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JOHANNESBURG -- Over a decade later, Ntombie Khofane still feels the warmth of Nelson Mandela's handshake and remembers his message to students at her school that life can get better.
Boosted by her belief that he was right, Khofane left her unemployment-riddled Mount Ayliff area six years ago and took a bumpy, nine-hour bus ride into Soweto.
Now, she has already made it up to assistant surveyor at the Soccer City Stadium, living proof of how construction for the World Cup is building more than mere sports arenas. Such projects are offering jobs and a sign of how far the nation has progressed since the dark days of apartheid.
Views: 4 | Fri, Jul 3 2009• sports-soccer headlines
Americans' interest in soccer will always remain on the fringe
Soccer fans in this country, like Jehovah's Witnesses, have an evangelical bent to them, always trying to get the message out, to convince, to convert. It is they who obviously have seen the light and would enlighten the rest of us if given half a chance.So I draw the shade when I see them coming up the walk to my front door.The soccer fans, I mean.Don't get me wrong. The sport's acolytes might brand me a heathen, a soccer atheist, but it isn't so. I played soccer at the club level in college. Covered the old Fort Lauderdale Strikers for this newspaper. Covered a World Cup. Coached the sport at the youth level for years. I appreciate the game.
Jones could join U.S. national team later this year
NEW YORK -- Midfielder Jermaine Jones could join the U.S. national team later this year, possibly with defender Edgar Castillo.The 27-year-old Jones, who has appeared in the European Champions League for Schalke of the Bundesliga, has played three times for Germany's national team in exhibitions. He holds dual citizenship and has petitioned FIFA for a switch of nationality."We've had pretty regular communications with Jermaine's representatives and his advisers," U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati said Thursday. "I think that paperwork for that has probably now been submitted to FIFA. And the earliest he would be eligible to move would be the 2nd of August, which would be 60 days after the rule change came into effect."
Soccer City workers are also building a new nation
JOHANNESBURG -- Over a decade later, Ntombie Khofane still feels the warmth of Nelson Mandela's handshake and remembers his message to students at her school that life can get better.Boosted by her belief that he was right, Khofane left her unemployment-riddled Mount Ayliff area six years ago and took a bumpy, nine-hour bus ride into Soweto.Now, she has already made it up to assistant surveyor at the Soccer City Stadium, living proof of how construction for the World Cup is building more than mere sports arenas. Such projects are offering jobs and a sign of how far the nation has progressed since the dark days of apartheid.
Longtime Milwaukee soccer team could be folding
MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Wave, the longest running professional soccer franchise in the country, could be shutting its doors for good. The four-team Xtreme Soccer League, which the Wave joined last September, is expected to disband, with a formal announcement scheduled for Friday. Sources said the Wave is seeking new ownership to remain in business. Charlie Krause has owned the franchise for the past five years, and prior to that, his son, Tim Krause, operated the team for two seasons.
Blissfully bleary U.S. returns for CONCACAF Gold Cup
TUKWILA, Wash. -- Bob Bradley was walking off the practice field toward the team bus when a father stopped the coach of the United States national team with a cheerful yell from a playground. "Hey, good job on the Confederations Cup, man!" the dad shouted through a chain-link fence as a little girl played nearby. He then raised his coffee cup to salute the coach. Two weeks ago, the guy might have thrown his mug at Bradley -- if he'd even known who he was.
UEFA: Link salaries, transfer fees to club income
LONDON -- Clubs competing in the Champions League will need to ensure players' salaries and transfer fees are proportionate to their income under new plans from European soccer's governing body. UEFA said Thursday it wanted the rule, which would also cover the new Europa League, to be finalized in September.
SLIDESHOW: Ogden Outlaws vs BYU
See more photos of the soccer game between the Ogden Outlaws and BYU on Wednesday.
Most viewers for U.S. soccer on ESPN outside World Cup
BRISTOL, Conn. -- The United States' 3-2 loss to Brazil in the Confederations Cup final was seen by 3.9 million people on ESPN, the most-viewed non-World Cup game for the American team on the cable network.
Run to final bodes well for U.S. chances at the World Cup
No, the Earth did not stop spinning. The universe did not flip inside out. Amazing did not happen. The United States men's soccer team lost to Brazil on Sunday in the final of the Confederations Cup in South Africa. That simple description, however, doesn't quite do the result justice. The Americans lost in stupendously heartbreaking fashion, blowing a 2-0 halftime lead to lose 3-2 against the kings of soccer. And that's just fine. Really it is.
