Soccer betting Season: JOHANNESBURG, April 14 — Half a million unsold World Cup tickets will go on sale over the counter from tomorrow as FIFA accedes to South African business methods.
The final phase of sales for the month-long tournament beginning in June will see ticket selling points in shopping malls in the nine host cities plus a network of popular supermarkets.
Tickets are still available for all 64 matches except the final at Soccer City in Johannesburg on July 11.
It will be the first time fans can buy tickets over the counter in cash — the preferred method of purchasing for South African football fans, many of who are on low incomes.
FIFA had previously insisted on selling tickets through its website on the Internet or in a complicated ballot procedure at a local bank branch, triggering local criticism.
Many South Africans complained the process excluded people without web access, credit cards or the disposable income to pay for their tickets months in advance.
Ticket prices are also well above normal for top-level football in South Africa.
A special category of tickets for residents of South Africa sells at US$20 (RM64) but costs escalate drastically in higher categories for better seats and after the first-round group phase. Tickets for premier seats at the final costs US$900.
Demand in South Africa had initially sluggish but the most recent phase saw locals snap up 85 per cent of the 240,000 tickets sold between February and the beginning of this month.
FIFA said last week 2.2 million tickets have been sold for the tournament, which kicks off on June 11. — Reuters
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Wednesday, April 14, 2010
2010 Soccer World Cup: Darren Bent @ Jermain Defoe
Soccer betting online:Tottenham fans travelling to the Stadium of Light on April 3 would have been hoping and praying during the long coach journey up north that they could jeer and taunt Darren Bent, much as they did after the ex-Tottenham striker missed a crucial penalty in the reverse fixture this season.
After 34 seconds, they were despairing. An hour and a half later, they were probably crying. Bent, with 20 league goals prior to the match, had grabbed a couple of more—both from set-pieces.
Their only consolation on a dire afternoon for their team was Bent's continued profligacy from the penalty spot, as he conspired to miss two spot-kicks.
Nevertheless, while Jermain Defoe was sitting on the bench feeling sorry for himself, his understudy last season had made merry to boost his chances of a late call-up to the England World Cup squad. Soccer betting sportsbook
Bent, often accused of not doing enough for the team and missing important chances—including the header against Portsmouth last season that led Harry Redknapp to famously declare that his 'missus' Sandra would have scored—has scored 22 of his team's 42 goals.
Without these goals, an incredible 52 percent of his team's total effort, Steven Bruce might have faced the grim situation of his side swapping leagues with bitter neighbours Newcastle United. Instead, the Black Cats sit comfortably in mid-table; the comprehensive 3-1 defeat of Spurs having seemingly secured Sunderland Athletic's Premier League status for another season.
"He's been an absolute revelation for us all season," Bruce purred.
His hitman has scored four goals more than he managed at White Hart Lane, despite having played 26 fewer games. His form in front of goal has been crucial for Sunderland Athletic, and has justified the important transfer fee that Niall Quinn authorised last season.
Importantly, Bent's performances are now more consistent and mature than in past seasons.
He has scored goals against four of the top five teams this year, has played in every league game, and also provided four assists.
In contrast, Defoe has performed well only sporadically. His five-goal feat at home to Wigan Athletic was a high; his recent injury and lack of form is a low point.
Although Defoe has three hat tricks to Bent's one this season and has more international pedigree, it is undeniable that the latter is doing more to convince Capello to pick him for the World Cup this summer.
While Defoe has a better shots-on-target ratio (0.63 to 0.59), it is Bent who has a better goals-to-shots ratio (0.15 to 0.23). That means that, for approximately every four chances Bent has, he will score one goal.
It is unlikely an England striker would have more than four chances against most international teams at this year's tournament. This may be only one against the top teams.
Some would argue that neither player is the perfect partner for the indispensable Wayne Rooney. Both are too selfish, and neither has built any sort of understanding with the Manchester United striker.
While it is clear that Capello has time for Defoe, and he has thus far overlooked Bent, the Italian coach prefers to pair big with small—much like Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has done this season.
Emile Heskey is supposedly the preferred strike partner of Rooney, although most England fans would argue that he does not even merit selection in the squad, given his poor form for Aston Villa this season and his meager goal return at international level.
If Capello sticks to his word of picking players on a meritocratic basis, Bent will start against the USA on June 12. Defoe will warm the bench, waiting for Bent, head wide of an open goal. Heskey will be downing a pint of bitter in Birmingham, contemplating international retirement.
The events of the next few weeks could be decisive. Defoe needs a renaissance, starting this week in the high-profile home games against rivals Arsenal and Chelsea. Bent will welcome Burnley with a beaming smile and a determination to run the league's worst defence ragged and pressurize Rooney for the Golden Boot award.
Capello has a big decision to make. Whom should he choose? One, both, or neither? Only time will tell.
