What
can Eritrea learn from the Under 17 African Nations Cup?
Losing
by the score of 3-0 to Burkina Faso in
their last game of their first ever experience at the
under 17 African nations cup in Togo, the Eritrean
teams should not hold their head down. All three teams
are top caliber and have been at the top of youth game
internationally for many years.
If there is one thing Eritrea can learn
from this
terrible experience it is to be consistent and find a
solution not to allow goals even if they have to be
defensive throughout the game. Yeah! easier said than
done but if you can hold Egypt another top caliber
team to two scoreless games and then beat a decent
Zambia team to two scoreless games, what went wrong in
Togo?
We shall wait to hear from the players
once they
get back to Asmara. This is a national matter and I
think every able Eritrean should support, nurture and
help build a strong youth program. Eritrea has proven
in the past that it is not short of talent. If you
recall in the mid 90's several youth teams went on to
show pure talent at three Scandinavian tournaments.
Just like (EAAA) Eritrean American Athletics
Association has been supportive of our Eritrean
runners in the past, with a mix of avid soccer fans,
players, executives, coaches and referees, a support
system to the national federation needs to be
implemented. I personally am willing to do my share
and I ask anyone interested to share their ideas and
brainstorm this issue at a high level.
The young Redsea boys are very good and
I am
convinced even better players will come in the very
near future. the question is how can we best help them
prepare for the future so that we will not be defeated
by any team as we did at this year's tournament.
I had gotten several e-mails from people
who have
the same passion as I do for the Eritrean team, the
game of soccer and the talent that Eritrea posses.
Let's get going and discuss ideas and come up with a
solution by the end of this year.
Again, my congratulations go to the Eritrean youth
team for just making it to the tournament and
participating. I wish them all a great future as some
of them will be playing at the adult national team
level as well as the under 20 age group in the very
near future.
Mike Seium
