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 |   Las Vegas College Showcase For three days in March, the fabulous Las Vegas becomes the recruiting ground for U.S. college coaches to observe some of the best players in the nation to showcase their talents in some of the country's most competitive games. The Las Vegas College Showcase features over 200 of the best teams in the nation competing on 21 manicured full size soccer fields. The teams are matched from outside their area and receive a minimum of four full-length games. Maximum exposure to college coaches is the major goal of this tournament. The awesome Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex will host the girls' teams, while boys will play in the newly constructed Kellogg/Zaher Soccer Complex 5 minutes away. These complexes are the sites of the 2007 Far West Regional Championships. The 2005 & 2006 Las Vegas College Showcase tournaments were featured on the Fox Soccer Channel as one of the elite showcase tournaments in the nation and were ranked in the top five by the Soccer America magazine. The 2006 tournament was represented by teams from 30 different states as well as teams from Canada. Over 450 college coaches signed in at the tournament site and received the Tournament Player Profile Booklet. The Sixth Annual Las Vegas College Showcase will be held March 14-16, 2008 for U-13 thru U-19 girls, and U-15 thru U-18 boys elite teams from around the country. Teams from Australia and Canada will be represented. The tournament is open to USYSA, US Club Soccer, and FIFA affiliated teams. The entry fee for U-15 and younger teams is $750 while teams ages U-16 and up will be charged $900. The Las Vegas College Showcase is a Stay & Play Tournament...all invited teams are required to make hotel reservations through Las Vegas Sports Travel. We understand that many of you are anxious to solidify your travel plans. Please be assured that once your team is accepted, your team manager will be contacted to arrange your team's hotel rooms. Any team that does not arrange their hotel rooms through Las Vegas Sports Travel will forfeit their acceptance into our tournament as well as their application fee. U.S. WNT To Face Brazil Twice
The announcement of the appetizing matches in San Diego and Commerce City, which is home to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer, complete the USA`s pre-Olympic schedule that will also include three games at the Peace Queen Cup in June (and possibly a fourth if the U.S. makes the championship game) as well as a two-match trip to Norway and Sweden in early July. At the Peace Queen Cup, the U.S. will face Australia on June 15, Brazil on June 17 and Italy on June 19. The USA will depart for China one week after the match in San Diego. For the game in Colorado, tickets ranging in price levels from $18 to $55, plus special VIP On Field seats for $150, are available starting this Saturday (May 17) at 10 a.m. MT online at ussoccer.com, by phone at 1-866-461-6556, at all Dick’s Sporting Goods locations in Colorado, and at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Park ticket office (open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.). For the game in San Diego, tickets ranging in price levels from $22 to $85 are available starting Tuesday, May 20, at 10 a.m. PT online at ussoccer.com, by phone (619-220-8497 in San Diego; 714-740-2000 in Orange County; 213-480-3232 in L.A.), and through all San Diego area Ticketmaster ticket centers (including Macy`s, Wherehouse Music, FYE and Ritmo Latino). For both games, groups of 20 or more can obtain a discount order form at ussoccer.com or call 312-528-1290. Ultimate Fan Tickets (a special VIP package which includes a premium ticket, a custom made official U.S. national team jersey with your name and number, VIP access to the field before and after the game, and other unique benefits) are also available exclusively through ussoccer.com. Visa is the preferred card of U.S. Soccer. This will be the first-ever match at Dick`s Sporting Goods Park for the U.S. WNT and the first trip to Colorado since 1999, when it played at Mile High Stadium after the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup. That match marked the first and only game in Colorado for the U.S. Women. The U.S. has played two previous games at the picturesque Torero Stadium, tying Japan 0-0 in January of 2003 and defeating Ireland, 5-0, in July of 2006. The two games pit the 2007 FIFA Women`s World Cup semifinalists together again, but it will not be the first meeting since the USA`s crushing 4-0 loss in Hangzhou, China. The two nations will meet in group play at the Peace Queen Cup in Suwon, South Korea on June 17. The USA last played Brazil in the United States less than a year ago, winning 2-0 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. It`s always good to get great games before you go to the Olympics and what better team to play than Brazil, said U.S. midfielder Shannon Boxx, who has started 12 of the 14 games the USA has played this year. It`s always an exciting game playing Brazil so these will be good tests to give us confidence heading into the Olympics. Obviously, we didn`t do well against them in the World Cup so it will be beneficial for our team to play them a few times beforehand in case we do meet them in China. The U.S. women have had great success against Brazil throughout the years, winning 19 games while losing two and drawing two. Brazil has qualified for the 2008 Olympics, but had to do a little extra work. The Brazilians stumbled at the end of 2006, falling to Argentina in the championship game of the South American qualifying tournament for the 2007 FIFA Women`s World Cup, a competition that also qualified the winner to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The loss forced Brazil into a playoff for the final Olympic berth, but the Canarinhas cruised past Ghana by a 5-1 score on April 19 in Beijing to earn the 12th and final spot in the Olympic tournament. I`m excited to play Brazil because we have such a different style now than when we played them in the World Cup, said Boxx. With the way we are playing combined with their individual talents on the ball and their style, it`s just going to make for great games for the fans in Denver and San Diego. US Men`s Team Roster Against England
One player not on the list is Red Bulls forward Jozy Altidore, who has been in inconsistent form early in the MLS season. His absence is still surprising considering the lack of established forward options in the national team pool. It shouldnt come as a complete surprise considering the combination of club and Olympic obligations Altidore will have this summer. Donovan was one of only three MLS players called in for the match Brad Guzan and Ricardo Clark being the others. What do you think of the roster Bradley chose to face England? Surprised to see Altidore left home Surprised to see three players including two strikers who don`t have teams right now make the roster Share your thoughts below. Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Auto Club Speedway of Southern California They are two facilities bound by geography and the NASCAR schedule, separated only by the width of the Mojave Desert and 237 miles of Interstate 15. Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Auto Club Speedway of Southern California both opened in the late 1990s. They both feature snow-capped mountains in the distance. They're both intermediate tracks with sparkling infield facilities, and the occasional celebrity seen wandering through the garage area. There's another similarity, as well. Las Vegas wants a second annual Sprint Cup date. And California is an example of what can happen if you get one. For years now Speedway Motorsports Inc. chairman Bruton Smith has been lobbying for a second NASCAR weekend for his 1.5-mile track in the desert, a refrain that increased in significance the instant he acquired New Hampshire Motor Speedway and the two dates that came with it. And who can blame him? Las Vegas is a complete, unqualified hit, a 142,000-seat facility that's sold out six years in a row. It's provided a needed pro sports presence to a city that otherwise hangs its hat on a golf tournament and the occasional fight. And it's received overwhelming support from local leaders in return. When Smith wanted to build a drag strip in Las Vegas, he didn't have to threaten to move the racetrack to Pahrump. They've expanded the grandstand, they've increased the banking, they've repaved the surface, they've revamped the garage. The Las Vegas Motor Speedway that the Sprint Cup tour visits on Sunday is an absolute temple of speed, an unparalleled facility in the most visited city in America. A second date would be a sure thing, right? Maybe. The last time something in NASCAR seemed like a sure thing, it was the awarding of a second date to another racetrack far west with a long line of sellout crowds behind it. The facility then known as California Speedway had drawn a full house for every Cup event it had ever hosted when parent company International Speedway Corp. and NASCAR took a date from North Carolina Speedway and a schedule spot from Darlington Raceway so the 2-mile facility in Fontana could have a second race weekend. With a metro area of 16 million to draw from, a car-crazy Southern California culture, and a speedway that had