IFFHS NEWS AND STATISTICS OF THE WEEK 32
Picture : Iker Casillas, the Legend with 5 IFFHS Trophies for THE WORLD'S BEST GOALKEEPER !
CASILLAS, THE LEGEND
Following Iker Casillas’ announcement about his retirement from professional football, Real Madrid C. F. wants to show its recognition, admiration and affection for one of the biggest legends of our club and of world football. (Realmadrid.com)
The best goalkeeper in the history of Real Madrid and Spanish football joined us at the age of 9. He was formed here and defended our shirt for 25 years, becoming one of our most emblematic captains of all time. Iker Casillas earned the love of madridismo and is a symbol of the values that Real Madrid represents.
Today one of the most important footballers in our 118 years of history calls it a day as a professional player, a player we love and admire, a goalkeeper who has made the Real Madrid legacy bigger with his work and exemplary behaviour both on and off the pitch.
He played 725 matches for the first team during 16 seasons in which he won 19 titles: 3 European Cups, 3 Club World Cups, 2 European Super Cups, 5 Spanish Leagues, 2 Copa del Rey and 4 Spanish Super Cups. In Portugal, with Porto, he won 2 Portuguese Leagues, 1 Cup and 1 Supercup. And he has been capped by Spain 167 times, where he won 1 World Cup, 2 European Cups and 1 Under-20 World Cup. Iker Casillas was named five times in the FIFA FIFPro World XI and was voted the world’s best goalkeeper five times by the IFFHS.
His impressive sporting career has been recognised with the Prince of Asturias Award for Sports, the Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Sports Merit, the Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sports Merit and the Gold Medal of the Community of Madrid.
Iker Casillas belongs at the heart of Real Madrid and will do so forever. Real Madrid would like to convey to him and his family the love of our club, which is the club of his life.
Reports from the Spanish press suggest that Casillas will soon take on a role as one of Florentino Perez’s consultants in Real Madrid after the former goalkeeper decided not to run for president of the Spanish Football Association.
Paris SG won three titles in France and is one of the favourites for the Champions League.
MEN UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Friday, Aug. 7
Manchester City vs. Real Madrid 3 p.m.(City leads 2-1 through leg 1)
Juventus vs. Lyon, 3 p.m. (Lyon leads 1-0 through leg 1)
Saturday, Aug. 8
Barcelona vs. Napoli, 3 p.m. (tied 1-1 through leg 1)
Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea, 3 p.m. (Bayern leads 3-0 through leg 1
Wednesday, Aug. 12
1 - Atalanta vs. Paris Saint-Germain, 3 p.m. Estádio do Sport, Lisbon
Thursday, Aug. 13
2 - RB Leipzig vs. Atletico Madrid, 3 p.m. -- Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon
Friday, Aug. 14
3 - Napoli/Barcelona vs. Chelsea/Bayern Munich, 3 p.m. -- Estádio do Sport, Lisbon
Saturday. Aug. 15
4 - Real Madrid/Manchester City vs. Lyon/Juventus, 3 p.m. -- Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon
Semifinals
Tuesday, Aug. 18
5 - Winner 1 vs. Winner 2, 3 p.m. -- Estádio do Sport, Lisbon
Wednesday, Aug. 19
6 - Winner 3 vs. Winner 4, 3 p.m. -- Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon
Final
Sunday, Aug. 23
Winner 5 vs. Winner 6 ,3 p.m. -- Estádio do Sport, Lisbon
WOMEN UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Four titles in a row for Olympique Lyon since 2016 ! And this year ?
Quarter-finals
Friday 21 August
Glasgow City vs VFL Wolfsburg (18:00 CET: Anoeta Stadium, San Sebastián)
Atlético de Madrid vs FC Barcelona (18:00 CET: San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao)
Saturday 22 August
Arsenal FC vs Paris SG (20:00 CET: Anoeta Stadium, San Sebastián)
Olympique Lyon vs FC Bayern München (20:00 CET: San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao)
Semi-finals
Tuesday 25 August
2: Glasgow City/Wolfsburg vs Atlético/Barcelona (20:00 CET: Anoeta Stadium, San Sebastián)
Wednesday 26 August
1: Arsenal/Paris vs Lyon/Bayern (20:00 CET: San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao)
Final
Sunday 30 August
Winner semi-final 2 vs Winner semi-final 1 (20:00 CET: Anoeta Stadium, San Sebastián)
MEN UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE
Round of 16
Wednesday, Aug. 5
Copenhagen vs. Istanbul Basaksehir, 12:55 p.m. -- FC København Stadium
Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Wolfsburg, 12:55 p.m. -- NSK Olimpiyskiy
Manchester United vs. LASK, 3 p.m. -- Old Trafford
Inter Milan vs. Getafe, 3 p.m. -- Arena AufShalke (Germany)
Thursday, Aug. 6
Sevilla vs. Roma, 12:55 p.m. -- MSV Arena
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Rangers, 12:55 p.m. -- Bayarena
Basel vs. Eintracht Frankfurt, 3 p.m. -- St. Jacob-Park
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Olympiacos, 3 p.m. -- Molineux Stadium
Quarterfinals
Monday, Aug. 10
1 - Manchester United/LASK vs. Copenhagen/Istanbul Basaksehir, 3 p.m. -- Stadion Köln
2 - Inter Milan/Getafe vs. Bayer Leverkusen/Rangers, 3 p.m. -- Düsseldorf Arena
Tuesday, Aug. 11
3 - Wolverhampton Wanderers/Olympiacos vs. Sevilla/Roma, 3 p.m. -- MSV Arena
4 - Shakhtar Donetsk/Wolfsburg vs. Basel/Eintracht Frankfurt, 3 p.m. -- Arena AufShalke
Semifinals
Sunday, Aug. 16
5 - Winner 1 vs. Winner 2, 3 p.m -- Stadion Köln
Monday, Aug. 17
6 - Winner 3 vs. Winner 4, 3 p.m. -- Düsseldorf Arena
Final
Friday, Aug. 21
Winner 5 vs. Winner 6 , 3 p.m. -- Stadion Köln
CAF FIX CALENDAR FOR REST OF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AND CAF CUP MATCHES
The two competitions had each suffered a setback to their campaigns after worsening Covid-19 pandemic toll in Cameroon obliged the football federation to withdraw from hosting the Champions League semi-finals, and Confederations Cup seeing its evolution stalled.
