When Landon Donovan scored
the winning goal against Algeria during extra time, the entire fan base of the
US National soccer team jumped for joy everywhere. In pubs and homes throughout
America, fans of the game and the USA were proud of the achievement of a team
that never gave up, even though a couple of bad calls would have prevented them
from advancing to the next round. The world cup is a tournament that brings
people together every four years and traditionally it has been the best way to
measure which country is crowned the best soccer team globally. There have been
teams in the past that have made this prestigious tourney but have failed to do
so recently. My point is if hard work, dedication and an unconditional support
system is provided to national teams we don’t know who will be in the world cup
come every four years. Let’s take some examples from this world cup. Despite a
big loss to Germany, Australia not known for its soccer has proved it belongs
in the world cup and it performed better than most expect it by defeating
Serbia a team that beat Germany.
How about the likes of New Zealand with most
of it’s players not even
playing at top notch soccer leagues like the Italian Seria A, they managed to
tie the Azure shocking the world. Meanwhile all 5 teams from South America have
shown that they are in top form and should advance to the round of 16. With
Brazil and Argentina leading the way Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile have all been
nothing short of spectacular. Mexico and Honduras are not too shabby neither.
However, The story of this world cup has got to be the USA, a nation that
prides itself as more of a baseball, basketball and American Football center.
As a roving Television reporter for the US national team in the 90’s, I had the
opportunity to travel and cover the US Team. I had just moved to the nation’s
capital from the South where I played my collegiate soccer and worked as a TV
producer covering sports. Things were very frustrating as many seemed not to
care about the game especially in the south where most colleges had excellent
programs. I have always been a fan of the game at the college level because the
NCAA and NJCAA all provided opportunities for those who worked hard to make it
to the next level. I am a strong advocate of young people getting a college
education while also performing in athletics especially soccer.
It
makes you a better person and it can also provide an opportunity for any
individual be it male or a female to shine in the international athletic stage.
Around the 1994 world cup that was held in the USA I was so pleased to see
that the game would be taken very seriously in this country and that the growth
of the game would soon start to bear some fruit. Being a part of the growth as
a high school and college player in my adopted home and then as an advocate of
the sports has given me many opportunities and it has also done the same for
most of these players on the US national team. So I say take it serious and
make the best of it.
Young
and upcoming stars like Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore who
started to develop at the end of the careers for those before them like Alexi
Lalas, Eric Wynalda, Tony Meola, Earnie Stewart, Tony Sanneh, Eddie Pope, Jeff
Agoos, Demarcus Beasaly and the many more I have failed to mention have now taken
over the national team. The days when many people taught that the US is no
longer a world soccer power are gone thanks to the hard work of immigrant
Americans working in tandem with those whose families came here a long time
ago. It is the great mix of
players from different backgrounds that make this national team a strong
contender and for making it to the sweet 16, the US should be proud.
I would also
like to say that the Team the US is playing against represents the continent of
my origins Africa where the world cup has been held for the first time. While
most African teams have been a disappointment, Ghana has proven it is a
world-class team with so much talent. Even the Black Stars success did not come
overnight. It was years of work and national development that has produced some
of the world’s best players like Abedi Pele, and Michael Essien and many more
who have left their marks in the African Nations Cup. Both the USA and Ghana
have worked on their development of the game at the grass roots level and they
both should be commended. Ghana is known as one of the world’s best under 21
teams which indicate that they invest in the future. Like the USA does with
many youth associations throughout the country. Most of the players you see on
the US team today are byproducts of these youth leagues. Good luck to both
Ghana and the USA and may the best team win. Mean while I leave you with one of
my stories from 1994 while promoting the game and the US national team. Click
on the link below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL4Q4KiA8Jg
For
Eri-International Sports
Mike
Seium
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