T&T Highlanders FC Has 3 Keys to Successful Season

All around the globe, soccer clubs are nearing the end of their pre-season and looking towards the 2011-2012 campaign. Trinidad’s 1st division club, T&T Highlanders FC is no different. We profiled them earlier this year in an installment of the Eat Soccer News Page. This is the first year for the T&T Highlanders, and we caught up with their owner, James Baird to find out more about their 3 ingredients for success this season.

No club can begin to function successfully without funding. Since our last report, the club has secured Lensyl Products Limited, a privately owned, international soft furnishings manufacturer, as its major sponsor. According to Baird, “We really owe a lot to Justin Lall and the Lensyl team for helping T&T Highlanders FC to get off on the right foot financially.”

Secondly, Baird has been tapping his network of contacts to provide international opportunities for top players from his 1st team. Sean Aberdeen is a talented attacking midfielder/striker who came to the club from current pro league side Joe Public. With a track record as a very quick and reliable striker, there is interest in him going to an American university this fall. Another attacking midfielder/winger, Jabari Raphael came to the club from local side Valtrin United. Raphael’s talents have generated interest in him trialing with a few European clubs in the not-so-distant future.

Lastly, the club is discovering quality players in through its academy program. As detailed by Baird, “We have two 15 year old players, Kyron Glasgow and Gehorkey Nunes, who have been promoted to the first team squad. They are both talented wingers, and if they continue to improve, they will make excellent professionals.”

This formula seems to have the T&T Highlanders off to a solid start. A recent pre-season match against local side Sparta FC yielded a 5-3 victory, with Jason Patron scoring 3 and Sean Aberdeen scoring 2 for the club.
To follow the progress of the T&T Highlanders, click here.

Sponsorship Spotlight: Sierra Leone Premier League

A new season is set to commence for the Sierra Leone Premier League on February 26th with 14 clubs slated to compete for the league's top spot. In leading up to the kick off, the league office has received a financial boost from Africell.

Africell, a West African telecommunications company, has agreed to become the title sponsor of the league with a pledge of $23,500 USD. This is not the first foray of the company in soccer sponsorship as the company serves as a sponsor for the Gambia National Soccer Team.

Picture of the Day: Milan FC (Accra, Ghana)

Our picture of the day was sent to us courtesy of Sneijder, a member of Milan FC in Accra, Ghana. Sneijder & company defeated their opponents 2-1 over the weekend. Congratulations lads!

If you want to submit images or video of your club in action, please send it to eatsoccer@gmail.com. All videos clips should be in the form of a Youtube link,and the footage should be 3 minutes or less.

Qatar Makes It Rain On FC Barcelona

Two weeks ago, the tiny nation of Qatar took the soccer world by storm with its host selection for the 2022 World Cup. The country’s proposal included financial investments in infrastructure that put its bidding committee in quite a class of its own.

Now the oil rich nation seems to be still hungry and on another soccer spending binge. This week a Qatar “foundation” was able to buy what many thought was the untouchable-the front of Barca’s shirt. The club was a lone outlier in not selling its most coveted piece of real estate. When other clubs took the cash, Barca went in the opposite direction and gave away cash to UNICEF for use of the organization’s name.

Barca had embodied it’s tag line of “more than just a club.” Now, the storied club may just become another impulse by for national investors that would to blow off steam, spend some cash and turn the global soccer community on its ear.

MobiTv Let's You Watch the Match on the Go

I love the Internet, and, with sites such as Ustream and Justin.tv, I can view live matches right on my laptop. No more televisions for me!

However, I can’t take the laptop everywhere, and there were quite a few times during World Cup 2010 that I had to miss a few matches because I was out and about.
Well, I know that I wasn’t alone, and Mobitv has created the perfect solution. The company brings live content to a broad range of mobile devices. This past summer they provided a large number of American soccer fans with the opportunity to view 100 million minutes of World Cup soccer coverage.

I perused Mobitv’s blog today, and I noticed that they give their customers a heads up on the live sports programming for each week. If you are a Premier League fan, you can catch Arsenal vs. Blackpool on Saturday at 7:00 a.m. courtesy of ESPN Mobile.

