Saturday, December 29, 2012

PSSI Panggil Stefano Lilipaly ke Timnas

Amalia Dwi Septi - detikSport

 http://sport.detik.com/sepakbola/read/2012/12/29/125634/2129451/76/pssi-panggil-stefano-lilipaly-ke-timnas?b991104bcom

 Jakarta - Timnas Indonesia mulai mengantisipasi jika sejumlah pemain yang dipanggil tidak datang. PSSI mengaku telah memanggil pemain yang merumput di luar negeri, Stefano Lilipaly.

PSSI telah merilis daftar 43 nama pemain yang akan dipanggil guna mengikuti kualifikasi Piala Asia 2015. Dalam daftar itu terdapat sejumlah pemain dari ISL. Namun, KPSI (Komite Penyelamat Sepakbola Indonesia) tetap menolak melepas pemain-pemain ISL.

Koordinator Timnas Indonesia, Bob Hippy, mengaku tak banyak berharap pemain ISL bergabung. Meski demikian, ia menegaskan timnas harus tetap jalan. Untuk itulah, ia mempersiapkan alternatif lainnya dengan memanggil salah satu pemain naturalisasi Stefano Lilipaly, yang saat ini bermain di klub divisi II Belanda, Almere City.

"Saya sudah panggil dia seminggu yang lalu. Karena dia bicara dengan saya, ingin membela timnas. Makanya, saya sudah kirim surat. Dia bilang siap, tapi baru bisa bergabung 2 minggu sebelum lawan Irak," ujarnya kepada detiksport, Sabtu (29/12/2012).

"Tidak masalah, dia pemain profesional kok. Karena saat ini dia bilang sedang banyak pertandingan bersama klubnya. Kami tetap menunggu. Masalah daftar nama pemain bisa berubah, tidak masalah," sambungnya.

Kehadiran Lilipaly -- gelandang 22 tahun yang pernah bermain untuk FC Utrecht -- bagaimanapun diharapkan dapat menambah kekuatan timnas. Namun, skuat yang telah ada pun akan tetap dimaksimalkan.

"Maksimalkan pemain yang ada saat Piala AFF. Tinggal dimatangkan, mereka sudah bagus. Semoga Stefano bisa membantu," lugasnya.

Indonesia berada di Grup C di babak kualifikasi Piala Asia 2015 bersama Irak, China, dan Arab Saudi. Laga awal timnas adalah bertandang ke Irak pada 6 Februari 2013, lalu bermain kandang melawan Arab pada 22 Maret.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Executive holds last meeting of the year in Tokyo


(FIFA.com) Friday 14 December 2012
Executive holds last meeting of the year in Tokyo
© Getty Images
Chaired by FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, the FIFA Executive Committee held its last meeting of the year in Tokyo today, two days ahead of the final matchday of the FIFA Club World Cup 2012, and congratulated Japan’s Local Organising Committee on the organisation of the tournament.
During the meeting, the executive confirmed that the issue of third-party ownership of players should be looked at thoroughly in order for FIFA to come up with a proposal to effectively regulate it.
Regarding FIFA’s good governance reform process, a detailed report was given by Dr Theo Zwanziger on the meeting held on 12 November by the working group comprising the general secretaries as well as the legal directors of the confederations, which FIFA created in order to consult the 209 member associations and submit proposals regarding the revision of the FIFA Statutes (see the link on the right). This working group will meet again in February 2013.
Concerning FIFA’s member associations, the executive took the following decisions:
- Football Federation of Indonesia (PSSI): the PSSI has submitted a three-month roadmap. Therefore, the situation of the PSSI will be examined again by the Associations Committee and the Executive Committee at their next meetings. This is the very final deadline that will be given to the PSSI to normalise its situation.
- Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA): a SLFA normalisation committee established to run the daily business of the association was initially given until 15 January 2013 to re-establish the electoral process and to organise elections. As more time is needed for this committee to properly accomplish its tasks, its mandate has been extended until 31 July 2013.
Furthermore, having decided on 21 May 2012 to allow FIFA member associations to play international friendly games with teams of the Football Federation of Kosovo, which is not a member of FIFA, the executive today agreed to implement this decision immediately for youth, amateur, women’s and club football.
The executive took also a number of decisions regarding the FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™:
- 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ – the venues for the opening match, final and semi-finals were approved as follows:
o Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow for the opening match, one semi-final and the final
o FIFA World Cup Stadium, Saint Petersburg for one semi-final
- FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 – the following four venues were approved:
o FIFA World Cup Stadium, Kazan
o FIFA World Cup Stadium, Sochi
o Spartak Stadium, Moscow
o FIFA World Cup Stadium, Saint Petersburg
- The executive also confirmed the Finance Committee’s decision to appoint Byrom plc. as FIFA’s official accommodation agency for the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ following an open public tender process conducted by FIFA (see separate media release for more information).
The executive also approved the new FIFA Stadium Safety and Security Regulations. The main objective of the review was to broaden the security concepts. The next steps in this area will include, amongst others, the following points: assistance to FIFA member associations (MAs), including the delivery of workshops to MAs and national security officers; finalisation of FIFA Fan Fest safety and security advice; FIFA stadium inspection and investigation capability.
Moreover, the executive advocated having a defibrillator (AED) available at every stadium.
The next meeting of the FIFA Executive Committee will be held in Zurich on Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 March 2013.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Singapore edge into final past heroic Philippines



