Football Media

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter has written to Mr Mohammed Hatimy this week to congratulate the Kenyan football community on the establishment of Football Kenya Ltd. (FKL) as the Kenyan football-governing body.

The new structure fully respects FIFA Standard Statutes and represents a positive step forward off the field, which reflects the progress achieved in recent years at both national team and club level. The challenges ahead of Football Kenya Ltd. are important, and therefore FIFA has invited the Minister in charge of sport in Kenya, and representatives from the Kenyan football community to Zurich to discuss the next steps, as well as the support of FIFA.

FIFA will extend its support to Football Kenya Ltd. for the benefit of Kenyan football, not least through the Goal project in Kasarani [whose second phase is in progress], the “Win in Africa with Africa” initiative at the Nairobi Municipal Stadium, the club management seminar scheduled to take place in Mombassa in early December for the FKL Premier League clubs, and the Financial Assistance Programme, which will now resume.

Vicente Calderón, Madrid
Wednesday 26 November 2008 – 20.45CET
Group D – Matchday 5

The Vicente Calderón Stadium will fall eerily silent when Club Atlético de Madrid line up against PSV Eindhoven in Group D but, with a place in the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds at stake, home coach Javier Aguirre is urging his charges to do their talking on the pitch.
Clear ambitions
Should Atlético display the sort of dominance over PSV that earned them a 3-0 victory in Eindhoven on Matchday 1, they will seal progress with a game to spare. Even a draw would suffice if Olympique de Marseille fail to beat Liverpool FC in the section’s other fixture, and despite losing the benefits of home advantage because of a stadium ban incurred after a series of incidents at the match against Marseille on 1 October, Aguirre’s side “are very motivated”. “We want to qualify,” said the 50-year-old, who is himself confined to the stands as he completes a two-game suspension. “I’ve told the players that they must start with a high tempo and not be distracted by the empty stands – we can’t afford to start in a laid-back manner.”
Liga disappointment
Atlético were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw at CD Numancia on Sunday, but Aguirre insists that performance is already behind them as he prepares for “the strangest match I have ever overseen”. “We’ve forgotten about the weekend as this is a different competition,” said the Mexican, who will again be shorn of defender Antonio López due to vertigo. “We want to qualify at home and ensure that we don’t have to go to Marseille needing a result.”
Small advantage
PSV coach Huub Stevens understandably has other aspirations, having cut a calm figure in the pre-match news conference, despite the Dutch champions needing to claim a first win in Spain in eleven attempts if they want to keep alive their slender hopes of progress. “It’s an important match for both teams,” said the former Hamburger SV boss, who will be without injured trio Dirk Marcellis (hamstring), Jan Kromkamp (ankle) and Nordin Amrabat (groin). “The fact that they will have no fans here may be an advantage for us, but I don’t think it will be a very significant one.”
Disappointing run
PSV approach the game on the back of a 4-0 Eredivisie victory over Heracles Almelo on Saturday, which ended a four-game losing streak in all competitions – the team’s worst run since 1967. It is hardly ideal preparation to face a side that overwhelmed them so comprehensively two months ago, and Stevens conceded that with quality coursing through the Atlético ranks, his charges have plenty to worry about. “Sergio Agüero is one to watch, but it isn’t just about him,” he said. “Maxi Rodríguez and Simão will also be a huge threat. We can take some positives from our first game with them, when our possession was good, as was our speed on the ball.” Two goals from Agüero and another from Maniche put a different slant on things, but with the Vicente Calderón empty, they may have their chance for revenge.
PSV down but not out, warns Heitinga
Club Atlético de Madrid defender John Heitinga warned that PSV Eindhoven will “be fighting to remain in Europe” when the Group D game between the teams kicks off in the Spanish capital on Wednesday.
‘Top team’
Heitinga is no stranger to the Eredivisie side having spent seven seasons with PSV’s rivals AFC Ajax before moving to Atlético, so he is aware of the danger Huub Stevens’ men pose. “PSV are a top Dutch team,” the 25-year-old said. “Maybe they have a little less quality now than in previous years, but this is the Champions League and they are here by right. Playing in this competition will lift them, that’s why all games at this level are very difficult.”
Big effort
The Dutch international was in the Atlético lineup when the clubs met on Matchday 1 and, as he prepares for his 16th appearance in Europe’s élite tournament, nothing would please him more than a repeat of that 3-0 triumph in Eindhoven. “The important thing for us is to qualify, that’s all we’re concentrating on,” Heitinga said. “We have to try to seal our place in the next round as soon as possible, and we’ll be working flat out to achieve that. We’re going to be fully focused and we know we have to get on with the task despite the fact there will be no fans inside the stadium.”
Motivating factor
A victory would take group leaders Atlético through, as would a draw should second-placed Liverpool FC avoid defeat at home to Olympique de Marseille. Heitinga, who has made eight Liga starts and three more in the UEFA Champions League this term, underlined the importance of knowing that the team will be competing in Europe after Christmas. “It’s a huge boost for you to know that when you come through the winter, you will continue to play in continental competition. That’s the motivation for us and also for PSV. They would like to stay in the Champions League, but if they can’t do that then they know they have to fight for a place in the UEFA Cup.”

