By John Egbokhan, Abuja
New Zealand coach, Steve Cain, has said that Nigeria ’s Golden Eaglets would not have an easy ride to victory when both sides clash in tomorrow’s second round fixture of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup at the Abuja National Stadium.
Despite being considered outsiders, the Oceania champions, earned a historic first ever qualification for the knockout stage of a FIFA tournament to prove the doubters wrong in the most dramatic fashion imaginable. Midfielder Jack Hobson-McVeigh ensured a 1-1 draw with Turkey , and the point needed for qualification, with an unforgettable long range injury time effort to score a spectacular goal worthy of its historic nature.
The magnitude of the milestone feat is all the more remarkable when one considers this is New Zealand ‘s 16th FIFA tournament. The Young All Whites have come a long way in the 12 years since their first appearance at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
They still hold the unwanted record for the heaviest defeat at the tournament, a 13-0 loss to Spain at Egypt 1997, but the scale of improvement in little over a decade shows how far football in the Rugby mad nation of some four million inhabitants has come.
But speaking yesterday in Abuja , Coach Cain says that playing the Eaglets holds no fear for his history_making boys, who are enjoying themselves at the tournament. He also recounted the moment in Calabar that turned his team into local heroes back hone.
“With a few minutes to go it was the first time in six months that I thought we were not going to qualify. And I smacked myself on the hand for thinking that! It just felt that it wasn’t going to be our day, and that it would be a bridge too far. But I have to give credit to the team for backing ourselves.
“It’s just brilliant; a first for our country and it’s a real milestone,” continues Cain from the side of the pool, where his young charges are relaxing after their exertions the previous night”, added coach Cain, whose view on the match against Nigeria would interest coach John Obuh and his history chasing players.
“Now we need to make sure that we can make this the norm and not the exception. We are looking forward to playing Nigeria , the a group winners. My boys will learn a lot from an occasion like that. And I’ll tell you one other thing, whoever we play would not have it easy. We won’t lie down for anyone. We are ready”, said Cain.
The Eaglets are in devastating mood. They will use Newzealand to perfect all
their tactices. Whether Coach Cain boys play standing up , kneeling all lying down, one thing is clear, a goal festival is imminent.
My Only fear goes beyond Newzealand, as the boys will so maul Newzealand to the extent that they will begin to think they have arrived.
And over confidence will creep in during their
next match, which may end in ant-climax. To ensure this does not happen, utmost caution should be exercised in dealing with each match. Every team must be accorded due respect. This is a knock out stage.
For me, coach Cain just want to make us believe that he is a brave man. I’m not afraid. bc New Zealand is not a country in football that when you mention I cannot sleep well, I sleep with my two eyes close. To be sure, victory is Eaglets’.
Coach Cain better start packing his bag and baggages so that he would not leave some of them behind after a devastating dafeat.
The Kiwis are not a force to reckon with and they cant stop my Naija, especially having come this far in home soil.
The Kiwis must be prayerful for the Eaglets not to turn the game into basketball for them.