Thursday, July 29, 2010

Why You Should Not Dismiss COPA America 2011 !

After a month of intense competition , the curtains had finally descended upon South Africa with the crowning of Spain as the World Champions . The 2010 FIFA World Cup has thus come to a close . It will be only four years later that we will all shift our attentions to Brazil for the next Edition of soccer biggest showpiece event on the world stage !

For some soccer fans , and to some South American teams in particular , especially after a good showing in South Africa , they will all view the 2011 COPA America Tournament as the next biggest soccer competition to come their way on the calendar . Usually this competition is not expected to attract that many eyeballs and that much attentions as the FIFA World Cup . But with Argentina being the Hosts next year , it is expected that next year's COPA America Tournament will be one huge fixture on the soccer calendar !

And it is set to be the most exciting of all COPA America Tournaments in the history of the popular South American competition ! Argentina as Hosts will be very eager to erase their World Cup failure by clinching the throphy on home soil in front of their own fans !

Brazil , after sacking Dunga as coach will definitely view the COPA America as the perfect chance to bounce back from their World Cup disappointment . Furthermore , to be able to win the COPA America on their arch rival's turf , especially when they will be going into next year's competition as Defending Champions after coming out triumphs in the last Edition three years ago ( ironically against Argentina in the Final ) will go a long way to making up for all the blame that comes with their early World Cup exit .

Bearing in mind that as they will be the Hosts of the next World Cup , they won't have to play any World Cup Qualifiers and this will greatly reduce the number of games that they will be playing for the players to be really seriously tested on a competitive level . The least they will be doing will be a series of Friendly Matches , starting against the United States on 11 August , right up till 2014 when the World Cup commences . Whether that would be sufficient enough for the team to be ready for the Tournament that they will be hosting in four Years time is anybody guess .

So they will be expected to treat the COPA America competition next year very seriously to see where they actually stand after one year and to fine tune and prepare for the Confederations Cup in 2013 and the 2014 World Cup .

Also , with the rise of Uruguay , Paraguay , alongside traditional powerhouses Brazil and Argentina , with four South American teams in the Quarter Finals for the first time in the continent's World Cup History , the former two will be eager to repeat and carry that fantastic form to the COPA America next year and prove that they are indeed on the rise .

So , what all these means is that soccer fans will be in for a real treat and a spectacle of nearly one month of great COPA America Tournament is in store for all of us next year ! If it really does live up to the huge expectations as we have come to expect of the teams and players , this will be one of the best COPA America Tournaments in the history of the South American's showpiece Event !

Argentina will play Hosts to the three weeks COPA America Tournament next July , from 3 July 2011 To 24 July 2011 .

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Why No LIVE Telecast , Mediacorp & Starhub ?

So the Singapore Selection side which made up of mostly Young Lions players gave a commendable account of themselves , losing only by a solitary Chris Eagles goal to Burnley FC in a Friendly Match played at Jalan Besar Stadium last night . A strong crowd of 5100 people turned up to be part of this once in a lifetime rare occasion to catch Burnley FC in action playing at our shores . But sadly though , those who could not make it at the venue were not able to catch this exciting match LIVE on TV yesterday . Mediacorp Channel 5 which had previously shown Liverpool Friendly Match against the Lions Senior Team LIVE from the National Stadium last year , did not telecast last night encounter with Championship side Burnley FC . Neither did any of Starhub Cable TV Sports Channels .

Why was this the case ? Some felt it was due to the fact that it was Burnley FC and not a big household name that the respective TV Stations refused to screen the match LIVE ! While it may be Burnley and not Barcelona , or some other EPL clubs such as Bolton or Blackburn Rovers making their trip here , still due " respect " should be given to them ! After all , they were plying their trade in top League football only last Season and had achieved giant killing victories along the way , over the likes of Man United , Tottenham and Liverpool . If anything , many felt that they were quite unlucky to be relegated to Championship football .

Quite a large number of soccer fans here were visibly disappointed with Mediacorp & Starhub TV no show of the Friendly Match which Lions coach Raddy Avromach even said that it was a chance to see the future of the national side . Most of the players who took to the field clearly treat this Friendly Match as their preparation for the upcoming Asian Games to be held in China this November . But sadly , Singaporeans were not able to rally their support for the young national team playing possibily their biggest game of their lives against a reputable quality team like Burnley FC .

