Northern California youth soccer advocates, including Santa Clara Youth Soccer League President Tino Silva, have launched Stand Up for Santa Clara, in response to the San Francisco 49ers failure to make good on their promises to underwrite new soccer fields to compensatefor using the Santa Clara Youth Soccer Park across the street from Levi’s Stadium for […]
Section 2 Around the Net
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Cal South TOPSoccer Program Turns 25
“We’re all soccer players, special needs or not,” says Sandy Castillo, chair of the Cal South TOPSoccer program, which is celebrating its 25th season of enabling children and adultswith special needs to be engaged in soccer. Castillo has coached youth soccer since 1985 and TOPSoccer since 1991. To adjust to everyone’s skill level, the rules […]
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How Neymar Played in Childhood
Neyrmar: “I used to pick up the ball, set up the furniture and go around dribbling anything that popped in front of me. I felt complete with the ball at my feet; there is no other way to describe it.”That’s one of the insights from Ahmed Shahin‘s detailed account of the Neymar’s early soccer playing. […]
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Roma Partnering with U.S. Youth Clubs
Italian Serie A club Roma, which has American ownership, aims to forge partnerships with seven U.S. youth clubs, including U.S. Soccer Development clubs Clearwater Chargers, Pateadores, FC GreaterBoston Bolts, Real Colorado and Vardar. “Given our ownership, our management, the United States is a top priority for AS Roma, not only in terms of building a […]
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LVG: Falcao "Has to Prove Himself"
Manchester United coach Louis van Gaal has responded to criticism over dropping Radamel Falcao by claiming that the Colombian international “has to prove himself.”Speaking to the press ahead of United’s trip to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, the Dutchman said: “For the manager, it is the quality of the training sessions, the quality in hisperformances […]
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Report: Adidas to Assist Messi Move?
According to Spanish sports daily AS, Lionel Messi’s sponsor Adidas could be the key to the four-time Ballon d’Or winner leaving Barcelona. The paper claims to have areport from the brand that says some 70 percent of people associate Messi with Nike and not Adidas, since Nike sponsors the Catalan giant. As such, Adidas thinks […]
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Toure Admits Man City Future in Doubt
Speaking ahead of the opening games of the African Nations’ Cup in Equatorial Guinea this weekend, Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure, who recently won the 2014African Footballer of the Year award for a record fourth time in a row, reveals that his future with Manchester City, his club team, is uncertain. Asked where he would […]
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Ronaldo Blasts 'Defensive' Atleti Tactics
Cristiano Ronaldo blasted Atletico Madrid for its unattractive style after the Rojiblancos ousted Real Madrid from the Spanish King’s Cup in the round of 16. Two early goals fromFernando Torres, one scored in each half, sealed Real’s fate, though Atleti’s 2-0 lead after the first leg at the Vicente Calderon ultimately proved to be the […]
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Fabian Johnson's 'Spat' with 'Gladbach Coach Favre
According to Bild, USA defender Fabian Johnson is in a “spat” with Borussia Monchengladbach coach Lucien Favre regarding his favorite position. In commentspublished by the German paper last weekend, Johnson admits that he has endured a disappointing first half of the season with the Foals, starting just seven games out of a possible 29, adding: […]
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Serie A to Introduce Goal-Line Technology
Serie A will introduce goal-line technology next season after the Italian soccer federation (FIGC) gave its go ahead on Wednesday. England’s Premier League successfully pioneered the systemin league soccer after it was first adopted for last year’s World Cup in Brazil and the German Bundesliga voted in December to bring it in next year, too.