New York Cosmos return to playing field on August 3

The second tier North American Soccer League (NASL) and New York Cosmos have announced that the Cosmos will return to the playing field on August 3, 2013, when they host their longtime NASL rivals the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at Hofstra University's James M. Shuart Stadium. Further the NY Cosmos also announced ticket pricing for its 2013 season.

"We're thrilled to return to the playing field against our historic rivals and take this first step towards returning to the top and delivering the New York Cosmos to the stature and prominence they deserve," Cosmos COO Erik Stover said. "We've been working as hard as we can to put together the best possible club and we're excited to see this team take the field."

New York Cosmos season ticket packages for the 2013 Fall Season range from $96 to $224 per seat, with all-inclusive Club Seat packages available for $680 per seat. The club is currently accepting deposits for priority access once season tickets go on sale. Further details can be found at nycosmos.com/tickets.

The Cosmos and Strikers last met on May 8, 1983. Six years earlier, the two teams participated in one of the most memorable soccer games of all-time held on U.S. soil. On August 14, 1977; 77,691 fans packed Giants Stadium for a playoff match-up, setting the then-U.S. attendance record for a game between two club teams. The pair also contested Soccer Bowl 1980 with the Cosmos prevailing 3-0 and winning their fourth title.

The Cosmos will make their debut in the NASL's Fall Schedule, which begins August 3 and concludes November 9. Each of the eight participating teams will play the other seven teams in the league once at home and once on the road for a total of 14 games. Subsequently, the winner of the Spring Championship will host the winner of the Fall Schedule in a "winner-take-all" match in the NASL Soccer Bowl to determine the 2013 NASL Champion. The Soccer Bowl will take place the weekend of November 16, 2013.

The full Fall Season schedule can be found at nycosmos.com/schedule.

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India U-16 boys go down fighting to USA U-17 Team

The India Under-16 boys currently based at the IMG Academy in the sunshine state of Florida went down fighting by a lone goal to the USA Under-17 National Team in a practice match. The match had become possible as the USA U-17 Team also practices at the same IMG Academy premises.

Coach Bitan Singh lauded the boys for putting up a brave fight. "The boys played well. The USA U-17 boys are a class act. The match will only add to the confidence of our wards," he said.

The India Under-16 boys based at the IMG Academy will join the Under-16 preparatory camp for the AFC Under-16 Championships final phase under the watchful eyes of Colm Toal which kicks-off in Goa from June 1. The IMG Academy-based boys would be joining the home-based boys.

India have been drawn in Group D along with Uzbekistan, Syria and China, which will be played in the Iranian capital Tehran.

Match Analysis acquires Spinsight

Match Analysis, the leading provider of video and statistical analysis for football (soccer), has announced the acquisition of Edinburgh-based Spinsight Ltd. The acquisition was structured as a transfer of intellectual property and other assets.

Following a successful strategic cooperation between the two companies aimed at developing and marketing state-of-the-art portable panoramic video and low cost player tracking, Match Analysis has undertaken this acquisition as part of its strategic expansion into the European market.

The K2 panoramic camera system, developed by Spinsight, is an exclusively integrated component of Match Analysis’s recent Mambo Studio 5 launch which incorporates its widely popular video analysis system with panoramic “corner flag to corner flag” video, precise player tracking, interactive TruView visualizations, touch panel and smart board integration and next generation fitness reporting. The system is currently being used by five Major League Soccer clubs, the US Men’s National Team, and a number of top national rugby unions.

"The acquisition of Spinsight is a very positive development for our clients," said Match Analysis president Mark Brunkhart. "The technology is cutting edge and immediately beneficial to teams, leagues, and the media. By bringing the technology in-house, we can expand upon the integration we've done over the past two years. We've demonstrated Mambo 5 in combination with the K2 to some of the best coaches in the world, and the response has been universally and instantly positive. We've had a number of leagues express immediate interest in implementing the solution league wide to improve referee performance, player development, discipline, and pitch security. The combination of our technology with the K2 is a perfect fit for our clients and will fill a largely unmet need throughout the world."

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.