lived seven years without seeing an empty seat, the move seemed as sure as a Kobe Bryant dunk. Except it wasn't. In the five years since California was awarded that second date, the speedway hasn't sold out. In some cases, it hasn't come close. ISC officials seemed to overestimate the demand. NASCAR saddled the track with a rainy spring date and a 100-degree summer one. Track officials have the thankless and unenviable job of trying to sell tickets in a fractured and fickle market with plenty of people, but also plenty of other sports teams, plenty of diversions, and plenty of other things to do. The result is the 92,000-seat gorilla in the NASCAR universe, an under-performing facility that draws more critics by the hour. In their defense, speedway officials have tried nearly everything bridging the 50-mile gap between Los Angeles and the Inland Empire, using Juan Montoya to market to the Hispanic population, cross-promoting with other area pro teams. And certain things are beyond their control, as this past weekend's rain-delayed Auto Club 500 will attest. Native Southern Californians will tell you that late February often brings not the blue skies and sunshine the region is known for, but wet, cold weather. In that regard, California and Rockingham have something in common. Rain is rarely an issue across the desert and over the state line in Las Vegas, where NASCAR has been a bigger hit than Celine Dion. As the big casinos on the Strip would indicate, visitors to Sin City like large, fancy facilities with plenty of bells and whistles, and they certainly have one in a racetrack with a spa and a double-decked garage. Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a gleaming facility with plenty of amenities and tremendous ticket demand. In fact, it's a lot like the California Speedway of five years ago, albeit with 62,000 more seats. So what happens if Bruton Smith one day gets his second Sprint Cup date for his 1.5-mile desert oasis Does it take off like Bristol or New Hampshire, and pack in another 142,000 Or do the crowds tail off as officials realize their demand was plenty enough for one annual race, but not enough for two Yes, Las Vegas draws a staggering 39 million visitors annually. As Smith will gladly point out, it has more hotel rooms than any other city on earth. It`s a beguiling place where you can drink on the sidewalk and win money and pack a month's worth of living into one long weekend. SMI has put a lot of capital improvement dollars into the Las Vegas track, and you don't recoup that cash while a facility is sitting idle. But could general manager Chris Powell and his capable staff fill the place twice a year? The population of metro Las Vegas is 1.7 million, but California hasn't been able to do it despite a population of 4 million in the San Bernardino area, and 12 million more in greater L.A., and 50,000 fewer seats. The housing slump has taken a bite out of southern Nevada's otherwise robust economy, and all those service industry jobs don't make for the highest of median household incomes. But what about those 39 million annual visitors, roughly a quarter of which come from Southern California Las Vegas Motor Speedway is no different from the rest of the city tourist dollars make it go. According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Bureau, more than 114,000 of the 142,000 spectators attending last season's event were from outside southern Nevada. Ultimately, the success of a second race at Las Vegas would hinge on whether those people would be willing to come back. No question, Las Vegas Boulevard is a more attractive return destination than the old steel mill that is Fontana. But in a region of the country that`s becoming almost as saturated with Sprint Cup races as the Southeast was 10 years ago, that's still no guarantee. Yet if anyplace can make it work, surely it`s Las Vegas, that dizzying neon empire where risk is all part of the allure. Bruton Smith has the city, has the speedway, has the fan base has everything, it seems, but that elusive second date. Yet all the motorsports mogul needs to do is look west, beyond the McCullough Range and the Devil's Playground and all those tall mountains and dry canyons, to find a very real cautionary tale.
Las Vegas Mayor : Pro Team in Southern Nevada a Guarantee
The population of Las Vegas has tripled over the course of the last 20 years to 1.8 million, and it remains one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. Its economy pumps out a staggering 72 billion annually, with nearly 38 million tourists blowing through town each year and contributing their mortgage retirement child`s college fund to that honey pot. If we assume three fifths of all Las Vegas visitors are sports fans a measurement the Founding Fathers would approve that would yield a pool of roughly 24 million fans to draw from. I`ve said before that just like Dallas is America`s Team, I truly think that a team in Las Vegas would be the World's Team, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said. We really have the type of cosmopolitan people out here that would embrace the hometown team. Goodman is an outspoken, martini-swilling, showgirl-loving Philadelphia native and the ace in the hole for the city's bid for pro sports. He is disarmingly honest, and has the guile and zeal one would expect from an attorney who used to defend such ruthless mobsters as Meyer Lansky and Anthony Spilotro. Goodman is on record in support of canings and thumb amputations as punishment, and has shown up in public surrounded by Elvis impersonators. Would you bet against him? Goodman has lobbied and prodded owners and commissioners in all major sports to relocate or expand to his orgiastic oasis. Vegas currently hosts major events in boxing, NASCAR, Arena Football, Triple-A baseball and tennis. Also, the city locked up a bid to host the 2007 NBA All-Star Game. They will be the first non-NBA city to do so. With the recent financial difficulties of pro sports franchises in Florida, Portland, Seattle, San Diego and New Orleans, the number of potential suitors for Las Vegas seems to be at its pinnacle. Goodman said that discussions have been real hot with the NHL. However, not everyone shares his optimism. I believe Las Vegas will not be seriously considered until someone steps up and builds a new arena to host a team, said Jay Kornegay, executive director of the sportsbook at the Las Vegas Hilton. Right now it seems like Las Vegas is just being used as a pawn for some owners to strike deals around the country. Sin City`s greatest strength is also its greatest weakness when it comes to seducing a team into its hypnotic trance. The reason there isn`t a team in Las Vegas already has little to do with being the 47th ranked television market, its lack of a state-of-the-art arena or its graveyard of defunct pro franchises since 1976. No, Las Vegas doesn't have a team today because it permits legalized gambling and is seen by some as a modern Sodom and Gomorrah. It`s true that gambling and hedonism are at the soul of Las Vegas. But that`s what gives it such a unique relationship with Sports. Vegas is Switzerland with slot machines. The hometown loyalty is to the point spread and every precious edge that she provides. People there are fans of everyone and no one, with allegiance based on whoever provides the best opportunity for a payday. Sports fans in Las Vegas are mercenaries, bounty hunters and war profiteers. And it`s unlikely that their attitude will ever change. That is what strikes Fear into the rulers of the major sports. They are afraid of point shaving or players consorting with criminal elements. They are scared of anything that could be viewed as a conflict of interest and their hard-line stance against gambling is done in an effort to preserve the integrity of the game. (That is, the integrity remaining after sham officiating, performance enhancing drugs and uneven distribution of wealth.) Needless to say, this stance by owners and executives is the height of hypocrisy. Goodman stated that the NFL's public actions and outward opposition to gambling is the most disingenuous reasoning that he`d ever heard. He also believes there`s already illegal gambling at live sporting events in most other sports. There`s more bets taken during an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden then there is on that game here, Goodman said. Think about it, you going to sit around watching 10 guys run up and down the court for two hours without some money going around I didn`t think so. For my money, the owners and execs are the real criminals. They are vicious and vile, feasting on the flesh of children and old people. Just look at Al Davis. They loot the public treasury for a new stadium. They charge $8.50 for a beer. They claim their low rent, second-rate organizations are perpetually rebuilding. They draft emotionally unstable and intellectually shallow children, get them hopped up on Potential and mescaline and turn them loose on society. Then the players are cut loose after they become multiple felons. It's inconceivable that owners and league executives can pass judgment on Las Vegas or legalized professional gambling on the basis of some moral authority. They have more blood on their hands than most, and since they wouldn't resist the urges of greed and temptation they don't expect anyone else to either. "They don't