Comité Olímpico de Chile no descarta intervenir en crisis del fútbol

Neven Ilic criticó que la ANFP tenga más poder que la Federación, y dijo que si el asunto se agrava, podrían ayudar.

Neven Ilic, presidente del Comité Olímpico de Chile, criticó el conflicto que se vive debido a las elecciones en la ANFP y no descartó que tomen medidas si la crisis se agrava, considerando que la Federación de Fútbol es miembro del Coch.
Ilic entregó sus opiniones tras la exhibición de la seleccion chilena de vóleibol playa, que venció a Argentina, en Mar del Plata, en la primera fase de la Continental Cup, clasificatoria para los JJ.OO. de Londres.
El timonel del Coch dijo que la situación del fútbol se enredó y que "me preocupa mucho. Habíamos visto el fútbol en un manejo que parecía profesional, prolijo y hoy es el hermano más complicado que tenemos. Estuvimos conversando si nos corresponde... Me parece que es la Federación de Fútbol la que rige y la que está inscrita en el Comité Olímpico de Chile y la ANFP es un brazo de esa federación. Pero hoy parece que la que maneja el cuento es la ANFP. Es muy negativo para la imagen del deporte, del fútbol y hay que buscar alguna forma de solucionarlo. se está encendiendo cada vez más y no veo muchas voluntades de arreglarlo. Hay que darle un corte lo antes posible".
Ilic agregó que "si este tema estuviera en otra federación nosotros deberíamos participar de alguna manera, en el fútbol, que tiene otro carácfter no estamos convencidos. Pero si vemos que esto sigue creciendo veremos como podemos ayudar... No sé con qué acción concreta, porque esto se desodenó mucho y muy rápido, Y tieje problemas de forma, nace mal. Hay un estatuto y los estatutos deben respetarse. Que después creas que el estatuto no te es muy cómodo y hay que cambiarlo, se cambia.
Respecto de la organización, Ilici opinó que "la federación de fútbol debe representar todas las instancias del desarrollo de ese deporte y la ANFP debería ser el brazo que agrupa los intereses profesionales. Pero ma perece que es la ANFP la que manda el desarrollo.Está mal estructurado, así no funciona".

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba recovering from malaria

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba recovering from malaria

Chelsea FC announced Tuesday that star striker Didier Drogba is recovering from a lightning bout of malaria he apparently contracted on holiday.

The bout of the mosquito-borne blood disease couldn’t have been too serious. The 32-year-old Ivorian played 76 minutes against Spartak Moscow last Wednesday. He was on the bench for the first half of Sunday’s game against Liverpool with what the club described as “a virus.” But he was scrambled into action for the second half, where he did appear sluggish.

His condition was diagnosed Monday after a blood test. According to his manager, he’s already fully recovered.

“Didier has had problems,” Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti said Tuesday. “He had a virus and lost power in training. We now know what he had was malaria. He was given some time off and came back with malaria.

“Now he’s OK and will be back, immediately, in his best condition. He suffered because he was not 100 per cent but after the treatment he will be better.”

Drogba’s celebrity in his native Ivory Coast and throughout Africa is immense. As such, he’s intimately involved in a Right To Play initiative to combat the disease, called United Against Malaria.

“My foundation is involved because the objective of the foundation is health. We buy a lot of nets to give to people every year to help prevent malaria,” Drogba said earlier of the initiative, according to the Guardian.

It’s been an eventful year for Drogba on the health front.

He broke his arm shortly before World Cup 2010 got under way in South Africa, but played in a cast.

2011 Women World Cup Qualification: Canada wins CONCACAF Championship

Canada defeated Mexico for the second time in six days to win the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifier championship on Monday 8 November in Cancún, Mexico. Canadian captain Christine Sinclair’s sixth goal of the tournament in the 54th minute was enough to lead Canada to a 1:0 victory. The win capped an impressive tournament for the Canadian squad who finished undefeated with a 5-0-0 record; tallying 17 goals while conceding zero in the process.

With its place at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011 already safely secured, the Canadian’s faced a confident Mexico side that was coming off an impressive win over USA to advance to the final. The final proved to be a much tighter contest than the Group A match played between the two sides earlier in the competition.

The Canadian side created more in the way of clear cut chances in a cagey opening 45 minutes. Forward Melissa Tancredi saw a flicked header come back off the cross bar six minutes into the match and her follow up effort from the rebound was deflected wide.

Playing in front of an enthusiastic home crowd the Mexican side started much more confidently than it had when Canada dominated Mexico 3:0 the final group stage match six days earlier.

Sinclair nearly broke the dead lock in the 22nd minute as she weaved through the Mexican defence before hitting a low shot which was saved at full stretch by Erika Vanegas in the Mexican goal.