About Match Analysis

Match Analysis is the market leader in high performance analytical tools for professional football (soccer). Over the past decade, Match Analysis has worked with almost every major club in North America, as well as 50 professional clubs around the globe. The business has also delivered to broadcasters and media outlets including the New York Times as the official partner for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In 2011, Match Analysis clients included all 18 Premier Division clubs in Mexico, eleven MLS clubs, the United States, Mexican, and Canadian National teams, and a wide array of college and amateur sides. Match Analysis offers a comprehensive suite of tools and services including video indexing and archiving, statistical analysis, live data collection, player tracking, and fitness and performance analysis.

More information at www.matchanalysis.com .

India Under-16 out of 33rd Dallas Cup

The India Under-16 national team, which is currently on a long-term training program at the IMG Academy in Florida, took part in the 33rd edition of the Dallas Cup, a big youth tournament in the United States. But unlike last year where the India U-15 boys made it to the knockout stages in their respective age group this time around the India U-16 boys are out after the group stage.

The India U-16 boys were placed in Bracket D alongside local US sides Houston Dynamo U15 Pre-Academy (Texas), West Coast FC (California) and Dallas Texans White West (North-Texas).

On Sunday India U-16 lost their opening match 0-1 against Dallas Texans White West (North-Texas), then a 1-2 defeat followed against Houston Dynamo U15 Pre-Academy (Texas) the very next day and yesterday, April 4 they draw goalless with West Coast FC (California).

A lot had been expected from the India Under-16 team especially from talented youngster Uttam Rai, who had been featured as a potential pre-tournament star of the future; but only defender Nitin Jyal could score a goal for the India U-16 boys in three matches. The India U-16 boys played three close matches, but only gained a point still the boys will be wiser from the experience playing against US teams.

PIO Shawn Singh signs for Sporting Kansas City

22 year old Shawn Bijan Singh, a Player of Indian Origin, has been signed by MLS side Sporting Kansas City as a 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft pick. After Sunil Chhetri's stint with the club in 2010 Shawn becomes the second Indian origin player at Sporting KC.

Born in Californian Bakersfield, Shawn Singh had been with the College team of the UCLA Bruins since 2008, playing a total of 56 matches and contributing 10 assists. Singh was also named second-team All-Pac-10 in 2010 and honorable mention All-Pac-12 in 2011.

"I'm very excited to be a part of Sporting Kansas City," Singh said. "I have nothing but the best to say about the entire coaching staff and organization. I enjoy the style of soccer that is played here and I look forward to a great season with the club."

The 175 cms tall Shawn Singh, mainly a left-back who can also play as a right-back, has been training with Sporting KC for a few weeks and played three friendlies for the club before they signed him. If Shawn will make the first team or rather get playing time in the reserve team will have to be seen.


Here some footage of Shaun Singh at UCLA

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Klinsmann names US squad against Mexico friendly

New coach of the USA Jurgen Klinsmann has named the squad for his first game in-charge against archrivals Mexico on August 10 in Philadelphia, the team against whom the US lost the CONCACAF Gold Cup final only in June.

Klinsmann has not finalised his coaching staff by naming three assistant to work with him for this match in Martin Vasquez, his former assistant at Bayern Munich; former US captain and Bundesliga player Tom Dooley besides Tab Ramos. Mike Curry will be the Goalkeeper Coach, while Mark Verstegen also is back who worked with Klinsmann at the German national team.

Klinsmann has put a squad together with experienced players like Howard, Bocanegra, Jones and Donovan besides talented youngsters like Hamid, Castillo, Orozco Fiscal and Shea, while also giving a chance to once wonder boy Freddie Adu.

Klinsmann had called-up six players who earn their money in Germany, but 1.FC Nürnberg defender Timmy Chandler had to drop out due to an injury with MLS player Zach Loyd replacing him.


UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Goalkeepers
Bill Hamid (D.C. United); Tim Howard (FC Everton, England)

Defenders
Carlos Bocanegra (AS Saint-Etienne, France); Edgar Castillo (America, Mexico); Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96, Germany); Clarence Goodson (Bröndby IF, Denmark); Michael Orozco Fiscal (San Luis, Mexico); Heath Pearce (Chivas USA); Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls), Zach Loyd (FC Dallas)

Midfielders
Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake); Michael Bradley (VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach, Germany); Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany); Maurice Edu (Glasgow Rangers FC, Scotland); Jermaine Jones (FC Schalke 04, Germany); Brek Shea (FC Dallas); Jose Francisco Torres (Pachuca, Mexico)

Forwards
Freddy Adu (SL Benfica Lisboa, Portugal); Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls); DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla, Mexico); Edson Buddle (FC Ingolstadt, Germany); Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)

Officials
Jurgen Klinsmann (Coach), Martin Vasquez (Assistant Coach), Tom Dooley (Assistant Coach), Tab Ramos (Assistant Coach), Mike Curry (Goalkeeper Coach), Mark Verstegen (Physical Trainer)

Klinsmann introduced as new US coach

German 1990 World Cup winner Juergen Klinsmann was earlier today introduced to the media in New York as the new coach of the US Soccer national team by the USSF president Sunil Gulati. The former Germany coaches task will be to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil after Bob Bradley was sacked as coach last week after four years in-charge. One of the arguments was that Bradley wasn't developing the team any further.

Klinsmann has his own style of functioning, implementing his own ideas which are sometimes unorthodox. It worked perfectly with the German national team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup at home but failed miserably at German giants FC Bayern Munich.

Klinsmann is no newcomer to the USA or its football. He has lived there for over 13 years in southern California, is married to an American ex-model and he has gone to the extend to adopt himself to the US by dropping the 'E' from Juergen to allow people to call and write his name as Jurgen.

Klinsmann has worked as advisor and consultant, until taking up the new job he has also been a strategic advisor to the MLS side FC Toronto. The USA want to take the next step in world football and have turned to someone who understands the US culture.

In Germany many are sceptical if Klinsmann is the right man for the US soccer top job. People see the success of Germany at the 2006 FIFA World Cup now differently after Joachim Loew took over and Klinsmann failed at Bayern Munich.

Klinsmann's quote of the opening press conference was, "One of my challenges will be to find a way to define how the U.S. represents its country and its style of play."

A tough but interesting challenge for a man who was successful as a player with VfB Stuttgart, Bayern Munich, Internationale Milan and Tottenham Hotspurs. In England he was initially known as the diver, but Klinsmann was able to change perception about Germans on the British Isles. Maybe now he can develop a new and stronger football culture in the US, where the sport is growing by the day.

New York Cosmos - Return of a legend?

It has been in the pipelines for quite some time, but now it is out in the open. The New York Cosmos, one of the most prominent teams of the now defunct NASL (North American Soccer League), has been newly formed with an initial focus on youth development but with an aim to play Major League Soccer in the future.

English businessman Paul Kemsley leads a group of business people who have bought the original franchise name of the NY Cosmos from G. Peppe Pinton, a former general manager of the club. Now the aim is to re-establish the brand and then challenge for bigger things ahead. And it comes at the right time with football growing in North America.

And this could be good news not only for football in New York, but for the MLS in general. New York has a strong club side in the New York Red Bulls, who earlier this year opened their new soccer specific stadium in Harrison, New Jersey and further another club is on the lines to be formed in FC New York, who are said to be pursuing a place in the 2011 United Soccer League, the second tier of North American football. But the NY Cosmos are one of the iconic clubs of world football, their revival would be something different and could be perfect for a derby against the NY Red Bulls. Players like Brazilian Pele and German Franz Beckenbauer used to play for them in their heydays of the 1970s.

And Brazilian legend Pele is also involved in the new venture. Pele has been named as the honorary president of the club to give it the necessary global push. The relaunch was announced on Sunday, August 1 on the sidelines of the final of the "Copa NYC" at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, a NYC youth tournament. And already there is a lot of excitement about the clubs return.

The Cosmos has joined hands with Queens-based youth club BW Gottschee to develop talent at youth level. The Cosmos along with Gottschee will field Under-12 to Under-18 teams in the US Soccer Development Academy under the Cosmos Academy name. And they will now also run the "Copa NYC" under its banner.

But an immediate return to professional football doesn't look likely with the focus on youth development. Some say that the NY Cosmos could initially be a travelling team like the Harlem Globetrotters in Basketball. Former star players playing under the Cosmos banner for good causes to rekindle interest in the club. And if done properly, then I think that there is a lot of potential in the NY Cosmos and it could help football or soccer as they say in North America grow as a sport.