Officials defend Asian Cup lockout Qatar 2011 organisers say that most of the thousands of fans barred from Australia v Japan final didn't have tickets.
Paul Rhys in Doha Last Modified: 30 Jan 2011 22:04 GMT
Japan celebrate winning the Asian Cup after thousands of fans were turned away from the Khalifa Stadium gates [EPA]Organisers responded to the anger of thousands of fans locked outside Khalifa Stadium for the Asian Cup final by saying that most of those trying to get into the ground did not have tickets. Jassim Al Romaihi, the operations director for the Qatar 2011 organisers, said that 700 ticket holders were refused entry when the gates were shut up to an hour before the match between Australia and Japan due to security measures for the son of the Emir. The incident has raised questions about whether the scenes are likely to be repeated when Qatar hosts the World Cup in 2022. Speaking at a press conference held jointly with Asian Football Confederation officials on Sunday, Al Romaihi said reports of heavy-handed policing would be investigated. 'Come early' "We said to the spectators, 'come early'. Unfortunately, yesterday we had to close the gates for security reasons," he said, adding that around 3,000 fans were locked out.
"Most of the people outside were without tickets, which was causing a problem. "We feel sorry for the people not having a ticket. I hope this will not give a bad impression about the tournament.
Supporters stand outside the perimeter as police shut the gates to the Khalifa Stadium"We were hoping we would not have anything like this happen, but it happened, and you can't satisfy everybody." Fans who had travelled from halfway around the world complained that they were faced with aggressive riot police and barred from entering, despite holding tickets and being able to see rows of empty seats in the ground. One woman told Al Jazeera on Saturday night that she had received gouge wounds on her hands as a policeman grabbed her camera in the crush outside the gates. "These actions were not to be taken. It's very important for us to know about these cases and I hope it will get looked at. We will investigate this and get back to you," Al Romaihi said of the incident. He said that security surrounding members of the Qatar royal family attending the match, which was won 1-0 by Japan in extra time, had been out of organisers' control. Responding to rumours that people had been let into the ground without tickets two hours before kickoff, Al Romaihi said: "This issue is not right. Everyone that entered had tickets that were bought and paid for." He added that ticket holders who were denied entry could apply for a refund. "They can go to our website and approach us and we'll consider this with the AFC," he said. "In general I'm very happy with what's been done, there are some issues that we have to look at. "We have a lot of events coming up before the World Cup in 2022 and Of course we want to have a good feedback from people leaving the country." Content on this website is for general information purposes only. Your comments are provided by your own free will and you take sole responsibility for any direct or indirect liability. You hereby provide us with an irrevocable, unlimited, and global license for no consideration to use, reuse, delete or publish comments, in accordance with Community Rules & Guidelines and Terms and Conditions.
KATIBU Mkuu wa Chama cha Riadha Tanzania (RT), Mujaya Suleimani Nyambui, amesema hadi hivi sasa hajui kama atatetea nafasi yake katika uchaguzi mkuu unaotarajiwa kufanyika Novemba mwaka huu. Akizungumza na Tanzania Daima jijini Dar es Salaam juzi Nyambui, alisema kuwa, hadi sasa hana jibu sahihi linarohusu kutetea nafasi hiyo mpaka hapo baadae atakapo toa tamko rasmi. Alisema, kuanzia hivi sasa anaendelea kufikiria na kuangalia ratiba za shughuli zake binafsi, kama atakuwa akihitajika sana ambako hadi itakapofika muda wa kuchukua fomu za kugombea nafasi mbalimbali katika chama hicho atakua na jibu sahihi. "Sijaamua bado, kwa hiyo msubili kwanza chochote nitakachoamua kati ya haya mawili, kugombea au kutokugombea nitawajulisha nitakapo kuwa tayari nina jibu kati ya hayo", alisema Nyambui. Aidha, Nyambui alisema kuwa, maandalizi ya awali ya uchaguzi huo yameanza ikiwa pamoja na kusambaza barua zisizopungua 50 kwenye mikoa ambayo itatoa taarifa kwenye Wilaya zao kwa ajili ya kuanza uchaguzi. Mara ya mwisho RT kufanya uchaguzi ilikuwa 2006, jijini Mwanza ambako Nyambui aliibuka mshindi dhidi ya mpinzani wake Juma Ikangaa.