realize the Nevada sports books and the league are on the same side," Kornegay said. "We both want 'true' games. If anyone gets hurt on a crooked game it's the sports books. This is why we have so many policies, regulations and procedures to make sure the games stay true." "Someday they will realize that they need us a lot more than we need them," Goodman said of sports leagues. The NHL and MLB have stated that if Las Vegas was awarded a franchise the casinos and books would have to agree not to take bets on the home team. This arrangement was a condition of hosting the NBA All-Star Game, and had been in place for UNLV and Nevada athletics until recently. The NBA has said that the books would have to agree not to take any action on any NBA games - period - before Las Vegas would be given its own team. Over $2.5 billion was gambled through legal channels in Las Vegas in 2005. Nearly $400 million of that was on the NBA. Those are high stakes for casino owners and operators, especially since they form the backbone of the local economy but stand to gain little from the presence of a pro team. Also, what if Las Vegas were awarded an MLB team and it made the World Series, or if they got an NFL team and it played in the Super Bowl? There would be riots in the street and potentially billions of dollars lost. Should Las Vegas have a pro sports team Could it even handle one We will see. But when asked what the odds of Las Vegas having a pro franchise by 2010 were, Goodman didn`t hesitate: It`s a guarantee. Hmm. A guarantee in Vegas If you`re willing to buy that, I`m willing to bet that you'll be welcome in Sin City anytime. Local Rugby Player Lending his Skill to The U.S. National Team
Born in Tonga, he has a desire, fueled by his Polynesian roots, to help others. They glow when they see him. When he visits a new client, that light usually is dim. As you visit, those eyes come back,Esikia says. Some of them just need a friend, even if it`s only for 10 minutes. They`re so happy I`m there. It`s a great joy. Continuing to get established in that industry and keeping his family settled in Las Vegas might keep Esikia from earning international fame in the game he loves. Family and helping those in need are very important, he says. It`s not mandatory. It`s something Polynesians always do. That might keep me from exploring options overseas. Esikia, 28, made the jump from the Las Vegas Blackjacks club team to the U.S. national rugby union team, called the Eagles, at an all star performance in Florida two years ago. Previous tryouts for the Eagles didn`t go so well. In Florida, he played free and easy, not worrying about who was watching.Officials from USA Rugby were watching closely. They especially liked how he stripped the ball from foes, and he was invited onto the squad for the Rugby World Cup in France last year. There are people who run, people who hit, and people who hit and steal balls, Blackjacks teammate Glen Amador said. He`s all three. Wow, he`s a special player. In September, Esikia started for the Eagles against defending World Cup champion England in Lens, France. He wore No. 12 at the inside center position, marking his boyhood idol Mike Catt, who played 75 matches during his 14 years on the English national team. The Eagles were praised for losing only 28-10. After the match, Catt asked Esikia to swap jerseys. A great player, Esikia says. But I realized he bleeds the same way as I do. Half a world away, in a packed Crown & Anchor Pub in Las Vegas, his wife, Siva, and a friend had paid $20 to stand and cheer for Esikia and the Eagles. He broke away once and nearly scored. He was in front of everybody, she says. But he ran and, I don’t know. Honey, were you nervous Were you excited. Sitting on a couch next to his wife, Esikia smiles. He was trying to hand the ball to speedy winger Takudzwa Ngwenya, who got snagged in traffic. And I got caught, Esikia says. Before a World Cup match against Tonga, Esikia sang both national anthems. He was born and raised by grandparents in the village of Neiafu, Tonga. Rugby, the national sport, was in his blood. An uncle, Alatini Saulala, was an explosive outside center for the U.S. national team and coaches a premier club team in San Mateo, Calif. That`s where Esikia moved, at 10, to live with his American-born parents. He played high school football but turned down a scholarship offer to the University of Oregon to serve a two year Mormon mission in Connecticut. It was a hard decision, Esikia says. I took a chance. I wanted to serve the Lord first. Whatever came after that would be the outcome of my hard work. He has become a mainstay on the Eagles. After helping the Blackjacks win their first Southern California Division One regular-season championship this season, he received another invitation from the national team. Esikia left Sunday to join the squad for the Barclays Churchill Cup in Canada, and he will play for the Eagles in a tournament in Japan this year. He acknowledges feeling butterflies when he slips on a U.S. uniform. I`m always getting them, he says. They help. A lot of people get nervous. They break down. That butterfly usually is a tool for me to get ready for the games. More butterflies are on their way. Tonga`s ties to Great Britain influenced Esikia to keep dual citizenship, with the United States and Tonga, for tax advantages if he plays rugby in Europe. An agent there has fielded offers from two French professional clubs and one in Italy, and a Japanese agent is testing that market. I`m not going to stop him, Siva Esikia says. He`s been doing this all his life. It`s his dream. Their two young boys politely buzz around the apartment. A third child is on the way. Esikia`s yellow and white cleats are airing out on the patio ledge. Since the World Cup, fans recognize him as that guy who started against England and marked Catt. A lot of people say I have an opportunity to be famous, Esikia says. But it`s hard. I enjoy living here and playing with the Blackjacks. It`s all up in the air. South Bay Strikers Soccer Bring Glory to the Bay Area South Bay Strikers soccer team made history on September 2nd, 2007 when it won the elusive North American Soccer Cup in Surrey, Canada. The talented, disciplined and power packed South Bay team convincingly beat Canadian team, Toronto, by 6 goals to 1 in the final of the North American Cup Fiji Soccer Tournament. A total of 14 teams from US and Canada participated in the grand annual event.In the matches before the quarter final, South Bay Strikers beat Vancouver Combine, Surrey Eagles and Modesto Sanatan. In the quarter- final, South Bay Strikers were victorious over Saints of Canada by 3 goals to nil, and in semi-final, they emerged victors over Canada?s Tanoa by 1- nil. In an exceptional performance, the team maintained its winning streak right throughout to the finals to claim the much coveted North American Cup. This is the first time since 2000 that an American team has laid its claim on the prestigious North American Cup. Of special historical significance is that this is the first time in 22 years that an American team has won the NAFSA/NAC Cup on Canadian soil. South Bay team was coached by the renowned soccer coach, Gurjit Singh, assisted by Hill Johnson. The team was captained by former Fiji and Rewa Rep, Ronald Chaudhary. Best Goal Keeper Award went to Luis Manuel. Best Defender Award was won by Jason Singh, who earlier this year, joined the touring Fiji National Side to play in Utah. The most valuable player (MVP) Award was a toss up between Inia Boko and David Briceno, with the Award going to David. It is a matter of pride that all the North American Cup Awards went to South Bay players. In the main, the South Bay team was made up of players who, a week earlier, had won the Hayward League; only some talented guest players from non-participating teams were co-opted for the North American Cup. After 2 weeks break, the team will continue playing in the Hayward League. Fourteen new teams and the introduction of a long awaited league system will be the highlight of the Fiji US soccer for the year 2006. The new teams are namely FC Southgate from Hayward, Modesto, Montery, Fogon and making a comeback Cobra and Fremont Flagstaff. Fremont has been a dominant team in the 1980?s where many claim to have enjoyed a higher standard of soccer. The Fiji US soccer has also introduced non-Fiji players in an effort to elevate excitement and the standard of soccer. A team will be allowed to register a maximum of four outside players with two allowed to play at a given time. Some of the previously featured non-Fiji origin players have even made to the MLS soccer. The board will be fine tuning formats to introduce a league system, said Narendra Narayan, re-elected as the President of the association. The board has also been restructured to allow technical advisers, a referee?s coordinator and a publicity director. The publicity director will focus on creating a greater awareness and updating the association?s website www.fijiussoccer.com. The first tournament is expected to start in the end of March.
North American Cup Heading South In 2008... Possible Venue Las Vegas Southern Nevada
Zahid Hussein in action in for the US Masters in NZ and matches agains Riverside of Southern California. ?The Fiji residents of Las Vegas have always got together for pickup soccer games on Wednesday?s and Saturday?s.
