Holland's head coach, Albert Stuivenberg, has warned his players to be wary of the threat Gambia will pose in their group meeting during the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup starting on October 24 in Nigeria.

The African flag bearers Gambia were paired alongside Holland, Iran and Colombia in Group C during the draws for the 24-team championship on Friday in Nigeria. The Gambia will open their group account with Iran before taking on Holland in their bid to avenge the 2005 bitter loss to the Netherlands during the Peru event.

While Coach Stuivenberg believes that the Dutch team, which have players from elite clubs in the Dutch premier tier league, will come out unscathed from the Calabar centre, he still insisted that the Gambia will pose a great threat to his side that finished second at the European U-17 Championship behind Germany. "We do not want to underrate any country in our group but I want to say that we are ready to battle it out in Calabar and move forward to the next stage," Stuivenberg said, while picking second-timers Gambia as threat to the Young Oranje in Calabar.

Stating that his mind is fixed on winning the Cup, he noted that African teams have advantage over other teams because they are used to the type of pitches and weather obtainable in Nigeria. He added: "African teams are used to the grass which we saw in Calabar, hence they may perform better. But I am focused on doing my country proud at the championship because my team has what it takes to win the Cup."

A Feyenoord of Rotterdam former player, Stuivenberg, said his team is well equipped for the rigours of the Nigeria championship, adding that only a major mishap would stop the Dutch from qualifying from the group. The Dutch technician added that the bulk of his team was picked from Ajax, Feyenoord and AZ Alkzmaar in the Dutch elite league.