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VOA标准英语2009年-Visiting Teams Praise Nigerian Hospitality

时间:2009-11-30 08:36来源:互联网 提供网友:再见艾弗森   字体: [ ]
    (单词翻译:双击或拖选)

By Brent Latham
Abuja, Nigeria
05 November 2009

 
Nigeria 2009, FIFA Under-17 World Cup
Not everything at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria has gone according to plan. However, visiting players and coaches unanimously1 agree that Nigerians have received them with open arms.

The Nigerian accommodations and facilities are generally not of the level that FIFA executives2, journalists and traveling international soccer teams from around the world expect. Communications services in the stadiums and hotels have been constantly out of order. The country is large and travel is difficult and time consuming4.

The list of reasons why teams coming from abroad were not thrilled at the prospect5 of several weeks in Nigeria for this year's Under-17 World Cup is long. But, just past the tournament's midpoint, one thing the players and coaches of the visiting teams all agree on is the warmth and hospitality6 with which they have been received by the Nigerian people.

Officials from the team from the United Arab Emirates have been emphatic7 in voicing their concerns - in particular about the facilities in their base city, Kano. The country even threatened to pull out of the tournament, but eventually gave in to FIFA's demands that they attend. But, despite team manager Jamil Bahindi's long list of complaints, he says the team is impressed by the reception given by the people of Kano state. "There is the environment here, as you see outside, the accommodation, the street as you see. The people is very nice here, the people is very nice. We like them and they like us also, so that is why we love this area here, because of the people, nothing more," he said.

The teams have run into various problems. Many of the training fields were never completed, forcing teams to share facilities and practice at uncomfortable hours. Scheduling decisions made well before the tournament have forced some teams to travel long distances and play on short rest.

But, although the logistics of putting together an international soccer tournament may be complicated8, Nigerians seem to be experts at making their guests feel welcome. John Kaputa, coach of the Malawian youth team, says his group felt welcome from the moment they stepped off the plane. "We were warmly welcomed at the airport in Abuja. Everything was proper arranged. Immigration department was ready to help with the visas and the like, and the people of Kano are very friendly. We have good guiders [host guides] who are really taking care of us," he said.

Many players from abroad have had the opportunity to see a part of the world they might never have visited, had it not been for the tournament. And, each player's observations and interactions9 with the local people vary10 greatly, depending on his background.

Italian Marco Fosatti, who plays professionally for internationally renowned11 Inter3 Milan, says he was shocked by some of the things he observed from the window of the team bus on the trips between the hotel and the practice fields.

Fosatti says he had no idea of the level of poverty that existed outside the developed world. He says he has been inspired to undertake some sort of social project with his teammates for the benefit of Nigerians.

Other players had a different perspective12. Boyd Okwuonu is an American of Nigerian descent13. In his first trip to his parents' homeland, he says he is enjoying many aspects of Nigerian culture, and would not mind living in the country. "One of the things I like about this place is that everybody is outside and together, one, everybody is doing stuff14 together. But the thing I do not really like is that everyone is in the darkness all the time," he said.

Perhaps the aspect of Nigerian society most admired by the coaches of the teams in the competition is the universal passion for sport demonstrated15 by Nigerians. Spanish coach Gines Melendez says the crowd support for his team, at stadiums that have routinely16 filled for the evening matches, has been sensational17.

However, not all teams have been as fortunate as Spain, in terms of fan support. American Coach Wilmer Cabrera laments18 that the Nigerians have never gotten behind his team in their four matches, as the Americans took on popular international powers Spain and Italy, and African side, Malawi. "Anywhere we were in this tournament, the fans were supporting the other teams, but that is okay. That is not our problem. They do not play, they did not defend, and they did not stop the chances for us to score," he said.

Despite the lack of support for the American team on the field, the U.S. players were quick to point out that the Nigerians had been very friendly to them, as well. Forward Alex Shinsky says the image the players will take home with them is that of the jubilant fans waving at them as they made their way in and out of stadiums in Kano, Ijebu-Ode, and Kaduna. "They have been very nice and everything has been well organized. It has been nice to see them waving and just being very friendly. They are very friendly to me and it has just been a great experience," he said.