The Eastern Division consists of the Detroit Arsenal, Grand Rapids Alliance, Milwaukee Bavarians, Princeton (Madison, Wis.) 56ers, Minnesota Blast and St. Paul Twin Stars. By setting up organizations such as FLVSSA and formalizing strategies, I don`t see any reason why our Fiji players cannot participate in the National League. Just look at Mangere United,a National League team, headed by Fijians in Auckland, New Zealand. declared Mr. Hussain. The FLVSSA is backed by prominent Las Vegas Real-estate Brokers, Mr. Ben Prasad of Realty Professionals of Las Vegas and Arif Khan who recently opened a Las Vegas Office. The secretary is Mr. Iggy Rehman, former Nadi Rep in 70`s. Practice schedules and tournament information will be freely distributed throughout the valley as of now. The Clark County Parks And Recreation Department Soccer Complexes
Tyneside United are one of Nevada's most successful amateur men's soccer clubs. The team is comprised of former collegiate All-Americans, players with previous professional experience, players with international experience, as well as up and coming players who are recent college graduates. After only one year in existence, Tyneside United captured the State Championship title and proceeded to capture the USASA Region IV Championship title in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2002. The squad earned the privilege of representing the Western States in the U.S. National Finals in Oakford, Pennsylvania. Since that time the team has won numerous other titles and competitions and their goal is to showcase local talent and provide an opportunity for that talent to advance through the U.S. soccer system.
Hollywood United F.C. is an American semi-pro soccer club based in Southern California. The club is interesting in that several celebrities regularly turn out for the side. The team was founded 12 years ago by a group of There are no shower rooms or changing-rooms here. It's about playing for fun. The special event was a huge success and several hundred local supporters, including some local youth teams attended the opening ceremony. "This park is a great addition to our recreational sport facilities," Commissioner Reid said. "It's hard to keep up with the demand for soccer fields, and McCarran Marketplace Park will fill that need and will accommodate families with small children who come to watch the games. We're very pleased to be able to offer this beautiful new park to the public." Visit Hollywood United's official website for more information about their team. Fijian National Soccer Team Preparing For The SPG
The national team has been preparing in Ba with the only draw back being players released to play in the National League series this weekend. "We are training three times a day and the players are doing well," he said. He said it was good that Fiji was playing the All Whites first up as the players were still fresh from the South Pacific Games. "I prefer this way and that we are playing New Zealand now as players are still fresh from SPG and the players know the tactics and the way we play and what needs to be done," he said.
"This allow us to put up a great challenge against New Zealand." The return leg will be played in Fiji a week later. NZ coach Ricki Herbert has rewarded his players who did well in the 2-2 draw with Wales earlier this year, with Andy Boyens, James Pritchett, Seoul - Fijian star Vijay Singh has grabbed a three-stroke lead in the second round of the Korea Open on Friday after a steady two-under-par 69. Singh, who won here in 1995, fired three birdies against a lone dropped on tricky greens at the par-71 Woo Jeong Hills Country Club. With a two-day total of seven-under-par 135, Singh enjoyed a three-stroke cushion over Korea's Kim Sang-ki. Kim shot a similar score alongside compatriot Kim Kyung-tae, who was even-par for the day. Singh, with 31 wins on the US PGA Tour, battled the gusting winds with opening birdies on the first and second holes before a dropped shot on the ninth hole. He pulled away with a birdie on the 17th hole as he took a step closer to his goal of a second win in Korea. "I felt good today(Friday) and I played decent golf," said Singh. "The wind was quite strong out there and the par three holes were difficult. "But I managed well and kept the score going, so I am quite pleased with my round." Sports have always been a vehicle for social progress and development. The game of Golf, which has soared in popularity in recent times, is no exception. Golf provides the opportunity to display many of the fine qualities people are respected and admired for. It gives the opportunity to develop and cultivate discipline, respect, drive, determination and uncountable other good qualities. The America-Fiji Golf Club has been established to promote social progress and development by stimulating interest in Golf within our community. It will complement the activities of other institutions, which are already active in this area. The impetus to the formation of America-Fiji Golf Club came from a group of people, originally from Fiji, who have made US their home. Fiji, a small nation in the South Pacific, has been able to make a major mark on the International Golf scene. In fact, over the years, it has produced some world-renowned golfers and continues its contribution towards this end. The founders of America-Fiji Golf Club draw their inspiration from their golf heroes. But they are also moved by their love for the game and the potentials for social progress it provides. America-Fiji Golf Club would strive to stimulate interest in Golf and promote spirit of understanding and friendship among members of our entire community.
Las Vegas Blackjacks Midnight 7s Visit Web For Tournament Results : Remember the key is stay late, sleep late, cause we play late !
In 1895 rugby clubs in northern England called for compensation of lost wages for players. The Rugby League was founded as a result and a 13-player game with altered rules was created for professionals. Rugby spread across the globe and competition emerged between countries. In the United States, the game emerged primarily on the West Coast. The lack of precise rules, ambiguities in the game and complexity of the sport drew a lot of United States players away from the game and major changes were invoked. In 1880 the scrum was replaced by a line of scrimmage, drawing emphasis from the free-running characteristic of the game.The game continued to play with rugby rules until 1905 when the publication of photographs of a harsh game between Sarthmore and Pennsylvania created a stir.
President Theodore Roosevelt insisted on reform of the game to lower the brutality with threat of abolishing the game by edict. In 1906 the forward pass was introduced to the United States game. The rules of rugby died and the game of American football was born. Rugby continued to flourish elsewhere, with special regard to Britain, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Although a handful of clubs remained in the United States, rugby did not re-emerge until the 1960's.College campuses turned to the sport because it was one where many could play and escape the rigid discipline and professionalism inherent in college football. Minimal costs, constant action and the opportunity for frequent play with a primary emphasis on fun also attracted many. The number of clubs grew from about 80 to over 1,000 between 1964 and 1980. The United States of America Rugby Football Union (USARFU) was formed in 1975, creating added recognition and a measure of organization. The sport continues to grow and now played in over 80 countries worldwide. The rules of rugby continue to evolve and amateurism remains as dominant characteristic.
Hometown Tennis Pro Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation (AACF)
Hometown sports hero Andre Agassi may well have been #1 in the world by age 25 and the proud winner of 8 grand-slam titles, an Olympic gold medal and 60 singles championships, but his wife, Steffi Graff definitely wears the tennis shorts in their house! Tony Bennett, Kelly Clarkson, Matchbox Twenty, Carlos Santana, George Wallace and Jerry Seinfeld have all stepped up to the line for the Andre Agassi Grand Slam for Children benefit concert. The October 6 2007 event will be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Grammy-award winning producer, arranger and composer David Foster will return for his 12th year as musical director. Tickets for the concert go on sale August 31 at the venue box office and are priced at $50, $70 and $90 dollars. The annual event, which is celebrating its 12th year, will benefit at-risk youth in Southern Nevada, where Agassi was raised. Over the course of its history, the concert has drawn more than 90,000 fans and raised $61 million.
Previous Grand Slam shows have featured performances by Barbra Streisand, Sir Elton John, Billy Joel, Rod Stewart, Celine Dion, Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill, Sheryl Crow, Phil Collins, Ellen DeGeneres, Robin Williams, Lionel Richie, Luther Vandross, Jamie Foxx, Stevie Nicks, Dennis Miller and many others. We found this out when Andre tried to sell the two most memorable of his tennis racquets at his 11th Celebrity Grand Slam for Children Gala Concert benefit, presented by Genworth Financial at the MGM Grand over the weekend. More than 8,000 VIP guests and fans packed the hotel?s Garden Arena when Andre put up for sale the racquet he just used in his memorable, final US Open match, along with the racquet he used to win his very first professional match two decades ago. Bidding was as fast and furious as his rocket service returns, and reached more than $300,000 within 60-seconds.
