Fatau Dauda credits Brazilian trainer for 2014 FIFA World Cup heroics which ‘stopped’ Ronaldo

Former Ghana No.1 Fatau Dauda has credited late Brazilian Alexandre Revoredo for his tutorials which helped him stop global icon, Cristiano Ronaldo, at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Dauda produced a portfolio of quality saves in their last Group G match which they lost 2-1 to exit the competition.

But the former Orlando Pirates and Enyimba FC gloves man is remembered for his exploits.

First, he pulled a save to deny Ronaldo from opening the scoring with a free-kick in the 12th minute.

Seven minutes later, Dauda was at his best to palm away a point-black header from the Portuguese talisman.

The now Legon Cities FC goalkeeper and captain celebrated wildly by beating his chest.

”Against Portugal, I made a lot of saves in that match because I was learning from a Brazilian coach [Alexandre Revoredo] who is late now, in South Africa before I went to the World Cup. He taught me a lot that made the difference in the game,” Dauda told Goal.

”Football is about passion. Even Buffon when he makes some saves, he gets excited and celebrates. For me, it was not just because I saved Ronaldo’s header.

”Before every one of our games at the World Cup, we trained by watching previous matches of our opponents, and we studied their team. Before the Portugal match, we know Ronaldo is good with set-pieces and headers so our goalkeeper coach prepared us for that, and we did a lot of set-pieces and crossing that week, so during the game when I saved the header I remember that this is what we did in training, and I was happy. That brought about the celebration.

”I also saved his free-kick during the match but the header was more special for me because he was so close to me and had a greater chance of scoring, but I was composed and I did not panic.”

Source: GHANAsoccernet