Atlanta Soccer Art Fest

Showing newest posts with label Press. Show older posts Showing newest posts with label Press. Show older postsThursday, April 29, 2010
Press April 5, 2010



For Immediate Release:Atlanta Celebration of Soccer, Art, Music and the Champions League FinalAtlanta, Georgia April 5, 2010: Imperial Pint Football Club (IPFC)in conjunction with the Fusion Design and AtlantaSoccerNews.com are announcing Atlanta Soccer Artfest to be held on May 22, 2010 at the Blue Tower Gallery in downtown Atlanta. The Atlanta Soccer Artfest will be celebrating the Champions League Final while promoting artists from the Atlanta soccer community. The Artfest will commence at 1pm game and will be presented live from Madrid, Spain at 2:30 pm. Following the game, the Georgia Art Exchange, a local art group, will open the exhibit hall to the attendees. Metro Atlanta Artists from the soccer community will be exhibited at the event. The artists' work will be available for sales at the event with all proceeds going to the ASA Artist Fund, a fund established to promote artists from the Atlanta soccer community. The Artfest will go through the afternoon and the evening with live music, Djs and other performers."This is going to be a wonderful event. The timing could not be better. For the first time, we will have the Champions League Final on a Saturday instead on a weekday." Mitch Cherry, curator of the Blue Tower Gallery and Coach of IPFC. " We are excited to bring together the Atlanta Soccer community for a day of celebration in support of our artists" The event will be filmed and distributed by Across The Track Productions.IPFC was established in 2000 and currently has teams playing in the Atlanta District Amateur Soccer League, ADASL, and the Dekalb Soccer League. Fusion Design Group is an award winning design firm that has design many of Atlanta's most beautiful homes. The Event will be sponsored by VIGO Wire Transfers, Crowe Custom Counters, Velocity Screen Printers, G & L Marble, and other businesses.The Blue Tower Gallery located at 675 Metropolitan Pkwy. #1113, Atlanta, GA, 30304 in Adairs Park. For more info go to www.atlantasoccernews.com or go to www.AtlantaSoccerArtfest.comor call 678-391-9153 ###Posted by Atanta Soccer Artfest at 6:09 AM 0 comments
Labels: Press

Champions League final: Tale of the Tape

Two of Europe’s most storied clubs will meet in the Champions League final on May 22 in Madrid (2:30 p.m. ET on FOX) as Germany’s Bayern Munich faces off against Italy’s Inter Milan.

Inter booked its place in the finals by ousting defending champions Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate after a tense encounter at Camp Nou that saw midfielder Thiago Motta ejected en route to a 1-0 loss. Bayern brushed aside France’s Olympique Lyonnais 4-0 on aggregate, with striker Ivica Olic collecting a hat trick on Tuesday to seal their progress.

COACHING COMPARISON

The matchup pits master against student. Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho worked under Bayern manager Louis van Gaal in the early 90s at Barcelona. And in a twist, both men have the chance to do what only two other coaches in history have accomplished.

The late Ernst Happel and former Bayern Munich manager Ottmar Hitzfeld are the only men ever to win a European Cup with two different teams. After this year’s final, they will be joined in the history books by either van Gaal or Mourinho, who both enter with European Cups already on their resumes.

OFFENSE VS. DEFENSE

The match up will pit what is arguably Europe’s most feared attacking trident against the continent’s stoutest defense in a competition that usually rewards conservative tactics. At Camp Nou on Wednesday, Inter demonstrated their twist on the classically Italian defensive style of football, catenaccio, by blunting Barcelona’s attack for a full 84 minutes. Such defensive steadiness and organization is the stylistic hallmark of Mourinho, who led Porto to unlikely European glory in 2003-04 and helped establish Chelsea as an English powerhouse.

Bayern, led by Dutch winger Arjen Robben, boasts an explosive attack. Against Lyon, they were smothering, keeping their front line so high that the French midfielders couldn’t even get a shot on Hans-Joerg Butt’s goal. But Bayern will have to win in Madrid without star midfielder Franck Ribery, who was banned for three games this week by UEFA after a vicious tackle on Lyon’s Lisandro in the first leg of the semifinals.

ANCIENT HISTORY VS. STORIED HISTORY?

While Inter are one of the few teams to successfully defend their European Cup title, they did it over 40 years ago, winning from 1963-1965. Inter’s last appearance in the finals was in 1972, 38 long years ago (it’s worth noting that in the modern era, no team has been able to successfully defend: AC Milan were the last to do it, back in 1988-90).

Bayern is the more storied side, and one of the most successful teams in Europe. The Germans have won the European Cup four times, most recently in 2001, and finished as runners-up three times.

DOMESTIC FORM

Inter is aiming for its fifth straight Serie A title, and currently holds a two-point lead over Roma with three matches remaining. Roma lost to Sampdoria last weekend, allowing Inter to reclaim its place at the top of the table.

Bayern, meanwhile, is locked in a battle for the Bundesliga title with Schalke. The two teams are tied with two matches to go. Bayern can also win the German Cup if they defeat Werder Bremen next month in the DFB Pokal final.