José Alvalade, Lisbon
Wednesday 26 November 2008 – 20.45CET
Group C – Matchday 5

Sporting Clube de Portugal coach Paulo Bento is adamant that there will be no let-up against FC Barcelona despite the Lions having already qualified for the UEFA Champions League knockout phase for the first time in their history.
Two through
By beating FC Shakhtar Donetsk on Matchday 4, Sporting secured their progress into the last 16 of the competition alongside Barcelona. The bonus for Bento’s team was the Blaugrana’s draw with FC Basel 1893 on the same night, which means that a home win at the Estádio José Alvalade on Wednesday would take them above the Spanish Liga leaders and into first place in Group C.
Top spot
“It’s important to finish first, because it’s always better than coming second,” Bento said. “There’s less pressure as we’ve already achieved our first objective, but we have a responsibility in this game as we do in every game. The aim is always to win. Of course this match comes between two important league fixtures, but we are used to having an eye on the next game. Above all, we want to show once again that we are contenders in the Champions League.”
Fans’ reward
The 39-year-old has problems in defence, where Abel and Tonel are out and Pedro Silva is doubtful, but it is Sporting’s attack which is causing more concern as they have scored just five times in their last seven Portuguese Liga outings. This drought has hardly hindered the Lisbon side in the UEFA Champions League, however, and Bento points out that “we’ve scored in all our European matches so far”. Suitably heartened, he promises his team will attempt to reward the club’s fans for their support with a grand occasion on Wednesday. “I expect us to put on a show, to thank our fans and to get pole position in the group,” he said.
Priority
Bento’s counterpart Josep Guardiola is in no mood to cede ground, though, knowing that a victory will clinch first place and top seeding in the 19 December draw. “We intend to put in a good performance and we intend to win, obviously,” he said. Despite a daunting schedule of domestic encounters awaiting his charges, with successive games against title rivals Sevilla FC, Valencia CF and Real Madrid CF, Guardiola insists that Sporting should not be taken lightly. “We’re not worrying too much about the upcoming matches,” he said. “It’s my duty to try and make us win every game, and this is no different.”
Aiming high
The former Barcelona captain, who helped bring the European Champion Clubs’ Cup to Camp Nou as a player in 1991/92, added that the memory of last term’s semi-final defeat by eventual winners Manchester United FC was all the motivation his squad needed for any UEFA Champions League tie. “There’s always an extremely high level in this competition, and I respect Sporting a lot – Paulo Bento is a very good coach,” he said. “We want to go further in the competition than we did last year, and as we got to the semi-finals, that means the final.”
Piqué promises Barça will be on their toes
Gerard Piqué insists he and his defensive colleagues will not underestimate Sporting Clube de Portugal’s underachieving attack as FC Barcelona aim to secure first place in UEFA Champions League Group C at the Estádio José Alvalade.
Tight defence
Both Barcelona and their Portuguese rivals have already qualified for the last 16 of the competition, but with the group winners still undecided there will be much to play for in Lisbon. Sporting’s shot-shy strikers – scorers of just nine goals in their first nine Liga matches this season – will come face-to-face with a visiting back line boasting the second-best defensive record in the Spanish élite. Nevertheless, Piqué is certain he and his team-mates will need to be on their toes.
‘Vigilant’
“They will have two very good strikers out there, with Liedson on the right and whoever plays with him,” he said. “They also have [João] Moutinho, who can break forward from midfield. We will have to be vigilant at all times and take great care with them.” The 21-year-old intends to return to Catalonia on Thursday with top spot in the group wrapped up. “This is a very important game for us – we want to finish first.”
Attacking potential
If Barça’s rearguard maintain their niggardly form, Piqué is confident the club’s array of forward talent will make the breakthrough at the other end. The Spanish pacesetters have hit a staggering 37 goals in their first 12 games of the Liga campaign, and their former Manchester United FC centre-half is not expecting that pattern to change. “If we [the defence] can do our job, we are always confident of scoring the goals we need to win games further upfield.”
Dangerous opponents
Sporting’s Marco Caneira is more than aware of the threat their Iberian opponents pose. “[Lionel] Messi and [Samuel] Eto’o are very dangerous,” he said. “Those two are the very best in the world. We will have to be very careful with them.” The 29-year-old anticipates an entertaining spectacle despite both sides being assured of progress. “It’s going to be a great match. We want to show what we can do against one of the best teams in the world. But it’s not a friendly. Three points are at stake and we want to get first place.”
Happy memories
Caneira has overcome recent injury problems and is relishing the chance to renew rivalries with Josep Guardiola’s men, having spent time with Valencia CF earlier in his career. The versatile defender is even dreaming of repeating his solitary European goal, a superb long-range strike that gave Sporting a 1-0 win over FC Internazionale Milano during his first spell at the Alvalade. “It’s always a source of great happiness to score against the biggest clubs,” he said. “But the most important thing for us is the three points.”

