Hank Steinbrecher, Secretary General of the United States Soccer Federation from 1990 to 2001, received the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Honor Award, becoming the 64th recipient since its inception in 1942. At the award presentation in Philadelphia, Cliff McCrath tribute speech detailed Steinbrecher's contributions to American soccer.By C. Clifford McCrathEach year the Honor Award is given to a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America who has tenure of at least 20 years meritorious service to soccer and is known by his or her products, writings or assistance to the NSCAA.Nominations and selections are submitted to …

Winners:SAMUEL ETOÆO confirmed his status as AfricaÆs best player with five goals in CameroonÆs three group games. The Barcelona starÆs spectacular form helped the Lions win all three games and move into FridayÆs quarterfinals against Ivory Coast, which knocked them out of the 2006 World Cup finals. EtoÆo has a shot at ZaireÆs Mulumba NdayeÆs single tournament record of nine goals and needs only three goals to match Ivory CoastÆs Laurent PokouÆs career record of 14 tournament goals.Led by 24-year-old captain Pascal Feindouno, a veteran of eight seasons in the French First Division, GUINEA has been the surprise of the …

U.S. international defender Cory Gibbs has left Feyernoord, which deemed him expendable while he was out with a knee injury, for fellow Dutch Eredivisie club ADO Den Haag, where he joins American John O'Brien. Gibbs, 26, who previously played for Dallas and Germany's St. Pauli, played 15 games for Feyenoord during the 2004-05 season. University of Maryland senior defender Chris Lancos, 21, has signed an amateur contract with German First Division club Kaiserslautern to play for its Third Division team. ... New Yorker Peter Philipakos, 23, has left Greek First Division champion Olympiakos for Greek Second …

After a 0-0 tie with Canada in the U.S. 2006 opener, Landon Donovan sharply criticized the performance of many players, including his own. He has much better reviews of the 5-0 thumping of Norway last Sunday at Home Depot Center. Interview by Ridge Mahoney in Carson, Calif. SOCCER AMERICA: Was this result as good as it looked or as the scoreline would indicate? LANDON DONOVAN: You win 5-0, and you play extremely well, and it's like, 'OK.' But to win 5-0 and dominate everywhere, [we] kept the ball, moved the ball well, got dangerous chances, …

Group A Jan. 20 in Cairo Egypt 3 (Mido 18, Abu Treika 23, A.Hassan 78) Libya 0. Jan. 21 in Cairo Ivory Coast 1 (Drogba pen. 39) Morocco 0. Jan. 24 in Cairo Ivory Coast 2 (Drogba 10, G.Toure 41) Libya 1 (Khames 41). Egypt 0 Morocco 0. Jan. 28 in Cairo Egypt 3 (Moteab 9, 69, Abu Treika 60) Ivory Coast 1 (A.Kone 43). Libya 0 Morocco 0. Final Standings: *Egypt 7 points; *Ivory Coast 6; Morocco 2; Libya 1. Group B Jan. 21 in Cairo Cameroon 3 (EtoÆo 20, 39, 78) Angola 1 (Flavio pen. 31). DR Congo …

Vegas CupJan. 13-16NevadaUnder 19 Boys Mountain1st. Sereno Blue, 2nd. Colorado Storm White, 2nd. Orem.Under 15/16 BoysMYSC Blue 4 Reno Moondogs 2Under 14 BoysNLV Emerald 3 Tustin Utd. 0Under 14 GirlsIrvine Strikers Red 4 Colorado Rush Swish 0Sereno ClassicJan. 13-16ArizonaUnder 14 Boys GoldDel Mar Sharks White 3 North County United Blue 0Under 14 Girls GoldSereno White 1 Chicago Wind National White 0Celtic CupJan. 21-22CaliforniaUnder 14 Boys St. PatrickSFSYL Barcelona 2 Celtic Harps 1Under 14 Boys ShamrockVUSC Blast Red 4 Juventus Monarcas 2Under 14 Boys HarpsRB Renegades White 1 Flyers AUSC Jaguars 0

Hank Steinbrecher, Secretary General of the United States Soccer Federation from 1990 to 2001, received the 2005 National Soccer Coaches Association of America Honor Award, which dates back to 1942.1942 - Tom Hamilton, Administrator 1943 - Thomas G. Taylor, U.S. Naval Academy 1944 - John D. Brock, Springfield College 1945 - All coaches serving in the U.S. Armed Forces 1946 - G. Randolph Manning, Administrator 1947 - Douglas T. Stewart, Universiry of Pennsylvania 1948 - James A. Walder, Referee 1949 - William Jeffrey, Penn State University 1950 - George D. Ritchie, Wethersfield High School 1951 - Thomas J. Dent, Dartmouth …