Jamie Trecker is a senior writer for FoxSoccer.com covering the Champions League and European football.

MLS in ATL?

Major League Soccer Team Could Come To ATL
Posted: 3:38 pm EDT April 22, 2010
Updated: 4:13 pm EDT April 22, 2010

NEW YORK -- Major League Soccer hopes to announce another expansion soon, this time to Montreal.

Commissioner Don Garber said the league also would like to return to the southeast, either to Atlanta or South Florida.

The league has 16 teams this season and has added franchises for 2011 in Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2011.

Garber thinks the league will grow larger than comparable first divisions in Europe. While eventually he would like to see relegation and promotion, it's not on the horizon because there isn't a financially viable second division that would be acceptable to MLS owners if their teams went down

MLS News and notes

Seattle Sounders manager Sigi Schmid took roster management in MLS to a new level this weekend.

Schmid chose to deal with two matches in three days by using a lineup rotation with five changes in the 2-0 loss to Toronto on Sunday. One writer called it a gamble that did not pay off.

Toronto FC, meanwhile were lucky not to have one or two players sent off early in the game after a handful of tough fouls marked the first half.

TFC now prepare to face the Montreal Impact in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship this week. The Impact’s ownership clearly see this one as a future MLS rivalry.

Along with expansion announcements, Designated Player signings are believed to be on the horizon. But there should be some real questions about the DPs who are reportedly being targeted. Seattle’s Freddie Ljungberg admits that his former Arsenal teammates are concerned about the pressure of being a DP in MLS. Seriously?

One team awaiting DP reinforcements are the Red Bulls, whose coach admits that 12 points in the first five games are a surprise. On Saturday NYRB started with only three American born players as Danish winger Brian Nielsen made his debut.

The Red Bulls plundering of Scandinavian talent has no end in sight. Next on the rumor list: EPL veteran Olaf Mellberg.

In Philadelphia, the Union say the sun and lights led to Michael Orozco’s hand ball offense which gifted New York their game-winning PK.

While Union head coach Peter Nowak says he is going to take his team to church to pray, there are reports of New York fans throwing rocks at a supporter bus, breaking a few windows.

On the other hand, Kansas City’s Kei Kamara could not hit his target on Saturday. Even English newspaper The Sun has picked up on it and called it “The Miss of the Century.”

The Revs are pointing the finger at the referees when it comes to the way teams are shutting down their right winger, Sainey Nyassi.

One winger with a good performance on the weekend was Robbie Rogers of the Columbus Crew. He says he turned down Guillermo Barros Schelotto when the Argentine offered him the opportunity to take the PK against RSL on Saturday.

While Maurice Edu and DaMarcus Beasley captured another title with Rangers in Scotland, the American duo of Freddy Adu and Eddie Johnson missed out on the Greek Cup as Aris Salonika lost 1-0 in the final. The full Yanks Abroad overview is marred by Jozy Altidore's red card which will define his EPL career for now.

The Mexican league season concluded on Sunday with the crowning of American forward Herculez Gomez as the first ever U.S. player to lead a top-flight league overseas in goals. The Mexican liguilla (playoffs) begin this week with Chivas Guadalajara and their American defender as one of the favorites.

Keano Says No Celtic

20100423.
Keane rules out Celtic move
Former Bhoy backs Lennon for job
Last updated: 23rd April 2010

...
Keane: Out of the running

Related links
Teams
Celtic
Ipswich Town
.Also see
Celtic fixtures
SPL table
Celtic stats
..Ipswich boss Roy Keane has ruled himself out of the running for the manager's job at Celtic.

Keane has been mentioned as a possible contender to replace Tony Mowbray following his departure last month.

The former Republic of Ireland international ended his playing career at Celtic after a short spell in Glasgow and he still has a lot of affection for his old club, but he insists he will not be returning as manager as he is committed to Ipswich.

"I'd be very surprised if you saw me walking through Celtic Park," said Keane.

"I might get there in a few weeks to watch the Old Firm, but that's about it.

Focused
"My new house is nearly ready and I'm focused on my job here. It's dangerous to even comment on other jobs, but I'm very happy here, my family are, we're moving into a new house.

"I've got staff who have moved to the area, they have committed with their families. I came here to do a job and I'm determined to do it and, please God, I get that opportunity.

"There have been ups and downs, and there have obviously been more downs than ups, so we've got to reverse that next year.

"We've got big plans for next year, I want us to be competing and I want us to be competing in the top six, but we need strengthening and I'll know much more over the next few days where we stand on that."

Meanwhile, Keane has backed former team-mate Neil Lennon for the Celtic post on a full-time basis.

Lennon is currently in caretaker charge and he has guided the side to four successive wins in the SPL despite crashing out of the Scottish Cup to Ross County.


Backing
Keane has been impressed by Lennon's impact and feels he is in with a good chance of landing the job.

"Celtic are a bigger club than anyone will ever understand unless they've been involved there," added Keane. "I was there for six months and I had my problems with a few injuries, plus the manager didn't really pick me. The sheer size of the club is staggering.