Singapore players celebrates after their first goal against the Philippines

Photo AFP


Singapore are into their first AFF Suzuki Cup final for five years after a lone strike from Khairul Amri was enough to edge them into the decider with a slim 1-0 aggregate win over a gallant Philippines on Wednesday.
The second leg of the semi-final in Singapore remained delicately balanced throughout after the Lions and the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup semi-finalists played out a goalless draw in the first leg in Manila on the weekend.

Singapore had the upper hand in the first-half of the match at the Jalan Besar Stadium but only had the 19th minute effort from Amri, who scored Singapore's winner in the 2007 final, to show for their dominance.

Philippines had their moments in the second half however the Lions, who reached the third round of 2014 FIFA World Cup™ qualifying, used their experience to maintain their narrow advantage.

"It's absolutely great to get to the final and it is very nice that we have got there again," said Singapore's long-serving head coach Raddy Avromovic, who guided the Lions to glory in the 2004 and 2007 tournament.
Singapore will now meet the winner of tonight’s semi-final between Thailand and reigning champions Malaysia in Bangkok. The tie remains evenly poised after the pair shared a 1-1 draw last Sunday in Kuala Lumpur.
Thailand and Singapore have each won three of the eight championships played to date.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Benitez says Fernando Torres is smiling again now he's scoring for Chelsea

 http://www.football.co.uk/chelsea/benitez_says_fernando_torres_is_smiling_again_now_he_s_scoring_for_chelsea_rss3629661.shtml


Rafael Benitez has revealed scoring goals has put the smile back on Fernando Torres' face ahead of Chelsea's Club World Cup campaign.
Torres finally emerged from his latest wretched run of form last week when he netted four times in Benitez's first two wins in charge against Nordsjaelland and Sunderland. The £50million man is hitting his stride at just the right time for Chelsea's bid to make amends for their failed defence of the Champions League by being crowned champions of the world.
"I have to speak to him in Spanish so he can tell me any jokes he has," interim manager Benitez said. "When a striker is scoring, he is happy, happy. I've noticed the difference in him too."
He added: "To be fair, the team is doing really well. I'm not surprised because they are all training very well. You don't have anyone who is lazy. Everyone is trying to do the right things."
Aside from a fluke goal against Shakhtar Donetsk, Torres went two months without finding the net before last week, and Benitez added: "Everybody has been talking for months about, 'Fernando has to score more goals' so to score four in a week, he must be pleased. That's everyone, but especially the striker."
Torres and his team-mates were still adjusting physically and mentally to the nine-hour time difference following their arrival in Japan on Sunday, with the Club World Cup well under way.
Chelsea were last month snubbed in their bid to postpone Saturday's Barclays Premier League match at Sunderland, something that would have allowed them to set up base in Yokohama before the weekend.
The decision infuriated then manager Roberto Di Matteo, who accused the Premier League of hurting their chances of Club World Cup glory and putting his players' health at risk. Benitez agreed with his predecessor that more should be done to give English clubs the best possible chance of success.
"When you have massive competitions, you have to give teams an advantage," Benitez said, pointing out other leagues did just that. "When Barcelona were here, they were able to get out before we could.
"You always have to be treated in a way that shows you are representing your country. That is important for everyone."