After his culinary services were auctioned, Emeril told us: I think that what Andre believes in not only with the kids in Las Vegas but what he believes in with the kids it is so involved and it is so important not only for the community but also for these kids to have a future. That is why we are here and we are so happy to be a part of it. This is our eleventh year; I wouldn`t miss it for the world. Andre is the best. The Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation (AACF) has assembled another superstar line-up of entertainers for an unforgettable evening of music and other entertainment to benefit Las Vegas at-risk youth. Counting Crows, Sarah McLachlan and legendary rocker Phil Collins are just a few of the stars who will take the stage this Saturday, Oct. 7 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Grammy Award-winning producer, arranger and composer David Foster will return for his 11th year as musical director. For the first time, this year?s concert will feature a performance by the winner of the ?Grand Slam to Stardom? contest. The contest is open to residents of Clark County, Nevada who are 14 to 28 years old. The winner, chosen by David Foster, will open the show at the Grand Slam for Children. Since its inception in 1995, the Grand Slam for Children has been distinguished by its roster of cream-of-the-crop entertainers including Barbra Streisand, Sir Elton John, Billy Joel, Rod Stewart, Celine Dion, Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill, Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLachlan, Robin Williams, Carlos Santana, Don Henley, Lionel Richie, Luther Vandross, Ray Romano, Jamie Foxx, Jay Leno, Stevie Nicks, Seal, Tim McGraw, India.Arie, Kenneth ?Babyface? Edmonds, Dennis Miller, Brian McKnight.
California Highway Patrol Officer Steve Creel At The Accident Site
SAN RAMON ? A Pittsburg man riding without a seat belt in a sport utility vehicle was killed Wednesday night when the vehicle was involved in a rollover crash.The group were on their way to witness Fiji soccer teams game against the SF Seals at Chabot College. Jitend Kumar, 34, was one of five people ? all from Pittsburg ? between the ages of 16 and 55 traveling south in the SUV on Interstate 680 when the crash occurred about 6:25 p.m. The driver and three other passengers who were wearing seat belts all escaped with minor to moderate injuries. The crash occurred just north of Alcosta Boulevard, California Highway Patrol Officer Steve Creel said. The driver, 44-year-old Rakesh Prasad, was driving a 2002 GMC Yukon XL at about 65mph in the third lane from the left. According to witnesses, a vehicle in front of the GMC attempted to switch from the left lane to the right at the same time the GMC tried to move left into the same lane.
Prasad swerved to the right to avoid a collision, and the GMC overturned, coming to rest onits left side. Kumar suffered a fatal head injury, Creel said. He said it was unclear if the injury occurred when he struck something inside the vehicle or if he was partially ejected and struck something outside it. The 16-year-old was not injured, but was taken to a hospital as a precaution. One passenger suffered a possible broken leg and was taken to Eden Hospital in Castro Valley. The others had cuts and bruises and were taken to a hospital, Creel said. The Fiji Mens soccer team observed a minutes silence after the game in which Fiji defeated SF Seals 1-nil. Ealier in the week, Mr. Kumar and the Cobra Strikers soccer team hosted Fiji MNT to a grand dinner as well as gifts. "We formed a bond in a short period of time and the soft spoken gentleman will be sadly missed," said Ba soccer legend and Fiji's assistant coach Farook Janeman.
The purpose of the tour was to create a strong relationship and start the Fiji Cup continuing every 2 years alternating between Fiji and the US. Therefore, the strong Fijian community can keep in contact for all future events including fundraising and any other major games. In addition, to develop a relationship, in which soccer fans left behind over some year?s, any group tour is not possible without a strong foundation and leadership. Making trips across the ocean such as the safety of our Fiji National Team, game selection and expense?s, and most of all to make sure all our players are well taken care of. In 1990, we did not get any support from the sponsors or the community due to the last coup in 1987. This trip was a very narrow escape of the aftermath of the terrifying dreams of what the community went through, but as you know, politics and soccer do not mix. We made sure that we kept this tour and our players on this trip who already had high hopes towards the tour.
I took matters into my own hands and sponsored the entire tour to help with great man-power from our Fiji Soccer League officials Simon Kanhai, Late Kirshner Naicker, Body Ali, Fiyaz Khan, Late Rana Partap, and Diwan Chand. And not forgetting our special friends at Pro Link Soccer, Fred Guzman and California Soccer North, late president Ed Nunez. Our group of officials worked very hard until the day we said good-bye to our National Team, on there home, to the great island of Fiji.
Now with the second tour, there will be many names taking in exchange just to gain credits, my only request is to do it from your heart, not for namesake, and you will go a long way. In the end, I would like to thank the Fiji Football team members. My special thanks goes out to Dr Sahu Khan who has been a great leader and president for Fiji Football. Ever since Dr.Sahu Khan took over the Fiji Football president?s office soccer has changed a lot in Fiji and the development of Fiji youth teams, and international tours got stronger. In addition, plans for soccer stadiums in the future for our new generations to come are also on the way. Dr.Sahu Khan is a good friend and great president for Fiji Football. Keep up the good job. I request all soccer fans to come and watch all the games with their family and friends and give them a warm welcome so we can set a good example for the upcoming soccer generations. Thanks so much and all the best. Fiji US Technical Advisor. Lalla Rupan - Fiji US Technical Advisor.
Sunil Kumar Gulati President of the US Soccer Federation
Team manager (and longtime California resident) J`Klinsmann as the successor to Bruce Arena after a 5 month interview period that left the American national team dormant. On December 7, 2006, Klinsmann withdrew his name from consideration for the US head coaching position. Shortly after, the USSF issued a press release naming Bob Bradley as the interim head coach. Gulati later hired Bradley outright, citing the team`s development and performances during the early part of 2007. Gulati is also in his second stint as a lecturer in economics at Columbia University, where he teaches introductory economics, microeconomics, and global economy. In practice, the USSF has a full-time professional staff in Chicago to handle the federation`s day-to-day business (in addition to training development facilities in Florida and California). He lives with his wife Marcela and two children in the New York City area. Too many students have crowded outside his closed office door and Sunil Gulati cannot concentrate through the noise. The sign up sheet for a Thursday lunch with the professor has quickly filled and the queue of 22 students clustered around his office door want to know if he`ll schedule another meal. Okay, okay, he calms the crowd. We`ll see what wecan do. Gulati has had a lot of practice of late trying to calm clamorous crowds angling for his attention. Sunil Gulati was named president of the United States Soccer Federation in March 2006Named president of the United States Soccer Federation in March 2006, he has been trying to translate his vision for the team into reality, while contending with pressure from colleagues, players and fans. And the road has been anything but smooth.
Just six months after Gulati`s accession, the US national soccer team made an appearance at the World Cup in Germany, highly ranked and under intense media scrutiny. But Gulati watched from the stands with great disappointment as the team suffered a quick defeat in the first round.I`m so upset! one blogger lamented on worldcupblog.org. Another poster on fifaworldcup.com said, This only proves and tells the world that they do not have a place in the highest level of football. It was a disconcerting start for Gulati. A few months later, the professor settles into his small office in the economics department at Columbia University, and shrugs off the loss with a philosophical, What can you do. How a young man born in Allahabad 47 years ago, who never played professional football, ended up heading the US federation underscores a passion for the sport that Gulati has cultivated his whole life.
His family moved to a small Connecticut town from India when he was three years old and Gulati grew up playing soccer. He participated and coached youth leagues throughout his college years. As a Columbia graduate student, the sport was far from a national obsession, and so, the organization of the entire league was essentially managed off spreadsheets from his Apple Mac. As the league grew, Gulati worked in almost every capacity, in accounting, managing, assisting, and coaching. Still, his parents were uncertain how this interest in soccer would affect his career path.