"Neil has made that point and I couldn't agree more. Hopefully they will get the right manager and I have to say Lenny is doing well.

"He's won four league games but I know they lost in the Scottish Cup. They're having disappointments but that's when you find out who the real supporters are."

Old Firm Tea Part

Old Firm Tea Party! Rangers and Celtic may make history with Boston friendly clash
EXCLUSIVE By Stephen Mcgowan
Last updated at 12:19 AM on 22nd April 2010
Comments (2) Add to My Stories Celtic and Rangers are ready to take the Old Firm experience overseas with a money-spinning pre-season clash in North America.

Sportsmail can reveal that the Glasgow giants are currently considering a lucrative proposal to go head to head in Boston in July, in what would be the first time the bitter rivals have met outside Scotland.

As yet, no contracts have been signed and neither club is keen to confirm details, with sources insisting the proposition is still at the 'idea' stage.

Fox huting: Old Firm stars Brown (left) and Miller could do battle at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough this July
Celtic, however, are already pencilled in to face Manchester United in Toronto on July 16 or 17, while Rangers are considering games in Miami and New York. And with both clubs making the trip across the Atlantic to finalise their preparations for next season, the notion of an Old Firm match-up in July has come from a Stateside promotions company.

The proposed venue for a match is the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. That ground will be familiar to Celtic, who played out a 1-1 draw against New England Revolution in July 2006.

That day, a crowd of just 16,312 watched - but organisers believe the Old Firm rivalry would go some way to filling a stadium with a capacity close to 70,000.

Details have yet to be confirmed but, as both clubs seek to bolster their resources in the midst of a savage economic downturn, the project already has tentative support on both sides of the great Glasgow divide.

Celtic's clash with Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in Canada has been all but confirmed for the Rogers Centre in Toronto, where a 50,000 full house is expected to attend.

The last idea for Scottish clubs to meet on foreign soil came in 2004, when a proposal for an SPL clash between Celtic and Hearts in Australia failed to make it past the drawing board.

North American friendlies have been a lucrative sideline for the Parkhead club in recent seasons, with their last trip ending in a 3-1defeat to Benfica in Canada just last September.

Fans' choice: but Keane (centre) says he is 'embarrassed' to win the award
Meanwhile, Robbie Keane has admitted to feeling embarrassed at being voted Celtic's Player of the Year by fans after less than three months at Parkhead.

The Republic of Ireland striker has scored 13 times since moving on loan from Tottenham at the end of January and collected his accolade at a weekend ceremony.

Keane insisted winger Aiden McGeady should have scooped the prize instead for his displays throughout what has been a disastrous campaign for the club. However, the £65,000-per-week star is grateful for the backing of the club's supporters.

'To be totally honest, I'm a little bit embarrassed by this, I don't think that I really deserve it,' Keane said. 'You have to look at the season as a whole and I think that Aiden has clearly been the best player at Parkhead.
'I'm grateful that the fans have picked me, I'm delighted. I only started playing at the beginning of February and to get an award such as this means a lot to me. When I first came here, I was in a lose-lose situation, to be honest. I was a little bit worried because the expectations on me were huge.
'If I didn't get goals, people would say that I should be scoring. And if I did score, they would say, "Well, he should be scoring goals," with the amount of money that he has been getting.
'I don't really like that but that's football. People keep asking me if I'm glad that I came here and the answer is of course I am. I'm a Celtic fan, it's as simple as that.'

Top Bhoy: Keane says Aiden McGeady deserved the honour
The backing of the fans won't be enough to keep Keane at Celtic Park when his loan deal expires in the summer. The 29-year-old has consistently stated he will return to the English Premier League next season, despite his love for the club he grew up supporting.

But he denied he came to the SPL just to put himself in the shop window after falling out of favour under Spurs boss Harry Redknapp.
'I'm not a footballer who's using Celtic to go to another club because I didn't have to come here,' said Keane.
'I could have played in the Premiership. I could have stayed at Tottenham, who are a top-four team. But I came to Celtic who, to me, are one of the biggest clubs in the world - a club that I've always wanted to play for. I came here for a reason. It wasn't for money or anything stupid like that.

'I want to play for this club and, regardless of whether we're likely to win things or not, it doesn't matter. I have that jersey on and I'm doing my best for the club. I think I've done a good job.'


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1267614/Old-Firm-Tea-Party-Rangers-Celtic-make-history-Boston-friendly-clash.html#ixzz0lvimaaJs

Story from the thestar.com: Johnston asks TFC fans for patience

paul has shared a story with you from thestar.com:

Thought you might be interested in this story.

---

Johnston asks TFC fans for patience

After their team's 1-3 start, Toronto FC fans are demanding an explanation for what's going on.

