Photo Up: Drogba and Ronaldo Covers "Vanity Fair"

Blast Applications (BLAP) Submits Blastgoals.com to the Apple iTunes Store for Approval

MARKETWATCH/MARKETWIRE PRESS RELEASE

PLAINVIEW, NY, May 04, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Blast Applications, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: BLAP), an emerging creator and developer of iPhone, Twitter, iPod and Facebook applications, today announced the submission of BlastGoals.com, a unique website specifically designed for Soccer and the World Cup 2010, to the Apple iTunes Store for approval.

BlastGoals.com, a website specifically designed to market, brand and sell soccer apps, features recent videos of team scores and a regional news section that grabs soccer related news via RSS. Igoals for the Italy World Cup will be the first app submitted for the iPhone and iPod touch and when approved, will be joining the tens of thousands of apps currently available at the Apple Store.

"The 2010 FIFA World Cup taking place in South Africa, is expected to surpass 30 billion television viewers this year," said Dino Luzzi, CEO of Blast applications, Inc. "The FIFA World Cup Soccer tournament is an event that happens every four years and I am personally a fan myself. When approved, I will be the first one to use the BlastGoals.com app to follow the scores as it happens."

A total of 32 countries are competing in the World Cup 2010 and each app has a recent scores function that show the app user recent scores as they occur. The Apple Store serves millions of iPhone and iPod touch users and generates over $200 million in monthly revenues, with users spending an average of $4.37 on apps every month.

Once approved the application will be available for the iPhone and iPod touch from Apple's App store at http://www.itunes.com/appstore.

About Blast Applications, Inc.

Blast Applications, Inc. is a premier creator and developer of applications for iPhone(R), Twitter(R) and Facebook(R), allowing users to have more fun, be productive and make social media sites easier to use and more intuitive than before. Blast Applications has a unique opportunity to monetize the web surfer's dedication to social media sites through direct advertising programs tied to the Company's tools, applications and websites. For more information please visit www.blastapplications.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This release contains "forward-looking statements" and information provided by Blast Applications, Inc., such as online, printed documents, publications or information available via Blast Applications, Inc's website. It may contain certain forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, which, if they do not materialize or prove correct, could cause Blast Applications Inc.'s results to differ materially from historical results, or those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including statements containing the words "planned," "expects," "believes," "strategy," "opportunity," "anticipates," and similar words. These statements may also include plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements regarding proposed new products, services or developments; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; statements of belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing.

Nigeria 2010 World Cup Plan Back On Track

BY OLUWASHINA OKELEJI, BBC SPORT, LAGOS

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has resolved its accommodation problems ahead of the World Cup in South Africa.

The Super Eagles will now stay at the Protea Waterfront Hotel at Richards Bay after dumping Hampshire Hotel

The Fifa accommodation office, Match, as well as the country's sports minister reached a truce with Hampshire Hotel at the weekend.

This comes after Nigeria coach Lars Lagerback rejected Hampshire Hotel as their base during the tournament.

"Collectively the hotel and Nigeria have agreed to share the compensation cost following the dissolution of our agreement," NFF president Sani Lulu Abdullahi told BBC Sport.

"Contrary to what has been written all over, we considered a lot of things before settling for that hotel late last year but twice they fail to meet our deadlines to put things in place hence the cancellation.

"The NFF is grateful to the Nigerian government and Fifa for their support in resolving this as well as fixing the new place.

With the hotel issue sorted out, the NFF has also finalized the Super Eagles friendly matches scheduled for the United Kingdom and South Africa.

Nigeria's build-up to the World Cup has been disrupted by several different problems - including the abandonment of a planned training camp in London.

But the NFF said the protracted training camp and friendly matches have been formalized.

"We will play Iceland on 26 May in London at a venue to be decided while the match against Colombia four days later will be played at the Leyton Orient stadium," NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire confirm to the BBC.

"Another friendly is also scheduled for 4 June against North Korea in South Africa but we will announce the ground as soon it is worked out."

Meanwhile, Nigeria assistant coach Austin Eguavoen believes the return to club action for several Super Eagles players can fire up Nigeria's World Cup campaign.

With barely six weeks to the World Cup, the likes of Obafemi Martins, Taye Taiwo, Danny Shittu, Adefemi Olubayo and Yakubu Ayegbeni are prominent names struggling to break into their clubs' first team.

Captain Joseph Yobo was in action against Stoke City on Saturday, the defender's first start for Everton since their Europa League defeat at Sporting Lisbon in February.

"We need all our players back in regular action and we have been worried about Yobo, but it was good to see him back in a more assuring manner." Eguavoen said.

"Yobo as one of the few experienced defenders in our squad brings a lot to the team and it was good to see him back for Everton.

"John Utaka scoring for Portsmouth and Ikechukwu Uche making a return to action in the Spanish league gives us a huge boost."

Nigeria play Argentina, Greece and South Korea in Group B of the World Cup.

Home Fans Boost Odds On Bafana Bafana

By Craig Shelver, Times Live/South Africa

Although Bafana Bafana are now ranked 90th in the world, with North Korea (106th) the only other 2010 World Cup qualifier ranked below them, the hosts are far from second-from-bottom in the betting odds to win the tournament.

Most betting websites have South Africa ranging from 18th to 21st in lists of favourites to win. Home-ground advantage explains the disparity, says Dave Burgin, a senior trader for Ladbrokes UK - something that clearly boosted Bafana's performances against top opposition in the Confederations Cup last year.