Monday, December 10, 2012

Indonesian who inspired '50s meridian


                                                           Sumber Foto www.fifa.com
 FIFA

Indonesia were, curiously, the first Asian country to qualify for a FIFA World Cup™. They nevertheless got there through the back door, after first Japan and then USA declined the chance to face them in a play-off for a place at France 1938.
The Gallic adventure of the Dutch East Indies, as they were known before independence from the Netherlands, lasted just 90 minutes, though. Johannes van Mastenbroek’s charges were thumped 6-0 by Hungary. Not one of them was ever capped again. Indonesia are the only team to have played just one FIFA World Cup match.
Default did, however, earn the south-east Asian archipelago a place at another major competition. Indeed, when the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Melbourne 1956 was besieged with drop-outs, Indonesia were, due to proximity, handed what all and sundry assumed would be a solitary appearance.
Their opponents in the second round were, after all, a magnificent Soviet Union side. It included outstanding players such as Lev Yashin, Igor Netto, Eduard Streltsov and Valentin Ivanov. It had beaten West Germany, the reigning world champions, in the first round. It was en route to becoming the maiden European champions.
Yet the hulking Soviet Union defenders were quickly given a rude awakening when Ramang, a pint-sized deep-lying forward, skipped past two of them and forced Yashin into a fine fingertip save. And although Gavril Kachalin’s men monopolised possession thereafter, they were frustrated by their failure to ripple the underdogs’ net and by the skills of Ramang on the counter-attack. The 32-year-old would have even snatched Indonesia the mother of all upsets in the 84th minute had it not been for another marvellous stop from the man widely regarded as the greatest goalkeeper in football history.

If the Soviets hadn’t known who Ramang was before that match, they certainly paid him attention heading into the replay. So much so that Kachalin ordered Netto, the team’s playmaker-in-chief, to adopt a more defensive role in order to negate the impact of the Indonesian No11. It worked. Soviet Union won 4-0.
The fact that the Soviets went on to seize gold in Melbourne augmented the legend of that epic Indonesian performance, which remains one of the most stunning results in Olympic history. Yet it was merely the capstone in a national pomp indebted to Ramang.
Intrinsically fast and having developed immaculate control by performing keepy-ups with oranges as a child, the attacker scored with military regularity following his Indonesia debut in 1952. Nineteen goals in just six games – including two trademark overhead-kicks –came during their Far East tour the ensuing year, in which the Indonesians lost only to Korea Republic.
Ramang then netted back-to-back braces as Indonesia eliminated China PR in Sweden 1958 qualifying, but they withdrew from the running for a FIFA World Cup berth after refusing to take on Israel for political reasons. Shortly before that tournament unfolded, Indonesia seized consolation by beating India 4-1 to finish third at the Asian Games, while after losing their opener to Korea Republic at the 1960 Merdeka Tournament, the Ramang-inspired Indonesians smashed home 20 goals in four consecutive victories to claim bronze. And when East Germany visited Jakarta for what they assumed would be a comfortable victory in 1959, Ramang broke the deadlock with a superb piledriver before his mazy run led to Endang Witarsa’s second in a 2-2 draw.
It was one of innumerable occasions fans of Indonesia or PSM Makassar, the club at which Ramang spent the majority of his career, were thrilled by a man who was forced to work low-pay jobs and live on the breadline just to indulge in the sport he loved.
And while arguably Indonesia’s greatest-ever footballer passed away 25 years ago this Wednesday, the legend of Ramang will continue to be told.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