You can view this story at: http://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/mls/torontofc/article/799055--johnston-asks-tfc-fans-for-patience

World Cup Trophy Unveiled

Sponsored by    * Please note, the sender's email address has not been verified.       The Trophy             Click the following to access the sent link:       World Cup Trophy Unveiled* This article will be available to non-subscribers of the Online Journal for up to seven days after it is e-mailed.       Soccer's World Cup trophy is showcased in South Korea ahead of the upcoming championship in South Africa. Video courtesy of Reuters.                 Get your EMAIL THIS Browser Button and use it to email content from any Web site. Click here for more information.   *This article can also be accessed if you copy and paste the entire address below into your web browser. http://online.wsj.com/video/world-cup-trophy-unveiled/342C70BB-0B10-4FFD-9FE3-09FBF280D5BE.html

Atlanta International Soccer Fest 2010 Launches to Benefit SOS Children's Villages

 Sponsors, volunteers and participants are being recruited for a metro-area celebration, Atlanta International Soccer Fest 2010 www.atlsoccerfest.com, currently being organized to coincide with the soccer matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, June 11- July 11.

The South African-American Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta (SAACOC) and the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern U.S. (GACC South) have spearheaded an initiative to celebrate the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. In an unprecedented show of “soccer solidarity” and friendly rivalry, several bi-national Chambers of Commerce, Consulates, the World Trade Center Atlanta, and community organizations have joined the campaign, which will include soccer matches between the organizations, and game viewing parties at local pubs and sports bars. Donations from several of the events will be awarded to SOS Children’s Villages, with some of the monies going to SOS’ Haiti relief efforts.

The event in-kind sponsor is Realm Advertising (www.realmadvertising.com), and partner organizations include the World Trade Center Atlanta and the Goethe Center (German Cultural Center). V103, Dave FM, WAOK and CBS Radio have signed on as radio media partners. Georgia Soccer (www.gasoccer.com) is supporting this “soccer with a purpose” campaign.

Additional sponsors, who will receive a generous recognition package based on mutual interests, are solicited and will be announced. For additional information on corporate sponsorships, go to www.atlsoccerfest.com.

According to Derrick Jackson, executive director of the South African-American Chamber
of Commerce in Atlanta, “As South Africa prepares to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ this summer, and Atlanta vies for the games in 2018 or 2022, we are tapping into metro Atlanta's growing enthusiasm for the sport. It’s a perfect way to support SOS Children’s Villages, with its longstanding connection to soccer.”

According to Irene Bailey, president of the Atlanta Volunteer Committee for SOS Children’s Villages, “Soccer and SOS Children’s Villages have had a long-standing relationship. Soccer plays a positive role in children’s lives by contributing to their physical and social development. The Atlanta International Soccer Fest is a great way to bring together the international Atlanta community around a worthy cause.”

More than 88,000 Georgia children and adults play some kind of organized soccer, according to www.atlantasoccernews.com.

For more information about Atlanta International Soccer Fest 2010, please visit www.atlsoccerfest.com.

Preview of Event Schedule:

Soccer viewing events - June 11 to July 11
Premier venues across the city will be hosting game viewing parties. Venues will offer “Soccer Fest” specials with drinks, appetizers and/or entrees. Root for your favorite country’s team and make a donation to SOS Children’s Villages.

Fado Irish Pub 273 Buckhead Avenue, NE Atlanta, GA 30305 (404) 841-0066 www.fadoirishpub.com	Fox Sports Grill - Atlantic Station 261 19th Street Northwest Atlanta, GA 30363-1134 (404) 207-1369 www.foxsportsgrill.com
Luckie 375 Luckie Street, NW Atlanta, GA 30313 (404) 525-5825 www.luckiefoodlounge.com	Milltown Arms Tavern 180 Carroll Street Atlanta, GA 30312 (404) 827-0343 www.milltownarmstavern.net
Stats 300 Marietta Street, NW Atlanta, GA 30313-1632 (404) 885-1472 www.statsatl.com	Queens International Club 6889 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard Norcross, GA 30071 (770) 447-2400

Additional participating Atlanta Restaurants to be announced on www.atlsoccerfest.com.

Soccer Tournaments between consulates, chambers of commerce and other organizations.
A round robin soccer tournament featuring adult teams (age 20+) is currently being formed by Atlanta-area chambers of commerce, consulates, trade and community organizations. Those interested in signing up a team, please contact Irene Bailey at irene@sos-atlanta.org.

Saturday, June 12
For location and schedule please visit www.atlsoccerfest.com. Tournament sign up is $750 per team to cover team jerseys, set-up and stadium costs. The tournament will consist of 16 teams of 12 people per team.

About the Organizations:

SOS Children's Villages is an independent, non-governmental social development organization (501c3) which has been working to meet theneeds and protect the interests and rights of children since its foundation in 1949 in Austria. Operating in 132 countries, SOS Children's Villages provides long-term family-based care for more than 85,000 children who have been orphaned, abandoned or whose families are unable to care for them. To help prevent child abandonment, and to aid families struggling within a cycle of poverty and disease, SOS Children's Villages supports another 600,000 children and their families through family strengthening programs and educational, medical and social outreach initiatives. For more information about SOS Children’s Villages, visit www.sos-usa.org.

Founded in 2009 the South African-American Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta seeks to promote the exchange of business, trade, investment, technology, and culture between South Africa and the United States. We will provide information, services, and programs that facilitate business growth, profitability, and success for members, and support members in developing business opportunities and strategic partnerships in South Africa and the United States. For more information visit www.sa-usabuschamber.com.

