The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| FIFA’s Valcke says confident Brazil will deliver Posted: 20 Jan 2014 02:59 PM PST "We are very confident that things are on track," Valcke told a press conference after touring the stadium, which is due to host the June 12 opening match. Brazilian Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo meanwhile told reporters that the arena, where a fatal accident killed two construction workers in late November, was "97% ready for delivery". Noting that Arena Corinthians was initially to have been delivered yesterday, Valcke said "a lot of work is still to be done where the accident took place." On November 27, two construction workers died at the stadium after a crane fell onto part of the stadium at it lifted a final piece of roofing into position. The accident forced FIFA to scrap an initial December 31 deadline for all 12 venues to be ready and Sao Paulo is only set to hold pre-event tests from mid-April. On his first trip to Brazil this year, the FIFA secretary general said it was too early to give an overall assessment of preparations for the mega-event. "We will come every month for one week," he added. But he said that he believed Brazil will rise to the challenge of hosting its first World Cup since 1950. "The pressure is higher here because it is the first game," he added. "The world will watch... We have the obligation, Brazil and us, to make things happen perfectly, not only for the first game but for the 64 (games)." As well as fatal accidents at three stadiums – Brasilia and Manaus being the others – there has been widespread concern at Brazil's ability to overcome logistical issues, including a poor transport network and sky-high hotel prices. FIFA's president Sepp Blatter earlier this month criticised the Brazilians for starting preparations too late after being selected as hosts back in 2007. That criticism from the head of world football's governing body stung Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff into a spirited riposte. Valcke himself noted Rousseff's point that fan enthusiasm for the event knows no bounds. "We never received so many requests" for World Cup tickets. "I think we have some 10 million requests for tickets," said Valcke, who was later to go on to Cuiaba, Curitiba and Natal, three other World Cup venues where preparations have been lagging, to monitor progress there. - AFP, January 21, 2014. |
| Ronaldo honoured by Portuguese President Posted: 20 Jan 2014 02:50 PM PST The Portugal captain and Real Madrid forward was awarded the Ordem do Infante Dom Henrique, the Order of Prince Henry, in the presidential palace in Lisbon. Silva paid tribute to "the extraordinary talent of Ronaldo... who brings prestige to Portugal around the world". He congratulated Ronaldo for "his talent, discipline and the determination he has always shown... an example for young generations". The 28-year-old received an honour that was created in 1960 to mark the 500th anniversary of the death of one of the most important figures in the Portuguese Empire. The ceremony took place at the presidential palace in Belem, just outside Lisbon, a week after Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or title for the second time, and the world's top footballer brought his new trophy with him. The trophy will now go on display in the museum opened last December in Madeira, the Portuguese island from where Ronaldo comes. "It gives me great pride to represent Portugal in the world," said Ronaldo. "This distinction is a source of additional motivation to continue to work harder and represent Portugal at the highest level." Silva had intended to award the honour to "CR7" on January 7 but the cememony was pushed back following the death of Portuguese football legend Eusebio. Ronaldo, who also own the Ballon d'or in 2008, is the first Portuguese player to receive the award twice. Eusebio won it in 1965 and Luis Figo in 2001. The former Sporting Lisbon and Manchester United player has played 109 times for Portugal, scoring 47 goals. - AFP, January 21, 2014. |
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