?They thought I was kind of spinning my wheels, doing this crazy sports thing, Gulati recalls. But he was allowed the indulgence as he moved on to a real career : as an economics professor at Columbia and as an economic adviser at the World Bank. I wasn`t a renegade. I always had a day job. A year ago, few on campus even knew that the professor, whose passion for teaching has earned him plenty of student fans, cared for soccer. Columbia?s online student newspaper, Bwog.com, regularly tracks his quippy one-liners in his economics class: ?You?re supposed to do something for the people you love on Valentine?s Day. And, of course, I love you all very much. So I decided to give you the quiz on pink paperinstead!?
Fiji Las Vegas Soccer Club
In September the National Youth Soccer Month campaign celebrates its year of educating the public about the joys, rewards and benefits of playing youth soccer, and offers a variety of resources to learn more about youth soccer and get involved. We hope that visitors to this site will join us this year as we reach out to soccer enthusiasts throughout the United States and Southern Nevada with our messages about youth soccer and the many advantages of the sport. We hope that you will choose a unique way to celebrate soccer and spread the message about your positive experiences. On this website you will find ideas and materials to use for your celebration and increase public awareness of the many benefits of playing youth soccer.
Raise awareness of Youth Soccer and the benefits of playing the game.
Emphasize soccer as the number one youth participation sport in America
Bring kids and families of all ages and all abilities
Anyone can spread the message about his or her positive experience with youth soccer. Youth Soccer Month celebrations can be found at soccer practices and tournaments, businesses, nonprofit and community centers, shopping malls, schools, private homes?..just about anywhere that kids who play soccer and those involved with those kids may gather. People who organize Youth Soccer Month Celebrations are soccer volunteers and administrators, parents, coaches, players?.anyone who wants to celebrate our sport. This website is designed to help you get involved and celebrate Youth Soccer in your own unique way. We want to hear how you participate in Youth Soccer Month this year. Click here to tell us how you get involved in and celebrate Youth Soccer in Stae of Nevada and across the country.
Note : Although its best to keep religions seperate from sports and social activities
click here to visit them :
http://www.lasvegasgurdwara.com
Joe Logano Young NASCAR Champ Full-Time Nextel Cup Racer
Before Mark Martin retired for the first time from full-time Nextel Cup racing, he was asked who he would like to see take over driving duties in his No. 6 Ford. I`ll tell you exactly who I would put in the 6 car in a heartbeat, Martin said. Joey Logano. At the time, not many had heard of Joey Logano. And for good reason. He was only 15. I am high on Joey Logano because I am absolutely, 100-percent positive, without a doubt that he can be one of the greatest that ever raced in NASCAR, Martin said that day. I`m positive. There`s no doubt in mind. Was Martin crazy or just trying to make some noise Well, since then all Logano has done is prove Martin correct. He won in just his second USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series start, signed a development deal with Joe Gibbs Racing, beat Kevin Harvick in a stock-car race less than 24 hours after Harvick won NASCAR`s All-Star Challenge, become the youngest champion in the history of any of NASCAR`s touring divisions, and recently won the Toyota All-Star Showdown a race that included all of NASCAR`s top developmental drivers. No longer is Logano`s talent just a figment of Martin's immagination, but a bona fide reality.
The only thing stopping him now from breaking into NASCAR`s two premier series is his age. Drivers must be at least 18 to compete in Nextel Cup and Busch Series racing, and Logano won`t get there until next May. It kind of stinks because my birthday is right in the middle of the year, he said. Probably in the beginning of [next] year we`ll run some more Busch East races, then get some Busch races in once I turn 18." So how is he handling all the hype, attention and back-patting He's still a kid, said Tom Logano, his father. "He loves life. He`s goofing around all the time, but he's mature. He's still a kid by heart, but man, when it comes game time, he's serious."
Eight years ago, the family packed up and moved to Georgia ? not to facilitate Joey`s racing, but for their daughter Danielle`s budding figure skating career. The relocation allowed Joey Logano to avoid age restrictions for racers in Connecticut, and three years later, at age 12, Joey won the Southeast-based Pro Legends national championship, and Mark Martin called. I was like, Holy cow, I guess we got something, Tom Logano recalled. With Martin in Joey Logano's corner, it looked like the phenom would roll right into the Roush Racing organization. And why not? Martin was the one who predicted Matt Kenseth would be a champion before anyone knew who Kenseth was, and now here Martin was predicting Logano not only to be better than Kenseth, but one of the best of all time.
I`m more sure of it than I was sure of Matt Kenseth, Martin said at the time. I`m more sure of it than anybody I`ve ever seen turn a wheel. Tom Logano felt a certain loyalty to Martin and thus the organization he drove for, Roush Racing. That`s where he wanted his son to go, Tom said. But it never happened. According to Tom, the Roush organization dragged its feet for more than four months in signing Joey to a developmental contract. One day two years ago, Jack Roush walked into the Logano's race shop in North Carolina where they`ve since relocated, this time for Joey's career ? and, according to Tom, said he didn't know if Joey was as good as advertised. (Roush Fenway Racing president Geoff Smith couldn't be reached for comment.) As soon as Roush stepped foot out of the race shop, Tom got on the phone and called several major racing organizations, including Joe Gibbs Racing, and informed them that his son was a free agent.
The next day, Tom and Joey met with Joe and J.D. Gibbs. Four days later, J.D. Gibbs called to say he had a contract ready. I had heard of Joey, and it was a good point for us, because we were looking for the best way to get young drivers in our program, J.D. Gibbs said. Looking back, it was a great decision on our part. After signing the contract with Gibbs, Joey and Tom hopped on an airplane and flew to Mark Martin`s home in Florida. I said, Mark, listen, I want you to understand everything we went through and why we did this, Tom said. He was upset, but he wasn`t upset with me.If it wasn`t for Mark Martin Tom Logano continued. You know, Tom Logano can come out and say, My kid should be in the 6 car in 06' and everybody would laugh at me. Well, when Mark Martin says he's going to the 6 car in 06, everybody`s like, What
They`re not saying that anymore. Not only has Joey Logano made himself known, he already is scaring his future Nextel Cup competition. Denny Hamlin, who finished third in last year`s Chase for the Nextel Cup, openly jokes that Logano is a threat to take his seat in the No. 11 Joe Gibbs car. J.D. Gibbs plans to turn [Logano] loose in the Busch Series" once he turns 18 on May 24. Logano also will continue to test in the Cup cars. The bottom line is, he`ll be busy, Gibbs said. We`re testing probably once a week or so, Logano said. I enjoy it. That's what I do I drive race cars, and anytime I can get in one, I love to do it. Seeing how quickly things have developed for their son has been both exhilarating and scary for Logano`s parents. They`re ecstatic about his future, but worried about how fame and fortune might change him.
At the same time, they have a tremendous amount of trust in their son, because they`ve watched first-hand how hard he`s worked and how driven he is to be the best. It`s not sinking in, Deborah Logano said, staring at a semi trailer with her son`s name plastered on its side. I`m sitting here sipping my Diet Coke, and I`m looking at the trailer for the first time with his name on it, and it`s just like, it`s not sinking in." It's understandable. Joey is still her little boy. It`s just that to the rest of the racing world, he's the next big thing.
Amanda and Stacy Darling Memorial Tennis Center
Cox Healthy Kids and Family Day is scheduled for Tuesday, March 4, and those attending the tournament can join Mayor Oscar B. Goodman for Fabulous Las Vegas night during the evening of Thursday, March 6. Other scheduled tournament activities at the Darling Tennis Center include a U.S. Tennis Association Women’s Pro Circuit Tournament, Paddle Tennis Championships, the Anthem Country Club Junior Tournament and UNLV collegiate matches. The tournament will also include the High School Tennis Skills Challenge and a Yellow and White Out to benefit the American Cancer Society and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. The Darling Tennis Center is the largest public tennis facility in the state of Nevada, and consists of 23 tennis courts. The main court has stadium seating for approximately 2,800 spectators and will be the venue for the featured and championship matches during the Tennis Channel Open. The complex also includes a pro shop, locker rooms and office space. The tennis center is part of the Charlie Kellogg and Joe Zaher Sports Complex, located on Washington Avenue between Buffalo and Durango drives in Ward 4.