Craig Johnston's Martydom: Issues Open Letter About Jabulani

A few hours ago I finished watching the movie Pelham 123, which stars Denzel Washington and John Travlota. It was a thrilling storyline where Garber (Denzel makes a dangerous choice to pursue Ryder (Travolta).

Former Liverpool player and inventor of the highest selling soccer boot of all times (Predator), Craig Johnston is engaging in his own Pelham 123. Johnston believes that the horribly perfect Jabulani ball must be destroyed, and he is willing to risk reputation and FIFA blacklisting, if it can preserve the beautiful game. Take a read of his open letter to President Blatter which was distributed via Leaders In Football:

"OPEN LETTER TO BLATTER ON JABULANI BALL"
4:37pm Thursday, 8th July 2010


Dear Mr Blatter,

If a sponsor came into your office before the World Cup and said. ' We are going to give you a new, perfectly round match ball...the players wont like it at all...and there will be more mistakes made than in any other World Cup...'

'There will be less goals scored...less free kicks scored...less passes complete...less control by players....and roughly 70% of crosses and shots on goal will miss wide and go way over the crossbar...'

What would you say to them..?

My name is Craig Johnston. I am risking my reputation and goodwill within certain football circles by writing this open letter to yourself and anybody else who is interested in the Jabulani ball issue and why its endorsement by FIFA could ruin the game as we now know it.

I am however not only writing with the problem, but also an easy solution to the problem...

I am a former football player with Liverpool Football Club in England, and I am also known for inventing the adidas Predator football boot, the adidas Traxion sole system...and the research and testing done on previous World Cup footballs.

I am a big supporter of the FIFA Goal initiatives, and we have met many times over the years, on various football issues. I have also presented to you, the executive committee and the FIFA Technical team many innovations in football and specifically youth development over the years.

I am therefore writing to you as a friend of football, a friend of FIFA. I am also writing to you as someone who actually knows what they are talking about when it comes to World Cup footballs and their flight characteristics.

A lot of things have been said and written about the new Jabulani Ball...but the word disaster is on a lot of players and managers lips...

Pazzini -Italy "The Balls are a disaster, both for goalkeepers and for attackers."

David James-England " Dreadful and Horrible..."

Fabio Capello-Manager England " The worst Ball I have ever seen."

It is very alarming that the best players and teams in the world are struggling to control this ball to their own satisfaction.

What is even more alarming than the players' assessment of the 'bad ball', however, are the statistics of ' bad play'.

What this means to the quality of this tournament in South Africa is quite shocking.

The statistics are showing that it is the worst passing, shooting and controlling of the ball of any World Cup in history of the competition.

That cannot be ignored...and it cannot be fixed up later..as we are being told..

The problems with this ball will not go away and they need to be understood by the FIFA Technical department and addressed immediately...before there are any more on field disasters.

I know you and FIFA are under pressure at the moment. The issues such as Goal Line Technology and poor refereeing decisions are not as important compared to the Jabulani Ball issue and the poor quality of play that it is causing.

There was a furious global public reaction to Frank Lampard's goal against Germany that was denied by the officials...

By my calculations we have been denied at least 10 more goals that were not scored in this World Cup so far, because of the erratic and unstable flight of the Jabulani football..but nobody is jumping up and down...yet...!

Who is taking responsibility for denying us these goals and bits of magic?

To get a goalmouth call wrong and make a mistake happens once or twice a year.

To get the actual football itself wrong, affects every single touch, pass or shot that a player makes, in every single game.

And there are an awful lot of mistakes happening at this showcase tournament.

Daniel Agger-Denmark- Dead Ball expert "It makes world Class players look like drunken sailors"

The erratic behavior of this ball is ruining the flow of the game and downgrading the quality of play.

This is an absolute disaster for the purists...and it cannot continue in this manner.

Just listen to the players ....just look at the statistics...they are very very damning of this ball.

Robinho-Brazil "The guy who designed this never played Football."