Tambo za Ligi Kuu Bara kuendelea kesho S Friday, 11 February 2011 20:36
Sosthenes Nyoni
BAADA ya kusimama kwa takribani siku tano, Ligi Kuu ya soka ya Tanzania Bara itaendelea kesho kwa timu sita kuchuana.
Mojawapo ya mechi hizo ni ile baina ya Mtibwa Sugar itakayoikabili JKT Ruvu kwenye Uwanja wa Jamhuri mjini Morogoro.Ligi hiyo ilisimama kupisha maandalizi ya Taifa Stars iliyokuwa inajiandaa kwa mchezo wa kimataifa wa kirafiki dhidi ya Palestina uliofanyika jijini Dar es Salaam Jumatano.
Michezo mingine ni ile itakayoikutanisha Polisi Tanzania ya Dodoma dhidi ya Ruvu Shooting kwenye Uwanja wa Jamhuri mjini Dodoma na Majimaji itakayokuwa ugenini jijini Arusha kukwaruzana na AFC kwenye Uwanja wa Sheikh Amri Abeid.
Kocha wa JKT Ruvu, Charles Kilinda ambaye kikosi chake kilikubali kipigo cha mabao 2-1 kutoka African Lyon katika mchezo wake wa mwisho aliliambia Mwananchi jana kuwa anatarajia kukutana upinzani mkubwa toka Mtibwa, lakini amejizatiti vya kutosha kuhakikisha anaondoka na pointi zote tatu.
"Timu yangu ni nzuri, lakini wakati mwingine hatuwi makini kwa dakika 90 za mchezo na ndio maana ukiangalia tulifungwa kizembe na African Lyon, lakini nimewaelekeza wachezaji wangu na wamenielewa, Mtibwa ni timu ngumu, lakini nina hakika tutaifunga,"alisema Kilinda.
Wakati Kilinda akitamba kujifuta machungu kwa kuibuka na ushindi kesho, mpinzani wake , kocha wa Mtibwa, Tom Olaba ambaye kikosi chake kinakamata nafasi ya nne katika msimamo wa ligi kikiwa na pointi 26 alisema jana kutoka Morogoro kuwa ataendeleza dozi si kwa JKT Ruvu pekee bali kwa timu yoyote watakayokutana nayo mbele yao.
"Suala hapa si JKT nilikuwa na majeruhi kadhaa, lakini sasa wako vizuri nafikiri ulimwona Julius Mrope juzi naye ni mmoja kati ya hao ambao hawakuwepo muda mrefu dimbani, lakini amerejea hivyo lengo letu ni kumtandika yeyote tutakayekutana naye,"alisema Olaba.
Akizungumzia mpambano dhidi ya Polisi Tanzania, kocha wa Ruvu Shooting, Charles Mkwasa ambaye kikosi chake kimejikusanyia pointi 13 pekee katika msimamo wa ligi na kushika nafasi ya tisa alisema jana akiwa njiani kuelekea Dodoma kuwa ana matumaini ya kufanya vizuri.
"Angalau sasa ninaweza kusema nimewafahamu wachezaji wangu na ninajua niwatumie vipi hivyo nina mabadiliko yapo na ushindi utakuja kwa kuanzia Jumapili,".
Naye John Simkoko wa Polisi ambaye vijana wake walicharazwa mabao 2-0 na Simba wiki iliyopita alisema kuwa hatorudia makosa waliyoyapata na kuwataka mashabiki wao wajitokeze kwa wingi kushuhudia jinsi watakavyotoa adhabu kwa Ruvu Shooting.