The German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern United States was founded in 1978 to promote and support bilateral trade between Germany and the US. They are a private, non-profit organization and serve as the official representative of German trade in the southern U.S. GACC South has been a supporter of SOS Children’s Villages in the past, and donated proceeds from their 2009 Annual Gala to the organization. GACC South and SAACOC are the main organizers of the Atlanta International Soccer Fest 2010. For more info on GACC South visit: www.gaccsouth.com.

 

Forsyth Fusion Soccer Club and Atlanta Soccer Academy Announce Merger to Form the New United Futbol Academy

As a representative of one of Forsyth County’s most successful soccer organizations, the FFSC Board continually seeks ways to offer the best in soccer for our community’s recreational, intermediate and advanced players.  In an effort to increase opportunities and provide an even greater level of service, we are pleased to announce the upcoming merger of the Forsyth Fusion Soccer Club with Atlanta Soccer Academy to form the United Futbol Academy (UFA).

The combined strengths of each organization will provide a superior soccer program at all levels of play, making this already widely popular sport even more accessible. The combined resources of each organization will also enable all soccer players in our community to enjoy soccer at their level of enjoyment and compete at their highest level of ability.

United Futbol Academy will be under the leadership of Iggy Moleka as Executive Director of Coaching, Gaucho Pinho as Executive Director of Specialized Training, Don Schultz as Executive Director of Operations, and Deo Moleka as Executive Director of Development. The leadership team brings more that 46-years of combined experience to the United Futbol Academy in training, development and the operations management of a soccer program.

The combined organizations bring strengths in communications, training programs, and team development as well as strong relationships with the Forsyth County Parks & Recreational Department and other soccer organizations throughout the world.

The Atlanta Soccer Academy and Forsyth Fusion Soccer Club will continue operating through the end of the Spring 2010 season.  No changes will be made with teams or uniforms during this period.

United Futbol Academy will hold combined select tryouts starting the first of June 2010 and all of the current facilities are available for use of this event as well as in the future.  All team formations will be determined for Fall 2010 during this combined tryout process. Anticipated coaching assignments for the Fall 2010 season will be posted in early May.

The United Futbol Academy will be open for registration for both select and recreational programs by April 26, 2010.

The Atlanta Soccer Academy and Forsyth Fusion Soccer Club will cease operations as independent organizations on May 31, 2010.

Additional information is located on the UFA website www.unitedfa.org.  We look forward to serving you and this community for years to come.

Jon Michaud - President, Forsyth Fusion Soccer Club

Informational Meeting - The leadership of United Futbol Academy will hold informational meetings
this Friday, April 23rd at 6:30 pm at Dave's Creek Elementary School
and May 1st at Midway Community Center.
You can find more information by visiting www.unitedfa.org
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlanta Marketing

Game of the week is Inter-Juventus.

