Ziga-Zoga's Footballers Blog (soccer)

A Quick Update On The ZZ Home Front

While you may be enjoying the silence or not, ZZ is under going some strategic change right now.  We are in the midst of rethinking how we can better serve our community.  We have been talking to many members behind the scenes, developing partnerships and discussing a lot of things off line.

While we are gearing up for some exciting and refreshing things to come, we hope that you will reach out to others in the ZZ family and share your football life with others.  We are always here to help our members and are currently striving and planning to become something even more brilliant than we already are...that's a joke :)

On a serious note, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has provided their feedback on our name change and thanks to those who continue to compliment the work we are doing.  Believe us when we say we are truly motivated to make an impact in the lives of the football community.

Great things are on the horizon...stay tuned.

Cheers,
Jason

Revs & Rapids Route Their Fo's On Opening Night

Opening night proved to be a double route as the Revs and Rapids drummed their opponents.  Both New England and Colorado threw out the gravel, greased the wheels and drove right over their competitors.

The Revs started strong - coming out with the intention to get back at the Dynamo for snuffing them in the Cup.  Although it's just the beginning, I heard a crazy stat at the beginning of the match that went something like, "the team who loses their opening match 90% of the time does not win the MLS Cup".  I don't know what the validity is or if its just one of those fuzzy stats for chatter but, it certainly worth looking into and important enough to frame mentality for performance.

Best goal and man of the match by the Gambia assassin Sainey Nyassi (highlight video above).  In the mountains, Colorado handed the pretty boys from LA their bags and sent them back to Hollywood for another take on a better day.  The Rapids were just too much for Becks and Donny boy.  If I were Gullit I'd be really ticked - his stars were still dreaming and maybe needed a sweater cause they sure did play a bunch of panzies. 

I thought Terry Cooke's rip got the white water flowing and it was down hill from there.   
Here are both MLS and Fox Soccer recaps of all MLS matches today.  You can also catch some really cool coverage over at my boy Nathan's American Soccer News.

Thinking of a Name Change: What do you think?

A name change for the spirit of our community is something we are discussing.  As a founder of Ziga-Zoga, who came up with our name, we have been discussing the effectiveness of our name and it's recognition globally.

For those not familiar with the history of Ziga-Zoga and where it comes from please read the story behind the name here (written before we became a global community):  http://tinyurl.com/2dvf9p . It's neat to see how far we have come and where things are heading.

The short and sweet explanation is that Ziga-Zoga comes from a German celebratory chant called Zicke-Zacke Hoi Hoi Hoi. This chant is commonly used by football fans to motivate their teams and especially after a victory celebrating with the song Ein Prosit.

So, we certainly love the name and this game however, we want to grow our community for the benefit of all and make our brand immediately recognizable to a global audience. There are also limitations with domain names these days so we had to be creative with one of the names we are considering. Most importantly, we want to hear what you have to say. We have started a poll and opened a forum for you to vote and provide your feedback. Please let us know what you think.

Get Stuck In! Jason Cronkhite

Opinion Polls & Market Research

 

Toronto's Brian Edwards makes a great save against D.C. United at TPSF

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Another great save from the Texas Pro Soccer Fest, from Friday night's Toronto FC-D.C. United match.  Toronto keeper Brian Edwards reacts quickly to deflect away a rocket by D.C. United striker Cezar.

Houston Dynamo's Pat Onstad makes two big saves late vs. D.C. United on Sun. at TPSF

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Video from Sunday's Houston Dynamo-D.C. United match at the Texas Pro Soccer Festival.  Houston's Pat Onstad makes one great save in the 71st to keep the Dynamo up 1-0, then after D.C. equalizes in the 78th, Onstad makes another great save with a few minutes remaining to preserve a draw and give Houston the first-ever Texas Pro Soccer Festival championship trophy.

TPSF Sunday Recap: Houston 1-1 D.C. United, Toronto FC 3-2 Chivas USA

On Sunday, the first Texas Pro Soccer Fest wrapped up at Steele High School in Cibolo with the Houston Dynamo and D.C. United playing out a 1-1 draw, and Toronto FC defeating Chivas USA 3-2.

Both Houston and D.C. entered the early match with wins in their first two matches, so their matchup was for the tournament trophy. The Dynamo were on track to claim it after Franco Caraccio's rebound goal in the 53rd minute, but D.C. United made it very interesting with an equalizer in the 78th minute through Cezar.

D.C. had a great chance to take the win and the trophy in the final minutes, but Pat Onstad made a great diving save to keep out a goalbound header and preserve a draw, which was good enough for the Dynamo to be crowned champions, thanks to having scored more goals than D.C. (6 to 4).

Toronto FC and Chivas had each lost their first two matches, but certainly weren't hanging their heads when they took the field for the tournament finale. There were four goals in the first 30 minutes, which saw Toronto go up in the 12th minute, only to fall behind 2-1 after Ante Razov's 27th minute goal, and then level things at 2 when Danny Dichio scored in the 30th minute.

The match would be decided in the second half, when Toronto's Jeff Cunningham scored his second goal of the game on a 63rd minute penalty, after a handball by a Chivas player.

