Steffi Jones and FIFA on Welcome Tour

Transcription

1 FIFA Women's Germany 2011 TM Steffi Jones and FIFA on Welcome Tour 8 1/2010

2 Welcome Tour to Australia and New Zealand 6 The major women s footballing nations: NIGERIA 22 CONTENT Fascination Editorial Steffi Jones 5 Welcome Tour to Australia and New Zealand 6 Official Draw in Frankfurt/Main 10 The Match Schedule 14 The 16 contenders 16 Countdown in Berlin 20 The major women s footballing nations: NIGERIA 22 African women sports reporters 25 Environmental initiative Green Goal 28 Anja Pfluger: A lost smile returns for keeps 30 LOC NEWS New Year s wishes 34 Official Draw in Frankfurt/Main 10 Countdown in Berlin 20

3 Tatjana Haenni FIFA Head of Women's Competitions because the Official Draw proved the FIFA Women s 2011 in Germany is in the best of hands. This highlight in Frankfurt has increased our desire for more and leads us to expect a great tournament next summer. FASCINATION 2011 "I want to be there because... Silvia Neid National coach of co-favourites Germany because a, particularly in your own country, is the biggest event in football. We ve all dreaming of winning the for the third time in succession. But it s not all done and dusted yet. Kleiton Lima National coach of co-favourites Brazil it would be a dream come true to play Germany in the final in front of a sell-out crowd at the stadium in Frankfurt. So we re aiming high, but we know we have a lot of hard work ahead of us. Pia Sundhage National coach of co-favourites USA this could be the best in the history of women s football and a true milestone. This will give women s football a boost. Adriana Karembeu Draw assistant at the Official Draw in Frankfurt I m a passionate football fan, and I can hardly wait to see the dynamism and elegance of the world s best women players. Dear friends of football, We ve finally arrived in 2011, the year of the first FIFA Women s in Germany. Personally, I can hardly wait for it to start, as we re now only a few short months away from the big kick-off on 26 June at the Olympic stadium in Berlin, the official opening of the FIFA Women s Over the last few weeks, we ve expanded our efforts to encompass the international stage. It started with the star-studded Official Draw in Frankfurt last November. TV footage from the Congress Center at the Frankfurt Trade Fair was broadcast to every corner of the globe. We welcomed high-ranking delegations from all the nations hoping to win the FIFA Women s World Cup, and I do believe they felt our welcome was warm and our hospitality generous. That's also what I heard from the coaches and officials in Australia and New Zealand when I joined a FIFA delegation for the first leg of our Welcome Tour in early December, where we continued the process of stoking up the sense of anticipation and expectation ahead of the big event. I mentioned the international stage, and on that subject, I can promise that I and the entire LOC team will continue to do everything we can to provide a magnificent World Cup stage for all the nations at the tournament. Naturally, the players are the leading actors in the drama, and I m sure they ll shine in the global spotlight. But a fantastic stage also requires a worthy setting, which in our specific case means full stadiums. This is another area where we re working very hard. We ve already sold more than 400,000 tickets, an exceptionally promising pointer towards a glorious summer in 2011! I d like to pass on my warmest thanks to everyone involved in our huge collaborative effort, including our friends at FIFA, the city and stadium authorities, our sponsors and partners, the international and German footballing family, and our supporters in government and politics, but especially the community as a whole, and each individual fan. Here s to a good start to a healthy and happy 2011! With warmest regards Steffi Jones FIFA Women's 2011 LOC President 4 5

4 Steffi Jones and FIFA kick off global Welcome Tour in Australia and New Zealand 120,000 km Welcome marathon for the good of women s football Two footballing globetrotters: Steffi Jones in front of the Sydney Opera House, and Australia s German head coach Holger Osieck (second from left) alongside Consul General Hans Gnotdke. Take-off was delayed by almost four hours, but Thai Airways flight TG 923 finally made it airborne at 21 minutes past midnight on 6 December, leaving Frankfurt behind and heading for Sydney in Australia. The place where Franz Beckenbauer ended his highly-praised Welcome Tour in advance of the 2006 FIFA more than four years ago, now provided the starting point for a new global round-trip. Once again the tour would be heralding a, but this time it would be spearheaded by Steffi Jones and dedicated to the FIFA The difference in temperature between wintry Germany and high summer in Australia was almost 40 degrees, and the difference in time precisely ten hours. Steffi Jones and her small team were starting out on a journey which will involve travelling some 120,000 km by air, taking in all the continents, and all 15 nations which have qualified to contest the FIFA Women s. The concept behind the trip is to emphasise Germany and the DFB s role as good hosts, and much more besides. We have a one-off chance to interpret the Women s 2011 as a driving force, accelerating the progress made by women s football around the globe, commented Jones. The Local Organising Committee (LOC) President regards the Welcome Tour as a classic grass-roots initiative, underlining the growing significance of the women s game worldwide. The trip was strongly backed by world football s governing body FIFA in no less a form than personal involvement from the President himself, as Joseph S. Blatter has pledged his support to the latest LOC initiative. FIFA s Head of Women s Competitions Tatjana Haenni personally made the trip from Zurich to Oceania, and not just for the relaxed, informative and entertaining Welcome get-togethers in the evening. She arrived in advance to hold a Workshop targeted at senior local women s football representatives. On 8 December 2010, 200 days prior to the opening match of the FIFA Women s 2011 on 26 June 2011 at the Olympic stadium in Berlin, Steffi Jones greeted in flawless English some 180 guests to the Westin Grand Hotel Sydney. Those present included Australian men s coach, the much-travelled German Holger Osieck, women s national coach Tom Sermanni, a host of reporters, and ten of the Matildas, as the women s national team is known. Jones had a special message for the players: We re looking forward to seeing you and we ll do everything we can to make it a fantastic stage for you, so you can show the world just how good women s football is nowadays. >> Show and tell: Steffi Jones and LOC media director Jens Grittner on the Westin Grand Hotel stage, and showing perfect shooting technique to kids at the German school in Sydney. Women s

