19th December, 2011
Head coach of Brazil’s Reis da Praia (Kings of Beach Soccer), Gustavo Zloccowick, has congratulated Nigeria’s Super Sand Eagles for winning 2011 Copa Lagos Beach Soccer Championship.
The Sand Eagles yesterday at the Eko Atlantic City Bar Beach against all odds defeated the former world champions 9-4 to win the first edition of the competition.
In a chat with P.M. Sports after Brazil lost to the Nigerian side, Zloccowick said their hosts deserved to lift the cup though his team gave a good account of themselves.
“I believe Nigeria’s victory is well-earned if we consider the way they played today. I congratulate them for winning the match because they displayed a great performance though our team also played very well.
“We could have given a better account of ourselves if not for the fact that we are trying to build a new team. Seven of my players just joined the team and it takes a new team a lot of time to blend. Only three members of our World Cup players are in this new team,†said Zloccowick.
However, the coach of the Nigerian side, Audu Adamu, said he is happy that Nigeria have finally broken the jinx of losing to Brazil.
“I am happy that we have succeeded in beating Brazil in this competition. They thought they can come here and take us for a ride. But we worked very hard and I think our hard work paid off if we consider the wide margin in the final scoreline,†said Adamu.
Yesterday’s victory broke the Brazilian jinx on the Sand Eagles, as they grabbed their first win on their rivals after the loss at the 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World quarterfinals in Ravenna, Italy.
—Bimbo Ajayi