Game of the week is Inter-Juventus. Inter is trying to balance Champions League and Serie A. Juve is desperate. Arsenal-Spurs is next as Arsenal tries to steal the league while Spurs go for Champions League glory. Do you think differently? Soccer on TV English Premier Leader Cheslea hosts Bolton on Tuesday. Midweek action also includes Copa Libertadores games. Look for Soccer on TV updates throughout the week. (All times Eastern unless noted. TV programming is always subject to change. Check your local listings.) TUESDAY, April 13 ESPN 2 England CHELSEA-BOLTON (live) 3 pm. ESPN DEPORTES Spain VILLARREAL-GETAFE (live) 4 pm. FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL Copa Libertadores DEP. QUITO-CLUB ATLETICO CERRO (live) 6:30 pm. Copa Libertadores CARACAS-U. CHILE (live) 9:30 pm. GOL TV Italy FIORENTINA-INTER MILAN (live) 2:45 pm. WEDNESDAY, April 14 ESPN2 England TOTTENHAM-ARSENAL (live) 3 pm. ESPN DEPORTES Spain XEREZ-ATLETICO MADRID (live) 2 pm. Spain DEPORTIVO-BARCELONA (live) 4 pm. Mexico PACHUCA-CRUZ AZUL (live) 9 pm. FOX SOCCER CHANNEL England WIGAN-PORTSMOUTH (live) 2:30 pm. FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL England WIGAN-PORTSMOUTH (live) 2:30 pm. Copa Libertadores EMELEC-INTERNACIONAL (live) 6:30 pm. Copa Libtertadores RACING-CORINTHIANS (live) 8:30 pm. FOX SOCCER PLUS England ASTON VILLA-EVERTON (live) 2:40 pm. GOL TV Spain REAL ZARAGOZA-MALLORCA (live) 2 pm. THURSDAY, April 15 ESPN2 MLS PHILADELPHIA-TORONTO (live) 7 pm. ESPN DEPORTES MLS PHILADELPHIA-TORONTO (live) 7 pm. FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL Copa Libertadores CATOLICA-FLAMENGO (delay) 4 pm. Copa Libertadores LANUS-CLUB UNIVERSITARIO (live) 6:30 pm. Copa Libertadores DEP. COLO COLO-CRUZEIRO (live) 8:30 pm. GOL TV Spain ALMERIA-REAL MADRID (live) 2 pm. Spain VALENCIA-ATH. BILBAO (live) 4 pm. FRIDAY, April 16 FOX SOCCER CHANNEL Italy INTER MILAN-JUVENTUS (live) 2:30 pm. FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL Italy INTER MILAN-JUVENTUS (live) 2:30 pm. Copa Libtertadores VELEZ SARSFIELD-DEP. ITALIA (delay) 5 pm. SATURDAY, April 17 ESPN2 England MANCHESTER CITY-MANCHESTER UNITED (live) 7:45 am. FOX SOCCER CHANNEL England BLACKBURN-EVERTON (live) 10 am. England TOTTENHAM-CHELSEA (live) 12:30 pm. England SUNDERLAND-BURNLEY (delay) 2:30 pm. MLS LA GALAXY-REAL SALT LAKE (live) 10:30 pm. FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL England BLACKBURN-EVERTON (live) 10 am. England TOTTENHAM-CHELSEA (live) 12:30 pm. Mexico JAGUARES-CLUB INDIOS (delay) 7 pm. MLS LA GALAXY-REAL SALT LAKE (live) 10:30 pm. FOX SOCCER PLUS England BIRMINGHAM CITY-HULL CITY (live) 10 am. England WEST BROM-MIDDLESBROUGH (live) noon. Italy CHIEVO-LIVORNO (delay) 2:30 pm. England FULHAM-WOLVERHAMPTON (delay) 4:30 pm. TELEFUTURA MLS HOUSTON-CHIVAS USA (live) 4 pm. MLS DIRECT KICK MLS SEATTLE-KANSAS CITY (live) 3 pm. MLS DC UNITED-CHICAGO (live) 7:30 pm. MLS NEW YORK-DALLAS (live) 7:30 pm. MLS SAN JOSE-NEW ENGLAND (live) 10 pm. SUNDAY, April 18 FOX SOCCER CHANNEL Italy SAMPDORIA-AC MILAN (live) 9 am. England PORTSMOUTH-ASTON VILLA (live) 11 am. Italy LAZIO-ROMA (live) 2:30 pm. WPS BOSTON-PHILADLEPHIA (live) 6 pm. FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL Italy SAMPDORIA-AC MILAN (live) 9 am. England PORTSMOUTH-ASTON VILLA (live) 11 am. Italy LAZIO-ROMA (live) 2:30 pm. FOX SOCCER PLUS England WIGAN-ARSENAL (live) 8:30 am. England STOKE CITY-BOLTON (delay) 10:30 am. Italy LAZIO-ROMA (delay) 5 pm. Argentina RACING-VELEZ SARAFIELD (live) 6 pm.

Big Soccer Weekend on TV...where are you going to watch it in Atlanta?

Soccer on TV All 16 teams are in action in MLS Week 3 this weekend, which also features Spain's La Liga El Clasico: Real Madrid-Barcelona, on ESPN Deportes and Gol TV. (All times Eastern unless noted. TV programming is always subject to change. Check your local listings.) FRIDAY, April 9 GALAVISION Mexico ESTUDIANTES TECOS-TIGRES (live) 9 pm. SATURDAY, April 10 FOX SOCCER CHANNEL England HULL CITY-BURNLEY (live) 10 am. England FA Cup Semifinal ASTON VILLA-CHELSEA (live) noon. Italy FIORENTINA-INTER MILAN (live) 2:30 pm. MLS PHILADELPHIA-DC UNITED (live) 6 pm. FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL England HULL CITY-BURNLEY (live) 10 am. England FA Cup Semifinal ASTON VILLA-CHELSEA (live) noon. MLS PHILADELPHIA-DC UNITED (live) 6 pm. Argentina INDEPENDIENTE-SAN LORENZO (delay) 8 pm. FOX SOCCER PLUS England WEST HAM-SUNDERLAND (live) 10 am. Italy NAPOLI-PARMA (live) noon. ESPN DEPORTES Germany BAYER LEVERKUSEN-BAYERN MUNICH (live) 12:30 pm. Spain REAL MADRID-BARCELONA (live) 4 pm. Mexico JAGUARES-CLUB AMERICA (live) 6 pm. TELEFUTURA Mexico QUERETARO-TOLUCA (live) 6 pm. Mexico PACHUCA-ATLAS (live) 8 pm. MLS CHIVAS USA-NEW YORK (live) 4 pm. MLS DIRECT KICK MLS NEW ENGLAND-TORONTO (live) 7:30 pm. MLS DALLAS-COLUMBUS (live) 8:30 pm. MLS HOUSTON-LOS ANGELES (live) 8:30 pm. MLS KANSAS CITY-COLORADO (live) 8:30 pm. MLS CHICAGO-SAN JOSE (live) 8:30 pm. MLS REAL SALT LAKE-SEATTLE (live) 9 pm. GOL TV Germany HANNOVER 96-SCHALKE 04 (live) 9:30 am. Spain MALAGA-SEVILA (live) noon. Spain REAL MADRID-BARCELONA (live) 4 pm. Colombia CORTULUA-NACIONAL (live) 9:30 pm. TELEMUNDO Mexico MONTERREY-SAN LUIS (live) 6 pm. Mexico CHIVAS GUADALAJARA-MORELLA (live) 8 pm. Mexico ATLANTE-CRUZ AZUL (delay) 10 pm. SUNDAY, April 11 FOX SOCCER CHANNEL Italy AC MILAN-CATANIA (live) 9 am. England MANCHESTER CITY-BIRMINGHAM CITY (live) 11 am. Italy SAMPDORIA-GENOA (live) 2:30 pm. WPS SKY BLUE-CHICAGO RED STARS (live) 6 pm. FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL MLS PHILADELPHIA-D.C. UNITED (delay) 1 am. Italy AC MILAN-CATANIA (live) 9 am. England MANCHESTER CITY-BIRMINGHAM CITY (live) 11 am. Italy SAMPDORIA-GENOA (live) 2:30 pm. Mexico PUEBLA-CLUB INDIOS (live) 5 pm. FOX SOCCER PLUS England BLACKBURN-MANCHESTER UNITED (live) 8:30 am. England FA Cup Semifinal TOTTENHAM-PORTSMOUTH (live) 11 am. Italy SAMPDORIA-GENOA (delay) 2 pm. ESPN DEPORTES Netherlands PSV-FEYENOORD (live) 6:30 am. Spain CORUNA-RACING SANTADER (live) 11 am. Spain MALLORCA-VALENCIA (live) 3 pm. TELEMUNDO Mexico PUMAS-SANTOS LAGUNA (live) 1 pm. GOL TV Germany BOCHUM-HAMBURG (live) 10:30 pm. Spain ESPANYOL-ATL. MADRID (live) 1 pm. Brazil SAO PAULO-SANTOS (live) 3 pm. MONDAY, April 12 TBA Soccer on TV for Friday, April 9, 2010