The complex also features 11 lighted soccer fields, three dog runs, two playgrounds, covered picnic areas and a 2.44 mile walking and jogging trail. For more information about the sports complex and all of the recreational opportunities in the city of Las Vegas and those looking for specific amenities at the city`s many parks can visit www.lasvegasnevada.gov/parkfinder.
Qualifiers Six Football Playing Nations in the Oceania Region
Qualifiers sets Fiji in festive mood. Six football playing nations in the Oceania region have gathered here in Fiji`s second city to battle for a spot at this year`s Olympic Games in Beijing. National Under 23 teams from Cook Islands, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and host Fiji will fight out the sole Oceania spot in the world championship. All teams have arrived at this sea-side city on the west coast of Fiji`s main island, just a 30 minutes drive from its international airport in Nadi, trying to acclimatise to the island’s tropical mainly humid conditions.
The qualifiers round robin competition will run for the next nine days, beginning Saturday. Papua New Guinea was the first team to arrive in Fiji seven days ahead of the tournament, heading straight for Fiji’s capital city Suva on the east coast of Viti Levu the main island. There, PNG used some friendly, warm up matches with local clubs to polish up a number of finishing touches ahead of the much anticipated four yearly.
The PNG side also played Fiji Football`s Suva team and were impressive enough to hold the local district side to a 1-1 draw. The Papua New Guineans are being coached by Scotland native and former West Ham player George Cowie. They`re a great bunch of players, very enthusiastic but relatively inexperienced, said Cowie who plied his football trade for the English club from 1978-1983.
No one wants to lose, we`re here to win but whatever the result my players will surely take a lot of positives out of this tournament, he said. Favourites New Zealand has made it intentions very clear saying its here in Fiji for one purpose, which is to win Oceania’s spot in Beijing. Coach Stu Jacobs said while getting his team together from all parts of the world has been a hassle, he is confident of a good performance in the short time that they have trained and come together as a team.
We've had 10 days to try and pull together a side and we have to qualify in Fiji it`s not going to be easy. But we're confident we can get a result against Fiji to get our campaign off to a good start. The squad's come together very well and have worked hard to understand the system we want them to play, said Jacobs. Fiji Football Association chief executive officer Bob Kumar is full praise of the Oceania Football Confederation for allowing Fiji the chance to host a tournament of such magnitude saying that they were anticipating some quality and enterprising football when it kicks off Saturday.
We are indeed very pleased with the way things are going and we anticipate a good outing, he said. His coach Brazilian Carlos Buzzetti who has dropped a number of players that have just returned from a build-up tour of Australia where they won all their games against a number of Australian clubs said he wants to employ a different attacking and defensive play to take on the region`s best in that age group. Fiji`s campaign will be spearheaded by Ba and New Zealand`s Waitakere United player Osea Vakatalesau.
The flamboyant Vanuatu side on the other hand are still on a high after their 7-0 drubbing of one of their senior premier teams Yatels before they came to Fiji. Vanuatu actually has a captain who is no stranger to Fiji as it is led by former Suva rep Joseph Nimariau. Cook Island coach Tim Jerks is excited and realistic about what his players can achieve in the tournament. We will go into every game with a positive outlook, while also being realistic about what we want to achieve, said Jerks.
Our goals for the tournament are performance based. It`s necessary for the development of our game to put ourselves out there and this tournament will be a good measure to find where we`re at. Solomon Islanders meanwhile will be bolstered with the inclusion of star players who have also played in Fiji, Alick Maemae and former Suva student Benjamin Totori. Australia last represented the Oceania region to the Athens Olympics in 2004 after winning the Oceania Football Confederation by beating New Zealand. Australia has now moved to the Asian football circuit, throwing the Oceania qualifier spot wide open, although New Zealand is starting as a strong favourite. The All Whites will open the qualifiers Saturday meeting the host Fiji on Lautoka`s Churchill Park.
US Youth Soccer Regional Championships Set for 2008 Honolulu (HI)
US Youth Soccer Regional Championships Set for 2008 Honolulu (HI), to Host Regional Championships Storied national championship to increase field from 48 to 56 in 2008 with the US Youth Soccer National League US Youth Soccer is proud to announce the dates and locations for the 2008 US Youth Soccer Regional Championships, the second leg of the US Youth Soccer National Championships Series, the country's most prestigious national youth soccer tournament. After another banner year in 2007, the regional tournaments will be held in Honolulu, Hawaii; Portland, Maine; Raleigh and Wilson, N.C. and Rockford, Ill.
The US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides over 185,000 players on more than 10,000 teams, from US Youth Soccer's 55 State Associations, the opportunity to showcase their abilities against the best in the nation while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play. The Series is a yearlong competition that begins with the US Youth Soccer State Championships. State champions and selected wildcard teams through US Youth Soccer Regional Leagues advance to compete in one of four US Youth Soccer Regional Championships. The champions in the Under-14 through Under-19 age groups from each regional event will converge for the US Youth Soccer National Championships.
In 2008, the storied US Youth Soccer National Championships will expand its current field from 48 to 56 teams. The newly formed US Youth Soccer National League, which begins play this fall, will send its inaugural champion and finalist to the US Youth Soccer National Championships in the Under-15 and Under-16 age groups, expanding these age groups from four to six teams. The US Youth Soccer National Championships cap a yearlong series of events for the top soccer teams in the country, said Jim Cosgrove, executive director for US Youth Soccer. These teams are showcasing not only their soccer abilities but their abilities as youth to set and achieve goals that will assist them on and off the field of play. As they earn their way from state to regional play they are earning tremendous opportunities.
Annually the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides the nation`s top collegiate coaches with the premier stage to identify and scout the most coveted players in the country. In 2007, over 600 coaches attended the US Youth Soccer Regional Championships including the top 25 men's and women`s programs based on the final 2007 NSCAA/adidas National Rankings for NCAA Division I schools. The chronological dates and locations for the second and final legs of the 2008 US Youth Soccer National Championship Series events are: 2008 US Youth Soccer Region IV (West) Regional Championships
Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park – Honolulu, HI (Island of Oahu) June 16-22, 2008 To learn more about the US Youth Soccer log on to www.USYouthSoccer.org, for more about the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series log on to http://championships.usyouthsoccer.org, the online home for the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, providing the latest in news, information and more.
About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer) US Youth Soccer The Game for ALL Kids is the largest youth sports organization in the country and largest member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body of soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer registers more than 3.2 million players annually, ages 5 to 19, and over 900,000 administrators, coaches and volunteers in 55 member state associations. US Youth Soccer programs provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game. For more information, visit www.USYouthSoccer.org. Media Request: When referring to the United States Youth Soccer Association, the largest youth sports organization in the United States, please refer to the association only as US Youth Soccer, and never USYS or USYSA. We appreciate your cooperation.
The world`s top 44 surfers have Converged on Tavarua Fiji Islands
Bainimarama assured that the water sport would soon gain prominence as a professional sport in the country. In Fiji, although surfing is yet to gain prominence as a professional sport, this surface water sport of wave riding has tremendous potential for our people, he said. The Local Fijian Wildcard Globe Pro Fiji Trials conducted by this resort for locals as a lead up to this event has encouraged local surfers to actively train and participate in this sport. The finals which we will witness today will enable the winner, a local, to participate in the main event against the world`s best. This is a good start for Fiji. Commodore Bainimarama said that like Fiji`s sevens rugby, local surfers will one day be counted with the best in the world. He also assured participants will get the best hospitality at Tavarua Resort and wished them well. This is Fiji at its best. I wish you all an exciting and memorable World Pro Surfing Championship and may the best wave rider win, he said.
