was Stefan Everts (Yamaha) who was the eventual winner with Kenneth de Dyker and Joshua Coppins coming in second and third respectively for the Honda team.
In MX2 it was David Philippaerts (KTM) who finished on top, closely followed by Christophe Pourcel (Kawasaki) and Billy Mackenzie (Yamaha).
The anticipation is now building rapidly for the South African round of FIM Motocross Grand Prix. Interest is high and tickets are selling fast, which indicates exactly how much hype there is surrounding this international dirt bike spectacular.
Heavy machinery is already hard at work trying to make the circuit worthy of world class competition and in particular a world class event.
The roar of powerful, high-revving two stokes will attack the senses of all who get themselves down to Sun City and soak up what could possibly be the best ever round of this scintillating sporting phenomenon seen on local turf.
This comes after the MX Grand Prix of Great Britain, Winchester, provided the ideal setting for battle to be waged. The Matterley Basin circuit hosted 39000 spectators with the full-Monty of MX1 and MX2 antics and rivalry that the keen supporters have come to expect from the series.
In the MX1 race it was Stefan Everts (Yamaha) who was the eventual winner with Kenneth de Dyker and Joshua Coppins coming in second and third respectively for the Honda team.
In MX2 it was David Philippaerts (KTM) who finished on top, closely followed by Christophe Pourcel (Kawasaki) and Billy Mackenzie (Yamaha).
The anticipation is now building rapidly for the South African round of FIM Motocross Grand Prix. Interest is high and tickets are selling fast, which indicates exactly how much hype there is surrounding this international dirt bike spectacular.
Heavy machinery is already hard at work trying to make the circuit worthy of world class competition and in particular a world class event.
The roar of powerful, high-revving two stokes will attack the senses of all who get themselves down to Sun City and soak up what could possibly be the best ever round of this scintillating sporting phenomenon seen on local turf.
Fifa denies SA may lose 2010 World Cup
From IOL.co.za
"We absolutely, categorically deny it, we won't even discuss it. It just genuinely is not true," said Palmer.
Citing a "third world" public transport system, a renewed wave of crime, HIV and a shortage of accommodation, the weekend report said Fifa officials were working on an "emergency" plan to take the event to Australia.
South Africa 2010 World Cup chief executive officer Danny Jordaan declined to comment on the report, but Palmer, an Australian, said Fifa is "more committed than ever to making a success of the World Cup in South Africa".
"There's no contingency plan at all. It's going to be in South Africa and that's the end of it," he said.
The report also said there would be a shortage of accommodation for 120 000 people in 2010.
Adam Brown, a representative of Match Services, a company mandated by Fifa to do the operational running of the accommodation, ticketing and information technology solutions until the 2014 World Cup, said the figure of 120 000 beds short was not taking into account the nature of a World Cup event.
"It's a mega event. We're not saying its simple and that there aren't any complications, but saying you're 120 000 beds short is nonsense.
"It's not taking into account the nature of the event," said Brown, who has been based in South Africa for a year.
"You need to take into account the movement of people within the country and at different stages of the World Cup. That's a managerial excuse and the process is to take a historical point of view.
"You can look at what happened in Germany. There are dips between matches, with people coming in from the United Kingdom, Holland or France, staying for a day or two and returning home.
"That won't happen in South Africa - people won't travel from Europe and South America for one day."
Brown said that in terms of the South African situation, the US World Cup 1994 gave a much better insight, in terms of distance between cities and length of time people stayed in different places.
"The people involved with Fifa in 1994 are still with Fifa and have a very strong understanding of the various trends within accommodation for a World Cup country.
"We know the needs, the requirements and expectations.
"We know what the situation has been in Germany and will analyse that and say what is needed to raise the bar in South Africa.
"That's what the president of Fifa, Sepp Blatter, said in Germany - that every World Cup must raise the bar," said Brown.
Fifa has "absolutely, categorically" denied that it has a contingency plan to move the 2010 Soccer World Cup to Australia if South Africa is unable to host the event.
An Afrikaans Sunday newspaper reported that South Africa's chances of hosting the World Cup were getting slimmer by the day and that there were "whispers in the corridors of soccer power" that the event could be moved from the country.
"That's absolutely untrue, 100 percent. There's no contingency plan at all. Someone's made that up," the head of Fifa's South African office, Michael Palmer, told The Star on Sunday.
"The president of Fifa, Sepp Blatter, has spent years ensuring the event goes to Africa, Fifa has an office and employees in South Africa and there have been over 60 South Africans on Fifa observer programmes at Germany 2006. Only to then take the event somewhere else?
| 'It just genuinely is not true' |
Citing a "third world" public transport system, a renewed wave of crime, HIV and a shortage of accommodation, the weekend report said Fifa officials were working on an "emergency" plan to take the event to Australia.
South Africa 2010 World Cup chief executive officer Danny Jordaan declined to comment on the report, but Palmer, an Australian, said Fifa is "more committed than ever to making a success of the World Cup in South Africa".