So, the tournament started and ended with a goalfest involving Toronto, and besides some terrific goals being scored, there were some great saves and defensive performances all around.

So, the first Texas Pro Soccer Festival is in the books, but it certainly won't be the last.

Thanks to all who came out for the games, and to all who worked hard to make the week a success, from the faces in the forefront to the people behind the scenes.

I'm already looking forward to another special event next year, and I hope everyone else is as well.

Celebrities and Soccer Stars Take the Field for a Good Cause

On Saturday afternoon, the Texas Pro Soccer Festival took a little time off from serious football for a little fun and fundraising.

In New Braunfels, a host of reality show TV stars and former professional soccer players gathered at New Braunfels High School for a charity match for Grassroot Soccer and Footballers For Peace.

It was an action-packed, entertaining match, with 23 goals, a few bicycle kicks, and a lot of fun times and laughs all around.

Representing the reality show stars were the likes of Ethan Zohn, Survivor winner, former goalkeeper in the Zimbabwe professional leagues, and founder of Grassroot Soccer, Dr. Will Kirby from Big Brother and Dr. 90210, Survivor's Johnny Fairplay, and several others who took their turns at being soccer players for at least a day.

On the soccer stars' side were former MLS and US national team star Marcelo Balboa, former MLS/US national team star and current Chivas USA coach Preki, Footballers For Peace founder, professional soccer player, and Ziga-Zoga member Philip Kutsu, and Ziga-Zoga's own Jason Cronkhite.

The fact that the soccer star side won 12-11 in a thriller that came down to the final minute is irrelevant, as the afternoon was more about having fun and raising money for two great causes.

If you'd like to know more about Grassroot Soccer, go to http://www.grassrootsoccer.org, and if you'd like to know more about Footballers For Peace, go to their group on Ziga-Zoga at http://www.zigazoga.com/group/soccerplayersforpeace.

A lot of people can be helped and a lot of lives can be saved through both of these groups, and I encourage all of you to give them a look and to try to do your part, one way or another, to make a difference for at least one person out there.

TPSF Friday Recap: D.C. United 1-0 Toronto FC, Houston Dynamo 1-0 Chivas USA

After ten goals on Wednesday night, Friday's Texas Pro Soccer Fest doubleheader at Steele High School in Cibolo was much more about quality defense and being opportunistic on the attacking end.

In the first match of the night, Toronto FC and D.C. United were headed for a goalless draw until the 84th minute, when D.C.'s Josh Gardner, who'd been a threat with his pace for much of the evening, found the net off of a nice assist by Quavas Kirk.

There was also only one goal in the second match, between Houston Dynamo and Chivas USA, but that one came much earlier. In the 11th minute, Houston's Dwayne De Rosario unleashed a 30-yard blast that surprised everyone, including Chivas USA goalkeeper Lance Parker. Houston very well could have had at least another two or three, but the one goal was all that they got - and all that they needed.

Both the Chivas and Houston fans made a lot of noise last night, especially throughout the first half, when both teams played several of their starters.

So, we're down to our last doubleheader, which will take place tomorrow starting at 12:30, when Houston and D.C., both 2-0, battle for the Texas Pro Soccer Festival crown before heading to their CONCACAF Champions' Cup matches. Then, in the finale of the tournament, Toronto FC and Chivas USA go at it, looking to go out on a high note. If you haven't made it out for the first two nights, come out to Cibolo for the final doubleheader, and not only support MLS, but soccer in the San Antonio area.

D.C. United practice video + interviews at the Texas Pro Soccer Fest

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Eddie Griffin speaks with D.C. United head coach Tom Soehn and star forward Jaime Moreno following one of their Texas Pro Soccer Fest practices at Soccer International in Schertz, TX. 

Steps for Success: Chivas USA's Ante Razov's Tips to Help You Score Big

As promised, here are a few tips for aspiring footballers courtesy of Chivas USA's Ante Razov. Razov has three main musts to help pave the way for success:

1) Practice a lot.

2) You have to love the game, and have that competitive edge every day.

3) Have fun and enjoy the game.

These are good words to follow, coming from someone who has 109 MLS goals, which is second behind D.C. United's Jaime Moreno. On a side note, four of the league's all-time leading scorers are here this week: Moreno (112 - 1st), Razov (109 - 2nd), Toronto FC's Jeff Cunningham (96 - 4th), and Chivas USA coach Preki (79 - 9th). On top of that, last year's Golden Boot winner, D.C. United's Luciano Emilio (20 goals) is here as well.

We'll have practice video from the other day up later on today, and keep coming back for more Texas Pro Soccer Festival updates here in San Antonio.

TPSF Wednesday Recap: Houston Dynamo 4-3 Toronto FC, D.C. United 2-1 Chivas USA

Last night, the trio of Texas Pro Soccer Fest doubleheaders kicked off, and if you weren't able to make it to Steele High School in Cibolo, you missed a lot of goals.

In the first match of the night, Houston Dynamo jumped out to a three-goal lead early in the second half, but had to hold off a late Toronto FC comeback to win 4-3.

It didn't take long for Houston to go ahead, as Chris Wondolowski scored three minutes in.

