1. International stars Mu Kanazaki of Oita Trinita and Chong Gug Song of Suwon head to LA as Pan-Pacific rosters are announced
The four teams participating in the Pan-Pacific Championship announced their rosters, which include among other international stars, Oita Trinita's Mu Kanazaki, the Japanese National Team's rising star, and Suwon's Chong Gug Song, a fixture in Korea's National Team who helped them to their quarterfinal finish at the 2002 World Cup.
Below are the rosters by team.
LA GALAXY
Head Coach: Bruce Arena
Goalkeepers: Miguel Benitez, Steve Cronin, Donovan Ricketts, Josh Saunders, Josh Wicks.
Defenders: Vardan Adzemian, Leo Bautista, A.J. DeLaGarza, Todd Dunivant, Sean Franklin, Michael Gavin, Omar Gonzalez, Yohance Marshall, Brandon McDonald, Mike Randolph, Troy Roberts, Tony Sanneh, Julian Valentin.
Midfielders: Ely Allen, David Beckham, Josh Boateng, Leonard Griffin, Chris Klein, Dema Kovalenko, Eddie Lewis, Stefani Miglioranzi, Mike Munoz, Kyle Patterson, Josh Tudela.
Forwards: Tristan Bowen, Edson Buddle, Landon Donovan, Alan Gordon, Bryan Jordan, Jovan Kirovski, Mike Magee, Israel Sesay.
OITA TRINITA
Head Coach: Pericles Chamusca.
Goalkeepers: Nishikiwaka Shusaka, Shimokawa Seigo, Ishida Ryosuke, Shimizu Keisuke.
Defenders: Tsubouchi Shusuke, Morishige Masato, Uemoto Taikai, Kobayashi Hiroyuki, Ikeda Tatsuya.
Midfielders: Roberto Julio de Figueiredo, Edmilson Alves, Nishiyama Teppei, Mu Kanazaki, Suzuki Shingo, Ienaga Akihiro, Sumida Takahiko, Takahashi Daisuke, Higashi Keigo, Kotegawa Kouki, Kiyotake Hiroshi, Inique Yudai, Miyazawi Masashi, Fujita Yoshiaki, Umeda Takashi.
Forwards: Morishima Yasuhito, Ueslei Raimundo Pereira da Silva, Takamatsu Daiki, Maeda Shunsuke.
SUWON SAMSUNG BLUEWINGS
Head Coach: Cha Bum-Kun.
Goalkeepers: Woon Jae Lee, Ho Jin Park.
Defenders: Weifeng Li, Sang Min Yang, Jae Sung Lee, Chong Gug Song, Dae Keon Kim, Jorge Luiz Alves Justino, Hee Ju Kwak.
Midfielders: Hyun Bem Park, Hyun Jin Lee, Kwan Woo Lee, Soon Hak Hong, Ji Hoon Baek, Gil Hoon Lee, Sung Hyeon Choi.
Forwards: Eduardo Goncalves de Oliveira, Tae Goon Ha, Dae Eui Kim, Ki Jong Bae, Yong Tae Cho.
SHANDONG LUNENG TAISHAN FC
Head Coach: Ljubiša Tumbaković.
Goalkeepers: Leilei Li, Cheng Yang, Xiaofeng Geng.
Defenders: Alejandro Cichero, Weiwei Yuan, Zhao Liu, Zhe Jiao, Ningning Xia, Hao Wu, Zhigang Li.
Midfielders: Jindong Liu, Chang Shu, Aleksander Zickovic, Wei Li, Yao Gao, Cheng Wan, Chi Zhang, Peng Cui, Yan Zhi.
Forwards: Mrdakovic Miljan, Zheng Lu, Jinyu Li.
*all rosters subject to change
2. Fox Soccer Channel to broadcast Pan-Pacific Championship live in the United States
Fox Soccer Channel today announced it will carry live, exclusive English-language coverage of the Pan-Pacific Championship for the first time.
The games will be televised in a 4½ hour window each match day, with 30 minutes between contests to recap the first game and preview the second.
Wednesday, February 18
Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR) vs. Shandong Luneng (CHN) - 8:30 p.m. ET
Los Angeles Galaxy (USA) vs. Oita Trinita (JPN) - 11:00 p.m. ET
Saturday, February 21
Third Place Match - 8:30 p.m. ET
Final - 11:00 p.m. ET
Fox Soccer Channel is available through affiliated cable systems, and through DirecTV and Dish Network satellite providers. For more information, visit Fox Soccer Channel online at foxsoccer.com.