"Even though they [Bafana] are in a tough, competitive group, if they qualify [for the last 16] they will be tough for any team to come up against," Burgin told The Times. "Being host nation will play a key role and the backing of the fanatical supporters will be tough for any nation to come up against."

As the odds go, teams like Australia, Denmark and Nigeria - with world rankings far superior to South Africa's - are as likely, or less likely, to win the tournament.

Nigeria and Australia are both ranked 20th on the Fifa rankings and Denmark 35th.

Switzerland (26) and Slovakia (38) are also, according to the bookies, less likely than the host nation to win the soccer showpiece.

The nation is hoping that Bafana can at least make it to the second round of the competition. According to Ladbrokes, South Africa are 11/8 to qualify for the last 16, with Mexico 11/10, Uruguay 10/11 and group favourites France at 1/3.

Previous big-competition performances are also a big factor when odds are compiled.

Spain, for instance, were toppled from the No1 spot on the rankings by Brazil last week. But the European team are still favourites for the World Cup starting in June.

"Spain were impressive when they won the European Championships and are still favourites," Burgin explained

Mark E Smith and Shakira Readying World Cup Songs

By Nick Neyland/Prefix Magazine

This summer’s World Cup is sure to spark a number of musical efforts, both good and bad (but mostly bad) in celebration of the events. Who can forget New Order’s “World in Motion” (below), which was among the first attempts at recording a decent song to accompany the England team’s entrance into the tournament?

New Order’s fellow Mancunian Mark E Smith is getting involved for the 2010 World Cup, and has a single set for release on May 4 under the name Shuttleworth. Billed as the unofficial song for the England team, Smith’s effort is titled “England’s Heartbeat,” and is likely to be one of the most intriguing recordings made for the tournament.

Sadly, the actual World Cup organizers are likely to be unaware of Smith’s talents, and have made Shakira’s “Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)” the official anthem of the tournament. “It represents an event that has the power to unite and integrate, and that’s what this song is about,” said Shakira, who is preparing a 3-D video to celebrate. Expect many more stars to jump on this bandwagon as the Word Cup nears.

Steven Pienaar: No African team will win 2010 World Cup

By Richard James/In The News
South Africa and Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar has said he does not believe an African team will win this summer's World Cup.

In an interview with CNN, Pienaar also conceded the weather in South Africa during June and July would play into the hands of the European nations.

Asked if he thought an Africa team could win the World Cup, he answered: "I'm more of a realist. I don't think it will happen in 2010, but it will be something special if an African nation can win it because it's on the continent.

"I think if it was somewhere in west Africa, with the heat, then you could have said an African nation could win. But in South Africa it will be winter, so it will be more in the favour of the Europeans."

South Africa open the 2010 World Cup against Mexico on Friday June 11th in Johannesburg.

Puma Earnings Beat Estimates; 2010 Profit Set to Jump

By Andrew Roberts/Bloomberg Businessweek
April 28 (Bloomberg) -- Puma AG, the second-largest European sporting-goods maker, reported first-quarter profit that surpassed analysts’ estimates and said 2010 earnings will jump as the soccer World Cup spurs sales growth.

Net income increased to 83.1 million euros ($110 million), or 5.50 euros a share, from 5.6 million euros, or 37 cents, a year earlier, the Herzogenaurach, Germany-based unit of PPR SA said today in a statement. The average estimate of nine analysts surveyed by Bloomberg was 79.4 million euros. Pretax profit for the year will advance by at least 70 percent, Puma said.

“It’s probably still not what people exactly had in mind in terms of where the growth will in the end go to, but it’s a good sign,” HSBC analyst Erwan Rambourg said by telephone. “There is a good visibility on margins.”

Puma and Adidas AG are looking to the World Cup, which starts June 11 in South Africa, to lift sales. Initiatives related to the event have already left “a positive mark” on revenue, Chief Executive Officer Jochen Zeitz said today. Larger rival Adidas, which will outfit 12 teams at the tournament to Puma’s seven, raised its earnings forecast last week and said profit increased for the first time in five quarters.

Puma shares fell as much as 2.2 percent in Frankfurt and traded down 2.6 euros at 251 euros as of 1:27 p.m. local time. The stock has gained 8.5 percent this year, valuing the company at 3.79 billion euros.

Full-Year Outlook

First-quarter sales declined 2.1 percent to 683.1 million euros, according to the company, which expects “low- to mid- single-digit growth” in full-year revenue. Net earnings for the year should jump “significantly,” Puma said.

“Our market has almost worked itself through the inventory glut that was caused by the aftermath of the Olympics a couple of years ago,” CEO Zeitz said on a conference call.

Excluding inventory clearance, first-quarter sales were “slightly above” the same period last year, Puma said.

Among World Cup merchandise, the team sports category, which includes replica soccer jerseys, showed “double-digit” growth at the end of March, Zeitz said.

Sales of footwear decreased 5.1 percent, excluding currency fluctuations, Puma said. Accessories sales declined 1.6 percent on the same basis. Sales of apparel gained 1.2 percent.

Sales in the Americas gained 9.8 percent with both North America and Latin America “positively contributing,” Puma said. Sales in the Asia-Pacific region fell 8.4 percent, while revenue from Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Puma’s largest region by sales, fell 6.2 percent.

Japan and Greece are still “very difficult,” Zeitz said.

--Editors: Celeste Perri, Paul Jarvis.