Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn is set to have surgery on his elbow this week. Last week he suffered the injury while playing a Bundesliga match against Energie Cottbus (5-0) and is expected to be out for a month. This past Saturday the 38 year old was replaced by back up goalkeeper Michael Rensing. The 23 year old Rensing has been known to be one of Germany’s biggest goalkeeping talents and is set to be Kahn’s replacement at Bayern after he retires at the end of the season.

Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar will undergo an MRI scan at the hospital today after suffering an injury to his toe during his side’s victory over Birgingham City (1-0) yesterday. “Edwin has a problem with his foot” Sir Alex Ferguson commented after the game. “Our medical staff will have a better idea on the extent of the injury after the tests but it appears unlikely that he will play against AS Roma.” ManU is scheduled to play AS Roma in the Champions League this Tuesday, and is expected to start back up goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak, who played the second half against Birmingham.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas announced this week that he has insured his hands for $10.5 million, on a policy that lasts until the end of this season. The 26 year old goalie collected 72 caps for Spain so far and played almost 400 matches for Real, the only club he has ever played for. He did not reveal how much the policy from Groupama Seguros had cost him, but did say: "Every person should have professional insurance and in my case this is in event of an injury which truncates my career.” When he was asked what would happen if he injured a knee or any other body part he joked: "What happens, happens, but if I've got a pain in my knee or foot I'm still going to say that it's my hands that hurt."

Argentina National Team goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri suffered a leg injury while playing for his club team Spanish side Getafe on Sunday and now it seems uncertain whether he will recover in time for Argentina’s World Cup qualifying match against Chile on October 13^th. The 34 year old goalkeeper has been Argentina’s starting goalie since last year’s World Cup. But manager  Alfio Basile has several world class keepers available to replace Abbondanzieri if needed. River Plate’s Pablo Carrizo, Getafe’s second goalkeeper Oscar Ustari, AZ Alkmaar’s Sergio Romero and San Lorenzo’s Agustion Orion are all awaiting their opportunity in goal and show the world what they can do.....

US Women National Team coach Greg Ryan announced today that Brianna Scurry will be replacing Hope Solo in goal when the US takes on Brazil in the World Cup semi final. The tactical move took many by surprise and asked for his reasoning Ryan answered: “Because of her unbeaten record against Brazil, and because she has the quick reflexes needed against the tricky, creative Brazilians.” When asked if the move would hurt Hope Solo’s confidence he replied: "That's not our concern.  We came here trying to win a world championship; put the players on the field that we thought could win each game."

Apparently Hope was informed yesterday: “"The moment I got tapped on the shoulder saying I need to meet with you, I had a pit in my stomach and I knew what it was.” She has given up only two goals in four games — and none in almost 300 minutes. Let’s all ‘hope’ that this unusual move by Ryan pays off for the WNT.....

Last week I had the privilige of interviewing Zak Abdel, goalkeeper coach at Chivas USA. As before, I asked him several questions on goalkeeping education which will provide us all with different points of view. I hope you all enjoy; please email me if you have any questions or comments!

1) Please tell us a little bit about your self.

I moved to the United States in 1994 to join the Los Angeles Salsa as goalkeeper coach. Then I also held the same position with Cal State University, Fullerton, as well as PDL teams Orange County Zodiac and Orange County Blue Stars. I also worked with the LA Galaxy for 7 years and 1 year with the U-20 National Team during the World Cup in Holland. I started working at Chivas in 2006. As a goalkeeper, I played on the Egyptian National U-14, U-16, U-17 and U-20 teams.  

2) What are the differences you see between the goalkeeping and the goalkeeping education in the USA and your home country, Egypt?

In Egypt and Europe you will find a lot of players that really understand the game and know how to read the game. In the USA you will find great athletes, with excellent hand/eye coordination because of all the other ball sports they play. This has helped greatly to produce some of the best goalkeepers in the world. However, I do see a very big need for goalkeepers to learn to understand the game better. As far as coaching goes, I have noticed that many goalkeeper coaches in the US played indoor soccer for a great part of their careers which translates into the way they educate the keepers. There are big differences between being an indoor goalkeeper and an outdoor goalkeeper.   

3)  At what age do you believe we should start using goalkeepers in the game of soccer and why?

I think 5 maybe 6 years old. The younger we can teach them, the better they will learn. So I would say 6 years old is probably the best age to start teaching goalkeeping.  

4) What one single technique do you feel is the most important to teach starting young goalkeepers?

Diving and catching I think. We have to start with the basics, the fundamentals, it’s like learning to read and write. If we want to learn how to read and write, we have to learn the alphabet first. It’s the same in soccer. I would say diving for these kids. The other thing I work on a lot is improving their feet. At my goalkeeper academy we always start with a small sided game first, so the goalies can work on their feet. These days a goalkeeper is more of a keeper-sweeper and needs to have good foot skills.   

5) Do you believe all goalkeepers should have separate goalkeeper training? If yes, what ratio to team practice?

Absolutely. The weekday practices are perfect to work on the mistakes that were made over the weekend during the game(s).  I believe they should have  two sessions, no more than 45 minutes to an hour. Keep it sharp and short, and to the point. Work on one technique only and focus on that.   