5 Dream setting: Steffi Jones and the impressive Auckland scenery. Germany will once again be a warm and welcoming host nation. The Matildas will be treated to a genu- Oceania ever to score at the finals, was named his country s Super-Fan by the LOC President, thus becoming the chief New Zealand-based ambassador for the FIFA Women s declared Rufer, who made 174 Bundesliga for Werder Bremen and 14 for Kaiserslautern. inspire us to step up our efforts even more as we turn onto the home straight. The second leg of the Welcome Tour takes Steffi Jones inely unique atmosphere in the host cities. More than 400,000 tickets have already been sold, which goes to show that the Women s 2011 will be a true highlight, declared Osieck. We ll provide a magnificent stage for women s football The LOC President then named the vastly experienced and respected German coach as the FIFA Women s 2011 Super-Fan for Australia. "I m delighted to accept this ambassadorial role, promoting the Women s in my home country to fans here in Australia. Maybe the job will allow me to witness a match live and in person, stated With this exceptional initiative, FIFA and the LOC are making a significant contribution to the promotion of women s football in our country. This generous gesture simply whets the appetite even more for the Women s 2011 in Germany, commented New Zealand FA President Frank van Hattum. Shortly before the relaxed and humorous evening event, Steffi Jones met Oceania football legend Wynton Kiwi Rufer at the academy run by the former Bundesliga star. Germany is my second home. In 2006, the world woke up to the fact that the Germans are not only masters of perfect, utterly smooth organisation, but also boast warm hospitality as one of their most prominent attributes. The Women s 2011 will confirm and enhance this positive image of Germany, and I m delighted the New Zealand women s team will experience a in Germany, Wynton Rufer is a wonderful ambassador for football. He lives and breathes the best values in the sport we all love, and he passes these on to young people and kids who haven t enjoyed the perfect start to life. I m incredibly impressed by our visit to a school in a socially deprived suburb of Auckland, and by Wynton Rufer s charisma and achievements, commented Jones, who was overwhelmingly positive in summing up the first leg of the Welcome Tour to Australia and New Zealand. We re overwhelmed by the deep appreciation shown by the folk in both countries. Every single senior official from the New Zealand FA, and 20 members of the national squad, accepted our invitation and came to Auckland, which speaks volumes for the international significance of the Women s. The high expectations of Germany as hosts will to Africa. Her globe-trotting trip to boost the profile of the FIFA Women s 2011, and extend a warm welcome to the participating nations, continues on 19 January 2011 in the Nigerian capital Abuja. It is the third port of call in a unique round-the-world odyssey which is both a promotional roadshow on behalf of Germany as the host nation, and a mission in the cause of global women s football. Jens Grittner On the road with FIFA s support On the ball with the kids: Wynton Rufer s New Zealand football academy. the former DFB coaching expert, who was also Franz Beckenbauer s assistant when Germany won the FIFA in Just as in Sydney, the event in Auckland two days later sparkled with keen anticipation for the first FIFA Women s in Germany, and emphasised the warm hospitality visitors from New Zealand can expect next summer. Steve Sumner, captain of the New Zealand at the 1982 FIFA and the first player from Welcome to Germany 2011: Steffi Jones with New Zealand head coach John Herdman and women s international Maia Jackman. 8

6 Impressively decorated stage: Adriana Karembeu, Steffi Jones, Tatjana Haenni and Günter Netzer at the draw in the Congress Center at Frankfurt trade fair. High-profile clashes in FIFA Women's 2011 group stage of women's football Millions of viewers tuned in on 29 November 2010 to follow proceedings live on television as Tatjana Haenni, FIFA Head of Women's Competitions, and LOC President Steffi Jones hosted the Official Draw for the FIFA Women's 2011 in Frankfurt. Former world and European champion Gunter Netzer and Slovakian model Adriana Karembeu conducted the Official Draw, allocating each of the 16 participants one of the four firstround groups. It was the day the first FIFA Women's to take place in Germany finally began to take shape. gather in Germany "It could have been worse for us. I can live with that," said Germany coach Silvia Neid, whose Germany side kick off the tournament on 26 June 2011 against Canada at the Berlin Olympiastadion. The opening match has all the makings of a classic, with the reigning world and European champions set to take on their North American equivalents in front of an expected European record crowd of almost 75,000. Germany will no doubt be full of confidence having already beaten Canada 5-0 in a friendly in September, not to mention their recent 8-0 rout of African champions Nigeria, who provide the opposition for Silvia Neid's charges in their second Group A match. France could well prove the Germans' biggest challengers for top spot in the section, with the two teams set to meet on 5 July in Mönchengladbach. Still the hosts were relieved to have avoided highly-rated Scandinavian duo Norway and Sweden in the group stage. Indeed Lady Luck appears to have favoured the defending champions, who are now hot favourites to win their group and progress to the quarter-finals in Wolfsburg. Representatives of the 'Auto City' were understandably delighted with the results of the Official Draw. Aside from a potential Germany tie in the Excitement reaches fever pitch in host cities Anticipation levels were palpable in each of the FIFA Women's 2011 host cities on the night of the draw for the finals in Frankfurt. In Bochum, the draw was broadcast live on the big screen in Dr. Ruer Platz, enabling fans to gather and see which teams would be contesting the city's four matches. Another separate screen displayed the city's own fixture schedule. The draw was also broadcast in public viewing areas in most of the other host cities, allowing fans to share the tension and excitement together. quarters, the city will also host matches between fellow heavyweights Sweden and USA, and subsequently Brazil and Norway in the group stage. The list of players set to perform in Germany next summer reads like a who's who of women's football. World stars such as Marta and Christiane of Brazil, Abby Wambach of USA, Camille Abily of France and Korea DPR star Jo Yun-Mi will be joined by the likes of England's Kelly Smith, Japan's Mana Iwabuchi and of course Germany captain Birgit Prinz. >> 10 11