The fact is that the Jabulani ball with its new materials and new construction methods simply does not behave in the same predictable aerodynamic manner as the old ball we have all been using perfectly well for 40 years previously...

The players are all saying that the Jubalani has a mind of its own...

I have a trained eye and have been watching these things for years. If you watch carefully, and know what you're looking for, you can see it move erratically, even on television...

I have seen hundreds of basic trajectory miscalculations so far in this World Cup where the ball usually ends up going out of play. Surprisingly, nobody has made a big deal out of it yet...but football people who really watch for the art and craft are starting to notice...like the players...like the managers...like the purists...like the statisticians...its all starting to add up.

I have outlined the more scientific reasons for the balls unpredictable behavior in a separate section below...please read it and you will understand the problem immediately....then count the on-field mistakes...

In short, the new ball does not translate a lot of the backspin, topspin or sidespin...all of the special language that a player normally applies to a ball to make it behave properly in the air.

Why is this so important...?

This language is the real art and craft of the footballer and of the game..

This is what we really pay all of our money to see. This is what makes these guys so different from us...this special language is the genius.

Asking players to Shoot or pass with this new Jabulani ball is like asking Picasso to paint a picture without bristles on his brush...to paint without the usual texture and without all of the feeling...

I have spent 3 weeks in South Africa at the World Cup and I have seen the Jabulani ball move more than 2 feet in the air in some instances when it is not supposed to move in the air. I have also seen the ball go absolutely straight at other times when clearly the player has tried to put a bend on it of 2 feet or more.

Luis Fabiano-Brazil "All of a sudden it changes trajectory on you...I think it is Supernatural.."

Unfortunately the ball is also very nervous and jumpy to the touch when controlling it close to the body and when dribbling it.

Julio Cesar- Goalkeeper Brazil "A Ball you would buy in a Supermarket..."

So the ball is a disaster... and because of it there have been many mistakes...more than any World Cup ever...I really believe that FIFA cannot continue to endorse this ball...

Why...?

Because by endorsing this ball, FIFA are endorsing every mistake that that has been made by the players using it during this World Cup...

By endorsing this ball, FIFA are endorsing the removal of the players' art and craft at the very top end.

The most frightening thing however is that by endorsing this ball, FIFA are allowing a sponsor to alter the very dynamics of how the game is played... and for the worse. Not just in this competition, but going forward...into schools and youth leagues the world over..

Players are very clever and are adapting already technically and tactically to the balls idiosyncrasies...

The German team knew exactly what they were doing when their goalkeeper kicked the ball deep into the edge of the England Penalty box, up and over the English defense for an unchallenged 1st goal. No other ball could ever have traveled that far...

That is also called Route One Football and soon everyone will be doing it because the ball is encouraging it...

To change the dynamics and the craft of the game like this is not a call that a vested interest sponsor should be allowed to make...they have got it horribly wrong already...

Mr. Blatter, I know you are horrified about the poor play because I know you are a football man. We have heard the excuses from FIFA but who is really making these critical footballing decisions about the players craft..?

The governing body of a sport needs to be independent from the sponsors products. FIFA should have been far more diligent in their own tests....and should have binned the Jabulani ball before the competition..

This is what a very respected goalkeeper said a week before the competition started.

Tim Howard-USA Goalkeeper "It's tragic that you're going to see good players look foolish. Defenders are having a tough time judging it, strikers are having a tough time judging crosses as well and for goalkeepers it's murder so what can we do?''

"I think you're going to see some really weird and unfortunate goals.''

From day one I have been saying that there is a simple solution and back up plan for this World Cup. You can easily apply exactly the same Jubalani ball graphics onto the traditional construction of your sponsor's previous Buckminster construction World Cup balls.

Two of the best footballs ever made were made by your sponsors...The Fevernova and the Tricolor Ball from the Asian World Cup and French World Cup's respectively...

The normal Buckminster construction has given us every glorious moment of football we can ever recall...

As players and as fans...it set the standard for the very craft and soul of the game...it has proven reliable, predictable...dependable...