RSC Olympiyskiy Stadium, Donetsk
Wednesday 26 November 2008 – 20.45CET
Group C – Matchday 5

Their chances of finishing in the top two may be over but Mircea Lucescu has demanded FC Shakhtar Donetsk defeat FC Basel 1893 for a second time in Group C to guarantee themselves a place in the UEFA Cup.
Promising start
Things looked good for the Ukrainian champions when they left St. Jakob-Park with a 2-1 win in September, only for three successive losses to end their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stage. Now they are playing for third position in the group. With a two-point advantage over their Swiss opponents with two rounds left, Lucescu’s side are well-placed to claim that spot and entry to the last 32 of the UEFA Cup, yet the Romanian still expects a testing night in Donetsk. “It will be a very difficult game as Basel are a very strong team with a lot of tall, physical players,” he said. “They will have an advantage in the air so we must play fast football with the ball at our feet, to take control. If the players stick to our plan, I think we’ll beat Basel. Nothing but a win will please me or our supporters.”
Defensive concern
Shakhtar will be without the suspended Brandão, and centre-back Dmytro Chygrynskiy is nursing a thigh injury sustained in training. “There’s only a slight chance he’ll be available,” conceded Lucescu, who has Volodymyr Yezerskiy and Mykola Ischenko standing by. “That would be a big loss as he is our best player in the air.” Fernandinho, who scored in the reverse fixture, and Darijo Srna are both fit after resting muscle strains, while Luiz Adriano proved his form after a bout of appendicitis by registering in Friday’s 2-0 defeat of FC Lviv. That result made it three successive Premier League victories, including one against arch-rivals FC Dynamo Kyiv, since the loss to Sporting Clube de Portugal on Matchday 4. “We’re in good spirits as we feel we have the strength to win this game,” said Lucescu. “We have had good domestic results, and that boosts our confidence.”
‘Getting better’
Basel are also much improved from the teams’ previous meeting, and on Saturday extended their unbeaten sequence to six games as a 4-0 thrashing of FC Thun sent them into the Swiss Cup semi-finals. Coach Christian Gross is braced for “the most difficult match of this campaign”, but remains far from overawed. “We’re optimistic as we’ve analysed our mistakes from the first encounter and we know not to reproduce them,” he said. “We’re getting better game by game, and I believe my players can get the better of the very skilful Brazilians in the Shakhtar midfield.”
In-form Derdiyok
With Scott Chipperfield, Marcos Gelabert, Ronny Hodel, Michel Morganella and Olivier Stöckli already on the casualty list, Gross could have done without Marco Streller’s involvement being threatened by flu. His saving grace could be Eren Derdiyok, the 20-year-old who followed up his goal in the draw at FC Barcelona with a weekend hat-trick. “It’s a chance for Derdiyok to make a name for himself, but he’s not alone in carrying the attacking burden,” added Gross, who also cited Carlitos, Valentin Stocker and Marko Perovi? as threats.
Pyatov oppressed by Shakhtar burden
Goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov feels FC Basel 1893 are under less pressure than his FC Shakhtar Donetsk side who are seeking a victory to guarantee European football next spring, saying “our fans won’t forgive us if we don’t win”.
‘Nothing to lose’
With FC Barcelona and Sporting Clube de Portugal assured of top-two finishes in Group C, Shakhtar and Basel are fighting for a UEFA Cup spot. Although his team overcame Christian Gross’s men at St. Jakob-Park on Matchday 1, Pyatov believes the pressure is all on Mircea Lucescu’s third-placed side, telling uefa.com: “Basel have nothing to lose.”
‘Not afraid’
He added: “Even if they lose in Donetsk they will not be criticised, because people will understand that Basel had to take risks. However, our fans won’t forgive us if we don’t win since we have disappointed them too often already this season. That’s why this match is more difficult for us, as we have such a great responsibility. We are not afraid of it, though.”
Tough season
The autumn campaign has been an unforgiving one for Shakhtar. Three points from their opening four outings brought a swift end to their UEFA Champions League ambitions, while only seven wins from their first 16 Ukrainian Premier League fixtures leaves them nine points adrift of perennial rivals FC Dynamo Kyiv at the top of the table.
Happy record
Avoiding an early exit from Europe would be a useful piece of damage limitation. “Our goal is clear – to win on Wednesday and battle on in the UEFA Cup in the spring,” Pyatov said. “We have beaten Basel before and we know their style, strengths and weaknesses. Shakhtar have never failed to win at least one group-stage home game and we don’t want to break that record.”
Ukraine’s No1
The 24-year-old, Ukraine’s established No1, is doing his best to inspire a resurgence. He has kept three successive clean sheets in the league, with his challenger for the national-team jersey, FC Dynamo Kyiv’s Stanislav Bogush, calling Pyatov’s recent displays “wonderful”. The Shakhtar man added: “I made a couple of serious errors at the start of the season but my confidence is back.”
Crisis over
Crucial to that recovery has been the competition among Shakhtar’s custodians. “We have very good keepers in Bohdan Shust and Rustam Khudzhamov, and I have improved a lot through competing with them,” Pyatov explained. “I think our crisis is over. We are getting back towards the top of the table in Ukraine and on Wednesday we are going to prove we can be a success in Europe.”