VOA标准英语2010年-African Cup Kicks Off in Angola Despit

Angolan officials say African Cup of Nations tournament goes ahead as planned, but Togo's PM pulls out his country's team after Friday's attack.

Scott Bobb | Johannesburg 10 January 2010

Angolan soccer fans parade near the airport in Cabinda, Angola, 10 Jan 2010

The African Cup of Nations football tournament kicks off in Luanda Sunday with the opening match between Angola and Mali.  The tournament is going ahead despite an attack on the team from Togo that killed three people and wounded at least seven more. 

Angolan officials said the African Cup of Nations tournament would go ahead as planned, but the government of Togo announced it was withdrawing its team because of Friday's attack.

Several Togolese players earlier had indicated they were prepared to play in honor of their slain¹ comrades.

The Togolese government spokesman Pascal Bodjona said the national team's players were in a state of shock.

He says the Togolese government has decided² to call back its team.  He said we cannot take part in the Cup under these tragic³ circumstances.

He added that the government did not believe its team was given the necessary security guarantees.

The Togolese government has accused the Angolan government of failing to warn it of the lack of security in the region.  Angolan officials said the Togolese team violated Africa Confederation of Football regulations that require all teams to travel by air.

The team's assistant coach and its spokesman were killed in the ambush⁴ as the team traveled by bus Friday from their training camp in neighboring Congo Republic (Brazzaville) to the Angolan enclave of Cabinda.

The team's back-up goalkeeper was seriously injured in the attack.  He underwent surgery Saturday after being evacuated⁵ to South Africa.

The Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda claimed responsibility.  The group has been fighting for independence for the oil-rich enclave for three decades.  Cabinda lies between Congo Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa).

FLEC Commander Joao Batista told VOA Portuguese⁶ Service the attack was aimed at the Angolan armed forces.

He says it was not a premeditated attack against the Togolese team because we have nothing against Togo.  He says the attack was due to the fact there is no peace in the territory and when there is no peace there is no security.

Batista said his group is ready to talk with the Angolan government, but warned if the government rejected negotiations⁷ there would be more attacks.

Togo was due to open its group series Monday in Cabinda against Ghana.  Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso are also in the group. 

1 slain   

杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词)

参考例句：

• The soldiers slain in the battle were burried that night. 在那天夜晚埋葬了在战斗中牺牲了的战士。
• His boy was dead, slain by the hand of the false Amulius. 他的儿子被奸诈的阿缪利乌斯杀死了。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

4 ambush   

n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击

参考例句：

• Our soldiers lay in ambush in the jungle for the enemy.我方战士埋伏在丛林中等待敌人。
• Four men led by a sergeant lay in ambush at the crossroads.由一名中士率领的四名士兵埋伏在十字路口。

5 evacuated   

撤退者的

参考例句：

• Police evacuated nearby buildings. 警方已将附近大楼的居民疏散。
• The fireman evacuated the guests from the burning hotel. 消防队员把客人们从燃烧着的旅馆中撤出来。

6 Portuguese   

n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语

参考例句：

• They styled their house in the Portuguese manner.他们仿照葡萄牙的风格设计自己的房子。
• Her family is Portuguese in origin.她的家族是葡萄牙血统。

7 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。