This new Jabulani ball is unnatural, unpredictable, unreliable ... and it is totally unacceptable how this ball has been endorsed by FIFA for this tournament and going forward..

The sponsors and FIFA marketing seem to be the tail that has been wagging the FIFA dog...and so far they have got away with it...

The only people that can make the call to radically change the dynamics of the ball and therefore the game itself.... are the players....

And no....not the players that are already being paid by the sponsors...!

For me, probably the post prophetically damning statement about the Jabulani ball comes from the English midfielder Joe Cole.

"It took a bit of skill out of the game...but it's the same for everybody."

Wow...what an unbelievably sad statement...

I am not employed by anyone...and I am not looking for a job...I also know I won't make any new friends at FIFA, in-fact, I will probably be blacklisted, but it's a price I am willing to pay.

I owe it to the game to speak up...so does anyone that believes in skill and craft as the ultimate attributes for a footballer.

Mr Blatter, and FIFA...this has been a fabulous World Cup in many many ways, and you all need to be congratulated.

I am sure that the ball designers, manufacturers, sponsors and testers of the Jabulani ball will not have been as honest and straight with you as I have in this letter....and that is the big problem.

But why would they...?

They are making hundreds of millions of dollars already out of this perfectly round football..

So, having had the benefit of understanding the problem, I will ask you the simple question one more time...

If a sponsor came into your office before the World Cup and said... 'We are going to give you a new, perfectly round match ball...the players wont like it at all....and there will be more mistakes made than in any other World Cup...'

'There will be less goals scored...less free kicks scored.....less passes complete....less control by players....and roughly 70% of crosses and shots on goal will miss wide and over the crossbar...'

What would you say to them..?

Craig Johnston, Ex Footballer with Middlesbrough FC and Liverpool FC England

Soccer In The Streets Heads to South Africa

In case you missed the latest episode of Eat Soccer Radio, we had the good fortune of haveing Jill Robbins, Executive Director of Soccer In the Streets, join us. She provided some invaluable information for those listeners who want to begin grassroots soccer programming in their area of the world. Also, she let everyone know that a delegation from their program will receive a once-in-a-lifetime experience to participate in 2010 World Cup programming in South Africa. A journey that far doesn't come without a NICE price tag so pitch in and help these deserving youth on their transatlantic voyage! Click here to learn more about SITS and submit your donation.

P.S. To listen to the interview with Jill Robbins, click on the audio player above.

BBVA Compass Wants Soccer Aces

Who wants their big shot to play in Europe? On April 10th, you can seize the opportunity in Houston, Texas. Houston Baptist University will be the site for pro soccer hopefuls who want to land a spot on the new reality show entitled Soccer Aces.

Soccer Aces is an international reality show that seeks to discover talented players from around the world who dream of becoming future soccer stars. The show will include up-and coming players as well as older, more experienced players who have not been able to break into the professional arena.

Selected finalists will travel to La Academia in Spain where they will live and train together as if they were actual members of a professional soccer team.
Sponsored by BBVA Compass, the winner will receive a tryout with a BBVA club in Europe. For those who want to participate, click here. The show will be broadcast on GolTV in May.

Bafana Beats Me to Brazil

In the midst of taking care of a few loose ends for an upcoming trip to Brazil, I happened to learn that Bafana Bafana is doing its World Cup 2010 preparations in Teresopolis! The selection of the Brazilian training ground, which serves as a training site for the Brazilian sides, only makes perfect sense because this is the home turf of Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira.

Having a good dose of Teresopolis high altitude, mixed with the energetic environment of Joga Bonito, will serve South Africa’s national side well. The team has several practice matches scheduled with area clubs Volta Redonda, Boavista, Fluminense, Cruzeiro and Botafogo.

Want an Upgrade? Visa & Abbey International Offer World Cup 2010 Trip

Already a worldwide FIFA partner, Visa is joining forces with Abbey International to offer its clients the opportunity to receive (2) tickets to the FIFA World Cup Final, pre-match hospitality,(3) nights stay at a 4 star hotel and GBP 1,500 towards return flights.
To throw your name in the pot, you must apply or request an upgrade to a Visa Platinum or Visa Infinite deferred-debit card, available with the Abbey International Gold account. The contest concludes on April 30, 2010.

