Gadaffi buys stake in Juventus

ROME, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Libya wants 20 percent of Italian soccer club Juventus as part of a plan to develop the country's soccer talent, the Juventus-supporting son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was quoted as saying on Thursday. Earlier this week, Juventus said the Libyan Arab Foreign Investment Company had bought a 5.3 percent in it -- worth around 23 million euros at current share prices. "The current stake that we own is just a starting point as over the next few years we are seeking to hold 20 percent of the shares," al-Saadi Gaddafi said in an interview with sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport. "This cannot be considered a financial deal. Libya believes in sport and in its youth and Juventus will help us to develop the enormous potential of our football," he told the newspaper. "We really want to qualify for the 2006 World Cup."

The 28-year-old has played for Libya's national soccer team and runs a leading Libyan squad. "When I was born I was a fan of Juventus and that was reinforced by the fantastic footballers who took over from Platini: Baggio, Del Piero and Zinedine Zidane," he said in the interview. "I was sad when Zidane, an Arab and Muslim like me, left for Real Madrid. Pavel Nedved? I'm not too excited by him; I prefer Zambrotta and Edgar Davids," Gaddafi said. Gaddafi also revealed his father was a big fan of Brazilian striker Ronaldo, who plays for rivals Inter Milan. "On Sunday I will be in Milan with Ronaldo (for a television programme)," he said. "I'm also an attacking number 10 and I'll ask him for some advice and an autograph for my father, who loves football but supports only Libya."

Voetballiedjes II

ZURICH, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Four bands from South Korea and Japan will co-write an official song for the 2002 World Cup finals, soccer's world governing body announced on Thursday. The song by the bands Brown Eyes and Lena Park from Korea and Chemistry and Sowelu from Japan will "reflect the new era dawning across both host nations" of the World Cup and is "an example of modern Asian music at its finest", FIFA said.

The tournament, starting on May 31, also has an official anthem by Vangelis and another official song by Anastacia, sung at the World Cup draw in Pusan last month. "This song is yet another important link between the two host nations of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, allowing Korea and Japan to showcase the modern aspects of their rich cultures," said FIFA President Sepp Blatter. The official "Korea/Japan" song will be released in Japan in mid-March.

Voetballiedjes

Qua supportersliederen is het armoe troef in de Nederlandse stadions. Op het nabijgelegen eiland zijn de fans er stukken beter in. Op de voetbal pagina van de Guardian zijn een aantal liederen verzameld, waaronder het lied over Bobby Petta:

(Tune: Winter Wonderland)
There's only one Bobby Petta
He used to be s**te
But now he's better
We sent him to mass
And now he's class
Walking in a Petta wonderland

http://football.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,9753,613995,00.html
(via Kees Kist)

Huub Stevens naar Hertha BSC.

De Nederlandse trainer bereikte een akkoord over een driejarig contract met de Berlijnse club. 'Ik kijk uit naar het werk wat me te wachten staat in Berlijn', aldus Stevens. Hertha BSC benaderde afgelopen weekeinde Stevens. De Berlijnse club was op zoek naar een opvolger van Jürgen Röber, die aan het einde van dit seizoen weggaat. 'Ik ben blij dat we het eens zijn geworden met Huub Stevens. We zijn ervan overtuigd dat we met hem de ideale opvolger van Röber hebben gevonden', zei manager Dieter Hoeness.

'Ik kijk uit naar het werk wat me te wachten staat in Berlijn. Na zes jaar Schalke is het de juiste uitdaging voor mij. Ik ben blij dat we het snel eens konden worden. Want ik kan me nu met Schalke op de tweede seizoenshelft concentreren', aldus Stevens. De overgang is opmerkelijk, omdat Stevens ook privé-redenen aandroeg bij zijn afscheid van Schalke 04. 'Ik leef namelijk al sinds 1996 gescheiden van mijn familie. Mijn vrouw en mijn twee kinderen leven allen in Eindhoven en hebben mij de laatste jaren zelden gezien. En dat is niet makkelijk voor mij', zei Stevens bij de aankondiging van zijn vertrek bij Schalke.

Frank Neubarth gaat skepter zwaaien bij Schalke

BERLIN, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Werder Bremen's amateur team trainer Frank Neubarth has signed a two-year contract to coach Schalke 04, officials said on Tuesday. The 39-year-old Neubarth, who takes charge in July, will replace Huub Stevens, who led the club to the 1997 UEFA Cup title. Neubarth had been in negotations with Schalke commercial manager Rudi Assauer over the past week. He played in 317 Bundesliga matches and once for Germany during his career.