FOOTBALL IN INDONESIA

The football history in Indonesia goes far back to the colonial era. In the year 1930 the Indonesian Football league was established. The football league was established during the Dutch colonial time. The league is supervised by Indonesia Football association (PSSI). This was actually 15 years before the independence of Indonesia. After 7 years since its establishment, PSSI affiliated to FIFA.  9 years later PSSI joined the Asian Football Federation.

The current chairman of PSSI is called Djohar Arifin Hussein.

Indonesia have different national teams categories accordin to the age of players. There exist the Indonesia U-21, U-19, U-23 and U-16. In that way, there is a strong base for the future of Indonesian senior team.

In 2012 Indonesia U-21 team participated in the Hassanal Bolkiah cup in Brunei.

One of the things which are really interesting is to find that 3 players used toplay their professional football outside Indonesia. These players are Ryan Yusuf who plays for Lille in France, Dow Alfawirsa who plays for Giresunspor in Turkey and Farri Agri who plays for Al Khor in Qatar. The current squad which was organized to play did not include any single player out of the Indonesia domestic league.

THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF INDONESIA(PPSI)

The football association of Indonesia is made up of many provincial associations. Some of these are such as Aceh Association (AA) and Central Java Association (AJTG). Each of these association are responsible for the direct day to day management of football within the provinces. The ultimately report to the main association which is the (PPSI)

CHICHARITO,S DECISIVE GOAL

There are few players in this world who can show such a wonderful goal scoring ability like the way Chicharito does. For sure this man could be getting more games in the first 11 line up of Man U. He knows where to position himself for the goal.

Chicharito's goal

His goal was the decider for his team. Moyes has a wonderful boy to help in crucial times. The goal he has scored has enabled Manchester United to go ahead in the Capital ne Cup. This Mexican striker should get more time to play and Man U will never regret for the fruits he will give for the team. For the team like Man U, it is so interesting to see that even in the absence of Van Persie, the team can still play well in the forward line. Rooney, Welbeck nad Chicharito did a wonderful Job. For the Side of Liverpool, they were so unlucky. De Gea rescued a lot of dangerous strikes from the opponents. Steven Gerrald was as if he is not in the game. Sturridge did not perform so well as expected. Liverpool has already lost one cup so far.

SCOTTISH DIVISION 3 FOOTBALL LEAGUE

This is another well organized league in Scotland. The teams are normally promoted to the 2nd division. In the previous season the top scorer was Andrew Little, who netted in a total of 22 goals. Little is a player of Rangers FC.

The top most football team in this lower division league was Rangers FC. Being the 1st in the league table,

means Rangers qualifies to play in the 2nd division. 

Elgin City FC

Rangers FC Logo

Annan Athletic FC Logo.

The other three teams below Rangers in the league table have to play again in order to qualify to play in the 2nd division in case they win with flying colours. The 3 teams below Rangers in the previous season were Peterhead which was on the 2nd position with 59 points, Queen’s Park FC  on the 3rd position with 3 points less than Peterhead and Berwick Rangers FC with 49 points and on the 4th position.

Clayde FC vs Rangers last season.

Rolly Mac Allister plays for Peterhead and was the second top scorer in the Scottish Division three with a total of 22 goals. Darren Lavery and Lee McCulloch together they netted a total of 17 goals.

Darren plays for Berwick Rangers and Lee plays for the the Scottish Division three winners Rangers.

East Stirlingshire finished at the bottom of the league table with only 29 points. East Stirlingshire won oly 8 games out of 36 games.

In this league, each team will have to play with another four times. In the 1stseason twice and in the second season again twice again.

Egin City vs Annan Athletic in last season

Elgin City Squad

Elgin vs Rangers

OZIL’S SWITCH TO THE GUNNERS.

Real Madrid has succeeded to sign Gareth Bale. It seems that Ozil has quited Madrid to get rid of fierce competition in the midfield which could be there in the presence of Gareth Bale.