Calendar Note: Catch Messi with Argentine Squad in US

After World Cup fever subsides, there still could be another opportunity for you to catch some live international action stateside. According to a published comments from a spokeswoman at Cardenas Marketing network, Lionel Messi alongside his Argentine teammates are slated to play in the U.S.

Although no dates are confirmed, the exhibtion game will fall during the international fixture periods when clubs are required to release players to national teams. These periods include Aug. 11, Sept. 3-7, Oct. 8-12 and Nov. 17.

Stay tuned!

World Cup Hitch Hiking the English Way: World Cup Companions

Ah, I have been off the grid for a little while. Therefore it is high time that I catch you up on the latest developments in world cup news.

The English have harnessed the power of social networking to help them get the party started in Cape Town. World Cup Campanions is an online tool that will bring the latest information on pub gatherings, match meetups and roommate requests.

Talk about a hitch hiker's dream. What's going on American squad? Let's get something up and goin' so I have somewhere to crash after the match!

Musician Sting Promotes Hope Is A Game Changer

Musical legend Sting joins the blogosphere for the very first time as a contributor to ReadersDigest.com. Sting's blog details his work with philanthropist Bobby Sager.

Sting's blog, "Sting and Sager Deliver Hope for the Holidays," is the magazine's first foray into celebrity blogging. Sting's words will also be translated for the magazine's global websites, including Reader's Digest Poland, Singapore, Germany, Spain, Portugal, India, Taiwan/Hong Kong, and Canada.

The blog entry petitions readers to look inward and ask themselves whether they are doing enough to help someone else in the world. Sting tells of his own deep connection to the Hope Is a Game Changer project, which he founded with Sager to deliver thousands of indestructible soccer balls to children in need around the world.

Within the blog, Sting describes his relationship with Sager and his book The Power of the Invisible Sun, the proceeds of which go entirely toward the Hope Is a Game Changer project. "Bobby and I share the unwavering belief that hope really is a game changer, especially for children," Sting writes. "We believe that each indestructible ball delivered will come to represent a lasting symbol of hope. A light no matter how small--that is the power of the invisible sun."

To view Sting's blog, visit www.ReadersDigest.com/Sting.

Sony Brings 3D FIFA 2010 Experience to Rio

Want to enjoy the total FIFA 2010 experience without leaving the sandy beaches of Copacabana? Now, you can.

Sony Corporation and FIFA are collaborating to produce the world's first FIFA World Cup(TM) in 3D. Up to 25 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa(TM) matches will be produced using Sony's 3D professional cameras, which will provide coverage of the action that is unprecedented in depth, vividness and excitement to people around the world.

Viewers will be able to enjoy 3D experiences at the following locations:

- During the 2010 FIFA World Cup, FIFA will host the "International FIFA
Fan Fest(TM)" public viewing events in 7 cities around the world (Berlin,
London, Mexico City, Paris, Rio De Janeiro, Rome, and Sydney). At Sony's
commercial displays located within the "Fan Fest," people will be able to
enjoy and experience promotional highlight trailers of the FIFA World Cup
in 3D.

- In anticipation of the Official 3D Film, viewers will be able to watch
promotional trailers for the film of the World Cup in 3D at retail
outlets(including Sony stores) that sell Sony products around the world.

- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment plans to produce and distribute the
Official 3D Film on the Blu-ray Disc*[1] and other formats.

Walmart Officially Joins the World Cup 2010 Team

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has announced that it will join the World Cup 2010 sponsorship team. The global, low price retailer will operate 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) Official Event Stores in nearly all of its retail markets around the world. The retailer will feature FIFA event branded shops inside select stores that will offer exclusive FIFA World Cup(TM) official licensed products and host special events leading up to the games.

