Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Brazil prostitutes learn English

 Prostitutes in one of Brazil's biggest cities are beginning to sign up for free English classes ahead of this year's Confederations Cup and the 2014 World Cup.

Cida Vieira, president of the Association of Prostitutes in the city of Belo Horizonte, said Tuesday that 20 have already signed up for the courses and she expects at least 300 of the group's 4,000 members to follow suit. The association is organizing the classes and seeking volunteer teachers.

''I don't think we will have problems persuading English teachers to provide services for free,'' she said. ''We already have several volunteer psychologists and doctors helping us.''

She said classes are expected to begin in March and last up to eight months.

''It will be important for the girls who will be able to use English to let their clients know what they are charging and learn about what turns them on,'' Vieira said by telephone

'And for the same reasons we are also thinking of offering free French and Italian classes,'' she added.

Prostitution is legal in Brazil.

Belo Horizonte's 62,000-seat Mineirao Stadium will host three matches of the Confederations Cup and six games of the World Cup.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Jurgen Klinsmann make US selection

Jurgen Klinsmann issued his first call for the U.S. men's national soccer team on Sunday, starting the process that will create a roster whose aim will be qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The roster, as reported by USSoccer.com:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Tally Hall (Houston Dynamo), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire)

DEFENDERS (9): Steven Beitashour (San Jose Earthquakes), Tony Beltran (Real Salt Lake), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), A.J. DeLaGarza (LA Galaxy), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Connor Lade (New York Red Bulls), Alfredo Morales (Hertha Berlin), Justin Morrow (San Jose Earthquakes), Jeff Parke (Philadelphia Union)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (out of contract), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City), Joshua Gatt (Molde), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

FORWARDS (5): Juan Agudelo (Chivas USA), Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo), Edson Buddle (Colorado Rapids), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Katanec is new Slovenia coach

 Former Yugoslavian international Srecko Katanec has been named coach of the Slovenian national team for the second time, the country's football association says.


The former VfB Stuttgart and Sampdoria defender, 49, will be officially appointed on Friday.

 Slovenia parted company with previous coach Slavisa Stojanovic in December amid a disappointing qualifying campaign for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, which left them one place from bottom in Group E.

Katanec previously coached Slovenia between 1998 and 2002, taking the former Yugoslav republic to the final stages of the 2000 European Championship and the 2002 World Cup.

Katanec, who played 31 times for Yugoslavia and five times for Slovenia after independence, has also coached Olympiakos and the Macedonian and the United Arab Emirates national sides.