Published: Thursday, 1st November, 2007 12:30
Alloa footballer is off to World Cup
By Jamie MacDonald
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Alan Oliver will represent Scotland at the tournament in Brazil.
Pic by: Jan van der Merwe
ALLOA’S Alan Oliver is swapping the cold and damp Scottish winter for the sun-kissed football pitches of Brazil and the World Cup.
Alan (20) is part of the Scottish team heading to Rio de Janeiro this week to take part in the Cerebral Palsy World Cup and he is confident the boys can upset a few of the bigger names in the competition and bring back the trophy.
Scotland have the lowest ranking of all the teams in the tournament – some of the countries participating form their nation’s Paralympic teams – but Alan can’t wait to prove that the Scots shouldn’t be taken lightly.
He said, “We are seeded bottom but we’re confident of upsetting a few teams.
“I think we are really well prepared and I’m really looking forward to it – it should be a superb experience.”
The team have been practising regularly at Stirling University’s campus and they have even travelled to Largs to train at the National Sports Centre ahead of their group games against Russia, China and Argentina.
Alan said, “I’m the newest member of the squad and I’ve had to learn a lot about the different formations we use. At Largs we practised loads of set plays, formations and general ball skills.”
Matches in the seven-a-side tournament last 60 minutes and with the possibility of 10 games over an 18-day period, Alan realises it is going to be a gruelling competition.
“It will be knackering, the temperature is around 24?C and the humidity will probably make it even harder,” Alan said.
“I’m so happy to be going though, there is a good atmosphere in the team and all the players like to have fun.”
There are 12 players heading out to Brazil and the central midfielder has his sights set on a meeting with the Auld Enemy.
He said, “I wouldn’t mind playing some African teams to see their style of play, but England would be the dream game.”
Alan suffers from a stutter and the Advertiser spoke to him in September, not long after he had completed the McGuire Programme – a course which helps those with a stutter to become more eloquent speakers.
At that time he had just represented Scotland in the Four Nations Disabled Badminton Championships where he finished runner-up in the singles and doubles.
It has been a busy period for Alan, who in a short space of time has dramatically improved his speech and represented his country abroad at football and badminton. So what’s next on the agenda?
Alan said, “It has been really busy, I think I’ll take a wee break after this.”
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Alloa pick up first away point