All 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) branded merchandise will be customized for the country where it will be sold. With everything from hats and bags, to soccer balls and T-shirts, fans who visit the shops will be able to support their team like never before.

INTERSPORT Brings Africa to Paris

Do you dream of seeing your African squad? INTERSPORT, the world's leading Sports Retailer, is bringing your Black Stars, Les Elephants and Indomitable Lions to the "City of Lights."

INTERSPORT announced a new partnership agreement to cooperate with three major PUMA African Football Federations: Ghana, Ivory Coast and Cameroon.

Starting with the Orange African Cup of Nations, INTERSPORT will sponsor a host of online and in-store activities for fans. The marquee event will be the unique "African experience", which will bring Ghana, Ivory Coast and Cameroon to Paris in preparation for the FIFA World Cup.

Mark your calendars for footballer sightings, interviews and training camp sneak peaks in Paris.

Sony Ericsson Mash Up: World Cup 2010 + Twitter = Twitter Cup

On December 4th, Sony Ericsson, the Official Mobile Handset of the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM), introduced a new way for soccer fans in the Unites States to get behind their team online through a unique social networking initiative.

The Sony Ericsson Twitter Cup will see the 32 teams competing in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, battle it out in an online tournament where the fans decide who will win. Fans will be able to participate in this exciting competition either online or via their mobile handset.

To get team your squad through each round, fans need to show their support by tweeting. The team with the most Tweets in each round will prevail and go on to the next stage, regardless of how the real team fares in South Africa.

Join the Mash Up at Sony Ericcson Twitter Cup.

Sign On to Adidas' Unite Mzansi Unite Campaign

In November, Adidas unveiled its new kit design for Bafana Bafana, South Africa's national team. The project is aimed at uniting all South Africans in support of both the football tournament and national team Bafana Bafana. The word Mzansi is isiZulu for “south”, and is commonly used to refer to South Africa.

To promote the campaign, the sportswear giant has created a huge replica of the official Bafana Bafana jersey. It is currently touring South Africa in a large, specially branded Adidas truck and will make stops in all nine host cities, as well as towns in between.

About 300 stops have been planned in total. The tour visits Cape Town in December, where the final draw for the World Cup will take place alongside the unveiling of the official match ball, another Adidas design.

Adidas has put the call out to all South Africans to show their support for the national team by signing the jersey when it is in their area.

Fans who can’t make it in person will have the option of signing digitally online or via mobile, or at selected retail outlets. There are already over 9,500 signatures on the giant jersey.

Tour stops will coincide with other festivities such as football games on mini pitches and goal kicking competitions. A host of prizes will also be up for grabs.

Supporters can keep track of the tour's progress by following its Twitter stream. The official UMU website also provides a detailed itinerary.

Get Your Face Behind United

Betfair, an official sponsor of Manchester United, is offering a "Get Behind United" promotion that will give Manchester United supporters the opportunity to show their avid support to millions across the world by having their photos featured on interview board backdrops and perimeter field board signage at Old Trafford.

Betfair requires fans to submit a photo of themselves expressing their support along with their name and contact details on the Get Behind United promotional webpage.

Grand Prize: One (1) lucky winner will have their face featured on interview backdrops, win two (2) free tickets, and participate in an on-field skills challenge for the chance to win a signed Manchester United jersey
Secondary Prizes: A select number of fans will have their faces featured on the perimeter field boards at Old Trafford. The signage will be picked up on live game broadcasts being shown on ESPN in the United Kingdom and around the rest of the world

Betfair is running the promotion for a select number of upcoming Manchester United home games at Old Trafford (Everton - 11/21/09, Aston Villa 12/12/09).

FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP UAE 2009:MEDIA COUNTDOWN

It seems like being a journalist to the soccer masses can be a little hectic. News is breaking at every moment, and all you want to do is turnaround a good story-fast! Working at break-neck speed can cause a few "administrative" details to fall through the cracks.

Let me help you out. Mark your calendars because November 13th is the deadline for you to receive media accreditation for the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009. To register, go to http://media.fifa.com

You have 2 1/2 days and counting. Log on now!