Germans were tactically and technically better - Falconets coach
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- Written by David Ngobua
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Coach of the Silver winning Falconets, Egan Ndem has confessed that his girls lost the 2010 FIFA Women’s U-20 trophy to the Germans because they were tactically and technically better than his side. Coach, are you satisfied with the reception that has been accorded your team since its return from the just concluded FIFA U-20 World Cup in Germany?
I must confess that I am highly delighted by everything. I very appreciate what has been done for me and the team as a whole in terms of this reception and the gifts that we have received so far. I want to really thank God and to pray that they are replenished many times.
Before the start of the World Cup, were you certain that your team would get to the finals?
Actually, even before the championship started we believed but we knew that it was only God that would take us to where we got in the championship. It is only God that can decide where you are going to reach and it is left for you to work towards achieving that. Therefore, we were very determined and sure as our target was to get to the finals of the World Cup. By God’s special grace and determination, we were able to get to the target we set for ourselves.
Does it mean your team lost the final match because there was no more hunger in the players having achieved the target you had set for them before the commencement of the World Cup?
Well, in the game of football, as you plan for victory, so other teams plan to beat you and record victory. They also have their targets. Before the World Cup many people did not give us any serious chances. Only few people believed that we would get to where we reached. The issue of what transpired in South Africa was still in the minds of Nigerian football fans. The President had to ban the country from taking part in international competition and we were to be the first casualty of that presidential order which was later reversed. But that was enough to bring in discouragement and lack of commitment among the players. Consequently, it was really difficult for anybody to believe in us.
In the face of the challenges before the championship, what can you say really propelled the players to put up the brilliant performances?
I really have to praise the girls. Immediately after Mr. President lifted the ban, I sat down with the players and told them that we have to be committed so that we can convince the president that we can achieve something. So all the girls got committed and worked towards what we have achieved. And personally, I am very satisfied with what we have achieved because we performed better than our predecessors.
Going by what you have said so far, it appears you were really satisfied with your players’ performance in the final match. Don’t you think they got tired and worn out during the match?
The girls weren’t tired. They were working. They played against a crack side. The Germans were tactically and technically good and you can see the height of the Germans and what they did with it. Look there is no other team that would have played them better than what we did. In the whole competition, our group was the toughest. We had Japan, Mexico and England.
And so having gone through the group and to where we ended, I think we did not fare badly.
Do you now have your eyes on Super Falcons job?
Well, my brother, that is for the NFF board to decide. I don’t have any comment to make on that, thank you.
Germans were tactically and technically better - Falconets coach
Category: Sports Written by David Ngobua Hits: 621
Coach of the Silver winning Falconets, Egan Ndem has confessed that his girls lost the 2010 FIFA Women’s U-20 trophy to the Germans because they were tactically and technically better than his side. Coach, are you satisfied with the reception that has been accorded your team since its return from the just concluded FIFA U-20 World Cup in Germany?
I must confess that I am highly delighted by everything. I very appreciate what has been done for me and the team as a whole in terms of this reception and the gifts that we have received so far. I want to really thank God and to pray that they are replenished many times.
Before the start of the World Cup, were you certain that your team would get to the finals?
Actually, even before the championship started we believed but we knew that it was only God that would take us to where we got in the championship. It is only God that can decide where you are going to reach and it is left for you to work towards achieving that. Therefore, we were very determined and sure as our target was to get to the finals of the World Cup. By God’s special grace and determination, we were able to get to the target we set for ourselves.
Does it mean your team lost the final match because there was no more hunger in the players having achieved the target you had set for them before the commencement of the World Cup?
Well, in the game of football, as you plan for victory, so other teams plan to beat you and record victory. They also have their targets. Before the World Cup many people did not give us any serious chances. Only few people believed that we would get to where we reached. The issue of what transpired in South Africa was still in the minds of Nigerian football fans. The President had to ban the country from taking part in international competition and we were to be the first casualty of that presidential order which was later reversed. But that was enough to bring in discouragement and lack of commitment among the players. Consequently, it was really difficult for anybody to believe in us.
In the face of the challenges before the championship, what can you say really propelled the players to put up the brilliant performances?
I really have to praise the girls. Immediately after Mr. President lifted the ban, I sat down with the players and told them that we have to be committed so that we can convince the president that we can achieve something. So all the girls got committed and worked towards what we have achieved. And personally, I am very satisfied with what we have achieved because we performed better than our predecessors.
Going by what you have said so far, it appears you were really satisfied with your players’ performance in the final match. Don’t you think they got tired and worn out during the match?
The girls weren’t tired. They were working. They played against a crack side. The Germans were tactically and technically good and you can see the height of the Germans and what they did with it. Look there is no other team that would have played them better than what we did. In the whole competition, our group was the toughest. We had Japan, Mexico and England.
And so having gone through the group and to where we ended, I think we did not fare badly.
Do you now have your eyes on Super Falcons job?
Well, my brother, that is for the NFF board to decide. I don’t have any comment to make on that, thank you.