Both Mediacorp Channel 5 & Starhub Cable TV certainly owe the many die hard local soccer fans here an explanation as to why this highly anticipated match was not shown LIVE !

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Catch EPL Clubs LIVE On Starhub Football Channel !

























LIVE & EXCLUSIVE

ON






22 July 2010

LIVE EPL Matches for the upcoming new Season may be crossing over to another platform very soon come next month , but soccer fans here will still be able to catch their favourite EPL clubs LIVE in Action on Starhub TV . Finishing fourth and fifth respectively in the League last Season , Tottenham Hotspurs and Manchester City will be involved in a four days mini quadrangular Tournament , held in the United States . The Barclays New York Challenge will also feature the Home side New York Red Bulls and Portugese Club Sporting Lisbon , which will be their opponents . And it will be a real treat for soccer fans too as it will be LIVE soccer galore early in the morning on both days ( Friday , 23 July 2010 & Saturday , 24 July 2010 ) !


Friday , 23 July 2010

New York Red Bulls vs Tottenham Hotspurs

* LIVE On Starhub Football Channel at 8am ( Singapore Time ) . *


Saturday , 24 July 2010


Manchester City vs Sporting Lisbon

* LIVE On Starhub Football Channel at 8am ( Singapore Time ) . *

  • EPL Pre - Season Friendlies

Not only that , EPL fans can also catch reigning League Champions Chelsea , as well as Liverpool begin their preparations for the upcoming new Season in their Pre - Season Friendly Matches played over this weekend . Chelsea will take on Ajax , which boosts some of the biggest stars from the recent concluded World Cup such as Uruguay Luis Suarez and Holland Goalkeeper
Maarten Stekelenburg and Defender Gregory Van der Wiel . While newly appointed Reds Manager Roy Hodgson will lead his Liverpool side to face German club Kaiserlautern .

So , catch them while you still can on Starhub Football Channel 222 before the Official EPL Season starts on 14 August 2010 , when all matches involving your favourite EPL clubs will only be available on SingTel miotv .


Friday , 23 July 2010

Crystal Palace vs Chelsea

DELAYED on Goal TV 2 at 10pm ( Singapore Time ) . *


Saturday , 24 July 2010


Ajax vs Chelsea

LIVE on Starhub Football Channel 222 at 12am ( Singapore Time ) . *


Liverpool vs Kaiserslautern


LIVE On Starhub Football Channel 222 at 10.10pm ( Singapore Time ) . *


Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Hello Spanish La Liga & German Bundesliga , Goodbye EPL ?























Coming Soon In August

LIVE & EXCLUSIVE

ON







21 July 2010

In just a month's time , soccer fans here will have to get used to watching their favourite EPL clubs in Action on a weekly basis on a brand new platform , that comes with a whole lot of new viewing experience , as beginning from this Season onwards , LIVE EPL Matches will be shown on SingTel miotv , instead of on Starhub Football Channel . Under the broadcasting rights , this will remain so for the next three years till Year 2013 ( 2012 / 2013 Season ) , for which the teleco company paid an estimated price of 400 million for it . But the question is , is it really worth that much money , now especially with the World Cup that has just concluded ?

Also , is it still worth making the switch over too , if u were previously a Starhub Cable TV Subscriber , just for the sake of nine months of EPL ? A number of soccer fans here are beginning to have their doubts too . And some are not about to make the switch just yet , and are adopting a wait and see approach . And they sure have their reasons for doing so .

The England national team crashed out of the World Cup at the Round of 16 Stage to Germany , and by a big margin too ( 4 - 1 ) . Secondly , the big name stars who ply their trade in the EPL , and who were expected to perform on this big stage all failed miserably . Wayne Rooney who have been firing all season for Man United did not manage to register a single goal to his name . Steven Gerrard , besides scoring the opening goal in the opening group match against the USA , fired blanks for the Three Lions for the rest of their matches . Jermaine Defoe only scored in England's last World Cup match ( in the Round of 16 Clash against Germany) . Frank Lampard could have his name on the scoresheet too in the same match , but it was to be a case of ' the goal that wasn't ' as all the referees unbelievably did not see the ball having crossed the goalline , and denying them the equaliser , which would have put them level at 2 - 2 going into the halftime break . Other that that , the England team were simply woeful and disappointing , to say the least .