Veteran Mexican forward Maribel Dominguez was the most dangerous Mexican on the pitch and it was the tricky forward who won a pair of dangerous free kicks on the edge of the Canadian penalty area. Fortunately for Canada, the Mexican attackers were unable to trouble Karina LeBlanc in the Canadian goal with its resulting shots.

LeBlanc did have to be sharp in the 38th minutes as a low cross was destined for the far corner before she reached out a strong hand to push the ball away from danger.

The match exploded into life in the 53rd minute. Canada worked a short corner routine to perfection to set-up Sophie Schmidt for a strike on goal which came back off the post. The rebound fell to Josée Bélanger at the top of box and her first time effort was goal-bound until Mexican defender Veronica Perez deliberately used her hand to tip the ball over the bar. The Trinidad referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot and produced a red card for Perez. Sinclair stepped up and calmly converted the penalty kick to give Canada the lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

Down a player the Mexican’s picked up the physical intensity as both teams committed to each tackle following the goal.

The Canadian squad kept its defensive shape and limited Mexico’s chances while comfortably seeing out the remainder of the match.

With the 1:0 victory over Mexico Canada completes the competition without conceding a single goal, an impressive feat at an international competition. Canada’s well organized team defence was expertly marshalled by ever-present centre back Candace Chapman, who along with Sinclair and Schmidt were the only Canadians to play all 450 minutes of play during the qualifiers.

Coach Morace named the same starting eleven from the side that defeated Mexico 3:0 in the final group stage match as Tancredi and Carmelina Moscato returned to line-up while youngsters Jonelle Filigno and Desiree Scott returned to the subs bench. LeBlanc started in goal, Marie-Eve Nault, Candace Chapman, Schmidt, and Rhian Wilkinson left to right across the back line, Kaylyn Kyle, Moscato, and Diana Matheson in midfield while Belanger and Sinclair joined Tancredi in attack. Canada made one halftime substitution as Moscato was replaced by Scott. The two other Second half substitutions saw Bélanger replaced by Filigno in the 73rd minute and Tancredi replaced by Christina Julien in the 83rd.
Canada, whose title sponsor is Winners and presenting sponsor is Teck, will now shift its focus to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011. 2011 will mark Canada’s fifth consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance. The 22 day football celebration will be held in nine cities across Germany beginning on 26 June leading to a 17 July final in Frankfurt. Mexico has also qualified for Germany 2011 by virtue of reaching the CONCACAF final. USA, the third place finisher, will try to become the third team to qualify from CONCACAF as it faces Italy in a home and home series with the winner advancing directly to the World Cup.

Soccer Canada announces men’s U-23/Olympic camp

The Canadian Soccer Association has announced it will hold a men’s U-23/Olympic identification camp this 8-18 November. Coach Tony Fonseca has invited 18 players to the camp which will be held in Sunrise, FL, USA. This will be coach Fonseca’s second camp this season.

As part of Fonseca’s identification camp in Sunrise, FL, the team will train twice daily and take part in a pair of exhibition matches against local clubs.

The men’s U-23 program features players born 1989 or later, which from an age category includes players that took part in last year’s 2009 CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 Championship. Coach Fonseca will have until early 2012 to prepare this age category for the CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualification Tournament.

Two years ago, only two teams qualified through CONCACAF for the 2008 Men’s Olympic Football Tournament. Canada performed very well in the tournament and came within a win of reaching the Olympics.

Nine players called into this camp took part in Fonseca’s previous men’s U-23 camp in January. The players come from clubs in Canada, USA and Europe. The youngest players are 19 while the oldest players are 21.

CANADA
GK- Julien Latendresse Lévesque | GER / Energie Cottbus | Chambly, QC, CAN
GK- Michal Misiewicz | POL / Polonia Bytom | Calgary, AB, CAN
D- Sean Hart | USA / Schulz Academy | Toronto, ON, CAN
D- Fabrice Lassonde | GER / Ingolstadt FC | Mont-St-Grégoire, QC, CAN
D- Ashtone Morgan | CAN / Toronto FC Academy | Toronto, ON, CAN
D- Eddy Sidra | Unattached / sans club | Edmonton, AB, CAN
M- Philippe Davies | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Longueuil, QC, CAN
M- Ethan Gage | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Cochrane, AB, CAN
M- Mozesh Gyorio | USA / FC Tampa Bay | Stratford, PE, CAN
M- Jonathan Parolini | ITA / ASD Bojano | Vaughan, ON
M- Cesar Santamaria | SLV / CD Municipal | Regina, SK, CAN
M- Jarek Whiteman | CAN / Portugal FC | Brampton, ON, CAN
F- Reda Agourram | CAN / Impact Montréal | Montréal, QC, CAN
F- Randy Edwini-Bonsu | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Edmonton, AB, CAN
F- Sherif El-Masri | SIN / Home United FC | Scarborough, ON, CAN
F- Derek Gaudet | USA / Portland Timbers | Bayside, NS, CAN
F- Igor Pisanjuk | HUN / Szolnoki MÁV FC | Mississauga, ON, CAN
F- Kyle Porter | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Mississauga, ON, CAN

Canada faces Mexico today for CONCACAF title

Canada will face Mexico in the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifier championship final on Monday 8 November in Cancún, Mexico. The two sides have already qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011, but will now play for the CONCACAF championship trophy and a set of gold medals on Monday night.