6) A goalkeeper that is getting ready for ODP try-outs for the first time asks you how he or she should prepare. What do you tell them?

Just do your best. If you make it, you make it. If not, don’t worry about it. Try not to stress too much. Let the game come to you. If you’re a good goalie, just be your normal self. Too many goalkeepers want to show off what they got and then when they make a mistake they get nervous and make a few more mistakes. Prepare mentally; if you’re a good goalie then believe in yourself and be YOU.   

7) In youth soccer, what is the most common technical mistake you see out there?

Of most goalkeepers I see, their diving is bad. They dive on their stomachs, they dive backwards, so yeah most of the mistakes I see with the youth goalies are diving mistakes.   

8) What would you tell a young goalkeeper that tells you that he or she wants to become a pro?

Whatever your dream is, you can make it happen. If you want to be a professional or be on the national team then you can. But it’s lots and lots of hard work. You need to make a lot of sacrifices in your life and have a lot of discipline. It’s nice to watch games on TV and dream about becoming like the players you are watching but sitting and watching alone will not get you anywhere. You HAVE to work for it. It’s a lot of work, and it’s not easy work. If you have a dream and work for it, then for sure some day it will happen.   

7 Quick Personal Questions    

Who is your favorite goalkeeper of all times? Lev Yashin.   

Who do you believe is currently the best goalkeeper in the world? Edwin van der Sar.   

What is your favorite TV show? I leave my house at 4:30 in the morning and come home at 11 o’clock at night; I have no time to watch TV

Why are you a goalkeeper coach? I played keeper and I love doing what I am doing, especially helping the kids.   

What is your favorite soccer team? Barcelona.   

What is your career dream? I would like to be the National Team goalkeeper coach one day.   

Tell us one thing nobody knows about you. People don’t know that I am always me, I might come across as really tough so people think I am a tiger but I am really a chicken.

Australian goalkeeper Brad Jones is determined to become Middlesbrough’s starting goalkeeper, as he has been ever since he joined the Teessiders 7 years ago as an 18 year old talent.  All this time he has been competing to replace fellow countryman Mark Schwarzer as the starting keeper and even tried hard proving himself during loans spells with Stockport, Rotherham, Blackpool and Sheffield Wednesday. Now it is rumored that Schwarzer will not renew his contract which expires at the end of this season.

“There’s been speculation about Mark but that happens all the time, he’s had that for five or six years,” said Jones. “My long-term ambition is to be Middlesbrough’s first-choice keeper, it’s getting to be a very long-term ambition but as long as I get there I’m not really bothered. Even when I went out on loan I was always determined to come back. I went out to get games, to prove myself. I just have to make sure I do my job when called on.”  

Jones also recognizes that playing with the reserves and mimicking the first team style of play is extremely important. “They want us (the reserves) to play the way the first team plays,” he said. “The whole point of the reserves is for people to come in and play the way the first team does, and prove they can do it. Gareth Southgate comes to all the games, the boys know that and it is encouraging. He watches very carefully, and notices everything, so you have to be on your toes. He’s there for a reason, to see how we perform.”

Brad is also stand in for Schwarzer on the Aussie National Team: "Mark has taught me a lot. It's a shame we are vying for the same spot," he said. "For the moment I will be patient, as he is on top of his game. I will keep pushing Mark until I can get where I want to be."

Reading FC’s promotion to the Premier League this season was greatly due to Hahnemann’s big hands and big saves. But as of late, things have changed a little for the American goalkeeper. Three goals were scored on him in just as many games and many believe it is a result of the surgery requiring injury suffered to his  right hand in the last regular season game against Blackburn last season.

Manager Steve Coppell says he’s not too worried about Hahnemann’s struggles. "If you are playing with plates and screws in your hand it is going to have a significant impact. When he came back for pre-season training he could hardly save a tennis ball. So to get from that to playing regularly is a tremendous compliment to the medical staff and himself.  It may well be that, unconsciously, the injury is still playing a part in his game but the hand is getting stronger and I still maintain he's been the most consistent performer here. I've no qualms with him."

Hahnemann himself doesn't shy away from any criticism, saying: "I take it personally. I'm the one letting in the goals. Conceding eight in three games is hard to take. You can get over-confident and believe the hype when you are doing well. There's a fine line between being overconfident and having no confidence at all."

So yeah, we normally try to just bring you positive news but we felt this had to be brought to everyone’s attention. Peruvian National Team goalkeeper Juan Flores was arrested and taken to a police station after being sent off for kicking a ball boy during his match Wednesday. Flores kicked the ball boy apparently after the ball boy threw the ball onto the pitch rather than handing him the ball for a goal kick during Cienciano’s first division match against Total Clean.

Flores complained to the referee that the ball boy was annoying and insulting him from the start of the game. Grow up Flores.....personally I hope they suspend him for a very, very long time. There’s just no excuse for any adult behaving like this, let alone a role model such as an international goalkeeper.

Oliver Kahn loves to plan. As a matter of fact, he likes to plan so much that he has already signed up the opponent for his retirement game of August 2008; the German National Team. After this season the charismatic German goalkeeper will put his cleats and gloves away after two decades of professional goalkeeping. In 2006 he played his last of 86 international games. His retirement game will take place in the Allianz Arena, Bayern Munich’s home grounds.