World Cup Countdown – death threats taken seriously

Death threats ahead of major sporting tournaments are nothing new, and last week saw two targeting the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

One in particular will be of concern to anyone from the US planning to travel to Rustenberg for the country’s opening game against England on June 12.

Algerian-based al-Qaeda group, Islamic Maghreb, said that it aims to target the game, using a form of undetectable explosive that will evade security checkpoints. It said that France, Germany and Italy were also on its list of targets.

"All those countries are part of the Zionist-Crusader campaign against Islam," it said in a statement published in a recent online issue of the jihadist 'Mushtaqun Lel Jannah'.

"How amazing could the match between the United States and England be if, during a live broadcast with a stadium packed with spectators, the sound of an explosion rumbles through the stands, the whole stadium is turned upside down and the numbers of dead bodies are in their dozens and hundreds, God willing."


The 42,000 seater Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Rustenberg, which will be the venue for England v USA World Cup clash on June 12.

The threat follows hot on the heels of that issued by white supremacist group, the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (AWB), after its leader Eugène Terre'Blanche was killed on his farm following an alleged wage dispute with two employees.

Terre'Blanche had been a constant critic of the new South Africa, and the AWB immediately associated his death with the tournament.

Senior member Andre Visagie warned participating nations that they will be sending their soccer teams to a land of murder.

“Don't do that if you don't have sufficient protection for them." he said.
ESPN reported that the organization said it would be looking at ways to take "revenge" for their leader's death, which they see as a “declaration of war.”
Sensing a backlash, another member, Pieter Steyn, backtracked. "Our membership is very, very shocked, angry and horrified. [The AWB] is not going to engage in any form of violent retaliation."

FIFA said it is taking all threats seriously, and is working with authorities across the world to ensure an incident-free World Cup.

San Diego socks it to Lightning

It was Louisville that was hit by lightning when San Diego Sockers showed its class in the US Open Arena Soccer Championship at Mockingbird Valley on Saturday night.

The Sockers added the knockout cup competition to its Professional Arena Soccer League North American Championship crown by beating the Lightning 11-7 at Mockingbird Valley amid a good atmosphere and plenty of dance music.

San Diego was aided in no small part by a thunderous three goal burst in the first 1:33 of the game, from which Louisville could not recover.

In fact, the Sockers entertained the 800 plus crowd by scoring five goals in the first quarter of play, with each being netted by a different player.

Down 7-2 at the break, Lightning closed the gap to 7-4 in the third quarter with a pair of quick goals, but Sockers used its experience and athleticism to keep them at bay.

“They were a savvy, experienced, veteran squad, and they certainly showed it,” said Lightning coach Scott Budnick, who won the league’s Coach of the Year honors after leading the expansion team to second place in the Eastern Conference of the PASL in its inaugural year, and to an 11-6 record overall.

On its way to the final, the Lightning beat West Virginia Quantum Force, Ohio Vortex, Detroit Waza, and Cincinnati.

The team is made up of mostly local products, with 19 of its 22 players under contract having graduated from Kentucky high schools or colleges.

Indoor games are six versus six, comprising of four 15-minute quarters, and Lightning has had average home attendances of 900 per game.

Leading goal scorer Safet Kovacevic garnered First Team All-PASL league honors, defender John Kincheloe earned Second Team, and goalkeeper Frank Peabody and defender Adam Boyer were named to the Honorable Mention Team.

The expansion is co-owned by Jeffersonville architect Wayne Estopinal (who is also chairman), and Ted Nichols. The nickname of Lightning was selected to acknowledge the city’s original professional franchise, the Louisville Thunder, which played from 1984 to 1987 and won the 1986-87 American Indoor Soccer Association championship.

Above: Louisville Lightning's Nick Judah (12) and John Kincheloe (9) in action at Mockingbird Valley

It’s five and alive for Deanery League!

There are no win-loss standings, no league champions, no awards, and no play-offs.

But that doesn’t bother the hundreds of Floyd and Clark county children who will take to the fields this week as the New Albany Deanery Soccer League kicks off for the fifth time.

Organizers have said that because of the league, student participation among 3rd to 8th graders in extra-curricular activities has almost doubled in recent years.

The children will participate on a record 27 teams in games at two locations until the end of May.

Among the schools involved in the fun are Our Lady of Perpetual Help; Holy Family; Sacred Heart; St. Mary of the Knobs; St. Paul's; St. Anthony's; Providence Junior High; St Mary’s New Albany; and St Mary’s Navilleton.

First into action were the 7th and 8th grade teams on Wednesday, playing at Providence. It will be the turn of the 5th and 6th graders, who will play at OLPH (Scheller Lane) this Friday, April 16, while 3rd and 4th grade teams will play at Providence, starting on Monday April 19.


New Albany Deanery athletics co-ordinator Erik Furnish said the league is coeducational, mercy rules are strongly enforced, and there is no A or B leagues, with club players side by side with recreational players.

“I think what sets this apart is that it is considered a ministry of the church and includes kids who attend Catholic schools and public schools which are registered members of a local Catholic church,” said Furnish.

It was a conversation in October of 2005 that kick-started the league for a sport which is now the most popular in a number of the area's grade schools.

Steve Parker, Greg Reger, Mike Bittenbender and Bart Makowski had children who had all played on the same team at YMCA for three years. They thought it would be a good idea to form an official team at their children's school, Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

Sensing more of an interest in the area for the sport than he had originally envisaged, Parker decided to contact Ray Lucas, the director of youth ministries for New Albany.

Lucas explained staff was limited but they would support a league if Parker could find the people to put it together.


Above: Alex Rich (left) and Andrew Bittenbender of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in action during last year’s New Albany Deanery Soccer League game against Holy Family. The league kicks off for its fifth year this week.