7 Celebrity guests in Frankfurt am Main Canada will be front and centre when the Women's World Cup kicks off next summer after being drawn to face host Germany, the two-time defending champions. The Globe and Mail (Canada) No stroll in a beer garden Los Angeles Times (USA) Over 600 high-profile guests and media representatives attended the Official Draw in Frankfurt, including mayor Petra Roth, USA ambassador in Berlin Philip D. Murphy, FIFA Executive Committee member and Chairman of the Committee for Women's Football and the FIFA Women's Worawi Makudi, DFB President Dr. Theo Zwanziger, LOC President Steffi Jones, German FA (DFB) General Secretary Wolfgang Niersbach and several other DFB board members. Also in attendance were the mayors of the nine host cities, delegations from each of the participating nations, former USA superstar Mia Hamm, a selection of players from the German women's national team and plenty more high-ranking representatives from FIFA's various official partners and sponsors. DFB President Zwanziger assured fans that they can look forward to some great matches and that "Germany as a host nation is fully aware of its social responsibilities. I think 2011 is going to take women's football to a whole new level." The Official Draw in Frankfurt, the centre of the tournament and the venue for the final on 17 July 2011, as well as one semi final and two group matches, certainly whetted the appetite for Germany 2011, where the greatest women players in the world will gather for what promises to be the finest FIFA Women's World Cup to date. Wolfgang Tobien U.S. opens against North Korea: The USA, who surprisingly struggled in qualifying for the 2011 Women's, have been drawn in a group with Korea DPR, Colombia and Sweden. The New York Times (USA) The Super Falcons, still glowing from their African Women's Championship final victory over Equatorial Guinea, were shown to be way out of their depth in Leverkusen. Coach Eucharia Uche blamed the weather, but the draw has at least made revenge a possibility. Thisday (Nigeria) U.S. put in tough group: The draw for the 2011 Women's World Cup made clear that the 16-team, 32-match event in nine German cities will be no stroll in a beer garden for the U.S. Los Angeles Times (USA) International press comments Hands on the cup: Group A team coaches Bruno Bini, Silvia Neid, Carolina Morace and Eucharia Uche. Welcome to Frankfurt: Mayor Petra Roth delivers her witty speech. African champions Nigeria have promised a marked improvement in their second Women's group match against reigning world champions Germany following their 8-0 drubbing in a friendly match a few days ago. Australia will take on former winners Norway, soccer powerhouse Brazil and African newcomers Equatorial Guinea in next year's Women's in Germany. The Australian Daily Trust (Nigeria) Huge pressure on Sweden Dagens Nyheter (Sweden) Bad luck for Les Bleus: The French women's national team were drawn in a difficult group for the Women's 2011, including hosts and reigning champions Germany. Le Figaro (France) Cup draw offers ray of hope for Ferns: It's not the hardest of the four groups, but New Zealand still face a huge challenge if they are to progress beyond pool play. The New Zealand Herald (New Zealand) 12 13

8 MATCH SCHEDULE FIFA Women's Germany 2011 Berlin Olympiastadion Frankfurt FIFA Women s Stadium Moenchengladbach Stadion im Borussia-Park Sinsheim Rhein-Neckar-Arena Wolfsburg Arena im Allerpark Augsburg FIFA Women s Stadium Bochum FIFA Women s Stadium Dresden Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion Leverkusen FIFA Women s Stadium Group Matches Sunday June :00 GER CAN 2 15:00 NGA FRA Monday June :00 MEX ENG 3 15:00 JPN NZL Tuesday June :15 USA PRK 6 15:00 COL SWE Wednesday June :15 BRA AUS 8 15:00 NOR EQG Thursday June :45 GER NGA 10 18:00 CAN FRA Friday July :15 NZL ENG 11 15:00 JPN MEX Saturday July :00 USA COL 14 14:00 PRK SWE Sunday July :15 BRA NOR 16 14:00 AUS EQG Monday July 4 Rest Day Tuesday July :45 FRA GER 20 18:15 NZL MEX 19 18:15 ENG JPN 18 20:45 CAN NGA Wednesday July :00 EQG BRA 21 20:45 SWE USA 22 20:45 PRK COL 24 18:00 AUS NOR Thursday July 7 Rest Days Friday July 8 Quarter Finals Saturday July :45 1 A 2 B 26 18:00 1 B 2 A Sunday July :00 1 C 2 D 28 17:30 1 D 2 C Monday July 11 Rest Days Tuesday July 12 Semi Finals Wednesday July :45 W25 W :00 W26 W28 Thursday July 14 Rest Days Friday July 15 3/4 Place and Final Saturday July :30 L29 L30 Sunday July :45 W29 W30 Subject to change Germany s schedule up to the FIFA Women s March Final Bundesliga Matchday 26 March DFB Cup Final in Cologne 17/18 April "100 days event in Frankfurt. Germany coach Silvia Neid will name the 26 players selected for the provisional squad. The final squad will number 21 players. The new kit will also be presented at the event. 9/10 April Champions League semi-final first leg ties (may involve FCR Duisburg - Turbine Potsdam) April Technical seminar in Bitburg 16/17 April Champions League semi-final second leg ties (may involve Duisburg - Potsdam) April Squad preparation course 1 in Cologne 28 April-3 May Course 2 in Kaiserau 8-15 May Course 3 in Bitburg May Course 4 (venue to be confirmed) 21 May International fixture (venue and opposition to be confirmed). Silvia Neid will name her final 21-player squad after this friendly. 26 May Champions League Final in London (may involve Duisburg or Potsdam). The international players involved in the Final will join their clubs on 22 May. 29 May-7 June Course 5 (venue to be confirmed) 3 June International fixture (venue and opposition to be confirmed) 7 June International fixture (venue and opposition to be confirmed) June Course 6 (venue to be confirmed) 16 June International fixture (venue and opposition to be confirmed) 16 June Final deadline for registering 21-player squad with FIFA. 21 June Squad convenes in Berlin for the. 26 June opening match against Canada at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin (kick-off CET). Group A Group B Germany (GER) Canada (CAN) Nigeria (NGA) France (FRA) Japan (JPN) New Zealand (NZL) Mexico (MEX) England (ENG) Group C Group D National Supporters USA (USA) Korea DPR (PRK) Colombia (COL) Sweden (SWE) Brazil (BRA) Australia (AUS) Norway (NOR) Equatorial Guinea (EQG)

