Scarby Posted 5 September 2005 Posted 5 September 2005 The A-League Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke will be one of the biggest stars of Australia's new A-League, set to kick off in August.Yorke, who has joined Sydney FC after leaving Premiership side Birmingham City by mutual consent, is due in the country next month as the all-new A League kicks off. And it is hoped that this is part of the beginning of a bright new start for football in Australia, where it traditionally comes fifth in terms of interest, behind both rugby codes, cricket and Australian Rules football. "He will be very important," Sydney FC head coach Pierre Littbarski told BBC World Service's World Football programme. "The spotlight will be on him, and that takes away the pressure from the other players. "It will be very interesting to see what we can do." 'Embarrassingly bad' The A-League will feature eight clubs - seven from Australia, and one from New Zealand. Its backers believe it will finally end Australian indifference to football. Littbarski himself was a German legend as a player, while A League side Queensland nearly attracted Yorke's old strike partner at Old Trafford, Teddy Sheringham, before he opted for a last season with newly-promoted West Ham United. The BBC's Phil Mercer described the state of football in Australia as "embarrassingly bad," saying it had been blighted by mismanagement, ethnic tensions, and poor-quality matches. Steve Corica Steve Corica has joined the A League from Walsall The old National Soccer League was wound up in 2003. But the A League promises to revolutionise the sport. It is being headed by John O'Neal, who oversaw glory years at Australian rugby union. "The A-League will give our substantial fan base - 1.2 million play this game - the opportunity to show their allegiance," he said. "They have somewhere to go, they have a game to watch." The new teams are a combination of talented youngsters and old professionals returning home. One of these is ex-Leicester City and Wolves midfielder Steve Corica - again for Sydney FC. "I think with young kids in general its very popular," Corica said. "It's time to get them to the games. If we can fill this stadium up it would be fantastic. It fits 45,000 - if we can get 25,000 it'll be a good atmosphere here." Positive vibes He also said he believed people could expect a high standard in the new league. "The teams are going to be pretty even, a pretty tight competition," he added. Pierre Littbarski Pierre Littbarski has previously managed in Japan "That will be exciting if it's a tight league." In many parts of Australia football is now the number one participation sport. And Craig Moore, the former Glasgow Rangers defender and captain of the national team, senses these are monumental times for Australian football. "There's a lot of positive vibes coming from the place," he said. "You're seeing a lot more coverage of the game in newspapers for example, and even bits and pieces on the television. "That's obviously a positive thing."
Hitesh Posted 5 September 2005 Posted 5 September 2005 its basically like the MLS but in Australia. It will help for football over there but basically a place for oldies to go...call it a retirement home for footballers if you like!
AyewJoking Posted 6 September 2005 Posted 6 September 2005 Harry Kewell is being linked with a move back to his native.
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