Maradona Anggap Mourinho Lebih Baik dari Guardiola

Maradona Anggap Mourinho Lebih Baik dari Guardiola - Legenda sepakbola Argentina Diego Maradona menilai pelatih Real Madrid Jose Mourinho berada di atas Joseph Guardiola, pelatih Barcelona.

"Jika saya presiden sebuah klub kaya, saya akan lebih suka menunjuk Mourinho sebagai pelatih, ketimbang Guardiola," kata Maradona, seperti dikutip Goal.

Mourinho pernah menyebut dirinya Special One. Ia sukses di Porto, Chelsea, dan Inter Milan. Barcelona mengubah Barcelona menjadi kekuatan sepakbola dunia saat ini.

Menurut Maradona, Guardiola adalah pelatih yang memiliki sentuhan magis, tidak pernah membuat kesalahan, dan pekerja keras.

"Jika Mourinho diberi waktu, mungkin dia akan melakukan hal yang serupa. Mourinho akan mewarnai sepakbola Spanyol," lanjut Maradona.

Menjawab pertanyaan wartawan mengenai siapa pemain terbaik saat ini, selain Lionel Messi dan Cristiano Ronaldo, Maradona secara mengejutkan menyebut Marcelo.

"Marcelo yang terbaik di La Liga saat ini," ujarnya.

Maradona boleh saja menyebut Mourinho sebagai yang terbaik, dan peringkatnya di atas Guardiola. Fakta saat ini memperlihatkan Barcelona masih memimpin La Liga dengan keunggulan lima angka di atas Madrid.

Wow, Empat Pemain Muda Indonesia Magang di Klub Inggris Leicester City

Wow, Empat Pemain Muda Indonesia Magang di Klub Inggris Leicester City - Kabar gembira berembus di dunia persepakbolaan nasional. Empat pemain muda dari Indonesia Football Academy (IFA) berkesempatan untuk magang di klub Leicester City, anggota Divisi Satu Liga Inggris (Championship Division).

Keempat pemain tersebut adalah Yogi Rahardian (gelandang), Rico Andrianto (bek), Maldini Pali (winger), dan Moch Fahmi Al Ayyubi (striker). Mereka akan magang di Leicester Reserve Academy yang dianggap merupakan akademi kelas satu di pentas sepakbola Inggris.

"Kami mendapatkan keempat pemain ini dari proses seleksi yang ketat dan mereka akan bermain di Akademi Reserve Leicester. Saya sudah berbicara dengan (Direktur Akademi Leicester) John Rutkins untuk memberi mereka kesempatan bermain," ujar Presiden Direktur IFA, Iman Arif, dalam jumpa pers di Jakarta, Jumat, 28 Januari 2011, seperti dikutip Vivanews.

"Mereka rencananya akan berangkat antara 12 Februari hingga 15 Februari, tergantung visa dan perizinan. Hingga kapan mereka akan berada di sana? Kalau mereka bisa bertahan, maka mereka ada di Inggris hingga kompetisi selesai pada Mei 2011," lanjut Iman.

"Setelah akhir kompetisi akan ada evaluasi apakah mereka bisa masuk tim cadangan Leicester atau tidak. Mudah-mudahan mereka bisa masuk akademi tim utama," kata pria yang juga menjabat sebagai Deputi Bidang Teknis Badan Tim Nasional PSSI ini.

Pengiriman keempat pemain IFA ini merupakan salah satu bentuk kerjasama dengan Leicester. Maklum, Iman Arif memiliki saham 20 persen di klub yang dilatih Sven Goran Eriksson tersebut.

"Pengiriman empat pemain ini kalau secara legal bisa dibilang sebagai student exchange. Kalau mereka tidak lolos, maka kami akan mengirim pemain lainnya," Iman menambahkan.

Sementara itu, Pelatih Kepala IFA, Kevin Kent, mengaku yakin Yogi, Rico, Maldini dan Fahmi bisa bersaing saat menjalani magang di Leicester. Sayangnya, keempat pemain tersebut masih mengalami masalah dalam penguasaan Bahasa Inggris sehingga dikhawatirkan akan mengganggu kelancaran komunikasi mereka selama magang di sana.