Fans with tickets were denied entry to Qatar's showpiece Khalifa Stadium ahead of the Asian Cup final [Reuters]Thousands of ticket-holding fans were turned away from the Asian Cup final at Khalifa Stadium as police imposed a lockout ahead of Japan's win over Australia. Al Jazeera English sports correspondent Andy Richardson described how supporters who had travelled halfway around the world were confronted by riot police as they waved their tickets at the locked gates. Another fan said a policeman wounded her hand as he grabbed her and tried to wrench her camera out of her hands. "If they did that with slightly aggravated football fans at the World Cup there would be a riot. There was confrontation for no reason" Andy Richardson, AJE sports correspondent The incident on Saturday is likely to bring into focus how Qatar will deal with much larger crowds when it hosts the World Cup in 2022. "It was just incredibly badly handled. There were kids and families, not causing any problem, being confronted by riot police and being told they weren't getting in," Richardson said of the situation outside before kickoff. "There were hundreds of people waving their tickets at our camera, people who had travelled from Japan, India, loads of Aussies." News agencies reported that up to 5,000 people had been shut out. Richardson added that the policing at the relatively low-key Asian Cup final would need to be reviewed if large, boisterous crowds were to be handled effectively when the World Cup comes to Qatar in 2022. 'Polite supporters' "What I'm going to relay is what people were saying to me. If they can't cope with very polite supporters and families then how are they going to handle the World Cup?
A fan holds up tickets as riot police man the fences in this picture taken by a witness [Al Jazeera]"If they did that with slightly aggravated football fans at the World Cup there would be a riot. "There was confrontation for no reason. People just wanting to go and see a game of football, confronted by heavy-handed policing. "No one was being told why they were not getting in and the frustrating thing was that there were rows and rows of empty seats visible inside." Organisers said the issue would be addressed at a media briefing on Sunday morning. A female supporter described having blood running from her hand after being grabbed by a male policeman and forced to wipe her camera. "The guy went mental on me - to such an extent another cop got involved and was shouting his head off at him for what he'd done. Blood all down my hands," she said. "I have a chunk out of my finger and a bit out of my thumb, as well as a crunky arm from where he grabbed me. I'm going to the hospital tomorrow for tetanus jabs." Tickets 'not checked' The official attendance of the final was 37,174, but other fans said their tickets had not been checked properly as they entered the 40,000 capacity arena. "When we got to the ground not one person checked our tickets we were just ushered through," said one Australia fan. "No bar code scanners like at the other matches I attended (they were all broken). We didn't even have our tickets looked at - we didn't have to present them to gate staff, grand stand staff - no one. So how they got an 'official attendance' is beyond me. Thousands more fans were stopped from leaving after Japan beat Australia 1-0 in extra time, being held within the perimeter of the stadium behind locked fences due to a fireworks display that was being launched outside the ground. An official announcement was made inside the ground, saying that people would not be allowed to leave. Readers of the Al Jazeera English website emailed to say they had missed out on watching the match. "I just spent over an hour outside Khalifa stadium together with a couple of thousand other people with tickets, wanting to get into the game," one said. "What does this say for 2022? It was chaos with riot police too. A sad experience." Content on this website is for general information purposes only. Your comments are provided by your own free will and you take sole responsibility for any direct or indirect liability. You hereby provide us with an irrevocable, unlimited, and global license for no consideration to use, reuse, delete or publish comments, in accordance with Community Rules & Guidelines and Terms and Conditions.
Taswa yaandaa Vodacom All Stars Aprili Friday, 11 February 2011 20:35
Jessca Nangawe CHAMA cha Waandishi wa Habari za Michezo na Burudani nchini (Taswa) kimeandaa mechi ya kirafiki itakayowakutanisha nyota mbalimbali wa ligi kuu maarufu kama, 'Vodacom All Stars' watakaopambana na mabingwa wapya wa ligi hiyo msimu huu katika mchezo utakaochezwa Aprili16 kwenye Uwanja wa Uhuru jijini Dar es Salaam.
Akizungumza na wanahabari jana, Katibu Mkuu Taswa, Amir Mhando alisema lengo la kuandaa mpambano huo ni kwa ajili ya kusaidia Hospitali ya Mkuranga Pwani pamoja na kudumisha ushirikiano baina ya waandishi wa habari na nyota hao katika maendeleo ua soka hapa nchini.
Mhando alisema nyota hao ambao watakuwa wakitoka katika timu mbalimbali maarufu kama Vodacom All Stars watacheza na watakaokuwa mabingwa wapya wa ligi kuu msimu huu na mshindi atajinyakulia zawadi ya fedha taslimu pamoja na vifaa vya michezo kutoka kwa wadhamini wakuu.
Alisema wao kama Taswa wamelenga kutoa misaada mbalimbalili hivyo anaamini mapato yatakayopatikana yatasaidia kwa kiasi kikubwa kutoa msaada katika hospitali hiyo na huduma nyingine.