The important question comes: Does Bale fit in Anceloti’s formation? This team has a lot of wonderful players almost in every position. Is Bale really so good to make someone stay at the bench? Did Real Madrid need that kind of player? Is it not for business purposes that Bale is joining Madrid?

Ozil has gone. He is the only player in all over Europe to create many chances for scoring goals. How is it easy for the team like Real Madrid to just let a player like Ozil go? But I am not surprised. It did like that to Claude Makelele and they suffered without him for many years.

Ozil has been given No 11. What a welcome at Arsenal!

[Photo by: www.mirror.co.uk]

Ozil on training soon after joining Arsenal.

[Photo: www.dailymail.co.uk]

Ozil with his teammate Per Metersacker in one of the practice sessions at Arsenal.

[Photo by: www.independent.co.uk]

Ozil as he was challenged by Ki Sung-Yeung of Sunderland

[Photo: www.guardian.co.uk]

Ozil for Arsenal in a tight challenge with David Vaughen of Sunderland.

[www.independent.ie]

Wenger seems to congratulate the good work by Ozil on the pitch.

[Photo by: www.southlondontoday.com]

On the other hand I expect a player like Ozil who play in a jihad way on the pitch to bring success at Arsenal. Imagine the supply of balls to Podolski and Walcott, without forgetting Giroud.

The strikers at Arsenal should do what the fans expect. If Ozil is in the midfield and then you don't score, then you should consider yourself as a waste to Arsenal in general.

I still remember the Arsenal of Henry, Pires, Grimandi, Kanu, Bergkamp, Seaman, Viera, Ljumberg, Adams and Wiltord and other players. That Arsenal could even win the champions league. It is the most entertaining team ever at The Emirates. May be Wenger is trying to revive the Arsenal I loved to watch in those days.

Ozil vs Adriano in el-classico. The tie took place in April 2011

[www.zimbio.com]

Ozil and Puyol in a fight for the ball during el-classico in November 2010.

[www.zimbio.com]

Ozil in one of the champions league match against Borussia Dortmund last season

when he played for Real Madrid.  [Photo by: www.mirror.co.uk]

Ozil is expected to be seen today in a champions’ league match against Olympique Marseille. It will be his 1st match for Arsenal in Champions league.

Ozil has already played for Arsenal in the EPL match against Sunderland, in a match which Arsenal won 3-1. He is expected to make important assists for the Arsenal attackers this season.

Ozil has declared that he may not regret for his switch to Arsenal. He had a dream of playing in the premier league. Wenger’s phone call made it happen, and Ozil was ready. He is now joining his team mate in the Germany National team, Podolski. This may be another advantage since they know each other so well.

In a match with Sunderland, it took only 10 minutes before the German created a crucial assist to Giroud who netted in the ball. 

HIROKI SAKAI

Hiroki Sakai is a Japanese player who plays as a defender. He started to play in the youth team at Kashiwa Reysol in the period of 2003-2008. He is 23 years old now.

 

Hiroki was born in Kashiwa, Japan. From 2009-2012 he played in the Kashiwa Reysol senior team. He made a total of 51 appearances and scored 2 goals. After playing so well he went to play in the Bundesliga with Hannover 96. With Hannover 96, he has already made 13 appearances with no goal.

 

Hiroki as he joined Hannover 96 from Kashiwa Reysol.

Photo by: www.fifa.com

Hiroki for Kashiwa Reysol vs Neymar for Santos in 2011 FIFA club confederations Cup

Photo by: www.sport.orf.at

Hiroki for Kashiwa Reysol vs Club de Futbol de Monterrey

in 2011 FIFA club confederations Cup.

Photo by: www.fifa.com

It is Hiroki , the machine at work for Kashiwa Reysol

Photo by: www.nippon-ganbare.com

Hiroki for Kashiwa Reysol vs Auckland City 

in 2011 FIFA club confederations Cup.

Photo by: www.zimbio.com

Hiroki in one of Hannover96 practice sessions.