From there, it looked it'd be all Houston, but Toronto equalized in the 36th minute through Kiki Musampa, and it was set to go into the half 1-1.

But, Brian Ching scored twice in three minutes (42, 44) to put Houston up 3-1, and it was 4-1 two minutes into the second half when Eric Ustruck scored.

Game over, right? I'm sure most people thought it was, but Toronto made things tight towards the end with goals by Martin Brittain (71) and Tony Vairelles (80). But, it was too little, too late.

In the second game, between D.C. United and Chivas USA, all of the goals happened in the first half.

The two teams played most of their starters in their scrimmage at Soccer International in the morning, so the nightcap in Cibolo featured primarily reserves. Still, the fans in attendance were into it, and there were a lot of Chivas fans who were excited when Jorge Flores scored in the 13th minute.

But, that excitement wouldn't last very long, as two D.C. goals over the next 15 minutes (Quavas Kirk & Cezar Hermenegildo) put the four-time champions ahead.

That advantage held up for the final hour, and matched the score from the morning, when D.C. won 2-1 with goals from Luciano Emilio and Franco Niell.

It was an exciting night overall, and Friday and Sunday should be even better. Given that it was in the middle of the week, the turnout wasn't what it stands to be for the other two doubleheaders, and the stadium should be packed, especially on Friday night.

If you're in the area, come out to Steele HS to make these next two doubleheaders a sellout! It's a great chance to see professional soccer up close and meet some of MLS' best too, so don't miss out, because along with the chance to see some great action, but also to support area soccer and make sure that these events and others can happen on a regular basis.

To get directions, ticket prices, and to find out more about the event, head on over to http://www.texasprosoccerfest.com.

TPSF Update: The Importance of Communication

It's Eddie checking in again, shortly before I head off to catch tonight's TPSF doubleheaders in Cibolo.

This evening, the Texas Pro Soccer Fest kicks off in earnest with the first of three doubleheaders at Steele High School, but if you were out at the Soccer International fields this morning, there was an extremely spirited and intense scrimmage between D.C. United and Chivas USA, who will face off one of tonight's matches, with Houston Dynamo and Toronto FC playing in the other match of the twinbill.

One of the most noticeable things about the scrimmage was not only its intensity, but the way the players were communicating with and encouraging their teammates.

Good communication is very important in sports, and in life in general. In a sport like soccer, when the players have to deal with language barriers sometimes, it's vital to be able to communicate with teammates both on and off the pitch to succeed and have the closest-knit unit as possible.

Speaking of helpful tips for footballers, I got a chance to speak with D.C. United forward Jaime Moreno and head coach Tom Soehn yesterday, and with Chivas USA forward Ante Razov today, and all three provided great tips for aspiring footballers. I'll be posting a video of yesterday's practice and interviews later on, along with the complete transcript from today's interview with Razov.

Moreno and Razov are two of the remaining 'MLS Originals,' who have played in the league since it started in 1996, and both have experienced a lot of success on a personal and team level, so if they have something to say on how to reach your goals, it's definitely worth listening to.

As for coverage from tonight's matches, if I have Internet access at the stadium, I plan to provide live updates of each game, but if not, I will post a recap afterwards.

Checking in at the Texas Pro Soccer Fest.

Hey all, I'm Eddie Griffin. I regularly write for Soccerlens, but I'll be covering the Texas Pro Soccer Festival for Ziga-Zoga live from the San Antonio area.

The games don't underway on Wednesday night, when two-time defending MLS champion Houston Dynamo take on Toronto FC at 6, and DC United go up against Chivas USA at 8:30.  So If you're in the area, try to make it to at least one of the doubleheaders on Wednesday night, Friday night, and Sunday afternoon at Steele High School in Cibolo.

While the action will be going on then, you can also come out to Soccer International in Schertz to see the teams practice at 10 A.M. and 4 P.M.   

If you need directions to either place or want more info on the event, just go to texasprosoccerfest.com. 

Keep coming back all of this week for event coverage, from videos, interviews, articles, and more. We talked to Jaime Moreno and Coach Tom Soehn of D.C. United today after practice, and we'll have those interviews posted up later today, so keep on the lookout for those, and more.

P.S. - A word of advice to those who'll be coming out to the games and/or practices.  Thanks to the wind, you might be in for a chill, so it might be a smart idea to bring a jacket or a sweater!

Texas Pro Soccer Fest TV Spot

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Here's the local TV Spot running in South Texas for the Festival.  This was done in 2 days....cable advertising for ya :-)

Tickets On Sale For Texas Pro Soccer Festival

At 12:00 CST tickets for the 1st ever Texas Pro Soccer Festival go on sale at the event website here.  Make sure you act fast if you really want to go as seats are limited and we are expecting the event to sell quickly.  Since this is the 1st six game exhibition series and training camp in South Texas I'm sure the soccer community can't wait to see the teams in action.

For DC and Houston, this tournament is a tune up before CONCACAF.  Plus with the rivalry between Houston & Chivas and the crazy passionate Toronto club it should make for an excellent event you don't want to miss.

Check the schedule for games time and make sure you get out to see this exciting round robin tourney.