Playing with 10 players, the USA rallied from a goal down to defeat Canada, 3-2, and win the CONCACAF U-20 WomenÆs Final Qualifying Tournament. The wild match saw an early goal from Amy Rodriguez in the eighth minute, but the Americans lost central defender Carrie Dew to a red card just 41 minutes into the match leaving them to play the entire second half a woman down. Canada scored two goals in a five-minute span to take the lead in the 61st minute, but the USA rallied for an equalizer by substitute Jessica Rostedt in the 72nd minute. Tim SchulzÆs …

By Ridge Mahoney in Carson, Calif. It was polished play, not a somewhat ballyhooed midfield diamond formation, by which the USA pummeled Norway, 5-0, in its second match of 2006. A team of mostly players on the World Cup bubble flew at the Norwegians from the first kick, scored twice through Taylor Twellman in the first 17 minutes, and eventually finished with an astonishing 24-2 advantage in shots. Twellman made it a hat trick in second half. In the alignment deployed by Coach Bruce Arena, Clint Dempsey played a tucked-in role on the …

Taking the drilling and screaming out of youth soccer will make the game more enjoyable and create better players. By Mike Woitalla, Executive Editor Soccer America MagazineLetÆs take the approach so many adults bring to youth soccer to other childrenÆs activities.Take a bunch of 6-year-olds to the playground, but donÆt let them scamper off to explore the different structures. Make them all line up and wait patiently to take turns on the monkey bars. If one of them wanders off toward the swings, scream at him.Be sure to tell them exactly how they should climb. Yell at the slow ones …

Interview by Mike Woitalla, Executive Editor Soccer America MagazineU.S. national team coach Bruce Arena is confident about his teamÆs preparations, but he says some players must take big strides over the next few months if the USA is to make an impact at the 2006 World Cup.SOCCER AMERICA: If someone wanted to see the best 90 minutes of soccer the U.S. national team played in 2005, which of the 20 games would you recommend they watch?BRUCE ARENA: I think oddly enough, from start to finish, we were excellent against Trinidad in Hartford [a 1-0 win Aug. 17]. And against Guatemala …

By Ridge Mahoney, Senior Editor Soccer America MagazineIn more than a decade as a player and a coach, Dominic Kinnear has become accustomed to changing locations. But the decision by Anschutz Entertainment Group to move the San Jose team to Houston means leaving home. Few who choose to make their living in professional soccer can evade the nomadic existence it often demands, and not even a Northern California institution like Dominic Kinnear is immune.''I moved three times in the five years I was playing in MLS,'' says Kinnear of stints with Tampa Bay and Colorado as well as San Jose, …

Greg Ryan is charged with guiding the U.S. women into a new era of dominance By Mike Woitalla, Executive Editor Soccer America MagazineIn 1967, a 10-year-old Greg Ryan was tossing a football around with his brother in the park across from his Dallas home.A man approached and asked, ''Hey, do you want to play soccer?''''What the heckÆs soccer?'' Ryan responded.The man was Felix Heredia, a Bolivian immigrant who wanted to start a team for his son. Ryan joined. He remembers being able to juggle the ball three times his first practice, but doesnÆt recall the teamÆs nickname.Twelve years later, he …

1836 So bright of those guys in Houston to fix On that cumbersome name: eighteen thirty six. A wonderful year, just great for the Texans But not quite so good for the Mexicans. Sorry senores, no harm intended - Surely our fences are long-since mended? San Jacinto? But you really oughta Forget all about that famous slaughter. Don't let that stop you from helping us out, Turn up to our games and cheer and shout - Come, spend your money, forget the politics, Support your  team - Eighteen Thirty Six! -- Paul Gardner (c)

Burton players complained of rodents after being routed, 5-0, by Manchester United at Old Trafford in a third-round FA Cup replay.''Every time I looked down I saw a mouse,'' Ryan Austin, a defender for the minor league club told the Times of London. ''There were loads of them.''Man U spokesman Phil Townsend said: ''We're between a canal and a railway line, so the amount of debris around here, such as food wrappers, is a source of concern.''But a spokeswoman from the club downplayed the mouse menace in the Manchester Evening News: ''Like all public places, from time-to-time, we do find …