The championship final kicks off at 20.00 (local time) at the Estadio Andres Quintana Roo. The match will be broadcast live on CBCSports.ca, bold television, Radio-Canada.ca/sports and CONCACAF TV (21.00 ET / 18.00 PT). The Canada-Mexico final will be preceded by the match for third place between USA and Costa Rica (17.00 local).

'The numbers suggest we have been one of the best teams in tournament,' said national coach Carolina Morace. 'We must now try to win the tournament.'
Canada is the only undefeated team left standing in the tournament. Canada is 4-0-0 after three wins in the group stage and a 4:0 win over Costa Rica in the semi-final stage. Mexico also won its semi-final match (an impressive 2:1 win over USA), but its record is 3-0-1 including an 0:3 loss to Canada in the group stage.

The 2010 championship will mark the second time Canada and Mexico meet in a CONCACAF women’s final. Twelve years ago, the two sides met in the 1998 CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Etobicoke, ON, with Canada taking gold after a 1:0 score line in the final. USA did not participate that year as it had already qualified as host of the FIFA Women’s World Cup USA 1999; Canada and Mexico, meanwhile, both booked tickets for USA 1999.

In 2011, Mexico will be taking part in its second FIFA Women’s World Cup while Canada will be taking part in its fifth-consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cup (all since Sweden 1995). USA and Costa Rica still have a chance to qualify for Germany 2011, but only the CONCACAF third-place finisher will get that chance when it faces Italy in a two-leg playoff in late November.
Canada, whose title sponsor is Winners and presenting sponsor is Teck, has 20 healthy players for Monday’s final. While it will be facing a pro-Mexican crowd at the Estadio Andres Quintana Roo, it will have the support of all Canadian fans back home as well as the contingent of Canadian fans who traveled to Cancún for the tournament.

To date, the Canadian Soccer Association has won eight CONCACAF titles, including the one by Canada’s women’s team at the 1998 CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifier. Canada’s national teams have also won gold in 1985 (Men’s Championship), 1986 (Men’s U-20 Championship), 1996 (Men’s U-20 Championship), 2000 (Men’s Gold Cup), 2004 (Women’s U-20 Championship), 2008 (Women’s U-20 Championship) and 2010 (Women’s U-17 Championship in March).

Pellegrini: "Quiero hacer crecer al Málaga y crear un proyecto a largo plazo"

DT Manuel Pellegrini: "Quiero hacer crecer al Málaga y crear un proyecto a largo plazo"

El "Ingeniero" viajará con el equipo a Barcelona este fin de semana, pero presenciará el partido desde la tribuna

El nuevo entrenador del Málaga, Manuel Pellegrini, manifestó hoy durante su presentación que su principal objetivo es "hacer crecer al Málaga" y conformar un "proyecto a largo plazo".
El técnico chileno, ex entrenador del Real Madrid y Villarreal, se mostró "muy contento" de volver a España, donde dirigió durante "seis años muy importantes", por lo que afronta el reto del Málaga "con mucha ilusión".
Pellegrini reconoció que conocía al Málaga "por fuera" y constató que en el club malacitano hay "mucha ilusión" por crear un "proyecto importante y crecer en el futuro", lo que fue su "mayor interés" para recalar en el conjunto de la costa del Sol.
"Lo que más me interesó es la intención de hacer un proyecto a largo plazo y la nueva directiva quiere hacer crecer al club y potenciar la parte deportiva en paralelo a otras áreas", reiteró el técnico chileno.
El "Ingeniero" matizó que su sistema de juego es "distinto" al del ex técnico portugués Jesualdo Ferreira, aunque reconoció que es "difícil hacer un diagnóstico" de las circunstancias que llevaron a Málaga a su situación actual, ubicándose en el 17º lugar de la tabla de posiciones.
Pellegrini, que reveló que en principio el club blanquiazul le ofrecía cinco años de contrato, prefirió firmar por tres temporadas, ya que "tienes más libertad y no te acomodas", aunque resaltó que "ojalá" esté en el Málaga durante las próximas cinco campañas.
Además, encontró "cierta similitud" con el Villarreal que entrenó hace dos temporadas, aunque señaló que en el "Submarino Amarillo" hubo "fortuna, responsabilidad y apoyo para dar el salto" a la elite.
Finalmente, Pellegrini confirmó que viajará con el equipo a Barcelona para presenciar el partido ante el Espanyol, aunque no se sentará la banca y seguirá el encuentro desde la grada del estadio de Cornellá.