3. Galaxy strengthen side ahead of Pan-Pacific Championship
LA Galaxy Head Coach Bruce Arena continues to look for talent to bolster the club's 2009 roster. Among the new players being evaluated in camp is Venezuelan Leo Bautista. The 25-year-old defender is on trial from Venezuela's Caracas FC, winner of nine league titles and one of the most popular clubs in the region. Bautista has cited the success of countrymen Alejandro Moreno (Columbus Crew) and Jorge Rojas (New York Red Bulls) as influential in his decision to try and establish himself in Major League Soccer, and recently expressed his strong desire to stay with LA. The imposing 6-foot-3 fullback could be given his opportunity to impress the Galaxy coaching staff at the Pan-Pacific Championship, where, depending on the results of the tournament's semifinals, he could be matched up against fellow Venezuelan defender, Shandong Luneng's Alejandro Cichero, whose brother Gabriel helped the Red Bulls reach the 2008 MLS Cup Final.
On February 3, the Los Angeles Galaxy announced further roster additions with the signing of defender Todd Dunivant from Toronto FC, who will be reuniting with both his former club and coach. Dunivant, who has made two U.S. National Team appearances, was an integral part of the Galaxy's 2005 campaign, which saw them win a double: MLS Cup and the U.S. Open Cup. Dunivant joined current Galaxy coach, Bruce Arena, at the New York Red Bulls midway through the 2006 season. After a move to Toronto FC a year later, Dunivant suffered an ankle injury and played just nine games for the Reds in 2008. He has had successful ankle surgery and should be fit for the start of the MLS season on March 22, though his participation in the Pan-Pacific Championship is doubtful.
4. Unique banner to greet Oita at Pan-Pacific Championship
Oita Trinita has taken creative measures to ensure that their fans' support will be felt across the Pacific when the J.League champions compete in Los Angeles. The club's official website announced the club will create a fan banner specifically designed for any Oita fans that cannot travel to this year's Pan-Pacific Championship. The banner will feature messages submitted to Oita via email and will be displayed at The Home Depot Center during the tournament.
Oita has also been innovative on the field, winning the 2008 Nabisco Cup with the most modest budget in the J.League. Tactics behind that achievement are detailed in Oita coach Pericles Chamusca's recently published book Chamusca Magic. The heralded tactician, who took over in 2005, describes the process of developing Oita into a winning side. According to the club's official website, a percentage of the book's proceeds will go to the team.
Chamusca's abilities will be put to the test when Oita opens the Pan-Pacific Championship on February 18 against the host LA Galaxy at 8 p.m..
5. Suwon scores five, allows none in pair of scrimmages
Following their third place finish in Hong King at the the Lunar New Year Cup, the Suwon Samsung Bluewings returned to South Korea on Feb. 5 to continue preparations for the Pan-Pacific Championship. Two days later against Hanyang Univisersity in Gyeongju, a historically rich part of South Korea where the K-League champions have been holding their preseason camp, the Bluewings defeated Hanyang 3-0, and went on to beat Dongguk University 2-0 on February 9.
The club's official website highlighted the excellent play of new signing Li Weifeng. The Chinese international is said to be settling in on and off the pitch, showing the defensive qualities that have earned him more than 100 caps for his national team, while adapting quickly to the Korean culture and language.
Weifeng will participate in two more scrimmages before he heads with Suwon to LA for the Pan-Pacific Championship. On February 11 the Bluewings will face Suwon University, followed by their last scrimmage on Korean soil the next day against third division side, Gyeongju Citizens.
6. Chivas USA defeats Shandong in scrimmage
Taking full advantage of their extended stay in Southern California, Shandong Luneng played the first of their three scrimmages against MLS teams prior to the Pan-Pacific Championship. The Chinese Super League champions met the Galaxy's LA rival, Chivas USA, on Sunday, February 8, losing 5-1 at The Home Depot Center. Miljan Mrdaković scored the lone goal for Shandong in the 59th minute to halve a Chvivas USA lead forged by Jesse Marsch and an own goal. But the hosts scored three straight in the final half hour (Gilson Tussi, Carey Talley and Kyle Christensen) to put the game out of reach.
Shandong's preparations for the Pan-Pacific Championship continue with closed-door scrimmages against Seattle Sounders FC (Feb. 10) and Real Salt Lake (Feb. 13).
7. PPC tickets on sale
Tickets for the Pan-Pacific Championship 2009 are on sale and can be purchased by calling the LA Galaxy at 877-3GALAXY. Prices start as low as $15. Fans are encouraged to visit the tournament's official website, www.PPChampionship.net for further information.
