Sports
Raja Banks On Fans Against Mineiro
Moroccan champions
Raja Casablanca know they will have one advantage over Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro when the clubs face each other in the semi-final of the Club World Cup and that will be the backing of a partisan and vociferous crowd.
The two sides clash in Marrakech today and a huge number of Raja fans are expected to turn up – 35,000 of them attended first two games of the tournament in Agadir.
Raja’s reserve keepeer Brahim Zaari is in no doubt the fans have helped the side reach the last four.
“They’ve inspired us very much because if we are at a dead point in the game they help us keep running not to be tired,” he told Tidesports source.
“They’ve supported us in a great way and I am proud of them.”
Not only do the Raja fans sing, dance and chant all they way through every game they also take time to organise their own tributes.
Ahead of both games, fans’ associations planned and laid out different coloured cards that have been placed on seats at one end of the stadium and on a given signal the cards were held up to spell out a word of encouragement.
In the match against Monterrey the word was “Vamos” the Spanish for “Let’s Go”.
And that kind of inspiration lifted Raja in both their opening games to late victories.
In the first game it was an injury-time winner that gave them a 2-1 win over New Zealand’s Auckland City and then against Mexico’s Monterrey extra-time was needed to secure another 2-1 victory.
Ivorian Kouko Guehi headed home the winner over Monterrey and he is in awe of the fans.
“They are the best in the world,” he said. “They are ‘mad’ and they follow us all the time and even when we are in a difficult place they support us and sing on and on.”
The organisers of the Club World Cup will be pleased with Raja’s progress as it almost certainly ensures big crowds for the final two match days of the tournament.
Even if Raja loses today, they will play again on Saturday in the third place play-off match ahead of the final in Marrakech.
There will also be the added bonus of European champions Bayern Munich playing one way or another on Saturday, too, the Germans faced China’s Guangzhou Evergrande yesterday in their semi-final.
The dream scenario for the hosts would be a Raja v Bayern final.
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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