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Nigeria: Olympic Gold - Team Spirit Will Be Key
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Kickoff (Cape Town)
24 July 2008
Posted to the web 24 July 2008
Olympic football gold medallist Garba Lawal says Dream Team IV will need togetherness and a healthy dose of luck if they are to go all the way and win the gold medal.
Lawal, a member of the original Dream Team which won gold in Atlanta in 1996, told KickOffNigeria.com that apart from the talent in that squad, team spirit and luck won Nigeria the gold medal.
They should also forget about the big countries and just go out there and play their game and do what the coach tells them to do
"They have to have team work, team spirit and like each other, otherwise its going to be difficult," Lawal advised.
"If you want to be champion, you have to like each other and that is what we had when we won it in 1996.
"We had a lot of good players, but we also had love for each other and we played for each other as a team.
"Each and every country wants to be champions. It depends on the luck in the tournament. We had a bit of luck when we won it and that is what they need too."
But he warned the players that they would also have to make sacrifices.
"It is up to the players now. They have to make sacrifices if they want to be champions.
"The coach cannot go there and play, we the fans cannot go on the field and play. It is the players who will have to do the job and all we can do is pray for them and wish them well."
Nigeria have been pooled in what many Nigerians see as an easy group with Holland, USA and Japan, but the former Julius Berger midfielder warned that there would be no easy games.
"There are no easy games; everybody wants to win so they have to show a hunger and passion to win. If they do that, we will see a completely different team."
While warning Siasia's wards to be wary of the potential banana skin of 'weaker' opposition, Lawal also advised them to play without fear against stronger opposition that they could potentially meet,
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"They need to focus on their own game plan, listen to the coach, have character and passion. They should also forget about the big countries and just go out there and play their game and do what the coach tells them to do."
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