After picking up that serious knee injury in the fixture against Chelsea, at Stamford Bridge, it was reckoned that John Pantsil could miss out o his World Cup dream.
Thankfully the defender recovered in time to take part in the climax to our season and now he awaits the ultimate dream for an African footballer, playing in a World Cup on home soil.
Pantsil, who turns twenty-nine next Tuesday, has high hopes that an African team, spurred on by the whole country can win the tournament and in an interview published in the media, discusses such a possibility, commenting,
“In the World Cup anything can happen. But we are hosting it in Africa so I expect an African nation to win the cup.”
“I don`t think any Europeans, or Brazil, or Spain have a chance to win. We, the Africans want to win the cup.”
“It`s a big achievement for the African continent and the World Cup is going to bring all the Africans together to support each other.”
“It doesn`t matter if your country is not going to play – it`s in Africa, hosting the World Cup for the very first time.”
“All African countries are waiting for the D-day to come because it`s going to bring us together. The unity will bring joy to all Africans.”
As an Englishman hoping for an English victory I`m not sure I share those sentiments.
But the interview John gave to the media does carry some further interesting points. But the one that caught my eye relates to a young Pantsil skipping school to watch the USA World Cup, in 1994, an incident which John remarks,
“I was at school and used to run away to go and watch the World Cup.”
“I wasn`t allowed but I was in love with football. I wanted to play football in the future.”
“I don`t remember the exact game that I first watched, but it was in the USA and I saw the big crowds, the big stadiums and the good pitches, and I heard about good players and good goalkeepers.”
“My dream was to come up and became like one of them and to play on the big stage for people to see me. So dreams do come true.”
Yes, they occasionally do and here at Vital Fulham we hope John Pantsil thoroughly enjoys the whole experience.
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