German teenager Goetze much sought after

18 year old Mario Goetze is one of Germany's brightest football talents and in his first season for Borussia Dortmund the midfielder has become a key component in the teams success which has taken them to the top of the Bundesliga standings. And Goetze happens to be one of Germany's many talented youngsters coming through the youth development system at Bundesliga clubs.

For his first professional season Goetze's stats are incredible. So far he has played 35 times for Borussia Dortmund in all competitions - Bundesliga, German Cup, Europa League - has scored seven goals with 14 assists. The teenager has also played four matches for Germany as a substitute.

Now even some of Europe's biggest clubs in Manchester United and FC Barcelona are showing interest in Goetze, but the youngster had only a few months ago signed a contract extension until 2014 though he did recently say that one day he'd like to play for a big club like Real Madrid, FC Barcelona or Manchester United.

With Dortmund on the way to their first Bundesliga title in nine years and UEFA Champions League football next season nearly guaranteed the club looks to keep most of their squad together. And coach Juergen Klopp wants to keep especially Goetze, who he has termed as an exceptional talent and last weekend Goetze just showed that when he scored a crucial equaliser against Hannover 96 with a beautiful solo

Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has said, ""If Barcelona or Real Madrid bid for a player, we will be fair and talk to the players concerned, but when it comes to Goetze, I can say this - he is not for sale. We would definitely turn down even a 25 million Euro offer. Mario has a contract with Dortmund until 2014 and not even an €25 million offer would be enough to lure him away from the club."

"Other clubs can save their offers for Mario Goetze. It's a waste of time," Watzke added.

AsiaEurope's OneCulture Football Festivals in the UK

AsiaEurope Football has launched the biggest ever United Kingdom wide search for a professional footballer. From May onwards there will be seven regional qualifiers until the finals in December to find the best talent amongst Asians in the UK. Up to 10,000 playser are set to take part.

AsiaEurope Football's Majid Lavji said, "OneCulture Football Festival is a showcase for football bodies to join together and support Ethnic minorities in the UK to break down the stereotypical barriers."

AsiaEurope became the first National football festival for Asians and Ethnic minorities in 2003 when it launched in Liverpool, with leading football organisations - the festival has grown over the years and visited many cities and is now known as 'OneCulture Football Festival'.

AsiaEurope adheres to all FA's policies on openness in football and the OneCulture football festival is open to all but highlights Asian Football in the UK.


The 'OneCulture Football Festival' will be held at the following Powerleague Venues

May 28/29: Manchester (North West England)
June 25/26: Leeds/Bradford (North East & Yorkshire)
July 30/31: Glasgow (Scotland)
September 3/4: Birmingham (West Midlands)
September 17/18: Derby (East Midlands)
October 30/31: Cardiff (Wales)
November 26/27: London (South England)
December 17/18: UK Finals


AsiaEurope Football invites football clubs, football authorities and government organisations to embrace the festival which is taking place around UK. We are urging our peers to stop paying lip service, and open their doors to the immense football talent in the UK.


The festival will incorporate
• Football tournaments up to 5 categories
• Football coaching from professional coaches
• Free style football festival and show
• Product launches
• Player advise from AsiaEurope football agency
• Career advice in sports and football management
• Business networking in sport and football
• Exhibition and trade stands


Tournament History
The One Culture Football festival, originally called the AsiaEurope Football Festival, started in 1999; its mission "to create a tournament which aimed to unite cultures through football, by encouraging people from all backgrounds to play together, we hope to help promote tolerance and understanding in all aspects of life".

The tournament became the largest Ethnic Football Festival in Europe, with the backing of leading football and government organisations.

From 2007 AsiaEurope Football Festival became known as OneCulture Football Festival due to the number of tournaments which were being scheduled outside of Europe including India, Pakistan, China and Africa.

About Powerleague
Is the champion of 5-A-Side, offering 45 state-of-the-art football centres across the UK. With more pitches and centres than any other provider, it's no wonder more 5-A-Side football players trust Powerleague than anyone else! Kick-off day and night with Powerleague and score in one of our super Soccerdomes, whatever the weather.

Draws will be performed by Local County FA or leading local football organisation – one week prior to each regional festival.

2011 Copa América: Japan pull out

2011 AFC Asian Cup champions Japan yesterday pulled out of the upcoming 2011 Copa América, the South American football championships, to be played in Argentina from July 1 to 24. The Japan Football Association took the decision in view of the situation in the island nation following the earthquake and tsunami on March 11.

JFA president Junji Ogura said, "The priority at this moment is to continue saving lives and rebuilding the country after the earthquake and tsunami. We are sorry to be pulling out because we recognise that we have advanced in football by being close to South America."

Japan originally planed to take part in this years Copa América, but with a number of matches in the J-League postponed due to the disaster the J-League will now be playing over the summer which would have forced coach Alberto Zaccheroni to pick a weakened side for the Copa América. Japan had looked at this years Copa América as a test run for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. But as one would understand the nations focus has shifted on other matters then football.

