Yesterday's game was a victory for both Angola and Portugal. In the words of an Angolan supporter after the end of the game (RTP news), "Quem ganhou foi a Lingua Portuguesa!" (The Portuguese Language won!). The same supporter claimed that one country of Portuguese language will win the world cup!... (- this obviously includes Brazil!) (RTP News - 11/June/2007)
In true demonstrations of brotherhood, fans from both countries celebrated together before and after yesterday's game in several places of the world, including in Kennington Park yesterday (London - which was celebrating the Day of Portugal, Camoes and of the Portuguese community). "They are our brothers!", claimed both Portuguese and Angolan supporters to the international TV stations filming before the game in Cologne, Germany. This was well advertised by the British ITV Channel broadcasting the game. Those of you who watched through the British ITV channel will be witnesses of this. The British commentators were finding hard to understand this phenomenon of excellent relations and fraternity between a colony and its 500 years old coloniser. Applauses and cheering for Angola came from both the Portuguese audience as well as from the Angolan audience (which was in much lower numbers). This must have been so strange for the international community watching the game. Probably a first time occurrence in the world cup history! It is facts like these that leave the international community stunned and they find hard to understand how such good relations can prevail after such a long colonisation period. In the same way, jealous countries like Australia cannot understand why East Timor still maintains such excellent relations with Portugal to the point of adopting Portuguese as official language (very much contrary to what Australia would have liked), a language which is today far from popular in the youngest country of Asia. There are indeed many signs that demonstrate this unique type of colonisation exercised by Portugal, certainly very different from other colonial powers like the British, the French and the Dutch. I know I am going to have replies from the usual "lusophobians" but facts are facts and when they come up, I do not waste opportunities to address them. So, Fred, thanks for giving me the cue! But going back to the game, after a terrible start, Angola played well and their defence was most appropriate. In some parts of the game they were superior (words of Luiz Filipe Scholari - the Portuguese manager himself) So, congratulations to Angola. They will have a though job against Mexico but I would not underestimate them. It is the first time they qualified for a World Cup finals and they have already exceeded all expectations. Watch this team grow in the next few years. They have a lot of potential. Figo was indeed excellent. Deco was missing in this game but he will definitely play against Mexico. So, watch this Portugal team too. They are certainly one of the several favourites. Best regards Paulo Colaco Dias. > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Frederick Noronha (FN) > Sent: 12 June 2006 11:45 > To: goanet@goanet.org > Subject: [Goanet] Portugal... or Angola? > > Wonder how many of you supported Portugal and how many rooted for Angola > in yesterday's match? Actually, I'm quite illiterate in all matters > sporting, but opted for the Angolans, simply as they were underdogs. FN _____________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org)