Indy makes World Cup venue list

 

Indianapolis will be one of the 18 cities included as part of USA’s bid for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, it has just been announced.

If the Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Colts, is chosen to host matches, the city would stand to see an economic impact of between $300-$500 million, according to Indiana Sports Corporation, which is behind the bid.

The stadium, completed in 2008, has a seating capacity of 64,200, which can be expanded to 70,000 (as will be the case for the Superbowl in 2012).

US Soccer will present its bid to FIFA on May 14, and the hosts for 2018 and 2022 will be chosen on December 2. It will be the first time FIFA will name two hosts the same day.

If the US is successful, the list of 18 cities will be trimmed down to 12 prior to the event.

The list of cities/stadiums is as follows:

Atlanta (Georgia Dome)
Baltimore (M&T Bank Stadium)
Boston (Gillette Stadium)
Dallas (Cowboys Stadium and Cotton Bowl)
Denver (Invesco Field)
Houston (Reliant Stadium)
Indianapolis (Lucas Oil Stadium)
Kansas City (Arrowhead Stadium)
Los Angeles (Rose Bowl and L.A. Memorial Coliseum)
Miami (Land Shark Field)
Nashville (LP Field)
New York/New Jersey (New Meadowlands Stadium)
Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field)
Phoenix (University of Phoenix Stadium)
San Diego (Qualcomm Stadium)
Seattle (Qwest Field and Husky Stadium)
Tampa (Raymond James Stadium)
Washington, DC (FedEx Field)

It has to be said: The list of stadiums remaining is impressive and unmatched by any country in the world. Seven of them can seat more than 80,000 and 14 were built in the past 20 years.

However, there were some eyebrows raised following the omission of Chicago and San Francisco, while others eliminated included Charlotte, Cleveland, Detroit, Jacksonville, Oakland, Orlando and St. Louis.

Four of the above mentioned (Chicago, Detroit, Orlando and San Francisco) were host cities during the 1994 World Cup, with Soldier Field staging the first game of the tournament, and five games in total.

David Downs, executive director of the bid committee, said Chicago balked at making financial guarantees that could have cost taxpayers about $10 million. The news of its exclusion comes less than three months after its failed bid for the 2016 Olympic Games.

According to the USA Bid Committee, official host cities were chosen based on a set of 21 different criteria, although its rationale wasn’t explained. Pitch size and overlay, hotel space and the history of each city related to soccer were supposed to be determining factors.

Another factor may also have been the support Indianapolis received through the bid committee’s online petition, with over 11,000 fans so far supporting the city’s inclusion.

Downs said it was “very difficult” to reduce the field to the maximum of 18.

“We consider it a meaningful indicator of the significant growth of soccer in this country that we can put forth such a technically sound bid without four of our cities that served as hosts for the first World Cup in the United States in 1994,” he said.

The average attendance for that particular tournament was 69,000, while the total attendance was 3.6 million, the record for the highest attendance in World Cup history. It was also the highest-attended single sport event in the country.

Nations who have expressed an interest in both World Cups are Australia, England, Russia, Japan, and the United States, while Belgium/Netherlands and Portugal/Spain are bidding jointly. South Korea, Indonesia and Qatar are interested in bidding for 2022 only.

With Brazil already chosen to host the competition in 2014, and the likelihood of a European nation hosting in 2018, the USA would seem to have a more realistic chance of being successful in its 2022 bid.

You can find out more about the US bid by visiting www.gousabid.com.

Togo returns home after bus attack

Today, Togo was scheduled to play Ghana in the African Nations Cup, a tournament which began in Angola yesterday. Instead, the squad returned home to bury its assistant coach Amalete Abalo and press officer Stanislaud after its team bus was attacked by gunmen in the northern enclave of Cabinda. The Angolan driver of the bus also died in an ambush the separatist group known as the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC) has claimed responsibility for.

The team, which features Manchester City’s Emmanuel Adebayor and Aston Villa’s Moustapha Salifou, initially changed their minds and decided to compete to honor their fallen comrades, but later were ordered to return by the Togolese government.

The attack has raised serious questions about security at the tournament, and has obviously sparked concerns ahead of this year’s World Cup in South Africa.

Said concerns have irked Danny Jordaan, the head of South Africa’s World Cup Organizing Committee.

He told reporters, “When there are terrorist attacks in Europe, do we hear about the 2012 Olympics being under threat? No. Angola and South Africa are two separate geographical areas, two separate countries. Besides, the [Africa Cup of Nations] is not the World Cup.”

