Just a couple of hours away, Team Nepal will be playing Oman, everybody knows, making an unalike fight between the minnows and giants. But this is football and anything can happen.

Oman, taking on Nepal on home-soil in the first clash of the preliminary qualifiers for the World Cup 2010, definitely enjoy a superior history against the latter. The main concern for Oman's Argentine coach Gabriel Calderon is that he is playing his first home game for the side since he took over against a team quite unknown about. So he is warning his players not to adopt complacency and also not to be carried away even if goals come easily.

Here is the bold team Nepal, prepared as to erupt out of nowhere as a shock to the giants. Nepal have indeed not to feel that they are going to play for a loss. Oman have a strong team with the international professionals, one of them even belonging to the premiership side, Ali Al Habsi (Bolton Wanderers) who came this morning to join the side. Nepal are not a big name in terms of international successes but their football capacity granted by nature is certainly above the mark.

Gabriel has announced to give the Eid gift to Oman in the form of goals against Nepal. But he would not have said actually that much had he sensed the fighting spirit Nepali players now have. The selection of the team by brainy coach Shyam Thapa has just the way to stop the physically superior players from implementing their skills and flair. If Nepal could really stop in the early minutes, Oman could definitely have to be ready for a draw. Once Nepal catch up a brave spell, they do not lose it. This is the real style Shyam Thapa's U-19 side produced prodigy against Vietnam, 1-0, in the U-19 Asia Cup Qualifiers in Malaysia three years ago.

Gabriel anticipated Nepal as in the level of Maldives whom his reserve team defeated 1-0 in a practice match yesterday. But Nepal lucky with their efforts could do much better than Maldives though the difference between the two countries, especially after Nepal could not retain international participation, has widened.

"It is just a single fight we have to sacrifice for'" head coach Thapa was saying before leaving Nepal." We will play with full fighting spirit making sure we are always safe. So we all can expect a respected result."

Thanks to Gabriel still remaining ignorant about Nepal and his failure in find the video footages of Nepali football, Nepal salvaging a draw or giving a brave fight or, who can bet not, even record a win like Senegal did against France or Greece did In Euro 2004 could make a headline in 'Time of Oman' Tomorrow that may read- Gabriel, Where Is Your Gift?

Team Nepal just have to keep in mind that Oman are a great challenge but not in the way football is totally biased for them. They have to frustrate the opponent strikers and should focus on not losing the ball within as well as nerves while chasing the ball without. They have to better in counter chances. They should keep in mind that the superior Asian football is still not much mature in scoring. That is why making it a difficult task for Omani to find the net could be the key to the new history.

Let's hope that we will see a different Nepali football at Sultan Stadium, the post guarded by President's Cup hero Ritesh Thapa, midfield covered by power players Tashi Chirring and Lok Bandhu, wings waved by skill kings Nirajan and Pradeep and the defence fortified by the strongest and dauntless players of the nation, Rakesh, Sagar, Anjan and Sanjeev.

Jay Pashupatinath!!!

Sundar Khanal, Kathmandu