Pemenang Ballon d'or 2010 Lionel Messi

Pemenang Ballon d'or 2010 Lionel Messi - Seperti yang diprediksi, Lionel Messi kembali meraih trofi FIFA Ballon d'or 2010. Catatan ini membuat dia sebagai pemain keenam yang meraih penghargaan Ballon d'Or dua kali beruntun.

Mulai tahun 2010, penghargaan pemain terbaik Eropa atau yang disebut Ballon d'Or digabung dengan pemain terbaik dunia dengan nama FIFA Ballon d'Or. Seperti diberitakan sebelumnya, Messi tampil menjadi pemain pertama yang memperoleh award prestisius itu.

Sukses ini merupakan ulangan keberhasilan Messi pada tahun lalu. Di mana pemain Argentina itu mendapatkan dua penghargaan yang sama setelah mengantar Barcelona meraih berbagai trofi sepanjang tahun 2009.

Dikutip dari Info Strada, Messi menjadi pemain keenam dalam sejarah yang meraih Ballon d'Or dua kali berturut-turut. Atau pemain pertama setelah Marco van Basten yang membuat pencapaian yang sama pada 1988-89.

Pemain lain yang berhasil menyabet predikat terbaik Eropa secara beruntun adalah Johan Cruyff (Belanda) pada 1973-74, Kevin Keegan (Inggris) 1977-78, Karl-Heinze Rummeniege (Jerman) 1980-81. Sedangkan legenda Prancis Michel Platini bukan hanya dua kali meraih penghargaan itu melainkan mencetak hat-trick yang dibuatnya pada 1983-85. (sumber: detiksport.com)

Nominasi Pemenang FIFA Ballon d'Or 2010

Nominasi Pemenang FIFA Ballon d'Or 2010 - Nominasi Pemenang FIFA Ballon d'Or 2010 telah diumumkan. Bertempat di kantor harian olahraga L’Equipe di Paris, panitia FIFA Ballon d’Or menggelar konferensi pers untuk mengumumkan nominasi sejumlah penghargaan.



Konferensi pers ini menghadirkan Jérôme Valcke (Sekjen FIFA), François Morinière (CEO Majalah France Football), Jean-Pierre Papin (mantan pemenang Ballon d’Or), dan Christian Karembeu (anggota Komite Sepakbola FIFA).

Nominasi pemain putra terbaik dunia: Andrés Iniesta, Lionel Messi dan Xavi

Nominasi pemain putri terbaik dunia: Fatmire Bajramaj (Jerman), Marta (Brasil) dan Birgit Prinz (Jerman)

Nominasi pelatih tim putra terbaik dunia: Vicente del Bosque (timnas Spanyol), Pep Guardiola (Barcelona) dan José Mourinho (Inter Milan/Real Madrid).

Nominasi pelatih tim putra terbaik dunia: Maren Meinert (timnas putri Jerman U-20), Silvia Neid (timnas putri Jerman) dan Pia Sundhage (timnas putri AS)

Daftar Skuad Timnas Indonesia di Piala AFF 2010

Daftar Skuad Timnas Indonesia di Piala AFF 2010 - Pelatih timnas senior Alfred Riedl telah menetapkan 25 pemain yang akan memperkuat tim Merah Putih di Piala AFF 2010 pada 1-29 Desember mendatang di Jakarta dan Hanoi. Inilah susunan selengkapnya:
Kiper: Markus Horison [Persib Bandung], Ferry Rotinsulu [Sriwijaya FC], Kurnia Meiga [Arema Indonesia].

Belakang: Zulkifli [Arema Indonesia], Benny Wahyudi [Arema], Nova Arianto [Persib], Maman Abdurahman [Persib], Hamka Hamzah [Persipura Jayapura], M Roby [Persisam Samarinda], M Nasuha [Persija Jakarta], Slamet Riyadi [Persela Lamongan].
Tengah: M Ridwan [Sriwijaya FC], Arif Suyono [Sriwijaya FC], Toni Sucipto [Persija], Firman Utina [Sriwijaya FC], Eka Ramdani [Persib], Ahmad Bustomi [Arema Indonesia], Hariono [Persib], Oktovianus Maniani [Sriwijaya FC], Oktavianus [Persija].

