The powers that be at GoalZaza have their eyes firmly fixed on Istanbul this evening as Aston Villa and Freiburg lock horns in the Europa League final...
The powers that be at GoalZaza have their eyes firmly fixed on Istanbul this evening as Aston Villa and Freiburg lock horns in the Europa League final, a contest that promises to be as tense as a Lagos traffic jam at rush hour. The 8pm BST kickoff has barely begun to simmer, yet there is already a cloud of concern hovering over the Villa camp. Their stalwart goalkeeper, Emi Martinez, the very man who commanded the penalty shootout that brought glory to Argentina, appears to be nursing a bothersome right hand. Our man in Istanbul, Ben Fisher, reports that Villa. �s goalkeeping coach, Javi Garcia, spent a good couple of minutes meticulously taping one of Martinez. �s fingers. In the scheme of things, it is a small matter, but when the World Cup winner continues his warm up with his right glove held in his left hand, one cannot help but feel a tremor of unease. He looks mobile enough, quick on his feet, but for a shot stopper of his calibre, any impediment is a matter of national concern for the Nigerian internationals watching from the stands and the viewing centres alike. Freiburg, for their part, will look to give a good account of themselves and exploit any hesitation. The lion. �s share of the pressure, however, rests on Villa. �s shoulders, especially as the Nigerian international contingent on both sides knows that a trophy here carries the weight of a national celebration back home. At the end of the day, football is a game of fine margins, and a taped finger could be the difference between glory and heartbreak. In the viewing centres dotting Surulere and the bustling streets of Abuja, fans will be roaring with every save, wincing with every Martinez grimace, and collectively holding their breath whenever the ball sails toward his goal. The atmosphere, even from afar, will be electric, the kind of raw, unfiltered passion that only the beautiful game can summon in the Nigerian soul, as they pray that their hero. �s hand holds firm.