"There's no contingency plan at all. It's going to be in South Africa and that's the end of it," he said.
The report also said there would be a shortage of accommodation for 120 000 people in 2010.
| 'It's a mega event' |
"It's a mega event. We're not saying its simple and that there aren't any complications, but saying you're 120 000 beds short is nonsense.
"It's not taking into account the nature of the event," said Brown, who has been based in South Africa for a year.
"You need to take into account the movement of people within the country and at different stages of the World Cup. That's a managerial excuse and the process is to take a historical point of view.
"You can look at what happened in Germany. There are dips between matches, with people coming in from the United Kingdom, Holland or France, staying for a day or two and returning home.
"That won't happen in South Africa - people won't travel from Europe and South America for one day."
Brown said that in terms of the South African situation, the US World Cup 1994 gave a much better insight, in terms of distance between cities and length of time people stayed in different places.
"The people involved with Fifa in 1994 are still with Fifa and have a very strong understanding of the various trends within accommodation for a World Cup country.
"We know the needs, the requirements and expectations.
"We know what the situation has been in Germany and will analyse that and say what is needed to raise the bar in South Africa.
"That's what the president of Fifa, Sepp Blatter, said in Germany - that every World Cup must raise the bar," said Brown.
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Jose Pekerman Quits As Argentina Coach
Jose Pekerman quit as Argentina coach Friday, minutes after it lost to Germany in the quarterfinals of the World Cup.
Pekerman, whose contract was up after this year's tournament, announced he was stepping away after Argentina played Germany to a 1-1 tie and lost the shootout 4-2.
"For sure I am not going to continue," said the 56-year-old Pekerman, who took over the team in September of 2004 from Marcelo Bielsa.
Pekerman won three world youth titles for Argentina in 1995, '97 and 2001, before moving up to the top job in Argentina soccer.
Pekerman, whose contract was up after this year's tournament, announced he was stepping away after Argentina played Germany to a 1-1 tie and lost the shootout 4-2.
"For sure I am not going to continue," said the 56-year-old Pekerman, who took over the team in September of 2004 from Marcelo Bielsa.
Pekerman won three world youth titles for Argentina in 1995, '97 and 2001, before moving up to the top job in Argentina soccer.
The USA don't none be liking the Football, y'all
If you look west from Germany you will see the United States stifling a yawn at the World Cup.
Despite a doubling of television ratings for the first-round matches this month, before the U.S. squad failed miserably, soccer still ranks below televised poker tournaments in a land where baseball, basketball and American football rule.
ABC-TV's average rating of 2.5 for the first eight matches it aired represents barely 8 million viewers in a nation of just under 300 million. Only 3.9 million Americans watched the 2002 World Cup final, which had an audience of 1.1 billion worldwide.
By comparison, nearly 91 million viewers watched this year's Super Bowl, the glitzy climax to the season for North America's home-grown form of football. Nearly 39 million watched the Academy Awards, Hollywood's big night, in March and 36 million tuned in for May's finale of "American Idol," a television talent show.
On ABC's sports cable network, ESPN, which presumably attracts more serious sports fans, the World Cup has had few viewers, averaging around 1.75 million on channels that reach 91 million homes.
No surprise, then, that a poll by the Global Market Insite (GMI) market research service found that only 11 percent of Americans surveyed were "definitely" interested in the World Cup, compared with 45 percent of respondents world-wide.
"Despite an estimated combined $420 million invested in official partnerships by U.S.-based corporations to gain worldwide visibility, the facts don't lie: the U.S. lags significantly behind other countries when it comes to being passionate about 'the beautiful game' of soccer," GMI said.
The poll revealed that 56 percent of Americans did not even know that the 2006 World Cup was taking place in Germany.
HOSTILE COMMENTATORS
Soccer just is not part of the culture in a country that often prides itself on sporting isolationism.
Millions of children play the game in the U.S. but whereas spontaneous soccer breaks out on Rio and Cape Town beaches, or in the alleys of Berlin and Bologna, you will not see youngsters kicking around a ball on the streets of Philadelphia or Memphis.
World governing body FIFA had hoped to boost interest in the game when it awarded the U.S. hosting rights to the 1994 World Cup.
The event attracted the largest average crowds in World Cup history and spawned Major League Soccer which now has 12 teams but has struggled to find a place in the crowded U.S. sports market.
American opinion is still shaped by a handful of sports commentators who can barely hide their hostility to soccer.
Yet, while the U.S. team were competing in their fifth consecutive finals, two long-time opponents of soccer appeared to soften.
First, it was Frank Deford, a Sports Illustrated columnist, who delights in provoking soccer fans with outrageous jibes.
In a National Public Radio commentary, he actually praised the passion of the world's fans, and called soccer players "rock stars of sweat".
The transformation was fleeting, however, as Deford still thinks soccer is not for Americans.
"America is one of the few countries that escaped being infected by the soccer pandemic," Deford went on. There was more interest last month in the professional basketball and hockey playoffs in America, "the only country where soccer is not important," he said.
