Nigeria fly into SA after delay

Nigeria fly into SA after delay

By Oluwashina Okeleji
BBC Sport, Lagos


Nigeria have arrived in South Africa for the World Cup after a delayed departure from their training camp in the UK.


Their charter aircraft was grounded at Stansted Airport in the south of England by technical problems.

The squad had to stay an extra 24 hours whilst the Nigerian government arranged a replacement flight.
The Super Eagles have now arrived in South Africa, to prepare for the tournament.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) issued an apology for the delay.
"We apologize to the federal government and the good people of Nigeria for this charter company's failure," Bolaji Ojo-Oba of the NFF said.

"[We also apologise to] the Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa and the staff who went through considerable discomfort waiting for the team to arrive on Tuesday.

"We didn't want the team to fly regular airline with its complications and unpredictability.

"The players fly business class, it would have been difficult for us to secure in excess of 40 business class seats on one aircraft.

"Whatever we did was in the interest of the team, their safety, security and comfort.
"What has happened is unfortunate, but we are full of gratitude to the federal government for its keen interest in this matter."

Nigeria will take on North Korea on Sunday in their last warm-up before opening their World Cup campaign against Argentina on 12 June.

They also face South Korea and Greece in Group B of the World Cup.

Diego Maradona and his "home'' boys

Since his appointment as Argentina coach in November 2008, Diego Maradona has called up 108 players to the national team. Having finally finished his auditions, El Diez has whittled the cast list down to 23, naming six Argentinian league players in his squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, the largest home-based contingent since France 1998.

Making up the sextet are Diego Pozo, Ariel Garce, Clemente Rodriguez, Juan Sebastian Veron, Nicolas Otamendi and Martin Palermo. And as with the other 17 members of the squad, all of whom play in Europe, Maradona has complete confidence in their abilities: “Everyone in Argentina has their list but this is mine and I live and die by my 23 players.”

Maradona’s selection marks a slight change in La Albiceleste’s recent dependence on higher-profile European exports. Marcelo Bielsa’s squad for Korea/Japan 2002 featured only two men who plied their trade at home, while Jose Pekerman named only three such players in his list for Germany 2006, a far cry from the days when Argentina’s FIFA World Cup squads were almost entirely domestic in nature. Indeed, Mario Kempes was the only “foreigner” in the side that triumphed at Argentina 1978, and Carlos Bilardo’s Mexico 1986 champions featured only six overseas-based players.

The sorcerer and the boxer
Of the current six, perhaps the two players with the best chance of making the starting XI for the world finals are the 35-year-old Veron and Otamendi. La Brujita (The Little Witch) will be travelling to South Africa intent on making amends for Argentina’s disastrous showing at Korea/Japan 2002, while Otamendi, who made his first-division debut with Velez Sarsfield in 2008, is a combative defender with a big future ahead of him. The 22-year-old former amateur boxer can expect to make the trip across the Atlantic sooner rather than later if he puts in some punchy displays in South Africa.

Providing strength in depth will be Pozo and Garce, two of the lesser-known members of the squad, both of whom play their club football for Colon under ex-striker Antonio Mohamed, a good friend of Maradona’s. Goalkeeper Pozo has already appeared in two friendlies and will be third-choice custodian at the finals behind Sergio Romero and Mariano Andujar.

We’re all here now and it doesn’t matter who comes from where. I’ve got 23 Argentina players who are going to fight all the way in South Africa.

Coach Diego Maradona defends his selection of domestic-based players

Now 30, Garce had been planning to travel to South Africa to cheer the team on from the stands but has had to rearrange his travel plans following his surprise call-up. Firmly in contention for the right-back slot, Garce had little inkling that he would feature in Maradona’s plans after a solitary international outing against Haiti.

“I couldn’t believe it when I heard I’d been named in the squad,” said the incredulous full-back. “A lot of people were saying that the friendlies with the home-based players were a waste of time, but the players were determined to show what they could do and win a call-up. This is the happiest moment of my career.”

Maradona has no doubts the defender merits his place, however: “Anyone’s who’s surprised about Garce’s inclusion obviously hasn’t been watching Colon and doesn’t know where Santa Fe is. It pays to be well-informed.”

Courtesy fifa.com

Park hopes for World Cup 'miracle'

Korea Republic's captain Park Ji-Sung says their "miracle" run to the FIFA World Cup™ semi-finals in 2002 can happen again in this year's tournament in South Africa.

"2002 was a great victory for us. It was a miracle, and it can happen again," the 29-year-old Manchester United player said Sunday on the eve of a warm-up match against traditional rivals Japan. But he was quick to add that their chances of reaching the semi-finals again were "not a lot."

"So we just concentrate on the second round," he said. "Actually, our goal is to get through to the second round and we don't think about further."

Korea Republic open their 2010 campaign against Greece in Port Elizabeth on 12 June in Group B, which also includes Argentina and Nigeria. Park was a member of Korea Republic's World Cup squad in 2002 when they achieved the best result for any Asian nation in football's premier tournament.

Coached by Dutch tactician Guus Hiddink, they beat powerhouses Portugal, Italy and Spain before going down 1-0 to Germany in the 2002 edition which they co-hosted with Japan. At the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the side crashed out in the group stage. They beat Togo 2-1, drew 1-1 with France with Park's late equaliser and lost 2-0 to Switzerland.

The Koreans, appearing in their seventh straight World Cup and coached by home grown Huh Jung-Moo, also feature Lee Chung-Yong, Bolton Wanderers' player-of-the-year, Park Chu-Young of AS Monaco and Celtic's Ki Sung-Yueng.

"Our team is quite well organised as we have young and experienced players mixed well," Park said.