Depan: Christian Gonzales [Persib], Irfan Bachdim [Persema Malang], Boas Salossa [Persipura], Bambang Pamungkas [Persija], Yongky Aribowo [Arema].

Eaaalah, Wayne Rooney Tak Jadi Pindah dari MU

Eaaalah, Wayne Rooney Tak Jadi Pindah dari MU - Gonjang-ganjing Wayne Rooney berakhir anti klimaks. Ya, berselang dua hari menegaskan keinginannya meninggalkan Manchester United, Wayne Rooney berbalik 180 derajat. Rooney memutuskan setia di MU dengan menandatangani kontrak baru berdurasi lima tahun.



Rabu lalu, striker berusia 24 tahun ini mengatakan kekhawatirannya terhadap kekuatan skuad dalam menggapai gelar juara. Ia kecewa dengan manajemen MU yang tidak mampu mendatangkan pemain-pemain top dunia. Itulah alasan yang dikemukakan mengapa dia menolak memperbarui kontrak.

Akan tetapi, setelah manajemen MU bertemu dengan perwakilan Rooney secara intensif ditemukan kesepakatan penyerang Timnas Inggris ini bakal menandatangani kontrak yang berakhir pada Juni 2015. Dengan demikian, di akhir kontrak Rooney akan memperkuat MU selama 11 tahun. (sumber: liputan6.com)

Manchester United Bidik ‘’The New Paul Scholes’

Manchester United Bidik ‘’The New Paul Scholes’’ - Bagi Manchester United, Paul Scholes adalah legenda. Seiring usianya yang merambat tua, MU pun mulai bergerak mencari penggantinya. Adalah pemain timnas Italia dan Juventus, Claudio Marchisio, yang menjadi incaran MU untuk diplot sebagai penerus Scholes.



Marchisio dianggap punya kemampuan komplet, baik sebagai gelandang bertahan maupun menyerang. Ia juga bisa mengkreasi peluang dan mencetak gol.

Bahkan, gaya bermain Marchisio dianggap tak cocok dengan karakter sepakbola Italia yang cenderung bertahan. Ia punya energi lebih yang memungkinkan banyak bergerak dan akan cocok dengan Premier League serta tim berkarakter seperti MU.

Start buruk Juventus di kompetisi Serie A musim ini membuat MU percaya diri bisa merayu Marchisio. Rencananya, Setan Merah akan melontarkan tawaran pada bursa transfer musim panas tahun depan.

MU selama ini jarang mendatangkan pemain asal Italia. Meski Sir Alex Ferguson pernah mendatangkan Federico Macheda saat masih belia. Kini, eksistensi Macheda akan digunakan untuk menarik Marchisio.

Ferguson kemungkinan akan merogoh kocek sekitar 10 juta poundsterling untuk Marchisio. Ferguson memang sedang mengerahkan seluruh pemandu bakatnya untuk mencari pemain dengan tipikal mirip Paul Scholes dan Ryan Giggs yang sebentar lagi akan pensiun.

Greece's financial woes set to continue.

Greece's financial woes set to continue., originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

According to Greek prime minister Giorgos Papandreou yesterday's decision by the country's European partners to bail out Athens was a “breath of life”. However, the decision by the EU to rescue their southern partner from the mercy of international finance markets may not be enough to put Greece back on a sound monetary footing.

For the past month the European Union has seen the integrity of the Euro threatened by the prospect of Greece defaulting on its massive $419 billion debt load. Whilst Germany has made it clear that Greece should put it's own house in order rather than let relay on its European partners the prospect of a domino effect involving Portugal, Spain and perhaps Italy has raised the prospect of a direct threat to the viability of the Euro itself.

However, even if Greece does manage to find the funding to service its debt in the immediate future the country faces the reality that any such bailout will come with strings attached and that in essence the country will have to cede control over its financial policies to Brussels.