Highlights of 2009 …

If you asked me to recount the year in soccer using just a few words, “penalty shootout” and “handball” would probably figure prominently among any summation — both locally and on a wider scale.

The last year of the ‘noughties’ saw New Albany scoop the regional boys’ title – on penalty kicks – against Seymour. The Bulldogs won the sectional title against Floyd Central in a shootout too.

And then there was the boys’ sectional final between Jeffersonville and Providence which had both penalties and a controversial handball decision to keep the online comments page buzzing for a while.

Nationally, Real Salt Lake beat LA Galaxy to win the MLS Cup (on penalties, of course), while No.2 Virginia beat No. 1 Akron to win the men’s College Cup – also in a shootout.

Globally, there was Thierry Henry’s hand which helped France squeeze past Ireland to qualify for the much anticipated 2010 World Cup. Afterwards, FIFA talks of introducing two extra referee assistants at both goal lines for this year’s tournament in South Africa, while the rest of the world talks about video technology.

Off the field, generosity was in abundance as fundraising efforts by the local soccer community came to the fore for breast cancer awareness, and for countries such as Kenya and Haiti.

And there’s more …
 
‘Supermom’ is tops
February: Jeffersonville’s Delana Goodson is named the state’s top team manager at the Indiana Youth Soccer awards in Carmel. She has been manager of Southern Indiana United’s U14 team for three years and beyond seeing to the normal duties like registration, tournaments, fees and uniforms, Delana is also the team’s photographer, videographer, social planner and indoor manager. Phew!

State Cup champs
May: New Albany High School’s Kaitlin Robinett heads her Mockingbird U17 team to a fourth straight Kentucky State Cup title in Lexington. Jeffersonville based defender Trevor Bruner is part of the Javanon U17 team which comfortable captures its third consecutive title, while a third player, Nathan Driggers of New Albany, is part of the Javanon U18s which gets the better of fierce rival United 1996. Meanwhile, teams from Southern Indiana United and Net-Surfers find the going tough at the Indiana State Cup and Challenge Cups.

Balls replace garbage bags
June: Children in Kenya replace soccer balls made out of garbage bags for the real deal thanks to local generosity. Southern Indiana’s Net-Surfers are among those to help the Hearts4Kenya charity, donating 20 balls, which made it to Africa with volunteer Sara Dickman, former varsity girls’ soccer coach with New Albany HS. Also helping the cause were Kraatz Sporting Goods, The Quest Class of Trinity Methodist Church and various local schools.

Close to national glory
July: Javanon’s ‘92 and ‘91 outfits, featuring the previously mentioned Bruner and Driggers, travel to the US Youth Soccer national championships in Lancaster, Massachusetts after securing regional crowns. Driggers and Co. make it to the U18 national final, where they are edged out by Discoveries SC of South Carolina.

Press box dedicated to “ultimate soccer mom”
September: Providence’s new soccer press box is dedicated in honor of soccer fan Kathy Brown, who died after a brave battle with colon and liver cancer in January. Brown was married to local soccer coach Tim and was mother of Providence varsity team members, juniors Trent and Wade. Construction is made possible through the generous donations of an anonymous benefactor.
Rivals get Passionately Pink
September: Floyd Central and New Albany girls go pink in an effort to raise money for breast cancer awareness and research. The game between the two local rivals, entitled “Passionately Pink for the Cure,” benefited the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.

Bulldogs win regional crown
October: While only posting four regular season wins, New Albany bursts alive post- season to take a second straight sectional and its second ever boys’ regional title, beating Seymour in the championship game on penalty kicks. Jeffersonville beats Providence in the area’s other sectional championship on penalties in a controversial encounter, having found themselves 2-0 down with six-plus minutes to go. The turning point comes when defender Keenan Sparks picks up the ball after he thought it had gone across the goal line. Floyd Central girls, meanwhile, wins their fourth straight sectional crown without the aid of penalties or handballs, beating Corydon in the championship decider 7-0 after a semi-final win against rival Providence. In the regional final, it loses 1-0 to Columbus North. Zionsville and Indianapolis Cathedral win the boys’ and girls’ Indiana state titles.

Jubilant Jaguars
November: River City Jaguars win the National Homeschool Soccer Championship Division II title in Fort Wayne, Indiana after going on a four match unbeaten run. The 19 strong  co-ed roster from 7th to 12th  grades comprises players from far and wide, including New Albany, Jeffersonville, Clarksville, Floyd Knobs, Borden, Pekin, Corydon, Georgetown, Louisville and Shepherdsville.

