Info

Mighty Brazil arrive in South Africa for World Cup

Johannesburg - Brazil arrived in Johannesburg Thursday to embark on a journey they hope will take them to a record sixth World Cup title.

Usually hot pre-tournament favourites wherever the quadrennial international football showcase is staged, Brazil have been downgraded by many bookmakers to second spot behind European champions Spain.

A crisp, clear dawn in the South African economic hub greeted the South Americans, who flew from Brasilia having been given an official send-off by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Landing 12 hours after the Australian `Socceroos` became the first qualifiers to reach South Africa, Brazil followed the same procedure of restricted assess to select TV crews and photographers and no interviews.

The 23-man squad, coaches and officials boarded a brightly coloured luxury coach for a journey to a hotel in a northern suburb golf course and the five-time world champions plan to train at a nearby school.

Brazil are with 2006 semi-finalists Portugal, Didier Drogba-led Ivory Coast and tournament outsiders North Korea in Group G, labelled the `Group of Death` after the Cape Town draw last December because of its strength.

And should a Brazilian squad boasting stars like Julio Cesar, Maicon, Kaka and Luis Fabiano match expectations and top the mini-league table, they could face fellow South American qualifiers Chile in the knockout second round.

The South Americans are no strangers to Johannesburg having won the World Cup dress-rehearsal Confederations Cup tournament there last June after wiping out a two-goal deficit against surprise finalists United States.

Coach Dunga, captain and midfield `enforcer` in the 1994 World Cup-winning team, must hope he can banish the hoodoo that envelopes Confederations Cup title holders in the subsequent World Cup.

The curse has struck Brazil twice as they finished 1998 World Cup runners-up to Zinedine Zidane-inspired hosts France, and fell to `Les Bleus` again four years ago, this time in the quarter-finals.

No country is more passionate about football than Brazil and banks have been cleared to close when the national team faces North Korea on June 15, Ivory Coast five days later and Portugal a further five days into the tournament.

Dunga was handed one of the most stressful posts in football four years ago despite no managerial experience after Carlos Alberto Parreira paid the price for the last-eight exit.
He will be under intense scrutiny in South Africa, not least for refusing to include 2002 World Cup winner Ronaldinho in his squad after the AC Milan midfielder showed a revival in form.

Adriano, Alexandre Pato, Neymar and Paulo Ganso were other controversial omissions and knives will glisten in the South African sun if Brazil do not clutch the World Cup trophy and the 30-million-dollar cheque.

The first World Cup hosted by Africa kicks off on June 11 at the 90,000-seat Soccer City near the black township of Soweto with Parreira-coached South Africa facing Mexico and finishes with the July 11 final at the same venue. (Uu.S022/P003)

Source: http://www.antara.co.id

15 countries to participate in Tour de Singkarak II

Padang - Fifteen countries have confirmed their plan to participate in the Tour de Singkarak II cycling race in West Sumatra on June 1-6, 2010.

"Twelve teams from 15 countries will participate in the cycling race competition," head of the local tourism and culture office, James Hellyward, said when asked for confirmation by phone here on Saturday.

The foreign participants would be a Azad University team from Iran, Japan`s Aisan Racing Team, Roadbike Philippines 7 Eleven Racing Team, Bike Bug North Sydney-Carol & O`Dea Lawyers Australia, Petrochemical Tabriz Team of Iran, Malaysian National Team, Giant Asia Racing Team of Taiwan, Budget Forklifts of Australia team and Doha Team of Qatar.

He said the number of participants had dropped this year. He said the committee did not know the cause of the decline in participation.

He said the participants are expected to arrive here on Sunday although some of them had already come.

He said the length of the route for racing had been increased. The route for relay race I (Padang city) team trial this year will be 15.8 kilometer long.

"Here their speed and endurance will be tested," he said.

He said the number of teams to compete in the event was recorded at 22 out of 34 who had earlier registered.

