From Pressureworks, published 6 June, 2006
As kick off approaches Pressureworks knows where its World Cup loyalties lie.
The World Cup is almost upon us – perhaps you noticed – and the thoughts of supporters have been dominated by concerns over star strikers’ fitness.
At Pressureworks we’re no different.
But, while England fans are waiting for good news on Michael and Wayne’s metatarsals, we’ve already given up on the chances of Maurito and Ibrahim Salou recovering in time.
Alas both will miss the finals, and frankly, Brian, we’re gutted – for them and for their respective sides, Angola and Ghana.
Black Stars and Palancas Negras. For it is to their masts that Pressureworks is nailing its colours. Call us biased, but our long-standing connections with the two countries – 18 partners at the last count – have made us all surrogate Black Stars and Palancas Negras.
For both countries this is new territory. Along with the Ivory Coast and Togo, they are making their first appearance in the finals.
And it is a very big deal.
It marks a new chapter in the relatively short history of the sport in sub-Saharan Africa. The region’s teams have gradually earned the respect of their more illustrious peers over the last two decades, with Pele predicting (incorrectly, as it happens, but still) that an African side would win the World Cup by the end of the 20th century.
We want to show there is more to Angola than just war and oil.
Too much pressure?
With traditional powers Nigeria, Cameroon and Senegal all missing out this time, the burden of expectation rests with four first-timers.
For some, such as ex-Bolton and Liverpool striker El Hadj Diouf, there is more at stake than these sides can handle. ‘They are ambassadors for African football. If they all go out in the first round, it is not good for Africa,’ he said recently, before adding, sulkily (his Senegal side went out to Togo) ‘I think the wrong teams are going to Germany.’
But the tables don’t lie. Instead, they demonstrate African football’s growing strength in depth. And, in turn, this provides new countries with the chance to challenge preconceptions on and off the pitch – something the players seem to grasp thoroughly. ‘This is the first time we are in the finals and we want to show off our football,’ said Angola’s captain, Fabrice Akwa, after sealing qualification against Nigeria. ‘We also want to show there is more to Angola than just war and oil.’