After the Thunder, Lightning strikes
November: After 22 years, professional soccer returns to the area as Louisville Lightning starts in inaugural season in the Professional Arena Soccer League at Mockingbird Valley. The expansion is co-owned and chaired by Jeffersonville architect Wayne Estopinal. Outdoors, Real Salt Lake beats LA Galaxy to win the MLS Cup.

Indianapolis World Cup bid
December: The draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup is made and the United States is in Group C with England, Algeria and Slovenia. The much anticipated opening matchup against England will take place on June 12. Meanwhile, Indianapolis ups its attempt to be included as one of the 12 host cities used by the USA if the nation is successful in winning a bid to stage the 2018 or 2022 World Cups. Over 10,600 fans have so far signed a petition to have the Colts’ Lucas Oil Stadium as one of the venues.

Spreading holiday cheer in Haiti

Christmas came early for children in Haiti, thanks to a New Albany dentist and the southern Indiana soccer community. Check out this week’s column at the link below. Also, here are some unpublished photos taken on the recent trip, provided by Dr Richard Poe. http://www.newsandtribune.com/floydsports/local_story_355233127.html?keyword=topstory

Dr Richard Poe with Haiti children after they received their jerseys, balls and cleats donated by Southern Indiana United.

Haitian children Nashly and Te Te Tu Tu are all smiles as they proudly display their newly acquired Southern Indiana United jerseys.

Dr Richard Poe performs an extraction in Haiti. “Most of the patients I see say they have been in pain for years.”

Poe with a group of grateful Haitian soccer fanatics pictured sporting their Southern Indiana United jerseys.

 

 

 

 

 

Handy work …

Note to Mr Thierry Henry: If you’re going to cheat, best maybe to be subtle
about it, as exemplified by Mexico’s Cruz Azul defender Joel Huiqui
(blue number 3). Hey, and why not make the attacking player look a bit
silly in the process ..

Germantown joy

Local players star at Memphis Invite

Viagra boost?

World Cup draw kind to U.S. … and talk of Viagra boost for English

Maradona not welcome

One man who probably won’t be at Friday’s World Cup draw is Argentina coach Diego Maradona, who has been warned to stay away by FIFA.

Maradona, who lifted the trophy in 1986, is currently serving a two-month ban from all soccer activities imposed by the world governing body after an expletive-filled rant at a news conference following Argentina’s decisive World Cup qualifier against Uruguay.

Maradona has already stated he would not be attending the event, but FIFA was responding to reports this week suggesting he may attempt to gain entry to the proceedings as a journalist.

His suspension ends on January 15.

All eyes on World Cup draw

All eyes will be on Cape Town, South Africa this Friday when the draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup is made(noon, live on ESPN2).

The United States — currently ranked 14th in the world — will be hoping for a favorable draw, but it is more likely they will face tough opposition after the four pots were finalized today (Wednesday).

The seeded teams include Spain, Brazil, Italy, Germany, Holland, England, Argentina and host nation South Africa in Pot A.

The remaining 24 teams are divided into three pots based mainly on geographical factors.

The U.S. is in pot 2 with Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and Honduras.

Pot 3 features five African and three South American teams, while the eight remaining European teams are in Pot 4.

Most U.S. fans would probably be grateful for a group including South Africa, Uruguay/Algeria and Serbia/Slovenia. Not so welcome would be something along the lines of Brazil, France/Portugal and Cameroon.

Such a scenario would have Bob Bradley’s men facing teams all ranked higher in what would invariably be labeled the “Group of Death.”
Whoever the U.S. is teamed with, it will be hoping for better fortunes than in Germany in 2006, when it crashed out in the early stages after losing to the Czech Republic and Ghana, and tying with eventual winners Italy.

Pot 1 (seeds) — South Africa, Brazil, Spain, Holland, Italy, Germany, Argentina, England.

Pot 2 (Asia, Oceania and North/Central America) –Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Mexico, Honduras.

Pot 3 (Africa and South America) — Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, Algeria, Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay.

Pot 4 (Europe) — France, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland, Greece, Serbia, Denmark, Slovakia.

Will any good come from the ‘Hand of Henry’?

In this week’s column … Indiana Showcase, IU progress in NCAA, and will anything good come from Republic of Ireland/France World Cup play off game? <a href="“>