Ten teams from Indonesia will participate in the event out of 16 registered so far. "The committee has deliberately limited the number of teams from Indonesia," he said.

The ten teams are United Bike Kencana, Dodol Picnic Garut, Kutai Kartanegara Cycling Team, Araya Indonesia, Bintang Kranggan Cycling Club, Customs Cycling Club, the West Sumatra ISSI team, West Java Cycling Team, Indonesia National Team and the Yogyakarta ISSI team.

The Tur De Singkarak II will be divided into six relay races with a total distance of around 570 kilometers.

"The TDS II route is challenging because of its ascents and obstacles," he said. (T.SYS/H-YH/S026)

Source: http://www.antara.co.id

Drogba to rejoin Ivory Coast team mates

Johannesburg - Didier Drogba will rejoin the Ivory Coast World Cup squad on Monday after weekend surgery on a fractured arm, the Ivorian Football Federation said.

However, it is still not clear whether the African Footballer of the Year will be fit to play in the opening Group G match against Portugal in Port Elizabeth next week.

Drogba fractured the ulna, or inner bone, of his right forearm in a warm-up match against Japan in Switzerland on Friday, the federation said.

The striker had surgery in Berne on Saturday, an operation Swiss doctors described as successful.

A statement from the Ivorian federation said Drogba would rejoin his team mates at their Swiss hotel on Monday.

He spent the weekend in hospital, surrounded by his wife and three children, the federation added.

"His recovery has been extremely encouraging. It is suggested that, at this stage, all the signs are good and there is great hope the captain of the Elephants will be in action with his team mates as soon as possible," spokesman Roger Kouassi said.

The Ivorian squad departs for South Africa on Wednesday. They conclude their preparations in Switzerland with a friendly against Lausanne Sports in Nyon on Tuesday.

The speculation initially was that Drogba would not make the tournament in South Africa, adding to a growing list of high profile casualties including three of his Chelsea team mates.

Drogba averages more than a goal a game for the Ivory Coast and is seen as pivotal to their chances of getting past the first round. They also face Brazil and North Korea in a tough group but are more than capable of producing upsets. (Uu.S022/P003)

Source: http://www.antara.co.id

Milan keen to keep hold of Huntelaar

Milan sporting director Ariedo Braida insists the club has no plans to sell Dutch forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar this summer.

Huntelaar has been linked with a move away from the San Siro this summer after failing to make an impact in the Serie A.

Benfica, with sporting director Rui Costa, are among the clubs reportedly interested in signing the former Real Madrid forward.

“Milan do not want to sell Huntelaar, this is a player who has three more years of contract with us,” Braida told Diario de Noticias. “Huntelaar has quality and we do not want to let him leave.

“In football, anything is possible, but I find it very hard that Huntelaar is transferred to another club. Rui Costa is a friend, a friend of Milan, an ex-player of Milan and a lovable person. We have never spoken about Huntelaar.”

Source: http://www.footballnewsblog.co.uk

Technical Specifications
2010 Yamaha YZ85

Engine
Engine type
Bore x Stroke
Displacement
Valves
Compression ratio
Max Power
Max Torque
Fuel system
Transmission
Final drive
Clutch
Ignition type
Starting system
Lubrication
Exhaust system
Spark plug
Battery
Gear ratios

Liquid cooled, single cylinder, two-stroke, reed-valve inducted
47.5 x 47.8mm
85cc
2 valves per cylinder
8.2:1

Keihin PWK28
6-speed
Chain
Wet multiplate
CDI
Kick starter

1st:
2nd:
3rd:
4th:
5th:
6th:

Dimensions
Frame type
Rake/trail
Overall length
Overall width
Overall height
Wheelbase
Seat height
Ground clearance
Weight
Fuel capacity
Color
Suspension (front)
Suspension (rear)
Tyre (front)
Tyre (rear)
Brake (front)
Brake (rear)