9 CANADA Qualification CONCACAF champions , 1999, 2003, 2007 GERMANY Qualification Fourth at FIFA Women s 2003, CONCACAF champions 1998, 2010 Christine Sinclair (photo), Josee Belanger Head coach Carolina Morace FIFA Ranking 9 Hosts 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007 World champions 2003, 2007; European champions 1989, 1991, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009, Olympic bronze 2000, 2004, 2008 Birgit Prinz, Nadine Angerer Head coach Silvia Neid FIFA Ranking 2 Olympic gold medallists and two-time world champions USA, holders and hosts Germany, and Olympic and FIFA Women s runners-up Brazil rank as the pre-tournament favourites in The impressive line-up for the first FIFA Women s in Germany also features the remaining seven NEWS 2011 No 8 teams in the top ten of the FIFA World Ranking, while at the other end of the spectrum, Colombia and Equatorial Guinea are newcomers to the FIFA Women s. Even at this early stage, superstars Birgit Prinz and Marta rate as the top contenders for the Player of the Tournament award. The 16 contenders for the FIFA Women s 2011 Two new faces and the top ten in the world JAPAN Qualification Third at Asian Women s Championship , 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007 FIFA Women s 1995 quarter-finals; Asian runners-up 1986, 1991, 1995, 2001 Mana Iwabuchi, Kozue Ando Head coach Norio Sasaki FIFA Ranking 5 GROUP A FRANCE Hosts start as favourites NIGERIA Qualification Winners of African Women s Championship , 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007 FIFA Women s quarter-finals 1999; African champions 1991, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010 Stella Mbachu, Perpetua Nkwocha Head coach Eucharia Uche FIFA Ranking 27 New Zealand Qualification Winners of Oceania Women s Championship , 2007 Winners Oceania Women s Championship 1983, 1991, 2007, 2010 Hayley Moorwood, Ali Riley Head coach B Packed FIFA Ranking 23 GROUP John Herdman with potential and promise MEXICO Qualification Finalist at CONCACAF Women s Championship CONCACAF Women s Championship runners-up 1998, 2010 Maribel Domínguez, Verónica Pérez Head coach Leonardo Cuéllar FIFA Ranking 22 Qualification Winners of UEFA qualifying Group 1; beat Italy in final play-off 2003 ENGLAND Qualification Winners of UEFA qualifying Group 5; beat Switzerland in final play-off UEFA Women s EURO 2009 quarter-finals Camille Abily (photo), Sandrine Soubeyrand Head coach Bruno Bini FIFA Ranking , 2007 FIFA Women s quarter-finals 1995, 2007; European Championship runners-up 1984, 2009 Kelly Smith (photo), Faye White Head coach Hope Powell FIFA Ranking 10

10 USA Qualification Winners of play-off against Italy 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007 World champions 1991, 1999; Olympic champions 1996, 2004, 2008; CONCACAF champions 1991, 1993, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2006 Abby Wambach, Amy Rodriguez Head coach Pia Sundhage FIFA Ranking 1 Brazil NEWS 2011 No 8 Qualification Winners of South American Women s Championship , 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007 FIFA Women s finalists 2007; Winners of South American Women s Championship 1991, 1995, 1998, 2003, 2010 Marta (photo), Cristiane Head coach Kleiton Lima FIFA Ranking 3 KOREA DPR Qualification Asian Women s Championship runners-up , 2003, 2007 Erfolge FIFA Women s quarter-finals 2007; Asian champions 2001, 2003, 2008 Jo Yun-Mi, Kim Kyong Hwa (photo) Head coach Kim Kwang Min FIFA Ranking 6 AUSTRALIA Qualification Winners of Asian Women s Championship , 1999, 2003, 2007 FIFA Women s quarter-finals 2007; Olympic quarter-finals 2004; Asian champions 2010; Oceania champions 1995, 1998, 2003 Melissa Barbieri, Heather Garriock Head coach Tom Sermanni FIFA Ranking 12 GROUP C Challenging draw for Olympic champions GROUP D Marta spearheads Brazilian challenge Colombia NORWAY Qualification South American Women s Championship runners-up 2010 None South American Women s Championship runners-up 2010 Yorely Rincón, Nathalie Arias Head coach Ricardo Rozo FIFA Ranking 32 Qualification Winners of UEFA qualifying Group 2; beat Ukraine in final play-off 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007 World champions 1995, runners-up 1991; Olympic champions 2000; European champions 1987, 1993 Ane Stangeland (photo left) Head coach Eli Landsem FIFA Ranking 7 SWEDEN Qualification Winners of UEFA qualifying Group 8; beat Denmark in final play-off 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007 FIFA Women s finalists 2003, third in 1991; European champions 1984 Lotta Schelin (photo), Sara Larsson Head coach Thomas Dennerby FIFA Ranking 4 Equatorial Guinea Qualification Runners-up at the African Women s Championship 2010 None African champions 2008, runners-up 2010 Miriam Paixao Silva, Genoveva Añonma (photo) Head coach Jean-Paul Mpila FIFA Ranking

11 Group portrait with bear: Impressive surroundings in the Bear Hall at the Old Town Hall. Group portrait with cat: Dr. Theo Zwanziger, Liz Mohn (Bertelsmann Foundation), Steffi Jones, Karla Kick, and Klaus Wowereit. Mayor Klaus Wowereit attends Countdown Event in Berlin "2011 will be a fantastic "We're hoping the opening game in Berlin turns out to be the start of another summer fairytale, just like the one which ended with the final of the men's tournament in the same place in 2006," DFB President Theo Zwanziger told some 400 ahead of FIFA Women's "2011 is going to be a fantastic festival of football," said Klaus Wowereit, Mayor of Berlin, in anticipation of the opening match between hosts Germany and Canada on 26 June at the Olympiastadion. "We can set a new benchmark," added LOC President Steffi The LOC are also hoping the fans can set a new precedent at the opening match: "We want to break the European record," explained DFB General Secretary Wolfgang Niersbach. "The world-record women's football attendance of 90,000, set at the final in 1999 in Los Angeles, is out of our reach unfortunately." The highest festival of football" guests from the worlds of politics, business, media and sport at the Old Town Hall in Berlin. Jones. "Believe me, this is going to be a real party." ever attendance for a women's football match in Europe was around 45,000 at the friendly Talk, talk, talk: Host Jens Grittner with Klaus Wowereit and Wolfgang Niersbach plus Minister for Family Affairs Dr. Kristina Schröder. The LOC's final Countdown Event of 2010 signalled the start the final stage of preparations match between world champions Germany and Brazil in Frankfurt in April

