Notes From Costa do Sauipe

As was to be expected, the south American country put up a huge show  to demonstrate its readiness, capacity and tremendous knowledge of what it takes to organise a new-age FIFA World Cup finals. While there have been fears and anxiety about the pace at which the country was going about getting infrastructure ready, and […]

As was to be expected, the south American country put up a huge show  to demonstrate its readiness, capacity and tremendous knowledge of what it takes to organise a new-age FIFA World Cup finals. While there have been fears and anxiety about the pace at which the country was going about getting infrastructure ready, and the Sao Paulo Stadium disaster that occurred the week before the Final Draw, Brazil did well to put the fears to rest with a captivating Final Draw.
There were millions who raised the issue that hosting the FIFA World Cup in 1950 remains a different ball game to hosting one in 2014. There was no doubt about that. But the passion for the beautiful game and the popularity of the sport in the country has propelled a drive within the various States involved to ensure that they do not fail the nation.
It seems a long time ago that FIFA Secretary General, Mr. Jerome Valcke thumbed down the preparations and expressed pessimism about Brazil being able to put its act together to host the showpiece. Now, FIFA, the local organising committee and the different venues are working together to see that nothing goes wrong.
FIFA President, Mr. Sepp Blatter, in presenting his welcome address at the Team Seminar, underscored the world body’s faith in Brazil to get everything read, and added that the genuine passion of the people for football would dismantle all tensions and extra-football issues that have arisen over the hosting.
At the FIFA Banquet on the eve of the Final Draw, an opportunity for all participating member associations to further mix and bond presented itself and was utilised to the full. It was at the Banquet that many people first learnt of the death of the great icon, former South African President Dr. Nelson Mandela. From the closing of the Team Seminar at Hotel Sauipe Class to the Banquet at the Mata do Sao Joao, it was a mass movement and everyone got there to learn in shock that Mandela was gone! The FIFA President called for a standing ovation in honour of the memory of Madiba and asserted that Dr. Mandela himself would have wanted “the show to go ahead.”
Also at the Banquet, Mr Blatter introduced the Draw Assistants, major figures in world football who would help Mr. Valcke to conduct the Final Draw the following day: Alcides Ghiggia (all of 86, the man who captained Uruguay to win the 1950 World Cup that Brazil hosted, causing the Samba nation great pain); Sir Geoff Hurst (who scored a hat-trick as England beat Germany 4-2 in the 1966 Final to win her only World Cup title till date); Mario Kempes (top scorer at the 1978 finals that Argentina hosted and won); Lothar Matthaus (the famous German captain who played in five FIFA World Cup finals, featuring in a total of 25 matches at that highest level and winning the trophy in 1990); Cafu (Brazilian superstar who gloriously featured in three Final matches in 1994, 1998 and 2002, lifting the trophy in Yokohama in 2002); Fernando Hierro (not involved with a winning squad but a respected member of the Spanish squads of 1994 and 1998); Zinedine Zidane (who won the title in 1998 and captained France to silver in 2006) and; Fabio Cannavaro (captain of the Italian team that achieved glory in Germany in 2006).
At the Final Draw in Costa do Sauipe, there were only two African coaches: Stephen Keshi of Nigeria and Kwesi Appiah of Ghana. Of course, that brought a world of attention on the Nigerian and Ghanaian delegations. We savoured it all.
On our part, the present NFF administration has continued to encourage indigenous coaches, believing that they can do as well, if not better, than the expatriates.
As for the Final Draw, which placed the Super Eagles in the same Group F with Argentina (why are they always with us?), Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran, the important thing is for all elements of the mix to work together in unity and achieve adequate preparation of Team Nigeria for the finals.
While on paper, Argentina may look stronger than Iran, it is how you are prepared for the day that would determine how the flow of the games goes.
I told the president of Ghanaian FA, also recently re-elected as president of the West African Football Union, that there is nothing stopping the Black Stars from emerging into the Round of 16 from the so-called Group of Death, which has Germany, Portugal and USA.
For the other African teams, Cameroon wll have to contend with Brazil, Croatia and Mexico in Group A while Cote d’Ivoire will take on Colombia, Greece and Japan in Group C. Algeria also have their chances in Group H with Belgium, Russia and Korea Republic.
It would be interesting to see how Spain and Netherlands (the Finalists at South Africa 2010) fare against Chile and Australia in Group C, and how England will contend with Uruguay, Italy and Costa Rica in Group D, and also how Switzerland, Ecuador, France and Honduras sort out matters in Group E.
So, we play in Cuaiba, Curitiba and Port Alegre. The preparations, I dare say, start right now!
Next Week: Year 2013 In Review!