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Stop Working Hard and Start Working Smart!

September 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Asian soccer star, London – How many of you have heard the expression “stop working hard and star working smart?” I’m sure many readers of AsianSoccerStar.com can confidently put their hands up and say “Yes”.

And I bet many of the same readers of AsianSoccerStar.com would scratch their heads and wonder how to put this valuable advice into practice with regards to their footballing dreams.

You see, this is great advice but no one really tells you “how” to work smart.

Let’s change that.

But before that, let me clarify that you still need to “work hard” but only on the right things. [Read more...]

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Learn From World Cup 2010

June 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Asian soccer star, London – With all the games in the last 16 done and dusted the quarter finals of world cup 2010 should hopefully provide the world with the much awaited footballing extravaganza.

And I say that with great hope.

So far, world cup 2010 has been a great disappointment with most of the ‘big players’ failing to perform. The games have lacked the ambition and fluidity that we have been accustomed to in past world cup finals.

But there are plenty of lessons to be learned, especially for anyone that wants to play professional football and realise their dream of becoming an Asian soccer star.

You see, every kid has dreams of playing professional football but very few make it.

Even those kids, and that is the majority,  with real outstanding talent never get scouted or get dropped by the professional club academies and centres of excellence if they don’t seem like they’re not making the grade. [Read more...]

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Brazil vs Chile -A South American Showcase

June 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Asian soccer star, London – Is it a coincidence that all the South American teams made it to the last 16 of world cup 2010?

I really don’t think so, and if you are a budding Asian soccer star take particular note.

Last night both Brazil and Chile put on a show that put the world cup 2010 final campaigns of major European footballing nations like England, France and Italy to shame.

The match was a showcase of skill, fluidity, attacking, defence and above all grit and determination. Even though Chile were 2-0 down in the first half they never gave up seeking that elusive goal.

Strike that, even when they were 3-0 down they still showed that grit and determination through attacking football to get that one goal. [Read more...]

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England vs Germany – The Big Game

June 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 4: In this...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Asian soccer star, London – The big game between England and Germany in the last 16 of world cup 2010 knockout stages is being built-up as England’s revenge match against the Germans. The media is going crazy building up the hype right down to predicting who will take part in the penalty shootout.

England is going to expect a lot from its players tomorrow and that means a huge amount of pressure for the players. If I were Fabio Capello I’d make sure there was a media blackout imposed around the players and they were working on their mental toughness more than anything else so close to the match.

But with all the technology and social media like facebook and twitter available on most smart-phones, protecting the players from the media hype is an almost impossible task.

Like I said, work on the psychology of the players. While practising penalties may provide confidence to the chosen penalty-takers, I believe it is a false confidence without the pressure and atmosphere of the real thing.

Mental toughness is core to performance in any sport, it’s what differentiates the winners from the losers.

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Did Italy Have Enough Desire to Win?

June 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Asian soccer star, London – Another critical match and another major upset, this time befalling world champions Italy. Like the other finalists from world cup 2006 France, Italy failed to make it to the last 16 losing 3-2 to Slovakia.

Both France and Italy have made world cup history by being the first finalists from a previous world cup by both failing to get past the group stages.

Unlike France, Italy didn’t succumb to major problems within the team camp. They just weren’t good enough throughout the world cup 2010 tournament.

They looked slow and lethargic and their passing was well below world cup standards. In fact they were as bad as England in their now forgiven game against Algeria.

The difference between England and Italy’s crucial games was that England came out fighting and full of hunger and desire. England had the will to win because there was no other route for them to take; they had hit rock bottom and faced elimination from the competition and an unforgiving nation waiting for them at home. [Read more...]

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Should England Keep Wearing Red?

June 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Asian soccer star, London – England has made it through to the last 16 of world cup 2010 with an agonising but welcome 1-0 victory over Slovenia.

Why is it always so hard to watch England play?

The ecstasy always seems to be preceded by agony, but it’s what makes watching football exciting.

England came out with a new found confidence that resembled the sort of play we see week in, week out in the English premier league, and could have been a couple of goals up in the first half. Every one of the players had a determination about them and each played his part.

What was it that made the difference?

There must be something here that future Asian soccer stars could learn from. [Read more...]

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