Cape Verde forward Ricardo Gomes has explained the reason behind his decision to quit the team ahead of Tuesday’s 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying game against the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Completesports.com reports.
The Cape Verde Football Federation announced on Sunday that the FK Partizan of Serbia striker decided to leave the team’s camp in Tubarões Azuis after claiming to be injured.
“It is public knowledge at the moment I am playing for Partizan FK club that participates in the Serbian championship. So, for those who know, the trips from Serbia to Cape Verde or another African country where our team plays have a long duration with the effects acquaintances from long journeys,”Gomes said in a statement.
“However, during these years I have always honored the calls, even in situations where professionally it would be advisable to refuse or
temporarily abdicate our selection, placing our selection above my
personal and professional ambitions and the ambitions of the clubs that for all intents and purposes are the
responsible and biggest investors in my professional career, all in compliance with the dream of participating and helping our country (by the way, a dream I’ve had since I know myself as people.
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“However, today after the collective training for the match against the national team Nigeria, it was clear that my help at the moment is expendable, as despite the long trip made from Serbia it was clear that for the technical team I do not count for the first one, nor for second team.
” It should be noted that in the aforementioned training, two teams were made. I was left out of two. Well, considering my age and as well as everyone constraints with traveling to represent our team, I understand that not doing part of the choice of the technical team of our team does not make sense to continue to be part of the our selection, and my vacancy may well be filled by a young player, who is currently starting his football career. I don’t want to blame anyone for my decision, much less the staff who are part of the technical team and the FCF.
“Just a statement and a decision taken with calm and thoughtfulness, listening to the people who helped me the most during my football career. A player’s life that’s what football is all about, you have to know how to position yourself consciously and thoughtfully before the decisions that surpass us.
“Therefore, I communicate my decision to withdraw immediately from our selection, giving way to those who are waiting
for an opportunity, saying that I have never felt and will never feel greater pride than represent our country.
” I wish our team luck, and that we’re all cheering for our selection in the next World Cup. Thank you all very much.”
7 Comments
I am very happy for you Ricardo Gomes. I call that dignity.
That is rarely used in our system here in Nigeria.
I am expecting this from NFF president Amaju, Sheu Diko, Seyi, Oga Rohr and goalkeeper trainer, Agu but because of no dignity and transparency in our system, they will rather staying there forever without having something valuable to offer Nigeria.
Show of shame in our system because of incompetency of our people in every role that being given to them. We saw one of it last Friday at the Teslim Balogun stadium.
Africa still have a long way to go. The match against Cape Verde with what will have regarding the players, the coaches should be bold enough to deliver the result but if he and his crew fail Nigeria in tomorrow match, I think they have no business with our national team.
Nigeria is like Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Holland and so many top football nations in Africa and if 8 to 10 players from their regular players won’t be available, you won’t know the difference because they have players every where like Nigeria.
So, Super Eagles have no choice but to deliver a better performance and a well deserved result in tomorrow’s match.
Ricardo Gomes, I wish you the best. God bless Cape Verde. God bless Nigeria!!!
Incoherent rambling… Always leaving topical issues to rant about something else. What has Rohr and the Nigerian national team players got to do with the Cape Verdian player withdrawal. Calm down with your rhetorics and let the agenda rest.
You perhaps need to express these views in another forum. Not this one.
What has foreign players’ selections or lack of, got to do with Football mismanagement in Nigeria.
Liberia beat CAR in Cameroun. We really have to get a point in Cape Verde..
The loss of 7 players who ply their trade in England was obvious for Ghana in their loss to SA. I hope we can pull through this one.
Their key player is their no 20 Ryan Mendes. he destroyed cameroun in June nations cup qualifier.
If the super Eagles fail to pick a draw in that match, the technical crew should be sent parking.enough is enough.