KONGRES PSSI DI PALANGKARAYA

Laporan Wartawan Tribun Jakarta, Glery Lazuardi

TRIBUNNEWS.COM - Persatuan Sepakbola Seluruh Indonesia (PSSI) memutuskan untuk menyelenggarakan kongres di Palangkaraya pada Senin (10/12/2012).
Keputusan itu dibuat setelah perwakilan dari PSSI bertemu dengan Pelaksana tugas (Plt) Menteri Pemuda dan Olahraga (Menpora), Menteri Koordinator Bidang Kesejahteraan Rakyat (Menkokesra), Agung Laksono dikediamannya, Sabtu (8/12/2012).
"Kami bertemu dengan Agung Laksono untuk membahas persiapan kongres. Kemudian kami diberikan arahan untuk menyelenggarakan kongres di Palangkaraya pada 10 Desember 2012,"tutur Ketua Umum PSSI, Djohar Arifin Husin ditemui di Jakarta, Sabtu (8/12/2012).
Dipilihnya Kota Palangkaraya, menurut Djohar Arifin Husin, tempat tersebut dipersiapkan sejak lama. PSSI juga sudah melaporkan tempat penyelenggaraan kongres kepada FIFA dan AFC.
Mengenai agenda kongres yang akan dilangsungkan di Palangkaraya, Djohar Arifin menuturkan, ada tiga agenda yang akan dibahas dalam kongres tersebut.
"Agenda kongres yaitu, penyatuan kompetisi, perubahan dan pengesahan statuta PSSI, dan pengembalian empat anggota Komite Eksekutif. Ketiga agenda tersebut akan dibicarakan dalam kongres tersebut,"katanya.
Pria kelahiran Sumatera Utara itu berharap, dengan dilangsungkannya kongres di Palangkaraya Senin besok, maka PSSI bisa terhindar dari sanksi FIFA dan semua masalah yang terjadi di sepakbola Indonesia terselesaikan serta dua pihak yang berkonflik kembali menyatu.
Sementara itu, Ketua Joint Committee, Saut Sirait mengatakan, peserta kongres Palangkaraya masih dalam tahap verifikasi yang dilakukan oleh Sekjen PSSI Halim Mahfudz dan perwakilan dari KPSI Sefdin Syaifuddin.
"Joint Committee memutuskan mengenai peserta kongres sesuai dengan MOU jadi tidak lepas dari koridor itu yakni peserta kongres Solo,"tuturnya
Saut Sirait melanjutkan, sepanjang perjalanan terdapat perkembangan baru mengenai peserta kongres. Maka
Joint Committee memutuskan melihat terjadinya perkembangan-perkembangan terkini terkait peserta kongres.
"Kemudian Joint Committee menunjuk Sekjen PSSI Halim Mahfudz dan Sefdin dari KPSI untuk melakukan verifikasi peserta kongres. Sampai saat ini mereka masih bekerja,"ujarnya.
Dengan arahan yang diberikan dari pemerintah terkait pelaksanaan Kongres PSSI yang dilangsungkan di Palangkaraya pada 10 Desember 2012, Saut Sirait meminta, kepada semua pihak yang saat ini tengah berkonflik untuk saling bekerjasama dan berupaya menghindarkan Indonesia dari sanksi.

Penulis: Glery Lazuardi  |  Editor: Widiyabuana Andarias  |  Sumber: Tribun Jakarta

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Ghaly: Ahly want to win every game

www.fifa.com

Seven years In exile in the Dutch, English and Saudi Arabian leagues, Hossam Ghaly went full circle when he returned to Al-Ahly, the club where he learned his trade. After being elevated to the captaincy, he is now ready to lead the Cairo side out at their fourth FIFA Club World Cup.
An Al-Ahly youth product, Ghaly reached the first-team at the age of 17. Seven years later he was on his way to Feyenoord, where he spent three seasons before signing on the dotted line with Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League. After a loan spell with Derby County ended in relegation, he returned to White Hart Lane, but only briefly, with the midfielder then making the move to Saudi Arabian outfit Al Nasr, where he stayed for one season before going back to where it all began.
Appointed skipper on his return to the Red Devils, he has led them to victory in two Egyptian Super Cups and the 2010/11 league championship, achievements that were followed by the club’s record seventh CAF Champions League triumph in 2012, a rare bright spot in an otherwise difficult few months.
Speaking to FIFA.com ahead of Al-Ahly’s Japan 2012 quarter-final against Japanese champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Sunday, Ghaly spoke about their journey back to the FIFA Club World Cup and their goals in the days ahead.

FIFA.com: It’s been a traumatic year for Al-Ahly, hasn’t it?
Hossam Ghaly:
Yes, this year has been very hard for the club and for Egyptian football as a whole, because of the political situation. The Port Said disaster has been very difficult for us to come to terms with. Seventy-two of the club’s supporters lost their lives and we’ve all been badly scarred by that.
I’d love to face Chelsea, especially as it would mean we’d be in the final.
Ghaly on the Club World Cup

You met the families of the victims. Can you describe what that was like?
We met all the families. After the disaster a group of players visited them on behalf of the team, and on Mother’s Day we organised a reception for the mothers of the victims. We tried to lift their spirits a little, but we could sense the terrible pain they were feeling. These women are our sisters. We experienced that event in the flesh and we saw several supporters die in the dressing room. To go to a football match and lose your life doesn’t bear thinking about. I went through a real nightmare.

Let’s talk about the final against Esperance. Did you think you could turn the tie around in Tunisia after drawing 1-1 at home in the first leg?
We were full of confidence. It wasn’t the greatest of scorelines but we played well in that first leg. The return game was not easy and we had to impose our style of play against a team who were the defending champions. We tried to dictate the game right from the kick-off and stay strong the whole time. Every player performed their roles to perfection and we thoroughly deserved the win, especially when you consider the ordeal we’ve been through.