BRAZILIAN ATHLETICISM
Another apparent convert was Jack Kemp, the former National Football League (NFL) quarterback and Republican presidential candidate, who once called soccer "socialistic and collectivist" during a speech in Congress.
Yet he acknowledged in a posting on his Web site this week that seven or eight of his 16 grandchildren play soccer.
"Watching our USA soccer team tie the Italian team last week and on Sunday watching the athleticism of the Brazilian team, I'm hereby publicly acknowledging that soccer can be interesting to watch," said Kemp.
Unfortunately, he could not resist a late hit.
"I love soccer, but it's still boring," he added.
If a nation's newspapers reflect its thinking, then USA Today has America's attitude to soccer nailed down.
"That Americans have a love-hate relationship with soccer is indisputable," columnist William Mattox Jr. wrote last week. "We love to play the game, or at least to have our children play it. But we hate to watch it.
The newspaper ran letters echoing his comments.
"If America hadn't been founded by the pilgrims leaving...to seek freedom of religion, a few hundred years later America would have been founded by the pilgrims seeking freedom from soccer," wrote Rollie Robinson of Portland, Oregon.
Despite a doubling of television ratings for the first-round matches this month, before the U.S. squad failed miserably, soccer still ranks below televised poker tournaments in a land where baseball, basketball and American football rule.
ABC-TV's average rating of 2.5 for the first eight matches it aired represents barely 8 million viewers in a nation of just under 300 million. Only 3.9 million Americans watched the 2002 World Cup final, which had an audience of 1.1 billion worldwide.
By comparison, nearly 91 million viewers watched this year's Super Bowl, the glitzy climax to the season for North America's home-grown form of football. Nearly 39 million watched the Academy Awards, Hollywood's big night, in March and 36 million tuned in for May's finale of "American Idol," a television talent show.
On ABC's sports cable network, ESPN, which presumably attracts more serious sports fans, the World Cup has had few viewers, averaging around 1.75 million on channels that reach 91 million homes.
No surprise, then, that a poll by the Global Market Insite (GMI) market research service found that only 11 percent of Americans surveyed were "definitely" interested in the World Cup, compared with 45 percent of respondents world-wide.
"Despite an estimated combined $420 million invested in official partnerships by U.S.-based corporations to gain worldwide visibility, the facts don't lie: the U.S. lags significantly behind other countries when it comes to being passionate about 'the beautiful game' of soccer," GMI said.
The poll revealed that 56 percent of Americans did not even know that the 2006 World Cup was taking place in Germany.
HOSTILE COMMENTATORS
Soccer just is not part of the culture in a country that often prides itself on sporting isolationism.
Millions of children play the game in the U.S. but whereas spontaneous soccer breaks out on Rio and Cape Town beaches, or in the alleys of Berlin and Bologna, you will not see youngsters kicking around a ball on the streets of Philadelphia or Memphis.
World governing body FIFA had hoped to boost interest in the game when it awarded the U.S. hosting rights to the 1994 World Cup.
The event attracted the largest average crowds in World Cup history and spawned Major League Soccer which now has 12 teams but has struggled to find a place in the crowded U.S. sports market.
American opinion is still shaped by a handful of sports commentators who can barely hide their hostility to soccer.
Yet, while the U.S. team were competing in their fifth consecutive finals, two long-time opponents of soccer appeared to soften.
First, it was Frank Deford, a Sports Illustrated columnist, who delights in provoking soccer fans with outrageous jibes.
In a National Public Radio commentary, he actually praised the passion of the world's fans, and called soccer players "rock stars of sweat".
The transformation was fleeting, however, as Deford still thinks soccer is not for Americans.
"America is one of the few countries that escaped being infected by the soccer pandemic," Deford went on. There was more interest last month in the professional basketball and hockey playoffs in America, "the only country where soccer is not important," he said.
BRAZILIAN ATHLETICISM
Another apparent convert was Jack Kemp, the former National Football League (NFL) quarterback and Republican presidential candidate, who once called soccer "socialistic and collectivist" during a speech in Congress.
Yet he acknowledged in a posting on his Web site this week that seven or eight of his 16 grandchildren play soccer.
"Watching our USA soccer team tie the Italian team last week and on Sunday watching the athleticism of the Brazilian team, I'm hereby publicly acknowledging that soccer can be interesting to watch," said Kemp.
Unfortunately, he could not resist a late hit.
"I love soccer, but it's still boring," he added.
If a nation's newspapers reflect its thinking, then USA Today has America's attitude to soccer nailed down.
"That Americans have a love-hate relationship with soccer is indisputable," columnist William Mattox Jr. wrote last week. "We love to play the game, or at least to have our children play it. But we hate to watch it.
The newspaper ran letters echoing his comments.
"If America hadn't been founded by the pilgrims leaving...to seek freedom of religion, a few hundred years later America would have been founded by the pilgrims seeking freedom from soccer," wrote Rollie Robinson of Portland, Oregon.
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