12 The major women s footballing nations Part 5 NIGERIA Nigeria set for sixth FIFA Women's appearance Leading the African charge: The Super Falcons A terrific duel: Ariane Hingst and Perpetua Nkwocha. Eucharia Uche could barely find the words to describe Nigeria's embarrassing recent friendly defeat against reigning world champions Germany. "There were several reasons for the unflattering scoreline," said the national coach, whose charges face another meeting with the hot favourites in the group stages of next year's FIFA Women's 2011 in Frankfurt on 30 June The 8-0 thrashing on a freezing November evening in Leverkusen turned out to be a harsh lesson for the Nigerians, who never managed to hit their stride against a German outfit far more used to such chilly conditions. "We only came so as not to disappoint Germany," said Uche after the game. "The timing of the fixture wasn't exactly ideal so soon after the African Women's Championship." days earlier. Nonetheless, Germany coach Silvia Neid remains wary of a backlash in June: "Nigeria will be in much better condition at the. We certainly won't be taking them lightly." Indeed, the West Africans, who have appeared at every FIFA Women's since its inception in 1991, performed admirably in their 4-2 African Championship final victory over Equatorial Guinea. Much like Germany in Europe, the Super Falcons are considered an incomparable force in African women's football. Striker Perpetua Nkwocha, who plays her club football with Swedish side Sunnana SK, shone as the Nigerians secured their qualification for Germany Meanwhile midfielder Stella Mbachu was voted the tournament's Best Player, and Precious Dede the Best Goalkeeper. Cynthia Uwak, who former Germany coach Tina Theune once described as having "enormous potential", did not quite meet the high expectations placed upon her, but is one of just a few players in the squad to have proven herself abroad, having signed for FC Saarbrucken in Not that Nigeria s women players need to leave their homeland in search of top-class football. The country's own domestic league is one of the best-organised in Africa, while the amount of quality players being produced by the West African nation was evident in Nigeria's progression to the final of the FIFA In terms of physical strength and technique, the Nigerian team, currently 27th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Rankings, is undoubtedly among the world's elite. Still many experts highlight a need for improvement in the tactics department. "They're often poorly organised out on the pitch," says Ulrike Ballweg, assistant coach of the German women's national team. Silvia Neid was more complimentary: "Even if we don't know what system the Nigerians are playing, I'm sure they know what they're doing. Nigeria have come on in leaps A superbly organised women s league Hampered by the wet and muddy pitch, U-20 Women's 2010, where they lost to the Nigerians failed to replicate any of hosts Germany 2-0 in Bielefeld. and bounds." The Germany coach is referring to a the class which had seen them domi- process which began 19 years ago at the inaugural nate in much warmer climes at the CAF FIFA Women's in China in 1991, which in African Women's Championship just many observers' eyes marked the true beginning of the history of the Nigerian women's national team. Back then, current coach Eucharia Uche was part of the Nigerian side which faced a Germany team including Silvia Neid in the two nations' opening >> Popular and talented: Eucharia Uche

13 The major women s footballing nations Part 5 NIGERIA NEWS 2011 No 8 group game. Neid netted Germany's first ever goal at a FIFA Women's, before further strikes from Heidi Mohr (2) and Gudrun Gottschlich ensured a comfortable 4-0 victory. "For me that game actually ended on a sour note," remembered Neid. "I tore a tendon in the first half and that was the end of my." The Nigerians' tournament was soon over too, as they lost 1-0 to Italy and 2-0 against Taiwan in their remaining group matches. Nevertheless, African women's football had taken its first steps on the international scene, with Nigeria the first and only nation from the continent to take part in China. Plenty has changed since then, although the team has learned some tough lessons along the way. Though they have dominated the African Women's Championship in recent times, the Super Falcons have struggled to achieve similar success on the biggest stage. At the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup in Sweden, the Nigerians showed a vast improvement on four years earlier, an 8-0 rout at the hands of Norway the exception to two otherwise promising performances against Canada (3-3) and England (3-2 defeat). Nigeria's greatest success to date at a FIFA Women's came in 1999 in the USA, where they collected their first victories at the tournament against Korea DPR (2-1) and Denmark (2-0), only to go on and lose 7-1 to the hosts. That was enough to see the Africans though to the quarter finals, where they contested one of the greatest games in the history of the competition against Brazil. Three-nil down at the break, the Nigerians fought back to make it 3-3 after 90 minutes, before losing to a golden goal in extra time. However, the 2003 FIFA Women's, also held in the USA, proved a major disappointment. Three group stage defeats to Korea DPR, USA and Sweden meant the Super Falcons were on the first flight home. Four years later in China, Nigeria again bowed after the first round, their 1-1 draw with the previous edition's runners-up Sweden and subsequent defeats to Korea DPR and the USA insufficient to take them through. Now the African heavyweights are planning an improved showing at Germany 2011, and few would bet against Eucharia Uche and Co setting a new benchmark for Nigerian women's football. Gregor Derichs FIFA aiming to improve African women sports reporters' status Increasing competence, Dream job of sports reporter: African course participants look ahead to a bright future. boosting confidence Dynamic on the ball: Esther Sunday. Up to 100 African women sports reporters began a FIFA-sponsored training programme this year to enhance their standing in the media. The training courses began on 24 November and will conclude in spring 2011, just in time for the start of the FIFA Women's 2011 in Germany on 26 June. The participants are all members of the African Women Sports Reporters Union (AWSRU), representing a total of 23 countries. Courses are taught by native English, French, Arabic and Spanish speakers, taking place in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi and the Senegalese capital Dakar. Each of the instructors is from the AFP, the international press agency that set up the nonprofit AFP Foundation, which is teaming up with FIFA for a second time. >> 24 25