Rigid, semi-double cradle, single backbone

1,818mm (71.6 inches)
758mm (29.8 inches)
1,161mm (45.7 inches)
1,255mm (49.4 inches)
864mm (34 inches)
351mm (13.8 inches)
71.0 kg
5.0 litres (1.1 gallons)
Yamaha blue
Adjustable 36mm inverted fork / 275mm (10.8") travel
Fully adjustable link Monocross / 282mm (11.1") travel
70/100-R17
90/100-R14
Single hydraulic disc brake, 220mm
Single hydraulic disc brake, 190mm

Image: http://yamahamanual.blogspot.co.id/2012/06/2010-yamaha-yz85yz85lwz-owners-manual.html

Holland the dark horses for World Cup glory

It is very rare for the pre-tournament favourite to win a World Cup. It is also very rare that there isn’t at least one that performs above expectations and causes a shock or two. With this in mind, it seems about time to look beyond the teams everybody is talking about.

Spain, Brazil, England and Argentina are the four favourites in the World Cup odds. They go into the biggest competition in football with a decent amount of confidence, and although there are some doubts over the last two of the sides, punters still expect them to overcome their problems.

So which team might push these four and give themselves a genuine chance of lifting the trophy next month? Personally, I think Holland could surprise a few people and have made them my football tips for the tournament. Not many pundits have spoken about their chances, but there is no way they should be ignored.

Their manager, Bert Van Marwjik enjoyed a 100 per cent record in qualifying and he is certainly a manager with a growing reputation. He has been in charge since 2008 and it would have all been leading up to this tournament, so his squad will be fully prepared.

Their players rival the best around for talent as well. Just one glance at the talent they have picked for South Africa tells you that, with names like Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder leaping from the page.

One issue for Holland could be that of the group they find themselves in - it isn’t an easy one. They will face Cameroon, Denmark and Japan in Group E and even though they are favourites to top the group, they will have to be on their game to defeat three determined sides.

The group stages of major competitions aren’t normally an issue for Holland though. In Euro 2008, they topped a group containing Italy and France. Prior to that, they sailed through the Group of Death in the 2006 World Cup.

It is the next stage of the competitions that they have struggled in. Whatever they have promised in the first three games, they have fallen flat on their feet when it comes the pressure of knockout matches.

Perhaps the way they have kept a lid on their expectations and hopes for this particular tournament is an indicator that they will not get ahead of themselves if they reach the last 16. It will be a case of taking each game as it comes and using the talent they have in the team to progress.

Should the likes of van Persie and Robben stay fit and they manage to stay solid defensively, there is no doubt that this Holland team - which has shown a new sense of unity in recent months - can go all the way.

Source: http://www.footballnewsblog.co.uk

Real Madrid sign Van der Vaart

Media reports in Spain claim that La Liga champions Real Madrid have completed the signing of Dutch playmaker Rafael Van der Vaart.

A fee of nine million euros has reportedly been agreed with his Bundesliga club Hamburg for the midfielder, who is out of contract at the end of this season.

Under the deal Real Madrid will also get a bonus which will vary depending on the performance of the 25-year-old midfielder, whose mother is Spanish, the radio station added.

Real coach Bernd Schuster has publicly stated his determination to sign the playmaker and pair him in midfield with Wesley Sneijder, a partnership which lit up the Euro 2008 finals this summer.

Last week Hamburg boss Dietmar Beiersdorfer said the German side had rejected an offer of seven million euros for the Dutchman who has made no secret of his desire to play for a major European club.

But Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon said in an interview published Wednesday that the Spanish side was close to signing the player.

“He is a player that Schuster and the coaching staff like a lot and the deal is close. We are waiting to reach a definitive agreement with Hamburg, but it shouldn’t be difficult,” he told Spanish sports daily AS.

Cadena Ser said the player would be officially unveiled as a Real Madrid player on Monday.

Van der Vaart has publicly stated he is happy to play another season at the north German club.

Source: http://www.footballnewsblog.co.uk