CONMEBOL, the South American Football Confederation, will now have to look for a replacement nation with less then three months to go. Besides its 10 member nations it invites two sides to make-up its 12 team Copa América tournament. This years invitees where supposed to be Japan and Mexico.

Some officials would love to see current FIFA World Cup winners Spain take part, but there might be a problem that European clubs could oppose any such move as such a tournament would cost the players their much-needed holiday. Other nations being mentioned are the United States, Costa Rica and Honduras. For the 2007 Copa América in Venezuela, Mexico and the United States had been invited to participate.

Goalkeeper Trouble: Lehmann takes Wiese to court

There is trouble in football Germany between a former and current international goalkeeper of the national. Jens Lehmann, who just made a surprise comeback at FC Arsenal, is suing SV Werder Bremen's Tim Wiese for €20,000 after Wiese suggested Lehmann belonged into a mental clinic.


What had happened?

In September last year Lehmann was the expert of the day for Sky Germany at the game Tottenham Hotspurs vs Werder Bremen UEFA Champions League match and he termed one of the Spurs goal a Wiese blunder by saying, "If he had taken a step out, he would have been able to catch the ball. He should not have stuck himself to the post but rather been more courageous to come out. He can certainly do better."

One needs to know that Wiese has had a strained relationship with Lehmann during their Bundesliga days and Wiese also has said Lehmann wouldn't shake hands with him pre-match. The day after the television criticism Wiese hit back in an interview in the Bild tabloid by saying, "He should go on the Muppet Show - that man belongs on the couch. Maybe he could get help there. But better would be he should check himself into a clinic - preferably a secure unit."

As a reaction Lehmann filed a lawsuit and is demanding compensation as Wiese "violated his personal rights" by making those statements. A Munich court is set to hear the case later this week, but both goalies are unlikely to be in court for the first hearing and it isn't clear what verdict the court would make.

It is surely a case to follow...

Dempo tie-up with Denmark's FC Midtjylland

I-League champions Dempo SC have entered into a partnership with Danish Superliga side FC Midtjylland to develop its young elite players, but also work on the overall development of the club. This isn't the first such partnership for an Indian club, the other partnerships have been or are with English clubs; East Bengal Club with Leicester City FC and JCT with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Under the partnership FC Midtjylland has given a commitment to help provide technical know-how, expertise in marketing and administration as well as a strong focus on youth development to raise the level of Dempo not only in India but to an Asia level. The deal has been worked out by agency New World Consulting with the two clubs.

FC Midtjylland is known to have a good youth development system in place. The best known player from the Academy is defender Simon Kjaer, who currently plays for VfL Wolfsburg in Germany. Also the club has development player partnerships with FC Midtjylland Maamobi United (Ghana) and FC Ebedei (Nigeria).

Dempo chairman Shrinivas Dempo expressed excitement over this new initiative by saying, "I am certain that this partnership will lead to a new era of cooperation that will eventually contribute to greater development of Indian football."

Dempo SC under the leadership of Dempo Group chairman Shrinivas Dempo and guidance of coach-cum-secretary Armando Colaco has been going from strength to strength over the last decade. Four National Football League/I-League titles are prove of that. The club is said to be working on plans to build an own stadium in or around Panaji to further its development.

Armando Colaco has been working on his squad over the years mostly bringing in two/three new players for specific positions with this year an exception as many players were away at the India camp for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. It shows as Dempo currently boast of having seven international players in their ranks.

I-League - Round 20: The title race is on

After the break for the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers the I-League restarted with the twenteenth Round of matches with matches played on April 2, 3 & 4 across India. Amongst the four Salgaocar, East Bengal and Dempo would all win; while Churchill Brothers only drew.


Round 20 Match by Match Short Review
04-Apr-2011: Air India 0-3 (0-0) East Bengal Club (in Kolhapur)
East Bengal Club scored their second 3-0 win in a row by beating Air India away in Kolhapur. Once more this season the red-and-golds Australian recruit Tolgay Ozbey was the hero of the day with a second half hattrick which has brought the Kolkata side back in the hunt for the I-League title.

03-Apr-2011: HAL, Bangalore 0-4 (0-1) Indian Arrows (in Bangalore)
The Indian Arrows are growing in stature by the day and international experience is giving them an added edge in the I-League. HAL suffered a humiliating 0-4 loss at the hands of the India youngsters, but the Airmen also missed regular defenders Rohit Chand and Femi Joseph Adeola due to double bookings), while right-back R. Sreekanth was out injured.
Onre more the man in form Jeje Lalpekhulua gave his side the opening goal and the Arrows went into the break with a 1-0 lead. After the break Jewel Sheikh Raja, Shilton D'Silva Malsawmfela would add to the tally.

