Our flaming Flamingoes!

Not far away from Costa Rica, four years ago, the Flamingoes Class of 2010 faltered in the quarter finals, losing to Korea Republic in extra time after a pulsating game in Trinidad and Tobago.At that tournament, which was the second edition, after the inaugural event that took place in New Zealand in 2008, there were […]

Not far away from Costa Rica, four years ago, the Flamingoes Class of 2010 faltered in the quarter finals, losing to Korea Republic in extra time after a pulsating game in Trinidad and Tobago.
At that tournament, which was the second edition, after the inaugural event that took place in New Zealand in 2008, there were ball fans and commentators who felt that we had no business losing that match. But it appeared that the lesson was not learnt and the girls again crumbled at the quarter final stage two years ago in Azerbaijan.
In each instance, our quarter final conquerors went ahead to win the trophy! And that is the message myself and a couple of NFF Executive Committee members here at the venue have been drumming into the ears of the technical crew and in a few instances, the players.
While I have had reasons to applaud the girls for their two wins from the same number of matches, it is said that the old man looks back when he falters, while the young ones look forward. We are as good as being in the quarter finals (ahead of Sunday’s clash with Mexico – sure to be an interesting encounter), with our six points and it is really sensible to look ahead to that last eight.
I only watched the first match against China on television and i was delighted with the way our girls, even though playing their first match at a World Cup finals, held their own firmly against one of the acknowledged powers of women’s football in the universe. The 2-1 win was a huge feat and made the waiting till the early hours worth it.
I arrived in Costa Rica well ahead of the second match against the Colombians and I told the NFF Vice President (Chief Mike Umeh), Chairman of NFF Media and Publicity Committee (Chief Emeka Inyama)  and the Chairperson of Women’s League, Mrs dili Onyedinma that even though we conceded after less than three minutes, there was no way we were going to lose the match.
Losing out to Korea Republic in extra time in 2010 was quite painful, because the journey is not an easy one. Costa Rica is even farther, form anywhere. Someone told me that the best route would be to go through Europe. Agreed. But you fly six hours from Nigeria (to anywhere in Europe) and then hop on the trans-Atlantic flight to the United States (New York) and then connect another five hours plus to San Jose.
If you go through South Africa, you would also have to cross the south Atlantic Ocean from Johannesburg (about 10 hours) and then fly northwards to San Jose (another reasonably long shuttle). By the time you arrive, you are hoping that you get your hands on the trophy so that the trip would be worth it!
As has happened in the first two matches, we are happy to earn the points. But from the quarter finals, it would no longer be a matter of points; it would be a matter of who utilises the 90 minutes better to pump in the goals and avoid unnecessary showboating or playing to the gallery.
The Flamingoes have held their own well, and have experienced several spans in their campaign so far. They lost so many opportunities before going ahead against the Chinese, scored a second goal and then watched as the Asians pulled one back within one minute of the second goal.
That would have demoralized any set of young girls and the opposition would have capitalized on this, but they held firm and secured victory.
Against the Colombians, they went behind so early in the game that they could not believe it, and the opposition kept mounting pressure and matching them physical-play for physical-play, and shove-for-shove. The girls responded by remembering their game-plan and sticking to it, and gradually overwhelmed the Colombians.
That free-kick by Joy Bokiri settled a lot of nerves, even on the pitch, and Uchenna Kanu’s winner was a delight.
While the match against the Mexicans may not matter too much, the quarter final game on Thursday is important, as we are determined not to be third time unlucky.
So, we wait for the quarter finals, where we expect the Flamingoes to continue their brilliant run. But before then is the clash with Mexico, which our girls intend to take as serious. They told me during the week that they wish to ‘deal’ with the Mexicans the same way our boys team (Golden Eaglets) ‘dealt’ with that country’s boys’ squad on the way to winning the FIFA U-17 World Cup in United Arab Emirates last year.
For those who don’t know, the Flamingoes here believe they are unstoppable and that their passion to lift the World Cup, as the boys’ team did in UAE last year, is unquenchable. Nigerians, please pray for them!
NEXT WEEK: Road To Rio (1)