Archive for April 2004
Portrait of a sleeping Beckham to be unveiled
By Charlotte Higgins
LONDON,
APRIL 27.
His waking hours may be full of turbulence and anxiety, as claims and counter-claims are flung around about his personal life. But at least David Beckham can sleep like a baby, or so it would seem from a portrait of the footballer by Sam Taylor-Wood at the National Portrait Gallery in London.
The portrait, simply called David, is a 107-minute film of Beckham slumbering in bed, a drift of blond locks cascading on to a white pillow. Somewhat less eventful than the average Real Madrid match, the film shows Beckham tenderly cradling his head in his startlingly hairy forearms, occasionally stirring to reveal a hint of shoulder tattoo, a nipple or a touch of lower torso.
Beckham (on this evidence at least) has no unpleasant sleep habits, such as snoring or dribbling. His mouth remains firmly closed, though there is the odd twitch of the lips and even the occasional tantalising half-smile.
Sandy Nairne, director of the gallery, said: “It took a long time to arrange, but what turned out to be very simple was that with Real Madrid the players have a training session in the morning, followed by a long siesta.”
Taylor-Wood, who was nominated for the Turner prize, made the work in a Madrid hotel room in January. “He really is asleep,” said Mr Nairne.
Claims about Beckham’s alleged infidelity may have rekindled the debate about privacy and the press, but ironically, Taylor-Wood’s image is almost transgressive in its intimacy. The film is shot at Beckham’s eye level, such that the viewer might almost imagine him or herself lying beside the star. The figure appears strikingly vulnerable.
The image is also unashamedly beautiful. Beckham’s limbs and face are warmly lit, looming out of a Caravaggio-esque gloom. The curves of his musculature and honeyed tone of his skin are sensuously conveyed. This is a David as physically perfect as Michelangelo’s. — Copyright: Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2004
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S’Gor PKNS Beat K’Tan TNB 1-0
Posted on: April 27, 2004
SHAH ALAM April 26 – Selangor PKNS edged Kelantan TNB 1-0 in their Group A Premier League match at the Matsushita Sports Complex here Monday.
Selangor PKNS put themselves second in the standings after Johor with the sole goal through a header by striker Saierul Nizam Siedin in the 45th minute.
Kelantan TNB were given a chance to equalise in the 65th minute when referee Abdul Kahar Abdullah from Sabah awarded them a penalty but the grounder by import Marcel Tyciak was parried by goalie Mohd Azrul Piei.
MEANWHILE in KUALA TERENGGANU, two FA Cup matches between Selangor and Terengganu have been postponed to make way for Malaysia’s Olympics qualifying battle in Iran.
Terengganu FA vice-president Sheikh Tajudin Sheikh Yusof said the third leg first round match, scheduled at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium here on Wednesday night (April 28), would now be on May 8.
The return leg, meanwhile, set for May 11 at the Shah Alam Stadium, would instead be played on June 9, he said.
“The Football Association of Malaysia released the new schedule today. The venues and time, however, remain,” he said.
He said the Terengganu FA sought the postponement as their players, namely Syamsuri Mustaffa, Marzuki Yusof, Tengku Adam Tengku Rosli, Norhisham Hassan and Tengku Alias Tengku Ibrahim, were involved in the Iran meet.
Utusan Malaysia
Manchester United Blanks Charlton
Posted on: April 22, 2004
Manchester United blanks Charlton
LONDON,
APRIL 21.
Gary Neville scored his second goal in three games and set up another for Louis Saha as Manchester United downed Charlton 2-0 on Tuesday to move within a point second place Chelsea. With the title seemingly on its way to Arsenal, which is nine points clear with a game in hand, the race for second place is hotting up.
While Chelsea was losing 3-1 to Monaco in the semifinal of the Champions League, United made up ground on Claudio Ranieri’s men. The Reds now have 71 points and the Blues 72 both with four games to go.
The Gunners, who have 81 with five to play, could clinch the title on Sunday by winning at north London neighbour Spurs if Chelsea loses at Newcastle.
A crowd of 67,477 defied security scares at Old Trafford to see Saha fire the Reds ahead in the 28th minute and Neville added the second in the 65th.
The arrests of seven people in Manchester on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack sparked security fears that Old Trafford was the target and there were extra checks on the fans arriving at the ground. No problems were reported.
The scare also didn’t affect United which had come off a poor 1-0 loss to lowly Portsmouth on Saturday but rebounded in style.
In a typical Reds counterattack, Neville found David Bellion with a crossfield ball and the French youngster’s pace took him to the edge of the Charlton area. Bellion released the ball to countryman Saha who fired home from a difficult angle.
Neville also started the move that led to the second only, this time, he finished it too.
He found Saha 10 yards inside the Charlton half and the French striker returned the ball to the fullback who fired home first time with a low drive.
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East Bengal likely to play in England
KOLKATA,
APRIL 12.