14 Ally Soobye, a photographer for the Le Mau- One of the biggest successes of the previous Another participant, Linda Mbabazi of the ricien group of newspapers, was also given programme was that the African Football Rwandan newspaper New Times Publications, flights to Johannesburg. He covered four Confederation offered a dozen reporters who described the course as "a great opportunity matches at the Green Point Stadium in Cape took part in the course the chance to work to enhance your career prospects". Win in Africa with Africa Town: "It was a dream come true." Four months earlier he attended a two-part training course in Nairobi, where "we ana- on the Arabic, English and French versions of its website. The new programme involves two training In a letter to the AFP Foundation, she wrote: "This training improved my writing skills in relation to football and gave me the confidence lysed hundreds of photos and held a very centres, with each participant invited to a to work alongside my male colleagues." rewarding Photoshop session before getting into some practical work. The highlight of the course was the reporting we did in the Mathare slums of Nairobi, where poverty and violence are the hidden face of Africa. My newspaper published my photos when I returned to Mauritius". theoretical workshop before the end of the year, to be followed by a hands-on practical session early in Sainabou Kujabi, who took part in the first programme and now works for Gambian newspaper The Point, said: "I appeal to more women journalists to take part in this course AWSRU is planning to organise a seminar at the end of the programme with several African women who have excelled in the world of sport invited, including Olympic medal winners and national champions. because there are far too few women in this Laptop lessons: Assa Soumare and Aminata Mariko from Mali. area of journalism." Ndeye, who is also the official press spokeswoman for the Senegalese FA, noted that editors are often reluctant to hire women reporters for important live matches, preferring to A tremendous career opportunity assign them to write post-match reports. The training courses would give women more selfconfidence and "better equip them to cover The programme builds on FIFA's 'Win in Africa with Africa' campaign, which began before subjects which in principle have been denied to them until now". Women for sports journalism: African seminar participants after a workshop. the 2010 FIFA 2010 in South Aminata Mariko, a reporter for Malian news- Africa and helped to educate around 250 Af- paper Nouvelle Republique, emphasised how rican reporters and photographers. her experience had inspired other young "FIFA is very happy to continue the cooperation with the AFP Foundation to train African sports journalists," said FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter. "Projects like these make the 'Win in Africa with Africa' programme even more their status in the African media a noble goal which underlines the vision of our foundation". women in her country to pursue a career as a sports reporter. Aminata was one of five participants on the course who received flights to the 2010 FIFA in South Africa courtesy of the AFP Foundation. sustainable." AWSRU Secretary General Ndeye Dome Thiouf "When I read the message, I jumped for joy AFC chairman Emmanuel Hoog added: "Many women who took part in the courses which we ran before the 2010 are now much more confident working alongside their male colleagues." explained how many African women journalists took up their profession because they were passionate about the subject: "They are often self-trained, learning on the job, which means they lack certain basic journalistic skills. This training programme, as well as broaden- and could hardly believe my eyes," she said. "I was going to see the greatest players of the beautiful game, share the experience of the most famous reporters, when all I'd seen so far in my career was the Champions League on television. I was enormously happy and The new programme, he said, "is designed not only to enhance the skills and qualifications of women journalists, but also to raise ing their knowledge of the history and rules of football, will enable participants to attain a higher level of quality in their coverage." very, very proud. Many newspapers and radio stations in Mali ran reports expressing support and pride on my behalf." Happy in Cape Town: Ally Soobye from Mauritius at Green Point Stadium during the 2010 FIFA

15 Green Goal 2011: The FIFA Women s environmental initiative Both profitable and green For a shining example of ecofriendly football, look no further than Augsburg. The FIFA Women s stadium in Bavaria s third-largest city is the world s first football arena where daily and match operations are CO 2 -neutral. Smart engineering and an ideal location be- Organising Committee President Jones the stadium. Targeted investment in environmentally-friendly procedures and equipment leads to lower costs and greater eco-efficiency. Another signed-and-sealed point in the program, the fan-friendly FIFA Women s Combi-ticket, represents a vital Top-quality line-up: Members of the Green Goal 2011 ecological advisory panel; (above, from left): Michael Vesper (DOSB general secretary), Rolf Hocke (DFB vice-president), Rudolf Ley (Federal Environment Ministry), Dirk Reinsberg (World Wide Fund for Nature), Martin Schmied (Institute for Applied Ecology), Ulrich Wolter (LOC general coordinator); (below, from left): Dr. Fritz Brickwedde (German Federal Environment Foundation, general secretary), Steffi Jones, Hannelore Ratzeburg (DFB vice-president), Claudia Roth (Green Party chairperson), Dr. Theo Zwanziger, Prof. Dr. Klaus Töpfer and Willi Hink (DFB director), with the Green Goal model of the Ausgburg Arena. tween the Lech and Wertach rivers make it launched the environmental concept for the contribution to credible and practical environ- possible for the 30,000 capacity Arena to be first FIFA Women s in Germany at mental responsibility, commented Jones on But let s go back to Augsburg, and ask just heated and cooled with no impact on the a news conference in mid-may. She will be as- signing the appropriate agreements last July. how it can be possible to heat the facility in environment. The Augsburg stadium, venue for three group matches and a FIFA Women s quarter-final, provides a shining example of profitable environmental protection. Nowadays, sustainability is fully compatible with a healthy bottom line, a realisation which has firmly taken root in much of organised football. The process will be further accelerated and promoted by Green Goal 2011, the environmental initiative of the FIFA Women s in Germany. The Green Goal 2011 programme was conceived in conjunction with the Institute for Applied Ecology and will be applied with the support of the German Federal Environment Foundation (DBU). Environmental protection and sport can go together well, but not unless you take action, commented Steffi Jones. We want to take the lead in eco-friendliness, with the emphasis on sustainability. sisted in her efforts by an expert ecological advisory panel comprising Federal Environment Minister Dr. Norbert Röttgen, former UNEP Executive Director Professor Dr. Klaus Töpfer, Green Party head Claudia Roth, and a bevy of ecology and climate protection experts. Good news for environment protection The DFB laid down a first significant marker en route to a climate-friendly FIFA Women s 2011 with the introduction of the OKOPROFIT environmental management system at all nine FIFA Women s stadiums. The program aims to support stadium operators long-term profitability by deploying innovative technologies, while simultaneously minimising the ecological impact of running FIFA Women s match tickets will be valid for travel on the entire local public transportation network on matchdays, so that a morning family sightseeing tour or the trip to the local fan festival after the match is allinclusive on purchase of a match ticket. Accredited media representatives will also travel on local public transport free of charge. The environmental protection programme at the tournament itself covers a number of additional areas, some attributable to centralised solutions, and many to individual features at the stadiums. All the electricity required for tournament operations will be derived from renewable sources. All the stadiums feature water-saving public conveniences, and four of the nine pitches will be exclusively watered using collected rainfall. The trash will be separated at all nine FIFA Women s arenas behind the scenes of course. The most ambitious green goal is to realise a climate-fair FIFA Women s. The target is to compensate for some 50,000 tonnes of harmful CO 2 emissions by investment in ecofriendly projects elsewhere. In practical terms, this means neutralising an equivalent volume to the CO 2 emissions generated by the tournament by reducing emissions in another place. The Green Goal environmental initiative for 2011 means the women s game is building on the pioneering example set by the men in Back then, the eponymous eco- friendly concept hit 13 of its 16 precisely quantified targets. Germany has set a new benchmark, declared Sigmar Gabriel, Federal Environment Minister at the time. The incremental power requirement was covered by 13 million kilowatt hours of certified eco-electricity derived from renewable sources. Some 74 per cent of travel occasioned by the tournament was accomplished using public transportation. And 92,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions attributable solely to staging the 2006 FIFA were neutralised by investment in emissions-reduction projects in India and South Africa. Environmental protection is embedded in the philosophy of the DFB, both in the past and the future. Indeed, delegates to the most recent DFB national assembly duly approved a corresponding amendment to the association s statutes. the depths of the icy Bavarian winter with no heating oil whatsoever, and with just a small amount of CO 2 -neutral natural biogas. The cunning Augsburg secret is water, or to put it more accurately, an enormous volume of water. At maximum output, the two massive heat-generating pumps at the heart of the Augsburg Arena require 200,000 litres of water per hour from the underground water table. This is delivered by two wells bored to the west of the stadium, but the miraculous production of the energy itself is down to the pumps, which can supply up to 12,000 litres of water heated at up to 60 degrees and stored in a special reservoir. It is sufficient to heat all the closed spaces on the entire site, and to warm the water and glycol mixture used in the undersoil heating. This is environmental protection as a practical reality, both in Augsburg and at next summer s festival of football as a whole