"Sisi kama chama cha waandishi wa habari hapa nchini tumeandaa mechi hii ya kirafiki tunaamini itakua ni mwanzo mzuri baina yetu ya kuleta ushirikiano katika masuala mazima ya soka kwa ujumla pia mapato tutakayopata yatasaidia kutoa huduma katika Hospitali ya Mkuranga na tutaendelea kufanya hivyo kadri tutakavyoweza kwa ajili ya kuisaidia jamii,"alisema Mhando.
Aidha, Mhando alisema kabla ya pambano hilo pia kutakua na mchezo mwingine utakaowakutanisha Taswa FC na timu nyingine ambazo watazitangaza hapo baadae.
A host of chances had been missed by both sides before Lee came on to mark a dream start to his Japan career [AFP]It all came down to that most basic of coaching instructions. Just stick the ball in the net. After an Asian Cup final of many chances but woeful finishing, Tadanari Lee came on as an extra-time substitute to execute a perfectly-struck volley and give Japan a record fourth Asian Cup trophy with a 1-0 win over Australia on Saturday. Nearly 30 attempts on goal had gone begging at Khalifa Stadium when Lee, a 25-year-old who played for South Korea at under-19 level, marked his 11th minute on the pitch by dropping his right shoulder and unleashing an unstoppable left-footed volley past Mark Schwarzer. It came after a tireless Yuto Nagatomo tormented his marker yet again to find Lee, who has just a handful of caps for Japan, completely unmarked 10 yards out. Australia exerted late pressure but Japan held on to deny the Socceroos a first Asian Cup trophy since joining the continent's football confederation from Oceania in 2006. Last chance For veteran attacker Harry Kewell, the match in Doha was the last realistic chance to cap a stellar career with a meaningful international trophy.
Kewell missed Australia's best chance when his one-on-one was saved by Kawashima [AFP]And the former Leeds United and Liverpool man will be left to rue the best of a host of chances both sides had to find the net. Seventy two minutes had been played when Kewell, 32, headed beyond the last defender and ran onto his own ball. But with the whole goal to aim at, his shot was too close to Eiji Kawashima and the keeper, a hero in Japan's semi-final penalty shootout win over South Korea, saved with his feet. Kawashima came to the rescue again three minutes before full time when Yasuyuki Konno's underhit backpass was raced onto by Kewell. But as Konno's shoulders slumped in resignation, Kawashima darted from his line to smother the ball at Kewell's feet. Kewell was taken off 13 minutes into extra time and his replacement, Robbie Kruse, almost made a decisive impact a minute later, but the 22-year-old's looping header was palmed onto the bar by Kawashima. Australia had appealed for a goal just after half time when a dipping Brett Holman cross went over Kawashima at the far post, where Tim Cahill was waiting. The Everton man got a touch before the Japanese defence hacked the ball away, with replays showing that his effort had not crossed the line. Japan should have scored in the 66th minute when Nagatomo sent in a cross that Shinji Okazaki could only head wide. Fitting end It was left to Lee, whose South Korean name is Lee Chung-sung, to show up the profligacy of others when he finally gave Nagatomo reward for the left back's rampages down the wing and provide a fitting end to Qatar 2011. "We played the entire tournament with great courage and always sought to impose our game," said Alberto Zaccheroni, Japan's Italian coach. "We have a very young team. The substitutes made a big contribution, as Lee did today." An absorbing first half had taken just over a minute to spring to life when Australian winger Matt McKay's shot from the left was screwed just wide of Kawashima's post. Two minutes later a skimmed header from Keisuke Honda was easily gathered by Schwarzer, but the English Premier League stalwart almost gifted Japan the lead five minutes later. Sprinting to prevent a corner, the Fulham goalkeeper fell awkwardly as he slid to keep the ball in play. He managed that much, but was lying helplessly off the pitch as the ball fell to Nagatomo, who should have done better with his long-range chip over an empty net. Australia had their best chance on 16 minutes when a low Holman cross was begging to be turned in by Cahill or Carl Valeri, but both missed the ball under pressure from the Japanese centre backs. Japan absorbed a long period of aerial pressure as crosses from Luke Wilkshire and McKay posed a danger that didn't quite translate into a clear chance on goal, before the Socceroos' best move saw Kewell volley into the side netting after a lovely setup from Cahill. The Samurai Blue cranked their passing game into gear and should have taken the lead when Honda played a precise through-ball to Yasuhito Endo in the box. Given a clear shooting chance, the Gamba Osaka midfielder nicknamed Mr Cool opted to square instead for Ryoichi Maeda. But the ball was slightly behind the striker and he shot over as 37,000 fans inside the Khalifa Stadium, not for the first time on the night, held their heads in disbelief.