Youth Update: NASA on Fox Soccer Channel tonight at 5PM!

Watch the US Youth Soccer Show premier tonight at 5 p.m. ET on Fox Soccer Channel! Get a preview at http://www.usyouthsoccer.org/the_show/.Our own NASA G12 Elite II is featured as U16 National League Champions.

As Atlanta vies to be a host of the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, South Africa's case shows how soccer's premier event kick-starts growth across sectors.

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa - With crisp white roof panels resembling wind-blown sails, the new Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is a $270 million example of how the world's largest soccer tournament is helping stave off recession in South Africa.

The 48,000-seat venue, which sits across from factories and homes on a lake near the city center, will host eight soccer matches beginning June 11, when the FIFA World Cup comes to Africa for the first time. In the two years before construction concluded last May, the stadium provided almost 7,000 jobs.

For Port Elizabeth, a charming coastal city home to a large sea port and seven major auto makers including Volkswagen, Toyota and General Motors, the timing couldn't have been better. The South African car market contracted by 27 percent last year, leading some companies to lay off workers.

GM now has about 1,000 employees at two soon-to-be-consolidated plants. They will produce nearly 30,000 light trucks in two models this year, up 5-7 percent from 2009 but a far cry from the nearly 75,000 vehicles the plants churned out in 2005, GM officials said.

With the auto industry woes, gearing up for the tournament has provided a burst of energy for the local economy, said Putko Mafani, World Cup marketing director for Nelson Mandela Bay, the metropolitan area of 1.3 million people anchored by Port Elizabeth.

In the short-term, the new stadium will employ thousands of workers, and nearby businesses will see a spike in tourist patronage, he said. South Africa expects more than 400,000 guests, and Americans have bought more tickets than fans from any other country.

Looking longer term, Nelson Mandela Bay will be left with an upgraded airport, better roads and a state-of-the-art venue for concerts, religious gatherings and hopefully (Mr. Mafani is keeping his fingers crossed) a soccer club from the country's premier league.

Port Elizabeth's story is common across the country. Most major cities, from Durban to Cape Town, and nearly every business sector, from hospitality to logistics to private security, have received government funds for improvements to welcome the influx of soccer fans from around the world.

Atlanta is one of 18 cities included in the U.S. World Cup bids for 2018 and 2022. Since hosting the Summer Olympics in 1996, the city has solidified its credentials for hosting big sporting events.

 But it wasn't always so. Before the Games, many didn't think Atlanta could pull off the event. The city had to improve infrastructure and public safety. Every effort was made to help visitors see the city as a destination for global business.

Similarly, South Africa hopes to use the World Cup to showcase its business opportunities and overcome stereotypes, said Donald Gips, U.S. ambassador to South Africa. Crime and corruption are often cited as hurdles for doing business in the country.

 "I think South Africa, while being a very complex country, it's a beautiful country," he said. "The more we can help show Americans the full picture of South Africa the better." 

Infrastructure investment by the South African government limited the length of its recession in 2009 while laying the foundation for incremental growth in the 3 percent range over the next few years, the ambassador said. 