Photo by: www.hannover96.de

Hiroki also participates in the Japanese national team. He is not yet to score any goal but he has made a total of 12 appearances. Hiroki is only 23 years of age and he is the pillar for the Japanese football and the Japanese national team. With a player like him, something productive is expected. Joining Hannover 96 from Kashiwa Reysol is a huge advancement for the Japanese youngster. This will give him a lot of experience which in turn will contribute to the Japanese national team.

 

Neymar's Santos VS Hiroki's Kashiwa Reysol. See for yourself.

 

 

 

Before playing for the senor team, Hiroki played for the Japan U-23 a total of 17 games and won 2 goals. In 2011 he won the J-League best 11 award. Hope he will follow the successes of Hidetoshi Nakata and Shunsuke Nakamura.

KIM BO-KYUNG - CARDIFF CITY STAR

Kim Bo-Kyung is a South Korean footballer who currently plays for Cardiff City in England. He started to play in the youth team at Hongik University in the period of 2008-2009. In 2010-2012 Cerezo Osaka signed him and he played a total of 41 games and scored 15 goals.

 

Kim in one of the matches against Blackburn Rovers.

Photo by: www.zimbio.com

 

 

While under Cerezo Osaka, Kim was transferred on loan to another Japanese team called Oita Trinita in the J-League 2nd division. He played successfully while on loan and he appeared 28 times for Oita Trinita and scored 8 goals.

 

Kim among Sheffield Wednesday defenders

Photo by: www.zimbio.com

 

 

In 2012 he was sold to the English side Cardiff City. His first goal for Cardiff was in the match between Cardiff and Blackburn Rovers, where Cardiff won by 4-1. He helped Cardiff to win the championship and qualify directly to play in the premier league in the next season.

 

 

Cardiff City vs Crystal Palace-Carling Cup.

 

 

 

Kim has a good record in the South Korean U-23 team. He won the bronze medal in 2010 in the Asian Games. Kim also won the bronze medal in London Olympics in 2012 with the U-23 squad.

JAPANESE U-23 TEAM (1)

The Japanese U-23 soccer team is a strong base for players in the Japanese senior team as well as the domestic league known as J-League. The team has been playing in the Olympic Games since 1936. In the Olympic Games which were hosted in Germany, the Japanese U-23 reached the quarter finals. This is a remarkable history for the team as it is not always easy to reach the quarter finals in such a big tournament as the Olympics.

Japan vs Spain in 2012 summer Olympics

In 1936 the Japanese U-23 squad allowed 10 goals and it scored only 3 goals. This shows that the forward line did not score many goals to advance further in that competition. 3 goals only are not enough if you expect to reach the finals for example.

In 1956, the Olympic Games were hosted by Australia. The Japanese team did not do well as compared to 1936 record. It was defeated in the 1st round and that was the end of its expectations. In that tournament the Japanese team did not score any goal and it allowed a total of 2 goals.

In the summer Olympics of 1968, the Japanese squad did very well in its history. It won the bronze medal just after Poland which won the silver medal and Hungary which won the gold medal. Japan started its campaign in group A with Spain, Brazil and Nigeria. Japan played its first match in October 14th against Nigeria. They defeated Nigeria by 3-1, in an event which the Japanese player Kunishige Kamamoto scored the hat trick.

Their second match was against Brazil whereby Watanabe of the Japanese squad scored the only goal in the late minutes to equalize the match. The match with Brazil ended at a 1-1 draw. Their 3rd tie was against Spain and it was a goalless draw. Japan qualified for the next stage after becoming 2nd in group just below Spain. It had a total of 4 points just one point below Spain who had 5 points.

Japan faced France in the quarter finals and they defeated France by 3-1. This gave them a ticket to play in the semi finals.

One of The semi-final matches was between Hungary and Japan. Japan suffered a defeat of 0-5 from Hungary.

In October 24th 1968 Japan played against Mexico. The hosts were severely beaten by the Toyota makers. Japan won the match by 2-0. This was the bright shine for the Japanese team. It is my hope that one day Japan will reach the world cup final before it can take it.