It's back.. 29 April - 5 May
"J-League Thunders"
Most of this week's column is a report on the resumption of the J-League, after a month off post-earthquake & tsunami.
Both J-1 and J-2 resumed on the weekend of 23-24 April. A lot of interest centred on the match featuring Vegalta Sendai, as Sendai was the city that bore the bulk of the impact of the disaster. On the day, Vegalta defeated Kawasaki Frontale 2-1.
Other results were:
Omiya Ardija 0-1 Kashiwa Reysol
Ventforet Kofu 1-1 Vissel Kobe
Shimuzu S-Pulse 1-0 Fukuoka
Urawa Reds 3-0 Nagoya Grampus
Montedio Yamagata 0-0 Cerezo Osaka
Albirex Niigata 1-1 Jubilo Iwata
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 4-1 Gamba Osaka
Defending champions Kashima Antlers followed up a mid-week draw with Korean heavyweights Suwon in the ACL by defeating Yokohama F-Marinos 3-0
Following their decision to with draw from the Copa America, the JFA has worked quickly to arrange friendlies for the national team. Japan will host the Kirin Cup in June, playing against Peru and the Czech Republic. The schedule is:
Japan v Peru (June 1, Niigata)
Peru v Czech Rep. (June 4, Nagano)
Japan v Czech Rep. (June 6, Yokohama)
Japan's coach, Alberto Zaccheroni says these friendlies will be very important preparation for Japan's World Cup qualfying campaign, which will begin in September. (Rounds 1 & 2
are being played in June and July, but Japan are seeded into Round 3)
Former Hong Kong international midfielder, Cheung Sai-ho, committed suicide by jumping from his 36th-floor apartment in Tin Shui Wai district of Hong Kong on April 22nd. The 35-year old, who was one of Hong Kong's best known players, killed himself after arguing with his wife over money and their relationship.
Cheung was capped 56 times for Hong Kong, scoring 8 goals. He retired from playing in 2008 due to injury. He was Hong Kong's Footballer of the Year in 2003, and holds the world record for the fastest goal, scoring after just 2.8 seconds in the 1993 Portsmouth Cup.
Bob Houghton has stepped down as coach of India's national team, after the AIFF dropped racism charges against him. The Briton was alleged to have directed racist remarks at Indian 4th Official Dinesh Nair during a friendly against Yemen last year. The AIFF said there wasn't enough evidence to support the claims, but Houghton had decided to resign, despite having a further 2 years left on his contract. The AIFF thanked Houghton for his efforts in his 5 years as coach of India. Houghton thanked the AIFF for the opportunity of working with the national team. Houghton, who previously coached China, took the reins in India in 2006. He has been under fire since India's poor performances at this year's Asian Cup in Qatar, and after making negative comments to the press about the adminstration of Indian football.
South Korean captain, Park Chu-Young, is set to get married in mid-June. He met his future wife when they were students together at Korea University.
Finally, Thailand's Surat Sukha featured in Melbourne Victory's first win of their current Asian Champions' League campaign. Despite Surat being sent off for a second yellow card, Melbourne defeated China's Tianjin Tieda 2-1
wolfman2011-05-08 20:17:30