eSports Log

Recently a website (www.fpaofindia.com) of Football Players Association of India (FPAI) was inaugurated in New Delhi. Opening the site, Indian national football team captain Baichung Bhutia told it will unite the football community in the country; additionally, popularize the sport among the people.

Bhutia told: “It’s here to help the game, also mainly it’s obviously for the welfare of the players but at the end of the day to come together, share our issues, let our issues be known and just grow the game altogether.” He added “If you look into the PF in England it’s one of the biggest associations. Players Football Association in England is really big and I think we want to do that kind of work for the benefit of the players during their careers and after their careers as well.”

The site will give football fans a peep with the daily life of Indian football stars. It also keeps the fans abreast of the current events. The site will show all the latest news, gossips and interviews with leading footballs players. FPAI was formed in 2006 and it is registered with Fipro.

England is now facing goalkeeper crisis on as both first choice David James stand-bye Manchester United keeper Ben Foster are struggling with injury.  To solve the crisis coach Fabio Capello is considering West Ham’s Robert Green. Green impressed him in the end of season World Cup qualifiers.

Veteran James is going to embrace 40 next August. So it is not like better while other two goalkeepers: Foster and Green would be inexperienced as it appears to big events. Meanwhile, Chelsea midfield ace Frank Lampard has said UK’s stars have a golden break to get an ‘imprint’ on their game and wish to end it by raising the World Cup for the very first time in 44 years. He said: ‘it’s a big year for every player in the squad, not just me. This is always going to be a big one to try to make an imprint as individuals and as a team that goes down in history, rather than being a group or a player who never got near winning the World Cup.” He added “You only have to look at how highly regarded the 1966 team are, and quite rightly so, as the only England team to have won the World Cup. We want to go and win the World Cup. It’d be a fantastic, history-making achievement but it is not easy.” He believes England may learn never-say-die attitude from the Australian cricket team.

Germany’s highest level of football league system, Bundesliga top scorer Grafite has been nominated Germany’s footballer of the year by sports journalists. Brazilian footballer Grafite plays as a striker for German Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg. 30-year-old the striker was born on 2, April, 1979. His birth name is Edinaldo Batista Líbano.

The conventional vote was organized by Kicker magazine and 1,042 journalists participated in voting. Grafite got 331 votes and his rival Mario Gomez received 171. Striker Gomez moved from VfB Stuttgart to Bayern Munich. On the other hand, Grafite’s strike partner Edin Dzeko bagged third in the list with 169 votes.

Grafite netted impressive 28 goals in only 25 appearances last season and rewarded with a contract extension till 2012. He said ‘I want to do even better (this season) and score more goals,’ he added ‘If I manage to play more games than last year then it’s possible.’ His team-mate Bosnia-Herzegovina striker Dzeko also negotiated a new contract that appears Dzeko staying at Wolfsburg till 2013.

French great footballer Zinedine Zidane (born 23, June 1972) is now trying to convince another French midfielder Franck Ribery (born 7, April 1983) to snub Manchester United (MU) and join Real Madrid (RM). Former French captain Zidane is working presently as an adviser to Bernabeu president Florentino Perez. 36-year-old the legend wants to help out the Spanish giant’s capture German-based Bayern Munich star 26-year-old Ribery for approximately 56 million pounds.

RM already landed Kaka, Cristiano and Ronaldo for nearly136 million pounds. Additionally, the club is trying to get Spanish striker David Villa (born 3, December 1981) from Valencia for more than 40 million pounds. On the other hand, ex-Bleus midfield maestro said: “I am in talks with Franck. He is a fantastic player who has his place here at Real Madrid.” “And playing in this team is a career opportunity which, to me, you do not refuse. It would be a nice opportunity for Franck. It is up to him.” If the club can snap up all the targets it may take RM’s spending to a massive 232 million pound.

Andrei Arshavin has openly declared that apart from Russia, Barcelona is his favorite club. But the striker refused to join in Barcelona and make a bond with Arsenal for £15 million. After moving to England in January, now the striker opens his mouth why he did not move to Nou Camp. He told the Daily Mail,

“I did have an offer from Barcelona but Zenit were not happy. I try not to think about what could have happened and at least at Arsenal I am playing. At Barcelona I think I would be sitting on the bench, like Aliaksandr Hleb”

He also added,

“Which player could I replace? Thierry Henry? No, he is too good and I think Messi will be the World Player of the Year. If I could vote it would be for Messi. Even if you just count the goals and the beautiful passes and look at it statistically, Messi would win over Ronaldo.”

“It has been close but Messi has been better. So where would I play at Barcelona?”

The Arsenal striker also revealed that he never wanted to participate in Serie A League of Italy. He indicated that he don’t want to play in Italy due to the defensive style of the league. He said,

I enjoy the honesty of English football, because nobody gives up, and almost all the best players are here. Italian football is at the bottom because of all those scandals. Their league is not very interesting.