BY BEN MEMULETIWON
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has assured Golden Eaglets coach, Manu Garba, and his team, of total support as they prepare for the African Under-17 regional qualifiers in Niger Republic.
The board members who were on a fact-finding mission visited the Eaglets at the FIFA Goal Project Package B of the Abuja National Stadium, and the Flying Eagles at their Chida Hotel camp.
Effiong Johnson, who spoke on behalf of the board, conveyed the best wishes of the NFF President, Ambassador Chris Giwa, to Coach Garba.
The Chairman enjoined the team to be focused and continue to work towards achieving success at the qualifiers in Niger Republic. One of the ways to achieve that, he stressed, is to “choose the best players available”, assuring that “no board member will impose any player on you.”
He relayed Giwa’s promise to address the issue of funds, players’ allowances and trainings materials which the players had earlier raised, assuring them that they had “no cause to worry.”
Effiong then requested Coach Garba to submit his needs in writing alongside the names of the 60 players who will be shortlisted for the Magnetic Resonance Imaging, MRI, ahead of the qualifiers.
Earlier Coach Garba had highlighted some of his challenges, including training materials, allowances for the team, and the need to subject the players to the MRI test.
“Once we are done with MRI,”Garba said, “we will move into close camping with 30 or 35 players who scale the hurdle for the qualifiers coming up from August 19.”
Coach Garba assured that the players we have will do the country proud at the regional qualifiers in Niger Republic.
The board members who were on the tour include Dr. Shehu Adamu, Muazu Suleiman, Sani Fema, Yahya Adama, and Otunba Sunday Ajayi. The NFF Technical Director, Bitrus Bewarang, also accompanied the team.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will depart for the final round qualifiers against Mauritania on Thursday.
Effiong Johnson, who represented NFF President Chris Giwa, broke the good news to the team as the NFF board members visited the team at their camp at Chida Hotel, and promised that their outstanding allowances will soon be paid.
“Do not worry yourself about what is happening with us,” Effiong counselled the team. “Just face your job. We are doing all we can to make you comfortable in camp.
“Whether as coaches or players, let us be focus-minded, face the task before us and avoid any distractions,”
Captain of the team, Ikouwem Udoh Utin, thanked the board members for coming to see the team disclosing that the news that they will travel on Thursday has lightened the atmosphere in camp.
Coach of the team, Paul Aigbogun, also thanked the board for the visit.