On a personal level you had a very impressive Champions League. What was the secret of your success?
Yes, that game was my best performance in the competition. It was all down to the players around me. I’m very proud of them and there are no better players in Egypt right now. We all share the same vision of the game, and that helps us gel together on the pitch, which definitely helped me step up my performances. My team-mates are all excellent footballers and they’re very experienced. They play an attacking game and they like to keep the ball on the ground, which is just the way I like it.

Al-Ahly have played in three FIFA Club World Cups to date, though this is your first time. What are you expecting from the competition and which teams are you hoping to meet?
I’d been waiting to take part in this competition since going back to Al-Ahly two years ago, but things didn’t go my way. My team-mates have all played in the tournament before and they’ve told me a lot about the atmosphere in Japan and the quality of the organisation. You just feel like playing good football there and I can’t wait to see it for myself. I’d love to face Chelsea, especially as it would mean we’d be in the final. I played against them four times in England: three times with Spurs and once with Derby County. I hope the fifth time will be in Japan, in the colours of Al-Ahly.

Al-Ahly took third place in 2006. What are your objectives this time?
We’ve completely freed our minds this time. We won the Champions League in spite of everything and we want to make the most of being in Japan and the atmosphere surrounding the competition. We’ll be going out to win every game and I hope we can do Africa and Egypt proud.

Hiroshima's Aoyama keen to stay on roll


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Hiroshima's Aoyama keen to stay on roll
© Getty Images
 
Toshihiro Aoyama’s long-distance thunderbolt proved the difference in Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s 1-0 victory over Auckland City FC in the opening game of the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2012, and the industrious midfielder is hoping the J.League champions’ dream year will last a little longer yet.
“The chance to win the J.League and take part in a global competition comes along very rarely,” Aoyama told FIFA.com. “Although it’s been hard to stay in top condition after a long season, we’re motivated to do well here.”
For Aoyama, who was one of five Hiroshima players named in the J.League’s Best XI for 2012, the thrill of playing in the global club showpiece became real when he strode out of the tunnel at Yokohama International Stadium.
“When I walked onto the field while the FIFA anthem was playing, I thought to myself, ‘This is something I’ve only seen on TV before,’” Aoyama said. “Stepping on to the grass while that music was playing made me realise that I’m taking part in an international competition. I’m proud to be representing Japan, and that drove me on during the game.”
Sanfrecce employed the same 3-4-2-1 formation that led the free-flowing side to its maiden J.League crown. Forward Hisato Sato, the 2012 J.League MVP, and defender Ryota Moriwaki both created decent chances, while Aoyama and veteran Kazuyuki Morisaki pulled the strings adeptly in midfield.
When I walked onto the field while the FIFA anthem was playing, I thought to myself, ‘This is something I’ve only seen on TV before.
Hiroshima's Aoyama on the CWC opener with Auckland City

The Hiroshima outfit controlled the first half, and forced Auckland to live off scraps of possession. “Sanfrecce are a fantastic team,” said Auckland coach Ramon Tribulietx after the game. “It was really tough getting the ball off them.”
Despite their dominance, Hiroshima were struggling to crack the defence of the New Zealand club, who were making their fourth appearance at a FIFA Club World Cup. Patience was the key, however, and eventually a breakthrough did come for Hajime Moriyasu’s determined charges.
The decisive moment came in the 66th minute, when Aoyama received the ball about 25 yards from goal before unleashing a powerful strike that honed in on the top corner. The 26-year-old seemed as surprised as anyone when he broke the deadlock.
“Although we didn’t score in the first half, Auckland hadn’t really threatened our goal either,” said Aoyama, who joined Sanfrecce straight out of secondary school. “We had dominated the game and kept our composure. We knew that if we retained possession, a goal would come. I only scored twice in the J.League this season, but I guess the stars were aligned for me to score such a wonderful goal on this special stage. Even I was surprised to score such a good goal.”
Making the moment even more special, this was the 200th goal scored at FIFA Club World Cups, which is in its ninth edition. “Wow, 200?” Aoyama said when told of this fact. “I really want that matchball now!”
While the Purple Archers are embracing the responsibility that comes with being the host nation’s representatives, they also are enjoying the moment and are determined to at least finish in third spot – which would match the best result of a Japanese team at a FIFA Club World Cup. To do so, they will have to get past African champions Al-Ahly in the quarter-finals on Sunday.
“We’re having so much fun,” Aoyama said. “Winning one game brings us one step closer to being the best club in the world. It’s really invigorating to have the chance to become the top club. As a footballer, this is why I play the game. I’m just so happy. The next game is even more important, so I’ll keep playing as hard as I can.”