Burns gutted by Games snub
Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:30 pm
Devastated... Nathan Burns will wonder what could have been
Australian whiz kid Nathan Burns has spoken of his devastation after being sensationally dumped from the Olympic squad.
Burns, 20, and fellow striker Bruce Djite were shock omissions from the 18-member squad announced by Olyroos coach Graham Arnold on Thursday.
Burns, the former Adelaide United striker who flies out to Greece on Saturday to commence his four-year stint with AEK Athens, conceded that he was distraught by his omission.
But, ever the polite young man that he is, he also conceded that it must have been a tough job for Arnold to cut his big squad to 18.
"Yes, I was very disappointed. I was devastated actually because I wanted to make the trip (to the Olympics),'' Burns said.
"But I have to move on, there is not much I can do about it now.
"It was always going to be difficult to make the final squad when you consider that, out of the 18, two spots would go to goalkeepers and three more to over-age players. That leaves only 13.
"Also it must have been a difficult job for the coach to cut the squad to 18.''
Arnold, who played as a striker in the 1988 Olympics in Korea Republic, said after announcing the squad at North Sydney Oval that the main reason Burns and former Adelaide teammate Djite, who has signed for Turkey's Genclerbirligi, were not selected was because they were too young and could not handle the heat well enough.
"If players can't play in the heat, they can't play in the heat, no matter who they are,'' he said.
When asked to comment on Arnold's explanation for omitting him, Burns said simply: "That's the coach's opinion and I respect it.''
Burns said that he liked the look of the Arnold's 18-member squad and was sure that Australia would do well in China.
"It is pretty right. The only little surprise perhaps is the selection of Melbourne Victory's Billy Celeski,'' he said.
"But he deserves his spot because he worked hard for it.''
Australia, who are expected to be captained by Newcastle Jets and Socceroos defender Jade North, play Serbia, Argentina and Cote d'Ivoire at the Games.
top
Australian whiz kid Nathan Burns has spoken of his devastation after being sensationally dumped from the Olympic squad.
Burns, 20, and fellow striker Bruce Djite were shock omissions from the 18-member squad announced by Olyroos coach Graham Arnold on Thursday.
Burns, the former Adelaide United striker who flies out to Greece on Saturday to commence his four-year stint with AEK Athens, conceded that he was distraught by his omission.
But, ever the polite young man that he is, he also conceded that it must have been a tough job for Arnold to cut his big squad to 18.
"Yes, I was very disappointed. I was devastated actually because I wanted to make the trip (to the Olympics),'' Burns said.
"But I have to move on, there is not much I can do about it now.
"It was always going to be difficult to make the final squad when you consider that, out of the 18, two spots would go to goalkeepers and three more to over-age players. That leaves only 13.
"Also it must have been a difficult job for the coach to cut the squad to 18.''
Arnold, who played as a striker in the 1988 Olympics in Korea Republic, said after announcing the squad at North Sydney Oval that the main reason Burns and former Adelaide teammate Djite, who has signed for Turkey's Genclerbirligi, were not selected was because they were too young and could not handle the heat well enough.
"If players can't play in the heat, they can't play in the heat, no matter who they are,'' he said.
When asked to comment on Arnold's explanation for omitting him, Burns said simply: "That's the coach's opinion and I respect it.''
Burns said that he liked the look of the Arnold's 18-member squad and was sure that Australia would do well in China.
"It is pretty right. The only little surprise perhaps is the selection of Melbourne Victory's Billy Celeski,'' he said.
"But he deserves his spot because he worked hard for it.''
Australia, who are expected to be captained by Newcastle Jets and Socceroos defender Jade North, play Serbia, Argentina and Cote d'Ivoire at the Games.
top
