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Survival
battle!
...Dream Team in make or break duel against the US
By Ben Memuletiwon, Reporting from Beijing
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
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Dream Team IV player in action against the Netherlands |
Photo:
Sun News Publishing |
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Nigeria’s Dream Team IV face an arduous task today
in Beijing as they take on United States of America male football
team in what experts have dubbed battle of survival. The Nigerians
must win the epic match if they must remain in the Beijing
Olympic Games soccer event.
The Dream Team who have not been so impressive in their two
outings so far would have been home and dry with a draw against
the Americans, but for goalkeeper Ambrose Vanzekin’s
split seconds of madness that gave Japan their lone goal on
Sunday.
That goal gave the Americans who are on the same 4 points
with Nigeria a goal margin advantage. And now the Dream Team
are in a total quandry to win. Obinna Nsofor, who spoke with
Daily Sunsport after the unimpressive 2–1
victory on Sunday said that the match against the Americans
would be a do-or-die show. But the snag is that the Nigerian
players have not given the Chinese’s crowd that have
given them mammoth support any room to be happy.
The Chinese apparently in love with Nigeria confessed that
they had an unfinished war with the Japanese over what happened
to them during the Second World War.
They also told the reporter that the Americans have done everything
to stiffle their economy because of fear that Chine may be
the leading economy in the world. "We are ready to support
Nigeria in the match against America, but they must play well,"
a Chinese fan said. "America does not want China to grow,
so we won’t support them.
What they were saying before is who will feed China, but today
China is looking for who to feed because we have so much food,
in spite of our population." With such support from the
Chinese, Siasia and his boy must take the gauntlet and descend
on their opponent like the lions. "It will be a big match
but we won't lose," Siasia said. "The Americans
are rugged and strong but we have to attack and attack till
we have the goals. "The attack have a great job to do.
But we have shown tremendous improvement in our last match.
It will be better against America. For sure, it will be an
exciting match." Siasia added that the second match of
the day between the Netherlands and Japan will be another
thriller, as Japan will want to win a match even though they
are out.
"The second match will be tough too," he said. "Japan
have to play for their national honour while the Dutch will
also want an outright victory after two draws. Another draw
can only book for the their exit ticket. "You can see
that all the three teams have glimpse of hope to scale the
hurdle. "My boys are ready. We have spoken to ourselves
and promised that we will win. Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon
are likely to make it to the next round so Nigeria will not
let the African continent down."
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