In what CAF describes as ‘following the principle of fairness,’ the semi-finals will be played on a home-and-away format with Morocco hosting the first leg matches on September 25th and 26th, and Egypt to host the second legs on October 2nd and 3rd. The final game will be played on October 16th or 17th at a neutral venue should a team from Egypt and Morocco which both feature two teams each at the semis, qualify for the final. In view of such a case, a bidding process for a neutral venue has been opened for prospective hosts to submit their files on August 17th at latest.
It would be recalled that the semi-finalists include, Al Ahly and Zamalek of Egypt and, Raja and Wydad of Morocco; and CAF would continue talking with the various stakeholders on organizing all these matches behind closed doors if it became imperative.
For the Total Confederation Cup whose matches will be played behind closed doors, Pyramids of Egypt will play against Horoya of Guinea at the Mohammed V Complex, Casablanca on September 22nd, simultaneously with the other semi-final pitting two Moroccan clubs, RS Berkane and HUSA at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat. And the final game will be played on September 27th at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
THE STORY
FOOTBALL PASSION IN PAKISTAN
Imama Qureshi cannot sit idle during Covid-19 Pandemic days. Since there are no football matches and practices in Pakistan due to pandemic, she and her co NGOs decided to celebrate Nelson Mandela's birthday. Also she utilized this time to make a pilot project for non - privileged children and some SDGs. Born in a football family at Rawalpindi, Imama and her sisters Meeral and Qirtah followed their parents' path. Her father, Muhammad Arif Qureshi, the former midfielder of Pakistan is a well-known Football coach. Her mother Jamila Arif is also a popular face in football coaching fields. Her mother was very shy and an introverted woman with tenth grade education. After her marriage, Muhammad Arif inspired Jamila to continue her study and new vision to her life. She finished her graduation and took a football coaching license with the help of him. Her parents' love in sports and commitment to football inspired Imama and her sister. Imama began to play football at the age of five. She and her family faced many discouragements from her community. She got the strength from immense support of her parents. They set her a biggest example to follow and grow like them and prove others are wrong. She did it, later Imama played as a defender for Pakistan in International venues before they seized their action. Also she played with Young Rising Stars FC in Pakistan football League. When Pakistan women's football team stopped their actions, she took a coaching license like her parents. Imama also played in Australian rules football team in Pakistan and Futsal.
Imama's father Muhammad Arif, a great humanitarian, made headlines when he went to teach football to street children. Following her father Imama also started to work for non - privileged children. She helped them to find their equal rights to perform in their favorite sports, and guide them to get proper education and a sports career. Also she engaged with the Mandela Mile Leadership Program. In which she saw her opportunity to bring issues of Non - Privileged Children. However, her project strayed without proper support and lack of resources. She believes, one day someone will help her to fulfill her dream. Like every other Women footballer in Pakistan, Football brought changes in Imama's life. All the discouraging communities start to praise her when her name comes in the Pakistan national team. Even they brought presents. She understood, when you got recognition once it all works right. In her experience, it is not her parents' fame that boosted her career. She did a substantial amount of hardships to gain attention from the money - oriented orthodox and patriarchy community.
In Pakistan, women's football began in 2010 with a new hope and promise to the women community. First they faced big challenges to get support from a community, where Cricket and Hockey dominated. Moreover Women in Sport is rare in Pakistan. However, the passion and dedication led girls to this new category. They dared to shine in limited venues. They did it, however their luck did not last long. FIFA banned them for three years due to corrupt management. Even after the ban was lifted, they did not resume their work. The government lost their interest in this sport. This forced many talents to pursue their own vision. Imama chose her path, where her father directed. Like Imama, many of her teammates created their own path. Even without support from the government some created their own league and succeeded. Which encouraged Government bodies to relieve Pakistan Women's football from small scale. Yet it is incomplete but still encouraging. Imama is not happy with the entire system. People are going with their own vision. She wants a coordinated system, which helps to improve everyone's vision by supporting each other. However no body is there to support other peoples to work for the community except few like Karishma Inayat from Gilgit Baltistan and Karishma Ali from Chitral. Like Imama, both girls are working for their community tirelessly.
Imama has two plans to rejuvenate Pakistan Women football. She wants to create a national level tournament and best squad. So she can bring great players to the national league with honorable contracts. She believes this will attract more players. In Pakistan, players got only one month of preparation. In the view of Imama, it is not essential to create champions. She wants a long contract with players to keep them active. Her other plan is more accurate. Pakistan still lacks a grass root football. So she aims to begin from zero level. Which is more challenging and time-consuming. Imama concerns more about nutrition of players. She has an example of Pakistani National Hockey players. Once they went to the Hockey world cup without proper food. There are players who love this sport. All they want is systematic leadership and more tournaments. Which still sleeps under the red tags. Somehow, even in the FIFA ban players find their way to play football. Imama sees it is a good sign. And looks forward to some good NGO or organizations, who are interested to work for the community through sports. With the help of them, she wants to finish her project for homeless children.