COURTESY: FIFA

Lagerback Concentrates On Eagles' Defence

Lagos — Nigeria coach, Lars Lagerback, is laying emphasis on a tight Eagles defence at the World Cup next month. Like most African teams, the Eagles defensive discipline has come under criticisms, and after watching a load of videos of the team's past games over the past year or so, Lagerback has set to work on how the team could keep out the other team more effectively.

"His focus has been on the defence, going by our first two training sessions in Abuja. He has been thorough about this, and reminds most of us of what we are used to at our clubs in Europe," said Red Bull Salzburg defender, Rabiu Afolabi.

"We are really excited by what we have seen in our first trainings with the coach. The defenders have to work for each other," added Olympique Marseille defender, Taye Taiwo.

A reporter who sneaked into the closed training of the team on Saturday afternoon at Abuja National Stadium told MTNFootball.com: "It was really a sharp departure from what we were used to seeing with Coach (Shuaibu) Amodu. The team played two-a-side and the emphasis was on defence.

"Lagerback got the team to repeat several defending moves. When (Chinedu) Obasi would beat Taye Taiwo on the left wing, he will call back the action and get them to start all over again."

Taiwo also revealed that the simple, easy-going drills have been physically demanding.

"The exercises look very easy and simple, but by the time we finished them, we all knew we had punished our bodies. It was tough," said the former Lobi Stars left back.

Lagerback himself has praised the attitude of the players in training.

"I'm satisfied with the attitude of the players in training, and expects more from them going forward," he said.

Nigeria is pitched against Argentina, South Korea and Greece in the first round of the World Cup, which kicks off June 11 in Johannesburg.

COURTESY DAILY INDEPENDENT

OKOCHA PREDICTS A SEMI-FINAL BERTH FOR NIGERIA

Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha, a former captain of the Super Eagles and a midfield dynamo, has predicted that the team can make it to the semi-finals of the 2010 World cup.

Okocha said this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja. He said all the team needed is to be focused and confident in South Africa.

"The send-off for the Super Eagles by President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday will go a long way to tell them that more than 150 million Nigerians are behind them.
"They should go out there; do what they know and believe in the strength of Nigeria.
"I hope that with the quality of Coach Lars Lagerback and the experience of the players, they will make Nigeria proud," he said.

"The good thing is that when a team has a new coach, he brings in a lot of challenges for the players."

Okocha said all the players would also want to impress the new coach on their capabilities.

"The Eagles are unpredictable; we have always sailed through impossible positions and I am sure the team will defeat Argentina.

"They should see the pressure being put on them as a plus because in football it is better you have the crowd to motivate you," said the former sensational midfielder.

He urged the players to believe in themselves and play purposeful football rather than entertaining the crowd.

Nigeria's first match is against Argentina on the 12th of June 2010.

President Goodluck wishes the Eagles "Good luck"

Nigeria's new President, President Goodluck Jonathan has wished the Super Eagles the best of luck and encouraged them to win the first ever world cup to be held on an African soil, the FIFA 2010 World Cup in honour of Nigeria as the country celebrates her 50 years of nationhood this year. 

The president at the send forth dinner organised in the honour of the Eagles at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja last night, said “I call on you (the team) to bring home the golden cup as a present for our country’s golden jubilee.” 

 

“As the main actors it is your duty, especially Coach Lagerback to ensure that we perform well. You must see yourselves not just as footballers but as ambassadors of the country,” Jonathan stated.

“May I use this opportunity to pay a special tribute to Yar’Adua for ensuring that we qualified for the World Cup.”

On monetary or the reward for a superlative outing he said, “Members of my staff have been asking me exactly what promise I’ll make to the Eagles especially given this opportunity. But what I’ll tell you is to play well and win and be sure that you be well rewarded for your effort,” he said.

President Jonathan announced that he will be in South Africa at the start of the competition and will watch the opening match between hosts South Africa and Mexico on June 11 and then watch the Nigeria versus Argentina game in Johannesburg the following day which will be the first match for the Eagles in the month-long event.

The president of the Nigeria Football Federation Alhaji Sani Lulu pleaded with Nigerians to fully back the Eagles in their attempt to win the World Cup. “This is the time for all of us to join hands, support the team and do away with the pull down syndrome. We pray that by the grace of God we’ll deliver the trophy to President Jonathan in another ceremony like this in July.”

The event was attended by all the invited players except for John Utaka and John Mikel Obi who both stayed back in London to fully recover from illness and injury respectively. 

They will play against North Korea on June 6 in their last warm up match before the battle for the most coveted soccer trophy begins.

Zakumi- FIFA 2010 Official Mascot

Zakumi - a Mascot with attitude

So what can we say about him? One thing is for sure, Zakumi will be first on the dancefloor and last off it at the biggest party in the world - the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. He wants to dance and entertain as many people as he can. He is an animator for fans, players and officials, for schoolchildren, teenagers and big kids alike!

He loves to play football as it is a great way to connect with others and break down language barriers. He always carries his football around which he will use to invite people to play with him.

Zakumi loves football. At one time he decided to dye his hair green as he felt it would be the perfect camouflage against the green of the football pitch; a bit like his rosette spots are when hunting in the wilderness!
He has therefore learned to adapt to new environments; enjoying the diversity in nature and people across the African continent

The name ‘Zakumi' is a composition of ‘ZA' standing for South Africa and ‘kumi', which translates into ‘10' in various languages across Africa.

Zakumi's main priority is to turn the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa into one huge, joyful and unforgettable party and show the thousands of international guests the warmth and spirit of the African continent.

"He wants to create a good mood for the fans and raise the excitement for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the first on African soil. He is a proud South African and wants to ensure that the world will come together in South Africa," explained Lucas Radebe, South Africa's football icon and close friend of Zakumi. 

Adapted from fifa.com