16 Anja Pfluger was seriously ill with leukaemia but she went on to beat the disease A lost smile returns for keeps Fully focused on the future Germany U-17 international Anja Pfluger contracted leukaemia at the age of just 16, but she has beaten the insidious disease, and is now fully recovered and living in Meckenbeuren on Lake Constance. Anja still remembers every detail of the happiness and elation she felt when she stepped onto a football pitch again for the first time. Her face lights up as she talks about it. After the awful months of worry and uncertainty, it was an incredible, brilliant feeling which I just can t describe, recalls the 17-year-old. Her joy is easy to appreciate, because Anja Pfluger was very seriously ill. The U-17 international was first diagnosed with leukaemia in But help was at hand, and with help came hope. Friends, clubs, the Wurttemberg Football Association and the German FA (DFB) came together to search for a bone marrow donor and to help with financing her campaign. A host of football clubs organised activities large and small to collect money for the junior international from VfB Friedrichshafen. The DFB donated the profits from a Christmas tombola. The DFB Egidius Braun Foundation and the children s dreams initiative, a project of the Förderkreis für tumor- und leukämiekranke Kinder Ulm e.v, an Ulm-based organisation for supporting children suffering from cancer which helped Anja and other stricken kids, raised 17,000. Anja s idol, LOC President Steffi Jones, visited her to personally present the donation and a Germany shirt. The football family stood together. All for one all for Anja Pfluger. Anja is still moved by the huge support she received from so many people. That gave me a lot of strength, she recalls, taking the opportunity to pass on a message that is obviously sincere and heartfelt. I d like to thank everyone who supported me during that difficult period. Every text message, every , every letter and message helped me a lot. The fact that so many people did so much for me, took part in the donor campaign or supported it financially that was fantastic and was a great help. Thanks to a successful bone marrow transplant, Anja has beaten the crippling disease and made a complete recovery. She now only has routine monthly examinations and refuses to dwell on the past. The opposite in fact: the 17-year-old is looking forward and has put her dark times behind her. She has already made plans for the future, and has resumed the normal life of a teenager: meeting up with friends, passing on the latest news on Facebook, going to the cinema. And perhaps inevitably, Anja is passionately involved in football again. She is currently studying for her A-levels at school. If all goes well, she wants to go on to university or college. Sports science, that really interests me," she says, with thoughts of becoming a coach later on. She has already taken her first step on this path, as she runs a girls football club at the primary school in her neighbouring town. It s great fun, she says. She has already worked out a master plan for the future. A-levels, a place at university and then join a Bundesliga club, she explains. That is Anja Pfluger s dream. She hopes to play for Germany one day. She was already in the Germany U-17 squad when the disease stopped her in her tracks. And now she s working hard to get back to that level. During her illness, she never stopped believing she would get her old life back one day. I want to play football again, she said back then, with an air of unshakeable confidence, I ll be back. Anja Pfluger kept her word. And the whole football family shares her happiness. Annette Seitz 30 31

17 Official poster unveiled High-speed ambassador: ICE in livery The German Railways (DB) ICE high-speed train fleet is being kitted out to promote the FIFA Women s All ICE and selected regional trains will be given a new look and are bound to attract attention up and down Germany. The project was introduced at Frankfurt central station by DB boss Dr. Rudiger Grube, DFB President Theo Zwanziger and LOC President Steffi Jones. At the Official Draw in Frankfurt, LOC President Steffi Jones joined FIFA Executive member Morawi Makudi und FIFA Head of Women s Competitions Tatjana Haenni in launching the official poster for the FIFA Women s Between 28 October and 2 November, FIFA.com invited football fans from across the globe to vote for their favourite from a shortlist of five designs. The winning entry featuring a dynamic portrait of a woman footballer was designed by Berlin-based creative communications agency WE DO LOC NEWS Volunteer programme teams up with Special Olympics A major boost to self-esteem Under Minister Schröder s wing 11,000 volunteers from 138 countries have signed up for duty at the FIFA Women s The volunteers received VIP support from Germany s Minister for Family Affairs Dr. Kristina Schroder, who has become patron of the Organisation Committee volunteer programme. Boost for LOC local offices The nine volunteer chairpersons who have been working hard on preparations for the FIFA Women s since October 2009 will have extra support from January 2011, in the shape of a full-time director and a volunteer manager. The opening of local LOC offices marks a sea change in the work of the Organisation Committee at a regional level, and creates another important link between the LOC, the host cities and the clubs. The FIFA Women s 2011 could not be staged without the support and involvement of volunteers. The extensive contacts between volunteers and visitors mean the unpaid helpers are important ambassadors for the tournament, as their friendliness and willingness to help will significantly influence the abiding image of the first FIFA Women s in Germany. And now, in tandem with the Special Olympics, the 2011 volunteer programme is to promote the integration of people with mental disabilities in volunteer work. For us, this is a further sign of integration through diversity, and fits in perfectly with the concept of the volunteer programme. This special initiative will enrich the whole project, explained Stefanie Schulte, head of the volunteer programme for the FIFA Women s Organising Committee. At the FIFA U-20 Women s games in Dresden, the team included five volunteers attached to the sheltered workshops organisation Werkstätten der Lebenshilfe, and are competing in the Special Olympics. They acted as a contact point for all visitors to the tournament, distributed brochures, and helped fans find the right section of the ground. This integration worked perfectly and all the volunteers really enjoyed themselves, so we ve decided to roll this initiative out to six venues for the FIFA Women s 2011, Schulte explained. Key aims are to boost recognition of the potential of people with mental disabilities among the population as a whole, increase the self-esteem of this target group, and develop understanding of their position through co-operation with clubs, schools and other organisations. Stephan Eiermann 32 33

