CZECHO’S SOCCER CORNER
Free agent Ronaldo is in Brazil working on his comeback to soccer, while at the same time looking to find a new club for himself. “Flamengo and Manchester City are two options,” Ronaldo said . “But nothing more than that - there is nothing concrete. Man City, loaded with money could be the front runner, but the 31-year-old Ronaldo may decide is time to return to native Brazil and end his career there. He has been recovering since February from a severe season-ending knee injury, and it remains to be seen if he is fully fit to play again.
Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in a match for his native Ghana. He will undergo surgery as soon as the majority of the swelling has subsided; Chelsea posted on their website. Essien was already out of action in EPL because of knee problems, but Ghana’s coach decided to play him anyway and it backfired on him. Ghana was playing Libya in Tripoli and lost 1-0.
México boss Sven-Goran Eriksson was pleased with the 3-0 win over Jamaica for the World Cup 2010 CONCACAF qualifying, but warned about thinking it would be “a walk in the park” kind of qualifications. “It is not easy,” Eriksson said. “There is a lot of work to be done and we have to continue working.” Eriksson took over the Mexican national team last June after being let go by EPL club, Manchester City. This was his third win since arriving in Mexico.
A concrete replica of a soccer goal welcomes visitors to the newly opened cemetery that belongs to Bundesliga’s club Hamburger SV. The cemetery is a short distance from Hamburg’s stadium and graves there will be covered with original grass from the stadium. “We will have the first funeral here in the next few days,”said the club. Now you can be fan not only for life but also continue after you have gone to the other side.
Italian club Napoli was ordered to pay a fine of $14,000 dollars and will have part of their stadium closed for the next four matches. Also Napoli’s fans were banned by Italy’s interior ministry from traveling to away matches for the rest of the season. The whole thing is a result of Napoli’s fan violence during a match against AS Roma last month. Fans vandalised a train and injured several police officers and railroad workers. This is not the first time Napoli’s fans were banned from traveling to away matches.
The current coach of the Italian Under-21 side, Gianfranco Zola emerged as the prime candidate to take over the coaching job at West Ham United. His main opponent another Italian Roberto Donadoni pulled out of the race Tuesday. Zola is expected to be named West Ham’s new coach on Thursday and if he is, he would be the club’s first foreign born coach. Zola played in Premier League from 1996-2003 for Chelsea and is extremely popular among British fans.