U.S. soccer team had heart, Brazil had more talent
The United States displayed the heart of a champion. What is imperative now is that it continues to build the body of one. There was no mystery to why Brazil rallied in the second half and beat the USA, 3-2, in the FIFA Confederations Cup final Sunday in Johannesburg, South Africa. Brazil simply had better players, and a lot more of them.
Blatter praises Confed Cup, but problems persist
JOHANNESBURG -- FIFA president Sepp Blatter gave Confederations Cup organizers an encouraging grade of 7.5 out of 10 on Monday while stressing work remains on transportation and housing for next year's World Cup. The Confederations Cup, in which Brazil rallied past the United States 3-2 in Sunday's final, was a dress rehearsal for the World Cup and was considered a major success on the field. But Blatter and FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke say the tournament revealed problems that must be resolved in 11 months when the World Cup makes its debut in Africa.
SLIDESHOW: USA vs Brazil Soccer
See more photos of the USA team winning the Silver Medal in their Confederations Cup final soccer match against Brazil, at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa on Sunday. Brazil won 3-2.
Newest MLS franchise thriving in first season
SEATTLE -- The Emerald City Supporters held their green and blue scarfs high and sang in unison, their words echoing off the brick facades of the historic Pioneer Square neighborhood as they marched to a recent Seattle Sounders FC match. "Take 'em all; take 'em all ..." they bellowed. "Short 'n' tall, watch 'em fall; come on boys, take 'em all!"
World Cup: Enjoy South Africa, just be smart
JOHANNESBURG -- There are times you could mistake South Africa for heaven on earth. The place has stunning wildlife, a climate ranging from pleasantly warm in winter to sizzling hot in summer, dramatic coastlines and cities that can be nonstop fun. Its food and wine rank among the best in the world. And in less than a year, it will become the first African nation to host the World Cup, one of the planet's greatest sporting events.
Iran tells FIFA: no national team players punished
GENEVA -- The Iranian soccer federation has denied reports that national team players were punished for wearing green wristbands in solidarity with the political opposition during a World Cup qualifier last week.Soccer's world governing body said Friday it received a letter from the Iranian federation "which stated that no disciplinary action has been imposed on any players of the Iran national team by any authority."
Organizers look at work ahead for 2010 World Cup
JOHANNESBURG -- With just two games remaining at the Confederations Cup, South African organizers are looking at the work still to be done to prepare for next year's World Cup.Fourteen games have been played at the eight-team warmup for next year's tournament and organizers said on Friday that they were largely happy with how things had gone but would wait until after Sunday's final and third-place game before making their report.
U.S. Soccer president sizes up victory over Spain
JOHANNESBURG -- If the United States follows its upset of European champion Spain with a victory over South American champion Brazil in Sunday's Confederations Cup final, it would be the greatest back-to-back wins in American soccer history.U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati ranked Wednesday's 2-0 victory over the world's top-ranked team alongside the 1989 victory at Trinidad and Tobago that earned the U.S. its first World Cup berth since 1950, a first-round win over Colombia at the 1994 World Cup, and wins over Portugal and Mexico en route to the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals.
Football body asks Iran if players were punished
GENEVA -- FIFA, the international governing body for football, has asked Iran's soccer federation to respond to media reports that players who wore green wrist bands in solidarity with the political opposition have been punished.
Mandela wishes South Africa soccer team well
JOHANNESBURG -- Nelson Mandela wished South Africa's soccer team well ahead of Thursday's Confederations Cup squad semifinal against Brazil.
Soccer fans in Argentina cemetery try to save team
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- It's the ultimate grave situation.
FIFA gives away free tickets for Spain-US match
JOHANNESBURG -- FIFA is giving away some free tickets for the Confederations Cup semifinal match between Spain and the United States.
Three Real Salt Lake midfielders named to rosters for 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
Real Salt Lake midfielders Jean Alexandre (Haiti), Will Johnson (Canada), and Andy Williams (Jamaica) have been named to their respective countries' rosters for the upcoming 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament, taking place at venues across the United States from July 3-26.
United States learning to cope without Bocanegra
RUSTENBURG, South Africa -- The United States has made a run to the semifinals of the Confederations Cup by learning how to play without injured captain Carlos Bocanegra.
Setanta fails to make payment to Scottish league
LONDON -- Setanta has failed to make a payment to the Scottish Premier League to screen live matches in Britain, casting further doubt on the future of the troubled broadcaster.
Wizards' Conrad comes by his comedy naturally
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Some parents in Southern California take their kids to Disneyland, others to the beach. The La Brea Tar Pits are a good spot for learning, Rodeo Drive for gawking.
Warm-ups show U.S. has work to do before World Cup
The World Cup is less than a year away, and the U.S. men look far from ready.
