Part 25 of 32: The Angolan Interview
For part 25 of the series, I caught up with Pasha. Pasha is in his 30s and is a huge football fan. Currently, he is blogging at the Angola World Cup Blog. Pasha loves the exciting football Angola play and is following them religiously.
I thank Pasha for agreeing to the interview.
Tell us a bit about the Angola football history and the football culture which exists.
Angola has a very rich football history. The game is immensely popular in the country. As you know, there was war in Angola for many years and that held back the development of the sport. But there is peace now and with our team making the World Cup the potential for Angola to become an African power is very real.
Tell us a bit about the Road to the World Cup – the qualification, and the emotions the fans went through at the time.
It was a very exciting time. It came down to the last game. We had to beat Rwanda and by the grace of God we pulled off the victory. We finished ahead of Nigeria, which was a real accomplishment. Naturally the people in Angola are very, very proud of the Palancas Negras qualifying for the World Cup.
What style of football does the national team play?
We are a very fast and aggressive team. In qualifying, it was our all around team play that propelled us to victory. Our defense was very solid and our attack scored just enough goals to carry us through. I think people watching Angola for the first time at the World Cup will be surprised by the beauty and effort our players put forth.
What do you think your country’s prospects are at the World Cup?
Of course we will not win the World Cup. It will be very difficult to advance from our group. But the team will play very, very hard and it will do its best to represent the people of Angola. That is all that we expect.
Who will be the most important player for your country?
Our talisman is Akwa. He has the experience and skill to be a true leader. We will need him to not only score some goals, but also to direct our less experienced players.
Which player in your country’s side would you most like to get rid of?
Our midfielder Edson. He spends most of the game falling on the ground. He does have good speed, but he drives me nuts with his inability to stay on his feet.
Who are the players to watch from the other countries?
Portugal has a very gifted team. Deco, Luis Figo, Cristiano Ronaldo, etc. Mexico has Borghetti at forward and Rafa Marquez in the backline. Iran is a very solid team with Ali Karimi being a player to keep an eye on in the midfield. Group D is blessed with some great players for sure.
What will be your excuse in the event of failure?
No excuses. Our team just needs to play hard and represent Angola with pride and effort. If they still fall short, I will applaud them and look forward to future success.
Have you got the right manager?
Yes. We call our coach “The Professor.” He is a very wise and likeable manager. The players respect him and he is very popular in Angola.
What advice would you give him?
Don’t be afraid to fail. Angola doesn’t have the experience of other teams, but that doesn’t mean we should play scared. The team has talent and if they play together they will give themselves the opportunity to win.
Which team do you most want to beat?
All of them!
Which opposition player will get the most criticism?
Hmm…probably Jared Borghetti if he doesn’t score for Mexico. Their fans are upset that Blanco was not chosen at forward and they will look for an excuse to blame the forwards who are on the team.
Where will you watch the matches?
With my friends at home. I will be very nervous when Angola plays. I wouldn’t want to be around me then.
How keenly will the World Cup be followed in your country?
The excitement is very great in Angola. The nation will come to a halt when the Palancas play.
Who will be the player of the tournament?
Probably a surprise player. I’ll say Deco.
Who will win the Golden Boot?
Shevchenko.
Which team will disappoint the most?
England. They have too much pressure and not enough goal scorers.
Who will be the surprise team of the tournament?
Angola. We will surprise people with our effort.
Finally, Who will win the World Cup?
I think it will be a team from Europe. I’ll pick the Netherlands, but please don’t bet your money on my choice. I am always wrong.
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I hope you enjoyed part 25. Follow up questions for Pasha can be e-mailed to me. Also, feel free to contact me if you would like to be interviewed or know a friend who would like/could be interviewed. Specific questions for specific countries which might pop in your mind in due course may also be sent.
For the rest of the interviews, check out the World Cup interview series page.
Tags: Angola Football, FIFA World Cup 2006, Football Interview Series.