Midweek elimination-round matches have further pared the field at the competition, which began with 24 teams on October 24. The final will be played on November 15 in Abuja.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 unanimously dfUzen     
ad.一致同意地
参考例句:
  • Three judges unanimously upheld the sentence. 三名法官一致维持这个判决。
  • Following discussion, the annual report was accepted unanimously. 经过讨论,年度报告获一致通过。
2 executives 16f269a7f2f911a82b80d202050aa0db     
(公司或机构的)经理( executive的名词复数 ); (统称公司或机构的)行政领导; (政府的)行政部门; [the Executive][美国英语](美国政府的)行政当局
参考例句:
  • They have taken measures to equate the salaries of higher civil servants to those of business executives. 他们采取措施使高级文职人员的工资和企业管理干部的工资相等。
  • He disregarded the advice of his executives. 他对主管层的建议置若罔闻。
3 inter C5Cxa     
v.埋葬
参考例句:
  • They interred their dear comrade in the arms.他们埋葬了他们亲爱的战友。
  • The man who died in that accident has been interred.在那次事故中死的那个人已经被埋葬了。
4 consuming PvjzpR     
adj.强烈的;消费的v.消耗(consume的现在分词)
参考例句:
  • an all-consuming love of jazz 对爵士乐的迷恋
  • Basketball is his consuming passion . 篮球令他着迷。
5 prospect P01zn     
n.前景,前途;景色,视野
参考例句:
  • This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
  • The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。
6 hospitality ocqxC     
n.好客,殷勤;adj.(气候等)宜人,适宜
参考例句:
  • He welcomed you to enjoy his hospitality.他欢迎你去做客。
  • Thank you for your kind hospitality.谢谢你的盛情款待。
7 emphatic 0P1zA     
adj.强调的,着重的;无可置疑的,明显的
参考例句:
  • Their reply was too emphatic for anyone to doubt them.他们的回答很坚决,不容有任何人怀疑。
  • He was emphatic about the importance of being punctual.他强调严守时间的重要性。
8 complicated 9vjzzD     
adj.错综复杂的,麻烦的,结构复杂的
参考例句:
  • The poem is so complicated that I cannot make out its meaning.这首诗太复杂,我理解不了它的意思。
  • This is the most complicated case I have ever handled.这是我所处理过的最为复杂的案子。
9 interactions 85aa9c704a544e104741012bf72b6572     
一起活动( interaction的名词复数 ); 合作; 互相影响; 互动
参考例句:
  • Only then will we be able to design appropriate interactions and interfaces. 只有那时,我们才能够设计合适的交互行为和界面。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
  • These interactions are typically supported by clear cursor hinting. 一般来说,清晰的光标暗示辅助支持这样的交互。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
10 vary yifw6     
vi.变化,有不同;vt.改变,使不同
参考例句:
  • Cherries vary in colour from almost black to yellow.樱桃的颜色由近乎黑到黄各不相同。
  • Old people don't like to vary their habits.老年人不喜欢改变他们的习惯。
11 renowned okSzVe     
adj.著名的,有名望的,声誉鹊起的
参考例句:
  • He is one of the world's renowned writers.他是世界上知名的作家之一。
  • She is renowned for her advocacy of human rights.她以提倡人权而闻名。
12 perspective 7MAxN     
n.视角,观点,想法
参考例句:
  • You can get a perspective of the whole city from here.从这里你可以看到城市的全景。
  • We may get a clear perspective of the people's happy lives.我们知道人民对幸福生活的展望。
13 descent gmazL     
n.下降,下倾,斜坡,坡道,血统,世系
参考例句:
  • We watched anxiously during her descent from the tree.我们焦急地看着她从树上爬下来。
  • Many Americans are of English descent.许多美国人的祖籍是英国。
14 stuff Itsw1     
n.原料,材料,东西;vt.填满;吃饱
参考例句:
  • We could supply you with the stuff in the raw tomorrow.明天我们可以供应你原材料。
  • He is not the stuff.他不是这个材料。
15 demonstrated c4c57b36dc115195900c56fa9d9b2241     
举行示威游行(或集会)( demonstrate的过去式和过去分词 ); 示范。展示; 显示; 论证
参考例句:
  • All of those demonstrated the correctness of his analysis. 这一切都证明了他分析的正确性。
  • The fireman demonstrated great courage in saving the child. 那位消防队员在抢救孩子的过程中,表现了极大的勇气。
16 routinely 0jBzdM     
adv.例行公事地;常规地,惯常地;老一套地
参考例句:
  • Children have been routinely immunized against polio since 1958. 自从1958 年以来,儿童都按照常规接种防治小儿麻痹症的疫苗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The library routinely handles a wide variety of enquiries. 图书馆日常要处理各种各样的咨询。 来自《简明英汉词典》
17 sensational Szrwi     
adj.使人感动的,非常好的,轰动的,耸人听闻的
参考例句:
  • Papers of this kind are full of sensational news reports.这类报纸满是耸人听闻的新闻报道。
  • Their performance was sensational.他们的演出妙极了。
18 laments f706f3a425c41502d626857197898b57     
n.悲恸,哀歌,挽歌( lament的名词复数 )v.(为…)哀悼,痛哭,悲伤( lament的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • In the poem he laments the destruction of the countryside. 在那首诗里他对乡村遭到的破坏流露出悲哀。
  • In this book he laments the slight interest shown in his writings. 在该书中他慨叹人们对他的著作兴趣微弱。 来自辞典例句
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