From: www.sukulgunda.com

Learn from Cape Verde


When we all found out that Argentina would be playing Cape Verde in the round of 32 in this FIFA World Cup, we expected a Messi hat-trick and an end to the small, tiny island nation's heroic run in this World Cup. But things turned out differently, didn't they?

A tiny island nation with a population less than Kathmandu's motorbikes has shocked the world with its incredible run in this World Cup. We have to give it to the goalkeeper from Cape Verde, Vozinha, a 40-year old whose heroism has made goalkeepers cool again. We all think only strikers win the games with their goals, but if the last man on the post does not perform, then even big teams falter.

The Blue Sharks have made this World Cup to remember. Messi opened the scoring with his goal in the 29th minute, and we thought this could be another hat-trick match for the GOAT. But instead of folding like a cheap tent, Cape Verde responded as if it were possessed by God.

Duarte equalized to tie the game and nearly made the Argentine crowd wonder if Cape Verde would upset the World Champions. The extra time was another psychological thriller with Martinez restoring the lead for Argentina, and then Cabral scored one of the best goals in this World Cup edition with a curling masterpiece to make it 2-2, but God had other plans and decided to favor Messi and his boys again.

I think this World Cup's best player has to be Vozinha. When most of us complain of back pain and even mid-life crisis, this man has shown the world that age is just a number, and if you trust yourself and do it right, even the giants will crumble. Vozinha has won the hearts and minds of all football fans across the world.

Now, let us come to our Nepali football. Well, ANFA has always been a corrupt hell-hole, but let's not talk about them today. We are a nation of 30 million folks, and our mountain range protects us from everything but our own sports bureaucracy. Cape Verde has less than 600,000 people and is surrounded by water, and has fewer people to form a team than Nepal has registered motorcycle riders.

The lesson here is that size doesn't matter, and what you need is a solid structure, discipline, and a complete lack of fear. If Cape Verde can play tactical draws against Spain, Uruguay, and even Argentina in full-time matches, then maybe if we follow their formula, then we can at least dream of making it to the Asian Cup.

Cape Verde has proved to us all that you don't need 30 million folks to build a world-class, competitive team. They focus on three key areas. Defense was key as they did not try to out-talent their opponents but stuck to a disciplined defensive structure that frustrated world-class strikers. Cape Verde also aggressively went out and scouted eligible players from European leagues. This is where we can also leverage the Nepali diaspora and find talent across the seven seas as well. And the last and most important thing was the fearless psychology. They played without fear and took all matches as an opportunity for immortality.

If we can adopt even a fraction of this structured, fearless approach, then we can be competitive on the global stage, and maybe someday, we will be in the World Cup like Cape Verde and show the world what we are made of!

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