Daily news roundups

Union 5 at US U-23 camp, GK & LB rumors. French champs to play in Philly – not so fast. More news.

Photo: Earl Gardner

Philadelphia Union

Freddy Adu, Zac MacMath, Jack McInerney, Amobi Okugo and Sheanon Williams have all reported to the U-23 Olympic qualifying camp in Florida. More on the camp here.

Covering a scrimmage on Sunday at the U-23 camp, SBI tweeted, “Worst tackle of the half was Okugo on Union teammate McInerney. Best move was Adu no-look meg on Villafana (drew oohs from few fans here).”

In a comment to Saturday’s news round up, alert reader MikeRSoccer linked to a report from an Italian news source linking American goalkeeper Diego Restrepo, currently playing for America de Cali in Colombia, to the Union (English translation here.). An article on MLSsoccer.com repeated the information on Sunday.

On Monday morning, The Brotherly Game linked to a report from French website MLS News linking left back Cedric Fabien, currently with Ligue 2 side Boulogne-sur-Mer, to the Union. (English translation here.)

In case you missed it, MLSsoccer.com wrote about Amobi Okugo’s life-long dream to play in the Olympics on Friday.

Peter Nowak says credit for the signing of Zach Pfeffer and Jimmy McLaughlin “goes to the whole crew at [Youth Soccer Center] and the youth development technical staff with [Youth Technical Directory] Alecko Eskandarian, [Youth Coach] Jim Curtin and [YSC Academy Directory] Iain Munro.”

There was a bit of a flutter on Twitter over the weekend when New York Times soccer writer Jack Bell apparently tweeted that the winner of Trophee des Champions, an annual competition in France featuring the winner of Ligue 1 and the winner of the Coupe de France, would play in Philadelphia. Who they would be playing in Philly was not mentioned but one would think it would have to be the Union. (The original tweet has since been deleted but you can view a French language tweet from SoccerPlusFRon the news and its translation here.) Bell later backed away from the earlier tweets because he had no confirmation as was explained in this French-language tweet, translated here.

Philadelphia Independence

The Independence have announced that they will hold a second players’ combine  January 26-27 featuring players with WPS, W-League, WPSL and college experience. Click here for more information.

Local

Reading United was honored with the Premier Development League’s Communication Award on Friday. The award recognizes the the team as having the best public relations department among the league’s 64 teams across North America. Well done Ryan!

Reading United also learned on Friday that they have officially clinched a spot in the 2012 US Open Cup, which ties the amateur record for consecutive appearances in the tournament. The reigning PDL champions Kitsap Pumas were also awarded their fourth straight entry, tieing the record set by Mexico SC (Fresno, CA) of the United States Amateur Soccer Association in 2002. More on the US Open Cup here.

Bryce Cregan, a youth player from Union-affiliate PA Classics who recently participated in the  US U-15/16 Development Academy camp in Lakewood Ranch, FL, was one of 12 players selected from that camp to train at the US U-17 mini-camp.

You can view photos of the Kensington Soccer Club at the Fall 2011 Awards Banquet for Philadelphia Rec League Teams here.

The Anderson Monarchs feature positively in a report from NPR on the growing epidemic of obesity among African American women.

MLS

SBI ranks potential signings for the Generation adidas class of 2012. MLS is expected to announce the Generation adidas signings sometime this week.

While Goal.com has highlights of the first month of the offseason, ESPN has some storylines for the 2012 season.

The Empire of Soccer lays out why it believes the Cosmos will be the league’s 20th franchise.

The Daily Mail reports that David Beckham is back in England after receiving a letter from the FA “confirming he is one of a select group of players asked about their availability and willingness to play for Great Britain in next summer’s Olympics on his home soil.”

Is Thierry Henry about to rejoin Arsenal for a one month loan?

US

Jurgen Klinsmann is bringing in former Bayern Munich teammate Andreas Herzog as an assistant coach for the USMNT.

Here’s a strangely entertaining with US Soccer president Sunil Gulati.

Clint Dempsey recorded a goal and an assist in Fulham’s 2–0 win over Bolton on Saturday, bringing his record breaking total for goals scored by an American in the Premiership to 38.

Elsewhere

Sporting Intelligence reports that “The former vice-president of Barcelona [Ferran Soriano] has revealed how the club’s previous shirt deal with UNICEF was a ‘strategic decision’ underpinned by a desire for long-term profit rather than any altruism implied by the Spanish giants’ ‘More than a club’ motto.”

The FIFA anti-corruption panel may be expanded. Sunil Gulati is among the nine members of the panel announced so far.

Sepp Blatter will fly to Brazil to meet with that country’s head of state to discuss concerns about preparations for the 2014 World Cup.

The Swiss Football Federation faces the possible suspension from international competition following the illegal fielding of players by Sion. The suspension could result in FC Basel having to forfeit their upcoming Champions League match with Manchester United.

Another match fixing scandal is growing in Italy following the arrest of former Atalanta captain and Italy international Cristiano Doni and 16 others over the weekend.

Following Barcelona’s winning of the Club World Cup on Sunday after they defeated Santos 4–0 comes the news that Morocco will become the first African nation to host the competition that no one cares about. The country will host the 2012 and 2014 tournaments.

One Comment

  1. No way did YSC develop Zack peffer First it didnt really excist when he signed second he was developed mostly by YMS and the ODP program

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