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MLB Baseball - Angels 5 Yankees 7
MLB Baseball betting season: The pre-game ceremonies for the first time since opening day 2001 included the Yankees receiving World Series rings. The first guy to receive his ring was Yankee trainer Gene Monhan who has taken a leave from the Yankees as he battle throat and neck cancer. It was a truly touching moment as Gene came out looking great and all the players were excited to see him. We here at Bronx Baseball Daily wish Gene a quick recovery!
The Yankees also played some jokes at the ring ceremony, as Hideki Matsui and Nick Swisher both received fake rings before being given the real deal. After Matsui received his ring, all the Yankees went over to him and embraced him in a very nice moment.
Even though it wasn’t seen live, the ceremonious first pitch was delivered by Bernie Williams who bounced the ball, but still nice to see Bernie. Before I get to the game recap I also want to mention a special thank you to The Boss George Steinbrenner, who received his ring prior to the ceremony from Derek Jeter and Joe Girardi , who has given us Yankee fans a team we can all be proud of and see succeed every season.
Believe it or not there was also a game this afternoon which pitted Andy Pettitte against Ervin Santana. Hideki Matsui got his first at bat verse his old team early, but struck out on a check swing. The Yankees were able to get on the board early after Nick Johnson hit his first HR of the season, and the first of the year at Yankee Stadium, to put the Yankees up 1-0. The Yankees added another solo shot in the 3rd inning this time off the bat of the Yankee captain Derek Jeter giving Andy Pettitte a 2-0 lead. Pettitte was superb today shutting down the Angels for 6 innings, but the Yankees would wind up needing the insurance runs they got throughout the game.
The Yankees scored 4 more runs combined in the 4th and 6th innings after a Jeter single and Alex Rodriguez single. After Morales hit a solo HR for the Angels in the top of the 8th inning off of Chan Ho Park to ruin the shutout, the Yankees answered with their own two runs in the 8th after a Posada double and Granderson single, giving the Yankees a 7-1 lead. The 9th did not go as smoothly as the Yankees would have wished as David Robertson struggled and gave up a grand slam to ex-Yankee Bobby Abreu to make the game 7-5. Joe Girardi brought in Mariano Rivera for what was then a save situation and wound up getting Matsui to pop out to close the game. A fitting ending to a great Yankee opener.
MLB Baseball Season: Royals-Tigers Preview
Baseball betting season: The last time the Detroit Tigers won seven of their first nine games, Rick Porcello was more than three years shy of being born.
The 21-year-old right-hander can help the Tigers to their best start since 1985 on Wednesday when they face the Kansas City Royals in the finale of a three-game series.
Detroit (6-2) went 7-2 to open the 1985 season. Porcello, who was born Dec. 27, 1988, will try to help his club match that as he looks to follow up a solid start in his 2010 debut.
Porcello (1-0, 3.60 ERA) allowed two runs over five innings of a 5-2 victory over Cleveland on Friday in the team's home opener.
The Tigers had to overcome an early deficit in that win, and they came up with yet another comeback victory Tuesday by scoring six runs in the seventh inning to beat Kansas City 6-5.
Detroit, which has needed to rally in all but one of its wins, trailed by five heading into the seventh but got five hits and drew three walks in the inning.
Carlos Guillen's double brought home the go-ahead runs, spoiling the Royals' third straight game with at least five runs and double-digit hits.
"Hopefully, sometime this year we can score some runs early and make it easier on our pitchers, but the fact that we are going out and winning these games says a lot about our team," outfielder Johnny Damon said.
A bullpen that has posted a 2.90 ERA has paved the way for the comebacks, and the Tigers have batted .293 in their best start in six years.
After allowing five runs in a 10-5 series-opening loss Monday, Detroit's relievers bounced back to give up one unearned run over four innings Tuesday.
Royals relievers, meanwhile, are struggling again after recording a 5.02 ERA and 22 blown saves in 2009. Kansas City is 1 for 5 in save opportunities this season and the bullpen has a 7.96 ERA.
"We're 3-5, the bullpen has had an impact on all eight games, and that impact has been negative a lot more than it has been positive," manager Trey Hillman said.
If Kyle Davies' recent history against the Tigers is any indication, the club's relievers might not have much of an impact Wednesday. The right-hander went 0-5 with a 6.25 ERA in his last six starts versus Detroit, although he did pitch well in a 3-2 win at Comerica Park on Aug. 16, allowing two runs over six innings.
Davies (0-0, 4.50) earned his only win against the Tigers at Comerica on Sept. 22, 2007, throwing 5 1/3 innings of three-run ball in a 7-4 victory.
One bad inning cost him the chance for a victory in his season debut Friday night against Boston. He pitched six innings of a 4-3 win but gave up three runs in the fourth.