Already the recently elected left wing PASOK government has announced increases in tax on petrol, alcohol and tobacco as well as saying that it will freeze public sector pay for two years. In addition sweeping changes in taxation, social security and public spending aresaid to be in the pipeline.

Doubts remain though over Athens ability to implement such radical changes given the massive public resentment they have created with the country's civil service trade unions. Already proposed changes to police and armed services pension contribution schemes have been postponed in the face of opposition.

Also the ability of Greece notoriously corrupt tax authorities to get tough on tax evasion has been questioned by Greeks long accustomed to such calls by political parties on both the left and right. As one Thessaloniki taxi driver drily put it, getting Greece out its present fix by raising taxes is like bailing out the Titanic with a sieve.

As well as strikes and public demonstrations there is also the fear that growing social unrest will spark off a repeat of the month long revolt which swept the country in December 2008 following the death of a teenager, allegedly shot by the police in central Athens. Although the violent street confrontations have died down the clashes have given rise to a resurgence in terrorist violence which has seen police stations machine gunned and almost daily firebomb attacks on banks and government targets.

Beyond the immediate problem of excessive public spending Greece faces enormous macro – economic challenges which have been growing since it joined the Euro-zone. By adopting the Euro the country has gained financial stability at the cost of raising prices and shrinking competitiveness in international markets.

With the old Drachma Greek products and services could exported at more competitive prices and the government could, if necessay devalue the currency so cutting prices in international markets. The rise in cost brought on by the Euro combined with cheap Chinese textiles an manufactured goods have decimated Greece's industrial base, especially in the north of the country where unemployment was rising steadily even before the present crisis. As with East Germany's adoption of the Deutschmark the use of the new currency has made Greek goods too expensive for their traditional markets.

In addition the country's endemic corruption has meant that many Greek companies have long relied on personal and political connections to win contracts with the state and so have had little incentive to increase productivity or lower costs. The result of decades of such crony capitalism is that such countries are ill – equipped to operate in international markets.

The existence of shadowy price cartels has also helped blunt Greek competitiveness as many parts of the economy and especially the retail sector is able to avoid damaging price wars and so has done little to improve service or reduce costs. The irony is, as the Greek media has been quick to point out that feta cheese is now cheaper in Berlin or Amsterdam than it is in Athens.

Although Greece's leader has pointed the finger of blame at the previous New Democracy government for hiding the scale of the country's financial woes the truth is that ex - PM Kostas Karamanlis was simply following the strategies inherited from the previous PASOK government's who systematically hid debts in order to meet the entrance requirements for the Euro-zone.

It should be noted that Papandreou held several high level posts in the PASOK government from 2000 – 2004 including responsibility for the 2004 Olympic Games which ended up costing 10 billion Euros, nearly three times that of the Sydney games in 2000.

The Greek parliament is still investigating charges that the German based Siemens corporation spent millions bribing Greek politicians in both major parties in order to win security contracts.

www.demotix.com

The Viva Palestina convoy reaches Thessaloniki, Greece

The Viva Palestina convoy reaches Thessaloniki, Greece, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

The Viva Palestina convoy which is taking supplies from Britain to Gaza overland reached Thessaloniki today. Tomorrow the 80 odd vehicles will be at the White Tower from 10.30 onwards before going on to Turkey.

Pacific Eye Radio Debut

The Pacific Eye Radio Show with Richard and 'Anapesi features not only the lovely music of Pacific Islands, but also discussion of critical issues that affect Pacific Island communities globally. Tune in also for news, sports, entertainment reports and any information relevant to the Pacific Island communities.

Join us online at Utah Free Media - www.utahfm.org where you can access every show and also download the feed to your favorite online streaming software.

**NOTE: The show will be on Utah Free Media every THURSDAY evening, starting April 23, from 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm.

ALSO, there is no radio required for Utah Free Media - it's all online! If you miss a show, past broadcasts can be accessed via Utah Free Media's website. So you have no excuses.....the only acceptable excuse is if you live in the islands, in a remote village with no electricity.