The defending National Football League champion East Bengal is looking to extend its foreign exploits to the English shores.
Having the unique distinction of triumphing in the ASEAN Club championship in Jakarta earlier this season, the city giant is in the process of adding another first to the list — that of playing in a club tournament in England.
According to Club secretary Kalyan Majumdar the team has already received the invitation to defend its ASEAN title but the dates and venues are yet to be finalised. This will be followed by a trip to England in the last week of July where the team will be playing a four-day tournament against opponents like Borrusia Dortmund of Germany, Boca Juniors of Argentina and the host Leicester City.
The offer coincides with the 125-year celebration of Leicester City with which East Bengal signed a three-year agreement for receiving technical support and advice, early this year.
The exact dates and the venue will decided later, informed the club secretary. He said that the club with the objective of improving its performance is also planning to get into long-term contracts with its players from the next season. — Our Sports Reporter
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Real crumbles, but Arsenal & Milan win
LONDON,
APRIL 12.
Europe’s top clubs experienced mixed fortunes on their return to domestic action over the Easter weekend after the shocks and dramas thrown up by the Champions League in midweek.
Real Madrid followed its demoralising midweek exit from Europe’s showcase competition with a crushing 3-0 home defeat to Osasuna in the Primera Liga on Sunday that cost it the top spot.
Arsenal bounced back from a torrid week in which its treble dream was shattered to restore its commanding position at the top of the English premier league.
AC Milan, which like Real had its European ambitions ended when it looked certain to progress, needed a debatable late penalty to ensure it won in Serie A and maintained the nine-point lead.
Real Madrid ended a confidence-shattering week with its first home defeat of the season, a 3-0 rout by Osasuna, which allowed Valencia to go top.
After its shock 3-1 Champions League quarterfinal defeat by Monaco on Tuesday, having gone into the game 4-2 up after the first leg, Real could not have got off to a worse start at the Bernabeu when Valdo scored for Osasuna in the second minute.
Real was 2-0 down by the break and had also lost Brazilian striker Ronaldo due to injury. After the third goal by Moha, the crowd waved white handkerchiefs to signify surrender.
Valencia took over the leadership Real had held since January 19 after midfielder Miguel Angel Angulo’s second-half header earned his side a 1-0 win at Real Zaragoza.
Arsenal ended an exhausting run of four matches in nine days against tough opposition on a positive note, with a 4-2 premier league win over Liverpool on Friday and a goalless draw at Newcastle United.
Arsene Wenger’s side had been chasing glory on three fronts before last Saturday’s FA Cup semifinal defeat by Manchester United and Tuesday’s last-gasp defeat by Chelsea, which ousted the Gunners from the Champions League.
Many thought Arsenal would also crumble in its two Easter premier league encounters but a Thierry Henry hat-trick against Liverpool put his side firmly back on course.
Arsenal was helped when Chelsea could only manage a goalless draw at home to Middlesbrough on Saturday, which meant the north Londoners’s draw at Newcastle extended their lead to seven points.
Champions Manchester United came from behind to beat Birmingham City 2-1 but remained 13 points adrift of Arsenal and six behind Chelsea.
Andrea Pirlo converted an 86th-minute penalty to give Milan a 1-0 victory over lowly Empoli to stay nine points clear of second-placed AS Roma, who beat Chievo 3-1.
After its humiliating 4-0 Champions League defeat by Deportivo Coruna on Wednesday, having gone into the game with a 4-1 advantage, Milan knew it could not afford another slip up if it was to keep on track for its 17th ‘scudetto’.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side looked far from confident, however, before Jon Dahl Tomasson was ruled to have been brought down by Empoli keeper Daniele Balli and Pirlo converted the spot kick. Strikes from John Carew, Antonio Cassano and an own goal by Andrea Barzagli gave Roma victory over Chievo while third-placed Juventus left it late before David Trezeguet secured a 1-0 win over Lazio.
Olympique Lyon made up for its Champions League disappointment; the French champions were knocked out by Porto on Wednesday, by regaining top spot in Ligue 1 with a 1-0 triumph at Racing Strasbourg.
Lyon took over from Monaco, which was unable to match the form showed against Real in the Champions League as it was held to a 0-0 draw at RC Lens.
Werder Bremen needed a late penalty from Valerien Ismael to clinch a 1-0 win at struggling Eintracht Frankfurt and hold on to its seven-point Bundesliga lead. Champions Bayern Munich stayed second with a 2-1 victory over Schalke 04. — Reuters
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Frustrated youth may keep away from South African polls
By Andrew Meldrum
PRETORIA,
APRIL 11.
Ten years after South Africa turned its back on apartheid with its first fully democratic elections, the country returns to the polls this week for elections that are certain to sweep the President, Thabo Mbeki, and the African National Congress back into power.
But Mr. Mbeki’s expected victory masks a problem that is troubling many of the country’s leaders — large numbers of South Africa’s youths have turned away from politics altogether.