United States simply outclassed by Brazil, 3-0
Michael Bradley committed a foul and Brazil scored.
Blatter: MLS must move season to lure next Beckham
PRETORIA, South Africa -- FIFA president Sepp Blatter renewed his call for Major League Soccer to adopt an August-May schedule, saying it will struggle to persuade more star players to follow David Beckham to the United States unless it matches its season to those in Europe.
Prepare for vuvuzelas at next year's World Cup
RUSTENBURG, South Africa -- Take away the vuvuzela trumpet, and you take away the essence of the South African soccer fan.
WPS Atlanta Beat to begin play in 2010
ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Beat has a new life, this time as a Women's Professional Soccer team.
A Ruthian moment on the pitch
SEATTLE -- Steve Jenkins was back in the hospital, continuing his noble fight against his insistent cancer. Still trying to find the right defense against it.
Mad money dominates the world soccer scene
Either the soccer world has gone stark raving mad or the rest of us are simply naive in our economic outlook.
Rossi's gamble starts to pay off in South Africa
IRENE, South Africa -- Giuseppe Rossi's gamble is starting to pay off.
Milutinovic hopes to be 2010 World Cup coach
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa -- Bora Milutinovic would like to coach his sixth team at next year's World Cup, though it won't be Iraq.
Colors to blend at South Africa's World Cup
JOHANNESBURG -- The road from apartheid to racial reconciliation in South Africa has passed by dusty fields and grand stadiums. Across the rainbow nation, there is hope that next year's World Cup will bring black and white in an ever closer embrace.
Who looks like the real capitalists now?
Another reason to love European football: Owners who really wheel and deal.
Soccer and national pride go hand-in-hand for Iraq
JOHANNESBURG -- Like Confederations Cup host South Africa, the Iraq team is more aware than most of the relationship between soccer and national identity.
South Africa trip is an uphill fight for U.S. soccer team
On June 17, 2006, 11 exhausted Americans trudged off a field in Kaiserslautern, Germany, having just tied Italy, the soon-to-be world champion, 1-1.
Soweto's miracle: From strife to World Cup glow
JOHANNESBURG -- Having seen one impossible dream come true -- the death of apartheid -- Soweto is getting ready for another: the arrival of soccer's World Cup, the most-watched sporting event on the planet.
Real Madrid spending raises eyebrows
MADRID -- Unprecedented spending on Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka has Real Madrid's opponents grumbling the team is trying to buy a championship, economists warning of ruin and complaints that the club's $223 million moves this week are an insult to people in a country suffering severe financial hardship.
Schalke midfielder Jones wants to play for U.S.
FRANKFURT -- Schalke midfielder Jermaine Jones has told the governing body of German soccer that he wants to play for the U.S. national team.
Even Ronaldo is replaceable
At Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo had the skills, the looks and the stage to become a legend. But you can't hope to achieve that status and be heading for the exit at the same time.
United accepts record $131M Madrid bid for Ronaldo
LONDON -- Manchester United accepted a world-record transfer offer for Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid on Thursday, clearing the World Player of the Year to negotiate terms with the Spanish club.
De Rossi to revisit bloody memories against U.S.
IRENE, South Africa -- Daniele De Rossi will revisit the darkest moment of his career when Italy plays the United States in its Confederations Cup opener Monday.
Security a major concern for 2010 World Cup
MIAMI -- The 2010 World Cup begins in one year in South Africa, and it isn't the construction of stadiums or transportation systems that organizers are most concerned about. Rather, they are working furiously to convince the rest of the world they can host such a massive event and keep fans safe from violent crime.
Cooking pot stadium readies for World Cup feast
JOHANNESBURG -- In the tunnel World Cup finalists will use to walk to the field, workers in security vests stood amid puddles and steel nets. Where VIPs will park for the final match, dozens were spreading mortar on brick.
Adidas focuses on soccer market leadership in 2010
FRANKFURT -- The 2010 World Cup in South Africa, which kicks off a year from now, will help German sportswear company Adidas AG increase its presence in the world soccer market, the company's CEO said Wednesday.
South African soccer culture goes global
JOHANNESBURG -- Helmets and horns -- the colorful gear worn by South Africa's soccer fans -- are going global as the nation gets ready for the Confederations Cup and next year's World Cup.
For U.S., Confederations Cup an interruption
NEW YORK -- Bob Bradley figures the Confederations Cup is a good dress rehearsal. Same first-round format as next year's World Cup in South Africa without any of the pressure.
Rust caused by club inaction hurting U.S. players
CHICAGO -- Bob Bradley sees rusty players arrive at U.S. national team camps ahead of important games, and he isn't pleased. Too many key Americans have been buried on the benches of their clubs.
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