Real Madrid yamvalia njuga Fabregas yamtengea pauni 80m Friday, 11 February 2011 20:33 MADRID, Hispania
KINARA wa kipato kwa klabu barani Ulaya, Real Madrid wameamua kutunisha misuli yao kifedha kwa kufikiria kumwaga pauni 80 milioni ili kumsajili kiungo wa Arsenal, Cesc Fabregas msimu ujao.
Madrid wameingia vitani na Chelsea ambao tayari wametangaza dau la pauni 50 milioni kwa kiungo huyo wa Hispania.
Klabu hiyo ambayo inafahamika kwa kutumia kiasi kikubwa cha fedha kusajili wachezaji kila msimu, imedhamiria kumsajili kiungo huyo baada ya kufunguliwa kwa msimu wa usajili, kulingana na rais wa klabu hiyo, Florentino Perez.
Barcelona, pia imekuwa ikieleza dhamira yake ya kumsajili Fabregas ambaye alikulia katika klabu hiyo, ofa ambayo kwa sasa inaonekana kuchukuliwa na Real Madrid.
Kocha wa Real Madrid, Jose Mourinho amemtaja Fabregas kama chaguo lake la kwanza msimu ujao akieleza kuwa hana budi kumsajili nahodha huyo wa Arsenal, ingawa haijajulikana kama klabu yake itakubali au kukataa ofa hiyo.
Huenda ofa hiyo ikachochea uhamisho wa wachezaji Ulaya, ambao ulianza kuonyesha cheche zake mwezi Januari ambako Fernando Torres aliiacha Liverpool kwenda Chelsea kwa pauni 50 milioni.
Kuondoka kwa Fabregas kunaweza kuwa pigo kwa Arsenal, ingawa fedha za mauzo yake zinaweza kumchochea kocha Arsene Wenger kuwa na kiasi cha kutosha cha fedha kuimarisha kikosi chake.
Hata hivyo,, kocha huyo Mfaransa hawezi kuichukulia kirahisi ofa hiyo, lakini haonyeshi kuwa mroho wa fedha. Kiasi cha fedha cha dola 56 milioni ambazo Liverpool imeilipa Newcastle kwa usajili wa Andy Carroll, akidhaniwa kuwa mrithi wa Torres, ni ushahidi mwingine kwamba klabu zina ndoto ya kuchuma fedha kutoka kwa wachezaji wao.
Dhamira ya Real Madrid kumsajili Fabregas imechochewa na upinzani unaoendelea na klabu hiyo na mpinzani wake mkubwa, Barcelona kwenye Ligi ya Hispania.
Barcelona inaongoza kwa tofauti ya pointi saba msimu huu na inaelekea kutwaa ubingwa kwa msimu wa tatu.
Kwa sasa, Barca inajvunia sehemu ya kiungo ya Xavi, Andres Iniesta na Sergio Busquets, pamoja na ujuzi wa Lionel Messi, jambo ambalo linamfanya Fabregas awe ziada.
Baada ya kumsajili kwa mkopo Emmanuel Adebayor, Real ina ndoto za kumtwaa Fabregas, ambaye anafahamika kwa ubora wake uwanjani.
Uvumi wa Fabregas kuhamia Ligi Kuu ya Hispania umeendelea kwa miaka mitatu, ingawa kwa sasa inaonekana kuwa mchezaji huyo ataweza kuondoka England.
Lakini, hata hivyo, Fabregas ana mkataba na Arsenal hadi mwaka 2015, jambo ambalo linazidisha soko lake wakati wa usajili.
Koreans win bronze as Park retires South Korea beat Uzbekistan 3-2 in third place Asian Cup playoff as Park Ji-sung follows Lee Young-pyo into retirement.