Days before the third non-racial elections on Wednesday, it is clear that millions of young South Africans are rejecting the dedication to political struggle that marked their parents’ generation and are opting not to vote.
“I’m not going to vote,” said Beauty Mogwe (26). “I grew up hungry and I’m still hungry. I grew up in apartheid and life is still the same.”
At her home in the crowded Hammanskraal township outside Pretoria, she added: “They say it is democracy, but we still don’t have work. We are still poor.”
Ms. Beauty is a part-time house servant while her husband works at a casino.
“He’s had that job for seven years, but has not moved up. But whites come in and in a few years start earning big salaries,” she said angrily. “My friends feel the same. Things haven’t changed for us. So why should we vote?”
The campaign has not excited the young. The ANC is assured of victory; the only question is whether it will attain the two-thirds parliamentary majority needed to alter the Constitution.
The campaign has been largely free of ethnic violence, unlike the first majority rule elections in 1994 when an estimated 20,000 people died in clashes in KwaZulu-Natal province.
Affluent white youths are also disengaged, unwilling to become embroiled in the political battles that loomed over their parents’ generation.
Walton Pantland (29) is unimpressed with South Africa’s politicians, except for the blazingly outspoken Patricia de Lille of the Independent Democrats, who had a very public HIV test and challenged all other candidates to do the same. —
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Beckham Back In Training
Posted on: April 9, 2004
Beckham back in training
MADRID,
APRIL 8
. Ousted from the Champions League and the Spanish Cup, Real Madrid must quickly regroup after its shocking defeat to Monaco earlier this week to concentrate on the title race in the Spanish Primera Division, its only chance to claim at least one piece of silverware this season.
Madrid, on 67 points after 31 rounds, faces sixth-place Osasuna on Sunday, and will be looking to field a full-strength midfield including David Beckham, who has returned to the team after a skiing break.
Valencia, on 66 points, visits 12th-place Zaragoza on Sunday, knowing that a win there could at least keep the pressure on Madrid.
Boosted, if not exhausted, by its superb 4-0 defeat of European champion AC Milan, Deportivo de La Coruna visits mid-table Villarreal on Sunday in a bid to stay just within reach of leadership contention.
FC Barcelona, in fourth place and with a game in hand, travels to 14th-place Valladolid, hoping to rekindle its winning form after being held to a 0-0 draw by a committed Villarreal at the Camp Nou stadium last weekend.
Beckham appeared determined to return to league action in top form.
He left the French ski resort of Courchevel, where he was vacationing with his family, to undergo a full physical workout at Madrid’s old training ground on the Paseo de la Castellana.
The star midfielder arrived at 4:15 p.m. on Wednesday and was on the field five minutes later. — AP
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Perak FA Launch Official Magazine
Posted on: April 8, 2004
IPOH April 7 – The Perak FA Tuesday night launched an official magazine on their Super League squad in efforts to drum up more fan support for the “silver state” team.
Their president Raja Muda Perak Raja Nazrin Shah launched the magazine at Perak Stadium here before the former Malaysia Cup champions entertained Singapore’s Home United in the Asian Confederations (AFC) Cup.
The game ended in a 2-2 draw.
Perak FA deputy president Datuk Jamal Nasir Rasdi said the magazine also served as a guidebook on the state team.
He said the association were the first among the state FAs to come out with such magazine.
“Initially we printed 10,000 copies at the price of RM10 (each). We will see…we may publish it once in every three months. We will have to see the response,” he told reporters at the stadium.
Jamal Nasir, who is also Perak team manager, said the magazines were available at district football associations statewide as well as the Perak Football Fans’ Club.
Apart from match fixtures of the Perak Super League team, the magazine contains information on the organisation of the Perak FA, their players and sponsors.
Utusan Malaysia
Shirkers To Face The Music
Posted on: April 6, 2004
KUALA TERENGGANU April 5 – The Terengganu football team’s recent run of poor results in league and cup competitions has prompted the Terengganu FA to issue a stern warning to players, including the foreigners.
TFA secretary Abdullah Salleh said the performances of every player would be assessed to ensure their fitness level, committment and consistency.
“We will not hesitate to take action against players who are not committed or fail to contribute positively. There will be no place for shirkers,” he said here Monday.
Abdullah said among the actions proposed are to sideline non performing players from future games.
He said the 1-2 loss to Malaysia Cup champion, MPPJ Selangor, Sunday night could have been avoided if the players had made use of the many chances that came their way.
“It was quite evident that the players, especially the foreigners are weak in attack and failed to capitalise on the chances, especially in front of goal,” he said.
Meanwhile, Abdullah said the Terengganu-Selangor MK Land match scheduled on April 11 at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium here has been postponed to May 19. The place and kick off time remains the same.
The change was made to facilitate state players to attend centralised training with the national team.
Utusan Malaysia
My Soccer World 