Utah Free Media website: http://www.utahfm.org
onair@utahfm.org
801-878-0506
866-716-1991 (toll free)

Check out our blog at http://www.pacificeyeradio.com and tune in next Thursday! Aloha to all :)

Major Earth Quake hits Tonga

NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga (AFP) — A major 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the Tonga islands region, seismologists said Friday, issuing a tsunami warning for Tonga, Samoa and Fiji.

The quake, which hit at 6.17 am (1817 GMT), was centred 210 kilometres (130 miles) south-southeast of Nuku'Alofa, Tonga and 480 km east-southeast of Ndoi Island, Fiji.
It struck at a depth of 10 km, the USGS said.

A Tsunami warning was issued for Tonga, Niue, Kermadec Islands, American Samoa, Samoa and Fiji.

They are saying that this is connected to the volcano that erupted earlier this week near Tonga.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Take Action...End the Occupation...

Take Action: End Israel's Attacks on Gaza

Since December 27, Israel’s brutal attacks on the occupied Gaza Strip have killed more than an estimated 640 people and injured more than 3,000. Today Israeli artillery shells landed on a UN school in the Jebaliya refugee camp, killing at least 34 people and injuring at least 55.

Israel's attacks come on top of a brutal siege of the Gaza Strip, which has created a humanitarian catastrophe of dire proportions for Gaza's 1.5 million Palestinian residents by restricting the provision of food, fuel, medicine, electricity, and other necessities of life.

Make no mistake about it-Israel's war and siege on the Gaza Strip would not be possible without the jets, helicopters, ships, missiles, and fuel provided by the United States.

Read more HERE and Take Action!!!



How many do we have to kill before the killing is through???

another positive one...

Here is another positive article sent to me by one of my fellow bloggers!

Thank you David for the link...

The English and civics tests would have to wait. Mosese Fatongiatou wanted to become a naturalized U.S. citizen, but he had a few more pressing goals after emigrating from his native Tonga. Fatongiatou married an Arizona woman and had four sons. He quit unforgiving jobs as a construction worker and truck driver.

Then, despite his 298-pound frame, he decided to become a Phoenix firefighter. He pressed through the rigorous physical challenge, shed some weight, and became one of the oldest recruits to complete the Phoenix Fire Academy. Fatongiatou, 37, is the lone Pacific Islander employed by Phoenix Fire, thanks largely to a common fire department rule that does not require recruits to be U.S. citizens, unlike police departments. "Moe," as he's nicknamed, will take his oath of allegiance to America sometime this year, nearly 15 years after he immigrated.

Read more here!

We so need some positive news...even if it's about athletes...lol!

It hasn't been a good week for Pacific Islanders here in Utah! It has been one negative thing after the other. I don't really want to go into it in my blog, but you can read more about it on my cousin Richard's BLOG!

We really need some positive news even if it is about football players! hahaha... I have nothing against football players, but I think sometimes it's portrayed as if it's the only thing that our Pacific Islander men are good at, which is far from the truth, but at this point any good media coverage is needed!

Here is a short video (by Travis Fox of the Washington Post) about Ne'emia Vitale, a young Samoan high school student from Leone High School in American Samoa who is aspiring to someday be drafted into the NFL.

I love that they focused on his work ethics and his reasons for wanting to be in the NFL, which is connected to his desires to help his family!

AL JAZEERA features the Hawaiian Independence Movement

Much props to Al Jazeera for giving mainstream coverage to the Hawaiian Sovereignty Movement! Al Jazeera English is one of the three largest global English language 24
hour news channels--the other two being BBC World and CNN International.

Check out the 2 videos... finally someone is talking about the Hawaiian people's sovereignty struggle in the mainstream while the US media continues to focus on the "paradise/free loving natives/" image of Hawaii...basically cultural prostitition at its best (go figure...)!!!

The Other Hawaii Part 1


I love it when Haunani Kay Trask says in the video... "the U.S. didnt take an apology from us Hawaiians so we don't want an apology back...we want our land back!!!"


The Other Hawaii Part 2