18 The mayors of the nine FIFA Women's 2011 host cities, four German FA (DFB) board members and the chairman of the LOC board of trustees Dr. Thomas Bach are all looking forward to the first ever FIFA Women's to be held in Germany next year. Almost five years on from the summer fairytale which was the 2006 FIFA, each revealed their hopes and expectations ahead of the eagerly-anticipated international festival of women's football. "As a good host, I'd like to wish all our guests from Australia, Japan, Colombia, Mexico, Norway and Sweden good health, happiness and of course plenty of sporting success in The Women's gives Leverkusen the chance to show fans around the world what an open, friendly and forward-thinking city it is." "Berlin is looking forward to another summer fairytale. When the Women's kicks off with the match between Germany and Canada at the Olympiastadion, it will mark the start of a wonderful event which will unite people from all over the world. We all remember those magical moments in That magic is going to be revived here in Berlin." Klaus Wowereit Mayor of Berlin Reinhard Buchhorn Mayor of Leverkusen "Next year, Sinsheim is going to be a part of a unique international sporting event and we're very much looking forward to showing what a great city we are. The four matches, involving teams from at least six nations, will turn the football world's attentions to Sinsheim. We're all hoping for an unforgettable and some exciting games." Rolf Geinert Mayor of Sinsheim "The FIFA Women's 2011 is one of the world's biggest and most important sporting events. We'll be welcoming guests from Equatorial Guinea, England, Japan, Korea DPR, Norway and Sweden to our City of Peace, and I know that Augsburg is going to give a great account of itself." Dr. Kurt Gribl Mayor of Augsburg "We're very proud to be a host city for the 2011 Women's and are looking forward to welcoming the teams from England, Canada, New Zealand, Nigeria, Korea DPR and particularly the USA, who so kindly displayed that 'Thank you Dresden' banner at the end of the U-20 tournament." Helma Orosz Mayor of Dresden "The U-20 Women's was one of the highlights of A fantastic atmosphere, packed stadiums and a successful German team. Bochum is once again among the host cities for Germany 2011 and will be doing its very best to be the best possible host to the finest women players in the world." Dr. Ottilie Scholz Mayor of Bochum "I hope the fans enjoy the three exciting matches - Brazil against Australia, France against Germany and the semi-final - as well as a great atmosphere at our stadium, enthusiastic fans and a city which will remain long in the memory. We're going to be great hosts." Norbert Bude Mayor of Mönchengladbach 34 35

19 "Wolfsburg is already looking forward to welcoming guests from all over the world, especially the fans from England, Norway, Sweden, Mexico, Brazil and the USA. Together we can make this summer in Wolfsburg unforgettable. Whether on the fan mile or in the arena, we'll all be celebrating together and getting behind the teams." Prof. Rolf Schnellecke Mayor of Wolfsburg "Frankfurt is the heart of women's football. Even away from the stadium, we'll be doing everything we can to ensure a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. We invite people to come and visit our fan mile on the Main, the Frankfurt Football Gardens and to enjoy the great football on display at this extraordinary event." Petra Roth Mayor of Frankfurt am Main "I'm convinced we're going to have another great summer in Germany in this time with the women at the forefront." Wolfgang Niersbach DFB General Secretary "As treasurer of course I'm hoping for packed stadiums at the 2011 Women's, but most of all I'm hoping our girls can claim their third consecutive crown and that the people of Germany once again prove themselves to be enthusiastic and hospitable hosts." "My biggest hope is for the 2011 Women's to further strengthen the sport's popularity among women and girls and that our team deliver some world-class performances." Hannelore Ratzeburg DFB Vice President Horst R. Schmidt DFB treasurer "It's my dream for Germany and the DFB to present itself as friendly and open hosts in 2011, just like we did five years ago for the I wouldn't have any problem with our team winning the tournament either." Dr. Theo Zwanziger DFB President "I'm hoping for three sporting highlights in the summer of 2011: First for Germany to present itself as pleasant and friendly hosts of the Women's, then for Munich to receive the rights to host the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in 2018, and then eight days later for Germany to win the Women's in Frankfurt." Dr. Thomas Bach President of DOSB (German Olympic Sport Confederation) and IOC Vice President 36 37

20 38 39 PUBLISHING CREDITS Publisher: FIFA Women`s 2011 TM Organising Committee Germany c/o Deutscher Fußball-Bund Otto-Fleck-Schneise Frankfurt am Main Phone: +49 (0) media@ok2011.de Chief press officer with responsibility for content: Jens Grittner Chief editor: Wolfgang Tobien Editors: Ulrike Brade, Stephan Eiermann, Klaus Koltzenburg, David Noemi Contributors to this edition: Gregor Derichs, Thomas Hackbarth, Annette Seitz Photographs: Foto Kunz, Getty Images, dpa picture-alliance Layout and production: B2 Design, Nordring 82 a, Offenbach, info@b2design.info

21 FIFA U-20-Frauen-WM 40