Upgrades include new stadiums, better railroads, "beautiful new airports" and a desperately needed metro system for Johannesburg, the Gautrain, which probably won't be completed before the tournament, said Mr. Gips.

"(The investment) helped cushion the blow of the global downturn, and now consumer demand is starting to pick up here and business inventory is starting to pick up," the ambassador said. "As the global economy turns around, the commodity piece of the South African economy will kick in as well.

Resource-rich South Africa has thriving financial markets and advanced technological infrastructure, but its first-world economy in some areas contrasts with third-world poverty in others. Although its $300 billion gross domestic product accounts for about 30 percent of Africa's economic output, unemployment is chronically high, presenting problems for the government, which plays an influential role in the economy.

United Parcel Service Inc., which offers package delivery services and freight forwarding for importers and exporters in South Africa, will benefit directly from the billions of dollars in infrastructure investment, said Thore Saether, head of operations there.

South Africa's government has long planned improvements, but the World Cup was a "great catalyst" for turning talk to action, Mr. Saether said.

"There seemed to be a lot of government views and ideas on what to do," said Mr. Saether. "(The World Cup) just got everyone focused on dates and times, and they've moved on them."

In Johannesburg, the seat of about half South Africa's industry, it's tough to find a roadway untouched by renovation, especially near Soccer City, a 95,000-seat stadium that will host the opening matches and the finals.

In the township of Soweto, hundreds of workers in hard hats and blue uniforms are putting the finishing touches on the venue, which has been remodeled with an earthy red and brown exterior to evoke the calabash, a gourd traditionally used as a bowl.

Many construction workers are coming from other sectors hit hard by the downturn, like mining, said Sebastian Mathews, a South African consultant and Georgia State University alumnus.

South Africa has the world's largest platinum reserves and production. The metal is used in catalytic converters, which are standard issue in U.S. cars since the 1970s. When U.S. auto sales plummeted, so did jobs at platinum mines, Mr. Mathews said.

In a country where the unemployment estimates range up to 40 percent, the World Cup investment was timely, he said.

"The recession was something we watched on TV. We didn't see it," Mr. Mathews told GlobalAtlanta. "Our stimulus package was called the 2010 World Cup."

For shop owners at the Maponya Mall, that boost hasn't yet come. The modern retail complex, opened in 2007, saw many boutiques close as consumer spending dried up during the recession, said Palesa Mzizi, the mall's marketing manager.

Black business magnate Richard Maponya built the mall in Soweto, a township formed when blacks were forcibly relocated from other areas of the city by the apartheid regime. The idea was to uplift a disenfranchised people.

"We wanted to build a place which was aspirational for the black people, to let them know that they didn't have to leave their home to take part in the growth of South Africa," Ms. Mzizi said.

Most nearby residents still can't afford to shop there, but all of Maponya Mall's nearly 200 stores are black-owned, and they employ hundreds of workers.

During the monthlong World Cup, the mall will stay open 24 hours a day. It expects to double December sales figures, which are usually 25 percent higher than other months because of the Christmas holidays, Ms. Mzizi said.

The Hyatt Regency Johannesburg, a five-star hotel located in Rosebank, a swanky district of shopping malls, hotels and restaurants, foresees a similar upswing after a difficult period.

"It's going to be big for us," Jann Gillet, the hotel's France-born general manager, said of the World Cup.

Sports network ESPN has reserved 150 rooms for the duration of the World Cup, boosting occupancy rates that had slipped from nearly 90 percent to 60-65 percent from the economic doldrums of 2008 to the collapse of 2009, Mr. Gillet said.

An overwhelming proportion of hotel bookings recently have been made by Americans: 83.29 percent, to be exact, he said.

"I didn't know that Americans liked football that much," he added jokingly. While ticket sales in Africa and Europe have been lower than expected, they have surged in the U.S., possibly thanks to the U.S. team's good showing in the Confederations Cup, another FIFA tournament held in South Africa last year.

Still, not all in the tourism industry are looking forward to the World Cup kickoff.

Mary Brooks runs Try Africa Tours & Conferences, a travel company in Johannesburg that brings women, mostly American, to South Africa for "wellness journeys" focusing on spa treatments and other leisure outings.

She has turned down World Cup business. Ms. Brooks, who travels to Atlanta every year to visit her daughter and promote her business, is advising her clients to wait until the high prices of flights and accommodations have subsided.

"Unless they are die-hard soccer fans, I would encourage them to schedule a trip when they could do more and spend more time for less money," she said.

For South African Airways, bookings from international travelers are tracking ahead of expectations, but domestic bookings are slightly behind, said Ian Cruickshank, head of the airline's World Cup preparations.

The state-owned flagship carrier, has flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town from New York and Washington via Dakar, Senegal.

Delta Air Lines Inc. offers daily nonstop flights to Johannesburg from Atlanta all year. The airline is adding a second flight for 15 days during the World Cup.

"We expect flights will be very full for summer travel to Johannesburg based on the strong demand trends we continue to see in the market," said Delta spokesman Kent Landers.

Trevor Williams

http://www.globalatlanta.com