Porcello has not faced the Royals at home and was 1-1 with a 5.00 ERA in three starts against them last season.
The 21-year-old right-hander can help the Tigers to their best start since 1985 on Wednesday when they face the Kansas City Royals in the finale of a three-game series.
Detroit (6-2) went 7-2 to open the 1985 season. Porcello, who was born Dec. 27, 1988, will try to help his club match that as he looks to follow up a solid start in his 2010 debut.
Porcello (1-0, 3.60 ERA) allowed two runs over five innings of a 5-2 victory over Cleveland on Friday in the team's home opener.
The Tigers had to overcome an early deficit in that win, and they came up with yet another comeback victory Tuesday by scoring six runs in the seventh inning to beat Kansas City 6-5.
Detroit, which has needed to rally in all but one of its wins, trailed by five heading into the seventh but got five hits and drew three walks in the inning.
Carlos Guillen's double brought home the go-ahead runs, spoiling the Royals' third straight game with at least five runs and double-digit hits.
"Hopefully, sometime this year we can score some runs early and make it easier on our pitchers, but the fact that we are going out and winning these games says a lot about our team," outfielder Johnny Damon said.
A bullpen that has posted a 2.90 ERA has paved the way for the comebacks, and the Tigers have batted .293 in their best start in six years.
After allowing five runs in a 10-5 series-opening loss Monday, Detroit's relievers bounced back to give up one unearned run over four innings Tuesday.
Royals relievers, meanwhile, are struggling again after recording a 5.02 ERA and 22 blown saves in 2009. Kansas City is 1 for 5 in save opportunities this season and the bullpen has a 7.96 ERA.
"We're 3-5, the bullpen has had an impact on all eight games, and that impact has been negative a lot more than it has been positive," manager Trey Hillman said.
If Kyle Davies' recent history against the Tigers is any indication, the club's relievers might not have much of an impact Wednesday. The right-hander went 0-5 with a 6.25 ERA in his last six starts versus Detroit, although he did pitch well in a 3-2 win at Comerica Park on Aug. 16, allowing two runs over six innings.
Davies (0-0, 4.50) earned his only win against the Tigers at Comerica on Sept. 22, 2007, throwing 5 1/3 innings of three-run ball in a 7-4 victory.
One bad inning cost him the chance for a victory in his season debut Friday night against Boston. He pitched six innings of a 4-3 win but gave up three runs in the fourth.
Porcello has not faced the Royals at home and was 1-1 with a 5.00 ERA in three starts against them last season.
2010 FIFA World Cup Ticket Unveiled
Soccer Betting Season.
The official 2010 FIFA World Cup™ ticket was unveiled on (9 April 2010) by FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke and Organising Committee CEO Danny Jordaan at Maponya Mall in Soweto. The tickets will be made available to the general public in a week’s time, on 15 April 2010, when the fifth and final ticketing sales phase kicks off. This will coincide with the opening of the FIFA World Cup ticketing centres in all nine Host Cities and the start of the over-the-counter sales.
“For this last phase, we have made a big effort to assist football fans by introducing various additional means to purchase a ticket,” emphasised Jérôme Valcke. “We are commited to facilitating the process for all fans and giving them this last chance to attend the matches and experience the excitement of this first World Cup in Africa.”
In all, 500,000 tickets for 63 matches (including all Host Cities and all knock-out matches except the final) will be made available.
Five different sales channels will be operating during this fifth and final sales phase, which will run from next Thursday (15 April 2010) to the last day of the tournament (11 July 2010):
- 11 ticketing centres across the Host Cities (exact addresses and details can be found attached and on FIFA.com), open seven days a week from 9.00 until 18.00 local time;
- Approx. 600 FNB branches nationwide, open five days a week from 9.00 on 15 April; the process is new: you can order tickets, make payment and get ticket confirmation immediately; the actual tickets need to be collected at the FIFA ticketing centres or Shoprite/Checkers sales points;
- The official tournament website www.FIFA.com, starting from 18.00 on 15 April;
- The call centre hotline (tel. (within South Africa): 083 123 2010; tel. (international): 0041445832010), starting from 18.00 on 15 April and open seven days a week from 8.00 until 22.00;
- 18 Shoprite/Checkers sales points (addresses attached and on FIFA.com), starting from 9.00 on 19 April and open seven days a week;
“We are excited about these new initiatives, which make the process much easier for everyone. We have always said that it is important that we make this World Cup more accessible to the people and with the over-the-counter sales, we believe this measure is consistent with the needs of the fans,” said Danny Jordaan.
Fans applying at the ticketing centres will be required to display ID and pay by credit card or cash.
A total of 240,000 tickets were sold in the fourth phase, 85% of which went to South African residents. Overall, 2.2 million tickets have been sold for the soccer tournaments.