Last Modified: 28 Jan 2011 19:19 GMT
Lee Young-pyo is thrown in the air by teammates after winning his 127th and final cap in the playoff [AFP]South Korea captain Park Ji-Sung retired from international football as he watched his teammates beat Uzbekistan 3-2 in the Asian Cup third-place playoff in Qatar. The Manchester United midfielder missed Friday's match to avoid injury after playing 100 matches for South Korea, who weathered an Uzbek comeback having been 3-0 up. The win against one of the surprise successes of Qatar 2011 gives the Koreans an automatic place at the tournament in Australia in four years' time. It also marked the last match of veteran Lee Young-pyo, who was carried on the shoulders of teammates after the victory in Doha. Cho Kwang-Rae's men looked on course for a handsome victory at 3-0 up in the first-half at Khalifa Stadium, but Uzbekistan clawed back the deficit to salvage some pride after their 6-0 drubbing by Australia in the semi-finals. "I can't be satisfied with third place in the tournament, but I do want to acknowledge all the sacrifices that the players have made," said South Korea coach Cho. "They were extremely tired but they did their best. "In the first half the performance of our team was very good, even excellent. But in the second half the players showed their fitness levels were almost zero and that caused a lot of difficult situations." Top scorer Koo Ja-Cheol's fifth goal of the competition, making him top scorer ahead of Saturday's final between Japan and Australia, set South Korea on their way, before Ji Dong-Won claimed a brace with a pair of artfully constructed strikes. Goals either side of half time from Alexander Geynrikh brought the Uzbeks back into the game, but Korea held on to claim third place at the continental showpiece for the third time in four tournaments. "I told the players at half time: everything you prepared for this tournament is at stake in the second half...they played much better and even had a chance to draw. We just didn't have enough time" Vadim Abramov, Uzbekistan coach "I don't know if it's psychological, but the players made so many mistakes (in the first half)," said Uzbekistan coach Vadim Abramov. "I told the players at half time: everything you prepared for this tournament is at stake in the second half. "And in the second half they played much better and even had a chance to draw. We just didn't have enough time." Captain Park was left out of the Korea squad to spare him from injury and Cho confirmed that he has decided to retire from international duty, praising his "remarkable job for Korean football". Fellow veteran Lee Young-Pyo had already confirmed his retirement after losing to Japan in the semi-finals. The 33-year-old left-back enjoyed a long career with PSV Eindhoven, Tottenham Hotspur, Borussia Dortmund and Al Hilal. Despite his age he played every minute of Korea's campaign in Qatar, including consecutive extra-time contests, making his 127th appearance on Friday. Koo broke the deadlock in the 17th minute at the Al-Sadd Stadium, calmly beating Uzbek goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov after Lee Yong-rae had launched a barrelling one-man counter-attack from deep inside the Korean half. Odil Akhmedov was partly at fault for the goal, allowing Lee Yong-rae's pass to roll beneath his foot, but the reluctant centre-back almost atoned with a 22-yard curler that landed a yard or two wide of the right-hand post. Korea's football has received plenty of plaudits during the tournament and Ji's first goal in the 28th minute was a fine example of their craft. Rattled A slick exchange involving Lee Young-pyo, Ki Sung-Yueng, Lee Chung-Yong and Koo culminated in Ji receiving the ball in space inside the penalty area, and the 19-year-old striker rattled the ball into the bottom-left corner. South Korean goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong was called into action by a low strike from Azizbek Haydarov before Ji claimed his second, a magnificent header from a Hong Jeong-ho cross that left Nesterov clutching at thin air. The Koreans were cruising, but an untidy challenge by Hwang Jae-won on Olim Novkarov allowed Geynrikh to pull one back from the penalty spot on the stroke of half time. The bald striker lashed his spot-kick home at the second attempt, after a daring chipped effort had been chalked off for encroachment. Geynrikh's second, seven minutes into the second period, was a delightful goal, as he leapt to bring down a left-wing cross before tricking his way past Lee Jung-soo and beating Jung at his near post. Re-energised, Uzbekistan drove forward in search of an equaliser, but it was Korea who came closest to another goal, with Ji's low strike bouncing back off the post.