03-Apr-2011: Pune FC 0-1 (0-0) Salgaocar SC (in Pune)
Salgaocar SC continued their title chase with a lone goal victory in Pune against local side Pune FC to stay top of the I-League. Salgaocar where the better of the two sides, but they missed a number of chances early on still they went on to win the game as seasoned Yakubu Yusif scored a 66th minute winner of a perfect long-ranger.

02-Apr-2011: Viva Kerala 4-1 (1-0) JCT (in Kannur)
Viva Kerala scored a vital 4-1 win against JCT in an I-League relegation game to ease the pressure on the Kerala side, while it got more on the Punjab Millmen. Viva Kerala took a first half lead through Sajesh P. following a corner and just after the break Karma T. would double the lead. It looked as if Viva Kerala would easily win this game, but JCT got a goal back through Ajay Singh, then they went out in search of the equaliser and forgot to defend as P.K. Anil Kumar would score a brace to give Viva Kerala a 4-1 win.

03-Apr-2011: Mumbai FC 0-0 Mohun Bagan AC (in Kolhapur)
Mumbai FC and Mohun Bagan AC played out a tame draw in Kolhapur with really nothing much at stake for the two sides in the I-League, who are stuck in the middle with no chance of the championship or having anything to do with relegation. But the two sides had chances through their African strikers, but none were on target on this day.

03-Apr-2011: Chirag United SC 2-4 (1-3) Dempo SC (in Kolkata)
Lately some of Chirag United SC home matches in the I-League have been enjoyable high scoring encounters. And once more they were on the losing side as they lost 2-4 against the defending champions Dempo SC. Ranti Martins Soleye gave Dempo an early lead which Roberto Mendes Silva would double off a penalty. Chirag United did reduce the deficit before the break through Shankar Oraon, but Peter Carvalho in injury time added a third for Dempo's. After the break Chirag United scored their second through Indian international Sunil Chhetri, but only minutes later Ranti Martins Soleye would seal the game for the Goans.

04-Apr-2011: Churchill Brothers SC 3-3 (1-0) ONGC (in Goa)
Churchill Brothers SC lost two vital points in their quest for a second I-League title against bottom of the table club ONGC in Goa. The entertaining match ended three-all, which gave the relegation fighting Oilmen a vital point in their fight for survival, while Churchill Brothers might have lost their last chance to regain the title. Boima Karpeh gave the Goans a first half lead, but after the break Badmus Babatunde got the equaliser for ONGC and twice more Churchill Brothers would take the lead before ONGC equalised. First a T. Bineesh Balan goal was egalised by N.D Opara, while Odafe Oyneka Okolie's goal gave his side the 3-2 lead, but Badmus Babatunde would score his second of the day to square things at three-all.


Click here for the 4th I-League 2010/11 - League Table & Fixtures .

India's Cricket World Cup triumph, is it global?

First of all my congratulations to the Indian Cricket Team, the support staff and the games followers for winning the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup title!

As one can see from the reactions from the media, the superstars and the general public; this win means a lot for India and its people. The celebrations are not only within India, but Indians around the world are enjoying this success.

But amongst all these celebrations the question has to be asked, what impact does such a Cricket World Cup triumph have on the world at large? Is the planet actually noticing what is happening in India? Maybe on international news channels, but often not the mainstream media across the globe. Most of the 7 billion inhabitants won't even know that India has won the Cricket World Cup.

I can give you a personal example here from Germany, where cricket is not followed at all. I myself, who is not a Cricket expert, had been asked by Germany's biggest newspaper the 'Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung' to write something about the World Cup for Germans to understand. First an article about the India vs Pakistan match, what it means for the sub-continent and then a report on Indian after winning the World Cup for tomorrows edition. It has been really though to write for me such an insightful article knowing I am targeting an audience with no knowledge on what I am writing.

To explain that this win means a lot to many amongst the 1,2 billion plus Indians, but the rest of the world doesn't even know what has happened in the subcontinent over the last few weeks. It is like the grand finales of US sports - American Football's Super Bowl, Baseballs World Series, etc - or the World Cup finals of many different sporting disciplines. Could you tell me who won the Skiing or Biathlon World Cup titles earlier this year? In Scandinavia they'll all tell you!

And I think that Cricket will never become a global sport whatever the ICC, the BCCI, etc try to do, then for an average sports fan who watches sports live or on television it is either about the game or entertainment. And cricket hasn't been able to create that connect elsewhere then the subcontinent and some other Commonwealth nations.

If you look at efforts that have failed to promote cricket in North America and China. I once knew the former president of the US Cricket Federation and he told me about five years back it would be difficult to promote the game in the US due to the countries sporting diversity and lack of infrastructure though South Asians and people from the West Indies have tried to establish the game, even India vs Pakistan series used to be played in Toronto, Canada takes part, but what else?