Compare this to say , the Spanish League - the League which very often was being rated second best by many fans here in Singapore behind the EPL , now boost a team we can all proudly call world champions - Barcelona , with seven first team starters playing for that club . And that figure could very soon increase to eight or even nine , if rumours of Cesc Fabergas and Fernando Torres joining them from Arsenal and Liverpool respectively turns out to be true .

Even their catalan rivals - Real Madrid now have a big name Manager in Jose Mourinho this Season , a man who never fails to create miracles and making the impossible happen wherever he goes ! They also had a golden glove winner in goalkeeper Iker Casillas , and not forgetting Diego Forlan , whose superb goals saw Uruguay make it to the semifinals and eventually finishing fourth . He was joint top scorers with five goals and also won himself the Golden Ball Award . He had really continued with his impressive club form onto the world national stage , helping Atletico Madrid to the Europa League throphy and now to international honour for his country .

Even the German League suddenly becomes a much more interesting League to follow this season thanks to the German national team outstanding performance in the World Cup . And so , it is also of no surprise that very often Starhub Cable TV in their promo for the two Leagues that they will be carrying on their platform this year are constantly raving and seemed really proud of the achievements by the Spanish and the German national team in South Africa .

Now it seems that Starhub TV is indeed having the last laugh with what they are left with , hoping that with such great showing at the World Cup , they will be able to attract new fans , more viewers to follow the German and Spanish League this season for a change .

What about the EPL then where it was seen as really value for money when SingTel miotv paid a whopping 400 million for their three Seasons of broadcasting rights ? Now fans seems to be lukewarm and don't really feel very excited or are actually looking forward to the start of this new EPL Season which will kick off on 14 August 2010 , as compared to previous Seasons in the past .

The Community Shield - EPL traditional curtain raiser , usually held exactly one week before the commencement of the new EPL Season , will pit Chelsea - last Season's EPL & FA Cup Double Champions against League Runners up Man United at Wembley Stadium on the eve of National Day this year . The opening day Fixtures a week later also throws up some very exciting and mouth watering clashes too - Liverpool vs Arsenal , Man City vs Tottenham , Man United vs Newcastle United etc ...

So , will the England national team poor performance really have an adverse effect in the interests of local fans here towards the new EPL Season this year , as they opt for a switch to watching and following the Spanish League and German League instead ? This will be a time to see how loyal and faithful Singapore fans are towards their favourite EPL clubs that they have been supporting for a long time . Calling all Man United , Liverpool , Chelsea , Arsenal fans out there , are / will u still be with them this season ?

The new German League Season kicks off on 22 August 2010 onwards , while the Spanish League begins at the last weekend of this month on 29 August 2010 .

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

FIFA World Cup 2010 Continues On Starhub TV !

















Suffering from depression , and feeling a sudden sense of loss now that the World Cup has officially ended ? Spain may have been crowned World Champions after defeating Netherlands in Extra Time for the throphy , but the World Cup doesn't end there just yet , at least for subscribers of Starhub Cable TV World Cup Package , as they will be able to catch the whole Tournament once again , from the very first opening group match right up to the grand final , as the World Cup Channel will re - run all 64 Matches once more !

Surely , those not so distant memories will all come flooding back once again as the Channel takes u through the long journey , from the opening group match between South Africa vs Mexico onwards , match by match , all the way till the very last grand final match . Throughout the day , two Group Matches will be re - run each day till this Saturday , before moving on to the Round of 16 Matches , the Quarterfinal , Semifinal , Third Placing & Final Matches .

Relieve the highs and lows , joy and agony , the various huge talking points and controversal moments all over again as the Channel brings u what the 32 teams and u as a soccer fan have gone through this past one month , beginning Tonight onwards .


* Re - Run Begins from Tuesday , 13 July 2010 12am onwards till Sunday , 18 July 2010 12am . *

* Re - Run Telecast Schedules :

Tuesday , 13 July 2010

Group A & Group B

Wednesday , 14 July 2010

Group C & Group D

Thursday , 15 July 2010

Group E & Group F

Friday , 16 July 2010

Group G & Group H

Saturday , 17 July 2010

Round of 16 & Quarterfinal Match

Sunday , 18 July 2010

Semifinal , Third Placing & Cup Final .