Those of you who are visiting our shores, I extend you a very warm welcome to Fiji. I am told that in 2005, the Globe Pro Fiji event was voted by competitors as the best in the world and we are indeed humbled by this. The Globe Pro Fiji Wave Surfing contest at Tavarua is being aired live across the globe in many countries registering as many as 15.3 million viewers this time round surpassing last time figures of 9.3 million. The competition will be held over two weeks.
Tyneside United Soccer Club of Las Vegas
Tyneside United Soccer Club is an American soccer team, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, and is arguably the most successful soccer club in Nevada. Tyneside first got its start competing in the Las Vegas Premier Soccer League and were the reigning champions, winning the Premier League Title six (6) consecutive years in a row. In 2002, they became the first Nevada club to win the USASA Region IV National Cup Championship, and they represented the state at the National Finals in Oakford, Pennsylvania. In 2003, its members established a semi-professional team, the Las Vegas Strikers, who competed in the National Premier Soccer League in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006.
Tyneside United is now a member of the Las Vegas Major Soccer League, which is affiliated with the United States Amateur Soccer Association (USASA). The league has been established in the Las Vegas community for over over two decades and the level of competition continues to grow each year. The league is comprised of some of the best local amateur men's club teams in Nevada and compete weekly from September to May. Tyneside United participates at the highest division level available. The team is comprised of former collegiate All-Americans, players with previous professional experience, players with international experience, as well as up and coming players who are recent college graduates.
After only one year in existence, Tyneside United captured the State Championship title and proceeded to capture the USASA Region IV Championship title in Salt Lake City, Utah. The squad earned the privilege of representing the Western States in the U.S. National Finals in Oakford, PA in 2002. The goal of the organization is to provide the Las Vegas area with a display of quality soccer at the highest level, while at the same time showcasing their local talent and providing an opportunity for that talent to advance through the U.S. soccer system. This past year the club received radio coverage on the local AM Station affiliates, plus newspaper coverage both at home and on the road. Tyneside United hopes to continue its success and establish a reputation for the club.
Phillip Detmer and Jeff Canarelli have been co-managers of the club since 2001, when they took over the then Las Vegas Arsenal soccer team. Las Vegas Arsenal Days 1996-2001. Tyneside United started its existence as Las Vegas Arsenal in 1996, founded by former Cal State Northridge standout Steve Lazarus and some local UNLV college grads. Arsenal competed in the Las Vegas Premier Soccer League. The team won the Las Vegas Premier Soccer League in 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000 before folding the team mid-season during the 2001 season.
Arsenal's first ever kits were red jersey tops, with black shorts and white socks. Their alternate kits were green jersey tops. Arsenal also won several out-of-state tournaments during this period, including the Arizona Copper Cup tournament (defeating Banat Arsenal 5-0 in the final) and their best run in the Silver Mug Invitational Tournament was the Quarterfinals in 1998, losing to San Diego Surf 1-0.
Hollywood United LA Legends Qualify Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Even though the LA Galaxy missed out on their bid to qualify for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with their 1-0 loss to Colorado on Tuesday, two clubs for the Los Angeles area have made it into the tournament. Amateur side Hollywood United will face the USL1 Portland Timbers in a first round game on June 10 at PGE Park in Portland, Ore, while the LA Legends of the Premier Development League will host Crystal Palace Baltimore at Cougar Stadium.
Hollywood United clinched a berth as one of eight teams from the U.S. Amateur Soccer Association, while the Legends are one of eight teams from the PDL. The winners will advance to the second round June 26. The third round is set for July 1, when the second-round winners will face eight MLS team. The quarterfinals are scheduled for July 8, with the semifinals Aug. 12 and the Open Cup final Aug. 24.
Applications to host and hosting proposals received from each club determined Open Cup home teams. Teams will host matches through the quarterfinals of the tournament, with possible venue sites for the second round to be announced next week. The eight MLS clubs qualifying for the competition in the third round to face the winners from the second round. The Division I teams will be added to the tournament bracket based on geographical considerations after the first round is completed.
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British expats who frequented an English-style pub on Sunset Boulevard Now boasting more stars than its professional rival across town, the LA Galaxy, it is nicknamed 'the Chelsea of LA' - though even Chelsea players don't travel to games in their goalkeeper's private jet. Hollywood United's players came to Los Angeles for different reasons: many to make a career in Hollywood, others simply to retire in a place where the sun always shines. Frank Leboeuf, the French 1998 World Cup winner, now a United midfielder and occasional coach, said, 'When I was a kid, I loved going to a match with my boots knotted around my neck, and that's what I found with Hollywood United. I found a family here. It's about our love of the game.
Ben Sigmund, Duncan Oughton, Jeremy Christie and Chris James all included in the squad. "This squad has never been together but what do you do given the restraints we have to work under?" Herbert said. "I can't wait to get the campaign started. And I certainly don't want it to end as quickly as it did last time." The Oceania champion automatically qualifies for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa as well as a World Cup playoff against Asia's fifth-ranked qualifier in June-July 2009.
While playing soccer at Rugby School of England in 1823, William Webb Ellis picked up the ball in his hands and ran with it. This sparked an interest, leading to the creation of rugby. Cambridge University immediately adopted the game, popularized it and made local rules. The game grew popular at area schools and in 1871, ten years after the common rules of soccer were set, the first Rugby Union was founded in London and firm rules of the game were established.
Andre explained that he?d given away the first-winning racquet to a friend all those years ago and the friend returned it just 48-hours before this year?s benefit, saying it should be auctioned. Suddenly, Andre?s wife stepped in and, to his surprise, said, "They shouldn?t leave our house. They are too special. She bid $360,000 of her own, and won them back for the Agassi-Graff household! Other auction items included a 2007 Mercedes CL550, not yet available in the United States, and first-class accommodations for four to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival accompanied by a private cooking experience with Emeril Lagasse. Our Caesars Palace headliner Sir Elton John?s private Oscar party brought in a winning bid of $55,000 and an African safari with fighter jet red fetched $151,000!
...Hello Soccer Supports and Fans, Please allow me to introduce myself; my name is Lalla Rupan. This letter is to welcome the Fiji National Soccer Team on their second trip of the US tour. Fiji last toured the US in 1990, so this tour is some 17 years later. The last tour was led by Dr Sahu Khan as president, Late Chandra Dip Sharma as team director, Dr Hari Kewal as manager, Late Mani Naicker as coach and Zulfikar Khan as assistant coach.
During 1990, we did not have the benefits and convenience of emails corresponding but we did have fax, which was a plus on both ends to submit photos of players and game rosters. Our total cost of the first tour came to over $90,000, for the 2 weeks stay. We made sure that we took care of hospital bills, transportation, hotel, food, sight seeing of the greater California and Reno Nevada regions. We did get many threats from Community and for that reason; we made sure that strong securities were provided for the safety of our Fiji National Team and officials. Not to forget to mention, a very poor gate taking from the community during all the games. On the 11th hour Fiji Canadian soccer association Mr.Sikandar Khan refused in taking any part of this tour or inviting for a game and in his statement he coded he has nothing to do with Fiji Tour. In addition, on top of all that we had received phone threats to stop the tour. We at the Fiji Soccer League made sure that while they were our guest, the Fiji National team did not pay anything out of their own pocket. Looking back 17 years I ?m proud and glad of the decision I made. Fiji Soccer League made history and a relationship to build a bridge for the community so we can call this a second trip of our Great National Team to tour the wonderful land of opportunities. My sponsorship towards the National Team in 1990 was a good cause and it was a donation towards the Fijian Community.
